Part 26 (2/2)

XV.

T H A T the _Indians_ shall have Liberty to do all Things relating to the Improvement of their Ground, and providing Sustenance for their Families, that any of the Planters shall enjoy.

XVI.

T H A T the Laws as to Slanders, Drunkenness, Swearing, Cursing, Pride in Apparel, Trespa.s.ses, Distresses, Replevins, Weights and Measures, shall be the same as in _England_, till altered by Law in this Province.

XVII.

T H A T all shall mark their Hogs, Sheep and other Cattle, and what are not marked within _three_ Months after it is in their Possession, be it young or old, it shall be forfeited to the Governor, that so People may be compelled to avoid the Occasions of much Strife between Planters.

XVIII.

T H A T in clearing the Ground, Care be taken to leave one Acre of Trees for every _five_ Acres clear'd, especially to preserve Oak and Mulberries for Silk and s.h.i.+pping.

XIX.

T H A T all s.h.i.+p-Masters shall give an Account of their Countries, Names, s.h.i.+ps, Owners, Freights and Pa.s.sengers, to an Officer to be appointed for that Purpose, which shall be registred within _two_ Days after their Arrival; and if they shall refuse so to do, that then none presume to trade with them, upon Forfeiture thereof; and that such Masters be looked upon, as having an evil Intention to the Province.

XX.

T H A T no Person leave the Province, without Publication being made thereof, in the Market-Place, _three_ Weeks before, and a Certificate from some Justice of the Peace, of his Clearness with his Neighbours, and those he hath dealt withal, so far as such an a.s.surance can be attained and given: And if any Master of a s.h.i.+p shall, contrary hereunto, receive and carry away any Person, that hath not given that publick Notice, the said Master shall be liable to all Debts owing by the said Person, so secretly transported from the Province. _Lastly_, that these are to be added to, or corrected, by and with the Consent of the Parties hereunto subscribed.

William Penn;

_Sealed and delivered in the Presence of_

William Boelham, Harbert Springet, Thomas Prudyard.

_Sealed and delivered in the Presence of all the Proprietors who have hereunto subscribed, except_ Thomas Farrinborrough _and_ John Goodson, _in the Presence of_

Hugh Chamberlen, R. Murray, Harbert Springet, Humphry South, Thomas Barker, Samuel Jobson, John-Joseph Moore, William Powel, Richard Davie, Griffith Jones, Hugh Lambe, Thomas Farrinborrough, John Goodson.

_An_ A C T _of_ Settlement, _made at_ Chester, 1682.

W H E R E A S William Penn, Proprietary and Governor of the Province of _Pensylvania_, and Territories thereunto belonging, hath, out of his great Kindness and Goodness to the Inhabitants thereof, been favourably pleased to give and grant unto them a Charter of Liberties and Privileges, dated the _twenty-fifth_ Day of the _second_ Month, _One Thousand Six Hundred and Eighty-two_: By which Charter it is said, the Government shall consist of the Governor and Freemen of the said Province, in the Form of a provincial Council and general a.s.sembly; and that the provincial Council shall consist of _seventy-two_ Members, to be chosen by the Freemen; and that the general a.s.sembly may, the _first_ Year, consist of the whole Body of the Freeholders, and ever after of an elected Number, not exceeding _two hundred_ Persons, without the Consent of the provincial Council and general a.s.sembly: And such a.s.sembly to sit yearly on the _twentieth_ Day of the _third_ Month, as in the _first, second, third, sixth, fourteenth_ and _sixteenth_ Articles of the Charter, Reference being thereunto had, doth more at large appear.

A N D F O R A S M U C H as this Charter was the _first_ of those probationary Laws, that were agreed to and made by and between the Proprietary, and Governor, and Freemen in _England_, that were Purchasers in this Province, which said Laws, in the whole and in every Part thereof, were to be submitted to the Explanation and Confirmation of the _first_ provincial Council and general a.s.sembly that was to be held in this Province, as by the t.i.tle and _first_ Law of the said Agreement, doth plainly appear.

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