Whereas 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,[1] 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 Newcastle Town, unto the Three and fourtieth
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
fourtieth 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 fourtieth
Degree of Northern Latitude, and on the south by a Circle Drawn at
Twelve Miles distance from Newcastle Northwards, and Westwards unto the
Beginning of the Fourtieth Degree of Northern Latitude, and then by
a straight line Westwards to the limit of Longitude above mentioned,
together with all Powers, Preheminencies and Jurisdictions necessary
for the Government of the said Province, as by the said Letters
Patents, Reference being thereunto had, doth more at large appear.
His Majesty doth therefore hereby Publish and Declare His Royal Will
and Pleasure, That all Persons Settled 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 Requires a ready Complyance from all Persons whom it may
concern, as they tender His Majesties Displeasure.
Given at the Court at Whitehall the Second day of April 1681. In the
Three and thirtieth year of Our Reign.
To the Inhabitants and
Planters of the Province
of Pennsilvania.
By his Majesties Command,
CONWAY.
London, Printed by the Assigns of John Bill, Thomas Newcomb, and
Henry Hills, Printers to the Kings most Excellent Majesty. 1681.
_1 p. folio. Copy in B. M. Printed in "Charter to William Penn, and
Laws of the Province of Pennsylvania," 1879, p. 466, from original in
Land Office at Harrisburg. Reproduced in lithograph fac-simile in J. J.
Smith's "American Historical and Literary Curiosities," 1860, series 2,
pl. 43._