THE CONCESSIONS AND AGREEMENTS

Part II: Which assemblies are to have power

WHICH ASSEMBLIES ARE TO HAVE POWER

1. To appoint their own times of meeting, and to adjorne their Sessions from time to time, to such times and places as they shall think convenient, As alsoe to ascertaine the number of their Quorum Provided that such numbers be not lesse than the third part of the whole in whome (or more) shall be the full power the generall Assembly viz't.

2. To enact and make all such Lawes Acts and Constitutions as shalbe necessarie for the well Government of the said Province, and them to repeale: Provided that the same be consonant to reason, and, as neere as may be conveniently agreeable to the Lawes and Customes of his Ma[ties] Kingdom of England Provided also that they be not against the interest of us the Lords Propriators our heires or assignes nor any of those our Concessions, especiallie that they be not repugnant to the Article for Libertie of Conscience abovemenc'oned Which Lawes &c. soe made shall receive Publicacon from the Governor and Councell (but as the Lawes of us and our generall Assembly) and be in force for the space of one yeare and noe more unles contradicted by the Lords Propriators within which time they are to bee presented to us our heires &c. for our Ratificacon, and being confirmed by us they shall be in continuall force till expired by their own limitation or by Act of Repeale in like manner to be passed as aforesaid and confirmed.

3. By Act as aforesaid to constitute all Courts together with the Limitts powers and Jurisdictions of the same, as alsoe the severall Offices and number of Officers belonging to each Court, with their respective Sallaries ffees and perquisits, their appellac'ons and dignities, with the penalties that shall be due to them for the breach of their severall and respective duties and Trusts.

4. By Act as aforesaid to lay equall taxes and assessments equally to raise moneys or goods upon all Lands (excepting the Lands of us the Lords Propriators before setling) or persons within the severall Precincts Hundreds Parishes, Manors or whatsoever other Divisions shall hereafter be made and established in the said Province as oft as necesity shall require and in such manner as to them shall seem most equall and easie for the said inhabitants in order to the better supporting of the publique charge of the said Goverment , and for the mutuall safetye defence and securitie of the said Province.

5. By Act as aforesaid to erect within the said Province such and soe many Manors with their necessarie Courts Jurisdictions ffreedoms and Priviledges as to them shall seem meet and convenient, as alsoe to devide the said Province into Hundreds Tribes Parishes or such other Divisions or distinctions as they shall think fitt, and the said Divisions to distinguish by what names wee shall order or direct, And in default thereof by such names as they please, As alsoe within the said Province to create and appoint such and soe many Ports Harbors Creekes and other places for the convenient lading and unlading of goods and Merchandizes out of Shipps Boates and other vessells as shalbe expedient, with such Jurisdictions priviledges and ffranchises to such Ports &c belonging as they shall judge most conducing to the generall good of the said Plantac'ons or Province.

6. By their Enacting to be confirmed as aforesaid to erect raise and build within the said Province or any part thereof such and soe many fforts ffortresses Castles Citties, Corporat'ons Burroughs, Towns, Villages, and other places of Strength and defence, and them or any of them to incorporate with such Charters and Priviledges as to them shall seem good and the Grant made unto us will permitt, and the same or any of them to ffortifie and furnish with such Provisions and proporc'ons of Ordinance powder shott Armour and all other weapons Amunition and Habiliments of Warr both offensive and deffensive as shall be thought necessary and convenient for the safety and welfare of the said Province; But they may not at any time demolish dismantle or disfurnish the same without the consent of the Governor and the major part of the Councell of the said Province.

7. By Act as aforesaid to constitute Trained bands and companies with the number of Soldiers for the safety strength and defense of the said Province; and of the fforts Castles Citties &c. to suppresse all Mutinies and Rebellions, To make Warr Offensive and Defensive with all Indians Strangers and ffoureigners, as they shall see cause; And to pursue an Enemye by Sea as well as by Land if need be out of the limitts and Jurisdictions of the said Province, with the perticuler consent of the Governor or under his conduct or of our Com'ander in chiefe, or whom he shall appoint.

8. By Act as aforesaid to give unto all Strangers as to them shall seem meet A naturalization, and all such freedomes and priviledges within the said Province as to his Ma[ties] subjects doe of right belong they Swearing or subscribeing as aforesaid Which said Strangers soe naturalized and priviledged shall be in all respects accompted in the said Province as the Kings naturall subjects.

9. By Act as aforesaid to prescribe the quantities of Land which shall be from time to time allotted to every head, free or Servant, Male or ffemale, and to make and ordeine rules for the casting of lotts for Land and the laying out of the same, Provided they doe not in their prescripc'ons exceed the severall proporc'ons which are hereby graunted by us to all persons arriving in the said Province or Adventuring thither.

10. The generally Assembly by Act as aforesaid shall make provision for the maintenance and support of the Governor, and for the defrayeing all necessarie charges of the Government As alsoe that the Constables of the said Province shall Collect the Lords Rent, and shall pay the same to, the Receiver that the Lords shall appoint to receive the same, unles the said generall assembly shall prescribe some other way whereby the Lords may have their Rents duely collected without charge or trouble to them.

11. Lastlie to enact constitute and ordeine all such other Lawes Acts and Constituc'ons as shall or may be necessary for the good property and settlement of the said Province (excepting what by these presents is excepted And conforming to the limitac'ons herein exprest.