Roger Williams, Thomas Olney, John Smith, John Greene, John Cogeshall, James Barker, William Field, and Jofeph Clarke, to be the ten present Affiftants of the faid Company, to continue in the said several offices respectively until the first Wednesday which shall be in the month of May now next coming. And further, we will, and by these presents, for us, our heirs and fucceffors, do ordain and grant, That the Governor of the faid Company for the time being, or in his abfence, by occafion of sickness or otherwise, by his leave or permiffion the Deputy-Governor for the time being, shall and may, from time to time, upon all occafions, give order for the affembling of the faid Company, and calling them together, to confult and advife of the bufinefs and affairs of the faid Company; and that for ever hereafter, twice in every year, that is to fay, on every first Wednesday in the month of May, and on every last Wednesday in October, or oftener, in case it shall be requifite, the Affiftants, and fuch of the freemen of the faid Company, not exceeding fix perfons for Newport, four perfons for each of the refpective towns of Providence, Portfmouth, and Warwick, and two perfons for each other place, town or city, who fhall be from

time

time to time thereunto elected or deputed by the major part of the freemen of the respective towns or places for which they fhall be fo elected or deputed, fhall have a general meeting or affembly, then and there to confult, advise and determine, in and about the affairs and bufinefs of the said Company and Plantations. And further, we do of our efpecial grace, certain knowledge, and mere motion, give and grant unto the faid Governor and Company of the English colony of Rhode-Ifland and Providence Plantations, in New-England, in America, and their fucceffors, That the Governor, or in his abfence, or by his permiffion, the Deputy-Governor, of the faid Company for the time being, the Affiftants, and such of the freemen of the faid Company as shall be so aforefaid elected or deputed, or fo many of them as fhall be present at such meeting or affembly as aforefaid, fhall be called the General Affembly; and that they, or the greatest part of them then prefent, whereof the Governor, or Deputy-Governor, and fix of the Affiftants at least, to be feven, fhall have, and have hereby given and granted unto them full power and authority, from time to time, and

at

1

at all times hereafter, to appoint, alter, and change fuch days, times and places of meeting, and General Affembly, as they shall think fit; and to chufe, nominate, and appoint fuch and fo many perfons as they fhall think fit, and shall be willing to accept the fame, to be free of the faid Company and body politic, and them into the fame to admit; and to elect and conftitute fuch offices and officers, and to grant fuch needful commiffions as they shall think fit and requifite, for ordering, managing, and dispatching of the affairs of the faid Governor and Company, and their fucceffors; and, from time to time, to make, ordain, conftitute, or repeal, fuch laws, ftatutes, orders and ordinances, forms and ceremonies of government and magistracy, as to them fhall feem meet, for the good and welfare of the faid Company, and for the government and ordering of the lands and hereditaments herein after mentioned to be granted, and of the people that do, or at any time hereafter fhall inhabit, or be within the fame; fo as fuch laws, ordinances, and conftitutions, fo made, be not contrary and repugnant unto, but as near as may be agreeable to the laws of this our realm of England, confidering the nature and conftitution of the place and people

there;

there; and alfo to appoint, order, and direct, erect and settle fuch places and courts of jurisdiction, for hearing and determining of all actions, cafes, matters, and things, happening within the faid colony and plantation, and which shall be in difpute, and depending there, as they shall think fit; and alfo to distinguish and fet forth the feveral names and titles, duties, powers and limits, of each court, office and officer, fuperior and inferior; and alfo to contrive and appoint fuch forms of oaths and attestations, not repugnant, but as near as may be agreeable, as aforefaid, to the laws and ftatutes of this our realm, as are convenient and requifite, with respect to the due administration of justice, and due execution and discharge of all offices and places of truft, by the perfons that shall be therein concerned; and alfo to regulate and order the way and manner of all elections to offices and places of truft, and to prefcribe, limit and diftinguish the number and bounds of all places, towns and cities, within the limits and bounds herein after mentioned, and not herein particularly named, who have or shall have the power of electing and fending of freemen to the faid General Affem_ bly; and alfo to order, direct and authorise,

the

the impofing of lawful and reasonable fines, mulets, imprisonments, and executing other punishments, pecuniary and corporal, upon offenders and delinquents, according to the course of other corporations within this our kingdom of England: and again, to alter, revoke, annul or pardon, under their common feal, or otherwise, such fines, mulcts, imprisonments, fentences, judgments and condemnations, as shall be thought fit; and to direct, rule, order and difpofe of all other matters and things, and particularly that which relates to the making of purchases of the native Indians, as to them shall seem meet; whereby our faid people and inhabitants in the faid Plantations may be fo religiously, peaceably, and civilly governed, as that by their good life and orderly converfation they may win and invite the native Indians of the country to the knowledge and obedience of the only true God and Saviour of mankind; willing, commanding, and requiring, and by these presents, for us, our heirs, and fucceffors, ordaining and appointing, that all fuch laws, ftatutes, orders, and ordinances, inftructions, impositions, and directions, as fhall be fo made by the Governor, Deputy, Affiftants, and freemen, or fuch number

of