Preamble to the Charter of Pennsylvania
|
| King Charles II |
Charles the Second by the grace of (God) King of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith & Co.
To all to whom these presents shall come, greeting. Whereas our trusted and well beloved subject William Penn Esquire sonne and heir of Sr William Penn deceased, out of a comendable desire to enlarge our English Empire and promote such usefull comodities as may be of benefit to us and our dominions, as also to reduce the Savage Natives by Gentle and just manners to the Love of civil Society and Christian Religion, hath humbly besought leave of us to transport an ample Colony unto a certaine Country hereinafter described, in the parte of America not yet cultivated and planted. And hath likewise humbly besought our Royall Matie to give, grant, and confirme all the said Country with certaine priviledges and Jurisdicions requisite for the good government and safety of the said Country and Colony, to him and his heires for ever.
Know yee therefore that wee, favoring the petition and good purpose of the said William Penn, and haveing regard to the memory and merits of his late Father in diverse services and particularly to his conduct courage and dircctione {discretion} under our dearest Brother James, Duke of Yorke in that signall Battle and Victorie fought and obtained against the Dutch Fleet comanded by [illegible word deleted] {The}2 Heer Van Obdam in the yeare 1665.
(1768)
