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.
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._
[1] The charter of Pennsylvania, March 4, 1681, is printed in the _Charter to William Penn, and Laws of the Province of Pennsylvania_, Harrisburg, 1879, where a fac-simile of the original document is also reproduced. In the Public Record Office is a draft of the charter, dated February 28, 1681, and signed by the clerk of the Chapel of the Rolls (_Cal. State Papers, Colonial, 1681-1685_, p. 14; see also _Acts of Privy Council_, ii, 17). For the founding of Pennsylvania, see Shepherd's _History of Proprietary Government in Pennsylvania_.
Forasmuch as it hath pleased Almighty God lately to call unto his infinite Mercy the most High and Mighty Prince, Charles the Second of most Blessed Memory, the Kings Majesties most Dear and most Entirely Beloved Brother, by whose Decease the Authority and Power of the most part of the Officers and Places of Jurisdiction and Government within his Majesties Dominions did cease and fail, the Soveraign Person failing, from whom the same were derived. The Kings most Excellent Majesty in His Princely Wisdom and Care of the State (reserving to His Own Judgment hereafter, the Reformation and Redress of any Abuses in Mis-government, upon due Knowledge and Examination thereof) is Pleased, and hath so expresly Signified, That all Persons that at the time of the Decease of the late Kings His dearly beloved Brother, were Duly and Lawfully Possessed of, or Invested in any Office, or Place of Authority or Government, either Civil or Military, within His Majesties Realm of England and Ireland, Islands of Jerzey and Guernsey, Sark or Alderney, or within His Majesties Colonies and Plantations in America; And namely, all Governors, Lieutenants or Deputy-Governors, Councellors, Judges, Justices, Provost-Marshals, Sheriffs, Justices of the Peace, and all others in place of Government, either Meaner or Superior, as aforesaid; And all other Officers and Ministers, whose Interests and Estates in their Offices are determined, shall be, and shall hold themselves continued in the said Places and Offices, under the same Condition as formerly they held and enjoyed the same, until His Majesties Pleasure be further known, or that other Provision be made pursuant to His late Majesties Commission and Instructions to His Governors and Officers of the Islands, Colonies and Plantations aforesaid. And that in the mean while, for the Preservation of the State, and necessary Proceedings in matters of Justice, and for the Safety and Service of the State; All the said Persons of whatsoever Degree or Condition may not fail, every one severally, according to his Place, Office or Charge, to proceed in the Performance of all Duties thereunto belonging, as formerly appertained unto them, while the late King was living. And further, His Majesty doth hereby Will and Command all and singular His Highnesses Subjects, of what Estate, Dignity, and Degree, they or any of them be, to be Aiding, Helping and Assisting, and at the Commandment of the said Officers and Ministers, in the Performance and Execution of the said Offices and Places, as they and every of them Tender His Majesties Displeasure, and will answer the Contrary at their uttermost Perils. And further, His Majesty's Will and Pleasure and Express Commandment is, That all Orders and Directions Made or Given by the Late King, of most Blessed Memory, the Lords of His Privy-Council, or His Principal Secretaries of State, or other Legal Authority, derived from His said Majesty in His Lifetime, shall be Obeyed and Performed by all and every Person and Persons, and all and every Thing and Things to be done thereupon, shall Proceed as Fully and Amply as the same should have been Obeyed or Done, in the Life of the said Late King, His Majesty's most Dearly and most Entirely Beloved Brother, until His Majesties Pleasure be further known thereupon.[1]