A brief account of the province of Pennsilvania lately granted by the King, under the great seal of England, to William Penn, and his heirs and assigns.

A brief Account of the Province of PENNSILVANIA, lately Granted by the KING, under the Great Seal of England, to William Penn and his Heirs and Aſſigns.

SInce (by the good Providence of God, and the Favour of the King) a Country in America is fallen to my Lot, I thought it not leſs my Duty, than my Honeſt Intereſt, to give ſome publick notice of it to the World, that thoſe of our own and other Nations, that are inclin'd to Tranſport themſelves or Families beyond the Seas, may find another Country added to their Choice; that if they ſhall happen to like the Place, Conditions, and Government, (ſo far as the preſent Infancy of things will allow us any proſpect) they may, if they pleaſe, fix with me in the Province hereafter deſcribed.

I. The KING'S Title to this Country before he granted it.

It is the Jus Gentium, or Law of Nations, that whatever Waſte, or unculted Country, is the Diſcovery of any Prince, it is the right of that Prince that was at the Charge of the Diſcovery: Now this Province is a Member of that part of America, which the King of Englands Anceſtors have been at the Charge of Diſcovering, and which they and he have taken great care to preſerve and Improve.

II. William Penn's Title from the KING.

An Abſtract of the PATENT GRANTED BY THE KING TO VVilliam Penn, &c. The Fourth of March, 1681.

I. VVE do Give and Grant for Vs, Our Heirs and Succeſſours (upon divers conſiderations) to William Penn his Heirs and Aſſigns for ever all that Tract of Land in America with all Iſlands thereunto belonging That is to ſay from the beginning of the fortieth Degree of North-Latitude unto the forty third Degree of North-Latitude whoſe Eaſtern bounds from Twelve Engliſh miles above New-Caſtle (alias Delaware Town) runs all along upon the ſide of Delaware River.

II. Free and underſturb'd uſe and paſſage into and out of all Harbours Bays Waters Rivers Iſles and Inlets belonging to or leading to the ſame Together with the Soyle Fields Woods Vnderwoods Mountains Hills Fenns Iſles Lakes Rivers Waters Rivulets Bays and Inlets Scituate in or belonging unto the Limits and Bounds afore ſaid Together with all ſorts of Fiſh Mines Mettals, &c. To have and to hold to the only behoof of the ſaid William Penn his Heirs and Aſſigns for ever To be holden of Vs as of our Caſtle of Windſor in free and common Soccage paying only two Beaver Skins yearly.

III. And of our further Grace we have thought it fit to erect and we do hereby erect the aforeſaid Country and Iſlands into a Province and Seigniory and do call it Pennſilvania and ſo from henceforth we will have it call'd.

IV. That repoſing ſpecial confidence in the Wiſdom and Iuſtice of the ſaid William Penn we do grant to him and his Heirs and their Deputies for the good and happy Government thereof to Ordain and Enact and under his and their Seals to publiſh any Laws whatever for the publick uſes of the ſaid Province by and with the Advice and Approbation of the Free-holders of the ſaid Country or their Delegates ſo as they be not repugnant to the Law of this Realm and to the Faith and Allegiance due unto us by the legal Government thereof; and that he and they may call the ſaid Free-holders or Deligates in ſuch manner as to him and them ſeemeth beſt.

V. Full power to the ſaid William Penn, &c. to appoint Iudges Leiutenants Iuſtices Magiſtrates a • d Offcers for what cauſes ſoever and with what Power and in ſuch Form as to him ſeems convenient alſo to be able to Pardon and Aboliſh Crimes and Offences and to do all and every other thing that to the compleat Eſtabliſhment of Iuſtice unto Courts and Tribunals forms of Iudicature and manner of proceedings do belong and our pleaſure is and ſo we enjoyn and require that ſuch Laws and Proceedings ſhall be moſt abſolute and available in Law and that all the Liege people of us our Heirs and Succeſſors inviolably keep the ſame in thoſe parts ſaving to us final Appeals.

VI. That the Laws for regulating property as well for the deſcent of Lands as enjoyment of Goods and Chattels and likewiſe as to Felonies ſhall be the ſame there as here in England until they ſhall be altered by the ſaid William Penn his Heirs or Aſſigns and by the Freemen of the ſaid Province or their Delegates or Deputies or the greater part of them.

VII. Furthermore that this new Colony may the more happily encreaſe by the multitude of People reſorting thither therefore we for us our Heirs and Succeſſors do hereby grant Licenſe to all the Leige People preſent and future of us, &c. (excepting ſuch as ſhall be ſpecially forbidden) to Tranſport themſelves and Families into the ſaid Country there to Inhabit and Plant for the publick and their private Good.

VIII. Liberty to Tranſport what Goods or Commodities are not forbidden paying here the Legal Cuſtoms due to us, &c.

IX. Power to divide the Country into Counties Hundreds and Towns to Incorporate Towns into Burroughs and Burroughs into Cities to make Fairs and Markets with convenient priviledges according to the merit of the Inhabitants or the fitneſs of the place And to do all other thing or things touching the premiſes which to the ſaid William Penn his Heirs or Aſſigns ſhall ſeem meet and requiſite albeit they be ſuch as of their own nature might otherwiſe require a more ſpecial Commandment and warrant than in theſe preſents is expreſſed.

X. Liberty to Import the Growth or Manufactures of that Province into England paying here the Legal duty.

XI. Power to Erect Ports Harbours Creeks Havens Keys and other places for Merchandizes with ſuch Juriſdiction and priviledges as to the ſaid William Penn, &c. ſhall ſeem expedient.

XII. Not to break the Acts of Navigation neither Governour nor Inhabitants upon the penalties contained in the ſaid Acts.

XIII. Not to be in League with any Prince or Country that is in War againſt us our Heirs and Succeſſors.

XIV. Power of ſafety and defence in ſuch way and manner as to the ſaid William Penn, &c. ſeems meet.

XV. Full power to Aſſign Alien Grant Demiſe or Enfeoff of the premiſes ſo many and ſuch parts and parcels to thoſe that are willing to purchaſe the ſame as the ſaid William Penn thinks fit To have and to hold to them the ſaid perſons their Heirs or Succeſſours in fee Simple or fee Tail or for term of Life or Lives or years to be held of the ſaid William Penn, &c. as of the ſaid Seigniory of Windſor by ſuch Services Cuſtoms and Rents as ſhall ſeem fit to the ſaid William Penn his Heirs and Aſſigns and not immediately of us our Heirs or Succeſſours and that the ſaid perſons may take the premiſſes or any parcel thereof of the ſaid William Penn, &c. and the ſame hold to themſelves their Heirs and Aſſigns the Statute Quia emptores Terrarum in any wiſe notwithſtanding.

XVI. We give and grant Licenſe to any of thoſe perſons to whom the ſaid William Penn, &c. has granted any Eſtate of Inheritance as aforeſaid with the conſent of the ſaid William Penn to Erect any parcel of Lands within the ſaid Province into Mannors to hold Courts Baron and view of Franck-pledge, &c. by Themſelves or Stewards.

XVII. Power to thoſe perſons to Grant others the ſame Tenures in Fee Simple or otherwiſe to be held of the ſaid Mannors reſpectively and upon all further Alienations the Land to be held of the Mannor that it held of before the Alienation.

XVIII. We do Covenant and Grant to and with the ſaid William Penn his Heirs and Asſigns that we will not ſet or make any Cuſton or other Taxation upon the Inhabitants of the ſaid Province upon Lands Houſes Goods Chattels or Merchandizes except with the conſent of the Inhabitants and Governour.

XIX. Power to the Biſhop of London to ſend over a Miniſter, if deſired by any Twenty Perſons Inhabiting in that Province.

XX. A charge that no Officers nor Miniſters of us our Heirs and Succeſſors do preſume at any time to attempt any thing to the contrary of the premiſes or in any ſort withſtand the ſame but that they be at all times aiding to the ſaid William Penn and his Heirs and to the Inhabitants and Merchants their Factors and Aſſigns in the full uſe and benefit of this our Charter.

XXI. And if any doubts or queſtions ſhall hereafter ariſe about the true ſenſe or meaning of any Word Clauſe or Sentence contained in this our Charter We will Ordain and Command that at all times and in all things ſuch Interpretation be made thereof and allowed in any of our Courts whatſoever as ſhall be adjudged moſt advantageous and favourable unto the ſaid William Penn his Heirs and Aſſigns ſo as it be not againſt the Faith and Allegiance due to Vs our Heirs and Succeſſors.

In Witneſs whereof we have cauſed our Letters to be made Patents. Witneſs our ſelf at Weſtminiſter, &c.

The KING'S Declaration to the Inhabitants and Planters of the Province of PENNSILVANIA. CHAREES R.

VVHereas His Majeſty in conſideration of the great merit and faithful ſervices of Sir William Penn deceaſed, and for divers other good Cauſes Him thereunto moving, hath been graciouſly pleaſed by Letters Patents bearing Date the Fourth day of March laſt paſt, to Give and Grant unto William Penn Eſquire, Son and Heir of the ſaid Sir William Penn, all that Tract of Land in America, called by the Name of Pennſilvania, as the ſame is Bounded on the Eaſt by Delaware River, from Twelve miles diſtance Northwards of New-Caſtle Town, unto the three and fortieth Degree of Northern Latitude, if the ſaid River doth extend ſo far Northwards, and if the ſaid River ſhall not extend ſo far Northward, then by the ſaid River ſo far as it doth extend: And from the Head of the ſaid River, the Eaſtern Bounds to be determined by a Meridian Line to be drawn from the Head of the ſaid River, unto the ſaid Three and fortieth Degree, the ſaid Province to extend Weſtward Five Degrees in Longitude, to be Computed from the ſaid Eaſtern Bounds, and to be bounded on the North, by the Beginning of the Three and fortieth Degree of Northern Latitude, and on the South, by a Circle drawn at Twelve Miles diſtance from New-Caſtle Northwards, and Weſtwards unto the beginning of the fortieth Degree of Northern Latitude; and then by a ſtraight Line Weſtwards to the limit of Longitude above mentioned, together with all powers, Preheminences, and Iuriſdictions neceſſary for the Government of the ſaid Province, as by the ſaid Letters Parents, Reference being thereunto had, doth more at large appear.

His Maieſty doth therefore hereby publiſh and Declare his Royal Will and Pleaſure, That all perſons Setled or Inhabiting within the Limits of the ſaid Province, do yield all Due Obedience to the ſaid William Penn, His Heirs and Aſſigns, as abſolute Proprietaries and Governours thereof, as alſo to the Deputy or Deputies, Agents or Lieutenants, Lawfully Commiſſionated by him or them, according to the Powers and Authorities Granted by the ſaid Letters Patents: Wherewith his Majeſty Expects and Requites a ready Complyance from all perſons whom it may concern, as they tender his Majeſties Diſpleaſure.

Given at the Court at White-Hall the Second day of April, 1681. In the Three and thirrieth year of Our Reign. By His Majeſties Command, Conway,

III. The Reaſon of the Grant.

The reaſon and ground of this Grant from the King, to Him and his Heirs, &c. Was his Petition to the King, in which he ſet forth, His Fathers Services, his own Sufferings and Loſſes, in relation to his Fathers Eſtate; And laſtly, His long and coſtly Attendance without ſucceſs: In right, and conſideration of which, the King was graciouſly pleaſed to make the aforeſaid Grant; to which Title, the ſaid William Penn adds that of the Natives by purchaſe from them.

IV. Of the Country, and its Produce.

It lies 600. Miles South of the Latitude of England; and as it is of the ſame ſide of the Line, ſo it is about the ſame degree with Mompellier in France, or Naples in Italy: The Air is generally clear and ſweet, the Summer is longer and Hotter; and Winter ſhorter, and ſometimes Colder than in England: The Soil is ſaid to be as good as any in thoſe parts. It commonly produceth Oak, Cedar, Mulbery, Cheſnut, Walnut, Firr, Cyprus, Aſh, Beech, Popaler, Saxafras, Medaler, Plumbs, Grapes, Peaches, Strawberries, Huckleberries, Cranberries, Hopps, &c. Engliſh Fruit takes kindly, and produceth ſuddainly and plentifully: The Woods are furniſhed with Store of Wild Fowl, as Turkeys, Pheaſants, Heath Cocks, Patridges, Pidgeons, &c. The Earth well Watered with Springs and Rivers, and the Rivers ſtored with Fiſh, as Sturgions, Sheepſheads, Drums, Cat-fiſh, Eeles, and abundance more: With Fowl, as Swans, Gray and White Geeſe, Duck, Mallard, &c. The Corn of the Country uſed by the Indians, produceth four hundred fold, is Good and Hearty, both in Milk, and made into Bread; the price two Shillings ſix pence the Buſhel: There is alſo good Engliſh Corn, as Wheat, Barly, Rye, and Oates; Wheat under four Shillings the Buſhel, Barly and Rye, under three Shillings the Buſhel, Oates about two Shillings the Buſhel: There are alſo very good Peaſe, and Beans of ſeveral ſorts. The Beef is good, but Pork is very Sweet: The Beef at three pence, the Pork at two pence half-penny the pound; Butter at ſix pence a pound, Peaches to Eat, or make Drink of, at eight pence the Buſhel; a Cow and Calf about the Spring of the Year, at five pounds, a pair of Oxen at ten pounds, a good Breeding Sow at thirty Shillings, a Young good Breeding Mare, at eight pounds. But it is to be Noted, that theſe foregoing priſes and ſums, are to be paid with one half of the Value in Engliſh Goods, at the Rates they are bought at in England; for example, four pounds Engliſh paies for the Breeding Mare, that is Rated at eight pounds, the like with the reſt.

The Country alſo abounds with ſeveral ſorts of Wild Creatures, as Elkes, Deer, Beavers, Racoons, Mincks, Martins, Wild Catts, Otters, &c. ſome of which are good Food, and Cheap, as a Fat Buck at two Shillings Engliſh Goods, others of them conſiderable for their Furs: The way of Traffique, is to ſend to the Southern Plantations, Corn, Beef, Pork, Fiſh, Sider, and Pipeſtaves; the Skins and Furs for England. The Conveniency that belongs to the Province in point of Navigation, is two fold; the one through Cheſapeak Bay, and the other Delaware Bay, by which Ships of great Burthen may come and Trade to the ſaid Province.

V. Of the preſent Inhabitants.

That part of the Country which is at all Inhabited, is at the head of Cheſapeak Bay, and on the Weſt ſide of Delaware River, they are by Nation, Swedes, Dutch, Engliſh, who are capable of giving Entertainment to New Commers till they can provide for themſelves.

VI. What the Country is believed capable of.

It is thought by ſeveral knowing Perſons, that have Travelled thoſe parts of America, and have been well acquainted with places in Europe of the ſame degree, that there may be Silk, and Wine, if not Oyle; and for Flax, Hemp, Wood, Madder, Liquoriſh, Pot-aſhes, and Iron, there needs to be no queſtion.

VII. Of the Government. 1ſt. The Governour and Free-men, have the power of making Laws, ſo that no Law can be made; nor Money raiſed, But by the Peoples conſent. 2ly. That the Rights of the People of England are in force there. 3ly. That making no Law againſt Allegiance, they may make all Laws requiſite for the Proſperity, and Security of the ſaid Province.

VIII. Of the Conditions.

The Province is caſt at a penny an Acre; But he ſets apart ſeveral parcels, which he calls Shares; theſe he ſells; ſaving a Quit-rent, neceſſary for to ſecure the Title and Tenure: That is, whereas 5000. Acres (which makes a Share) comes (at a penny an Acre) to 20. l. 16. s. 8. d. yearly, for 100. l. down, he ſells off that yearly Rent, 18. l. 6. s. 8. d. and reſerves but 50. s. which may be reduc'd as the purchaſer pleaſes, but ſomething muſt be re-ſecur'd for the Security of his Title: To which ſhares ſo ſold the Royalties proper to Mannors in England, as Hunting, Fowling, Fiſhing, with all common Mines, Minerals, and a Proportion of Royal Mines alſo (if found within any ones propriety) is affixed by the general Conditions and Conceſſions.

And that ſuch as are not able to purchaſe, yet willing to go, and capable to pay their Paſſage, and their Servants, may not be excluded. It is hereby Declared, that every ſuch Perſon, for himſelf, and Wife, and every Child, Male or Female, if ſixteen Years of Age, ſhall have right to take up at 1. d. per Acre, Fifty Acres by the Head, to him and his Heirs for ever, in lieu of Purchaſing, which ſhall be by the Surveyor of the Country ſet out ſo ſoon as the ſaid perſon comes to take it up: And to encourage ſuch Children and Servants to ſerve their Parents, Maſters, or Miſtreſſes, the full time for which they are Engaged, Diligently and Faithfully. Every ſuch Child or Servant, ſhall have Right to take up 50. Acres at but two Shillings Quit-Rent for ever, which makes him Free-holder of the Country.

IX. Perſons fitteſt for Plantations.

Thoſe perſons that providence ſeems to have fitted for Plantations, are Induſtrious-Husbandmen, Laborious Handicrafts: As Carpenters, Ship-wrights, Rope-makers, Smiths, Brick-makers, Weavers, Taylors, Tanners, Coopers, Mill-wrights, Joyners, Shooe-makers, Turners, Potters, ſuch as dreſs Flax, Hemp, and Wool; With many others.

It ſeems alſo a fit place for Younger Brothers, and Men of ſmall Eſtates, who with the Induſtry of a few Servants, may in two or three years time, be plentifully accommodated; Alſo all Ingenious Men, that are lovers of Planting, Gardening, and the like quiet, and uſeful Imployments.

A Plantation ſeems a fit place for thoſe Ingenious Spirits, that being Low in the World, are much clog'd and oppreſſed about a Lively-hood; for the means of Subſiſting being eaſy there, they may have time, and opportunity to Gratify their Inclinations; and thereby improve Science, and help Nurſeries of People.

There are another ſort of Perſons, not only fit for, but neceſſary in Plantations; and that is, Men of Univerſal Spirits, that have an Eye to the good of Poſterity; and that both underſtand, and delight to promote good Diſcipline, and Juſt Government among a Plain and Well intending People: Such Perſons may find room in Colonies, for their good Council and Contrivance, who are ſhut out from being of much uſe or ſervice to great Nations, under ſettled Cuſtoms.

But they that go, muſt wiſely count the Coſt, For they muſt either work themſelves, or be able to imploy others. A Winter goes before a Summer, and the firſt work will be Countrey Labour, to clear Ground, and raiſe Proviſion; other things by degrees.

X. What is fit for the Journey, and ſtrſt to be done there. 1ſt. The Paſſage for Men and Women is Five Pounds a head, for Children under Ten Years, Fifty Shillings, Sucking Children Nothing, for Freight of Goods, Forty Shillings per Tun; but one Cheſt to every Paſſenger Free. 2ly. The Goods fit to take with them for uſe or ſale; are all Utenſils for Husbandry and Building, and Houſe-hold-ſtuff; Alſo all ſorts of things for Apparel, as Cloath, Stuffes, Linnen, &c. Wherein all that deſire, may be more particularly Informed, by Philip Ford, at the Hood and Scarf in Bow-lane in London. Laſtly, Being by the Mercy of God ſafely Arrived; be it in October, Two Men may clear as much Ground for Corn, as uſually brings by the following Harveſt above Twenty-Quarters; In the mean time they muſt buy Corn, which they may have as aforeſaid; and if they buy them two Cows, and two Breeding Sows; with what the Indians for a ſmall matter will bring in, of Fowl, Fiſh, and Veniſon (which is incredibly Cheap, as a Fat Buck for Two Shillings) that, and their induſtry will ſupply them. It is Apprehended, that Fifteen Pounds ſtock for each Man (who is firſt well in Cloaths, and provided with fit working Tools for himſelf) will (by the Bleſſing of God) carry him thither, and keep him, till his own Plantation will Accommodate him. But all are moſt ſeriouſly cautioned, how they proceed in the diſpoſal of themſelves; 'Tis true, The Earth is the Lords, and the Fullneſs thereof; and it ſeems to many, to be the time wherein thoſe deſolate Weſtern parts of the World are to be Planted, and have their Day, as Aſia, Africa, and Europe have had (of which there are divers Propheſies extant) yet let all have a Reverend regard to God's Providence in their Removal, and be ſerious in it, rather ſeeking the Comforts of retirement, and ſufficiency for Life (like the Bleſſed Patriarhs of old) than Eaſe, Fulneſs, and Wealth.

And it is further Adviſed that all ſuch as go, would at leaſt get the Permiſſion, if not the good Liking of their near Relations; for that is both Natural, and a Duty incumbent upon all: And by this means will natural Affection be Preſerved, and a Friendly, and Profitable Correſpondence maintained between them. In all which, God Almighty (who is the Salvation of the Ends of the Earth) Direct us, that His Bleſſings may attend our Honeſt Indeavours; and then the Conſequence of all our Undertakings, will be to the Glory of His Great Name, and the true Happineſs of Us, and our Poſterity. Amen.

William Penn.