Page:1751 A collection of all the public acts of Assembly, of the province of North-Carolina now in force and use.pdf/21

Rh the same; and our Pleasure is, by these Presents, that they be separated, and that they be subject immediately to our Crown of England, as depending thereof, for ever : And that the Inhabitants of the said Province or Territory, nor any of them, shall, at any Time hereafter, be compelled, or compellable, or be any way subject or liable to appear or answer to any Matter, Suit, Cause or Plaint whatsoever, out of the Province or Territory aforesaid, in any other of our Islands, Colonies, or Dominions in America, or elsewhere, other than in our Realm of England, and Dominion of Wales.

AND because it may happen that some of the People and Inhabitants of the said Province, cannot, in their private Opinions, conform to the Public Exercise of Religion, according to the Liturgy, Forms, and Ceremonies of the Church of England, or take and subscribe the Oaths and Articles made and established in that Behalf; and for that the aame, by Reaaon of the remote Diatances of thoae Places, will, as we hope, be no Breach of the Unity and Conformity eatabliahed in this Nation; our Will and Pleaaure therefore is, and we do, by these Presents, for us, our-Heirs and Successors, give and grant unto the said Edward Earl of Clarendon, George Duke of Albemarle, William Earl of Craven, John Lord Berkeley, Anthony Lord Ashley, Sir George Carteret, Sir John Colleton, and Sir William Berkeley, their Heirs and Assigns, full and free Licence, Liberty, and Authority, by such Ways and Means as they shall think fit, to give and grant unto such Person and Persons, inhabiting and being within the said Province or Territory, hereby, or by the said recited Letters Patents mentioned to be granted as aforesaid, or any Part thereof, such Indulgences and Dispensations, in that Behalf, for and during such Time and Times, and with such Limitations and Restrictions, as they the said Edward Earl of Clarendon, George Duke of Albemarle, William Earl of Craven, John Lord Berkeley, Anthony Lord Ashley, Sir George Carteret, Sir John Colleton, and Sir William Berkeley, their Heirs or Assigns, shall, in their Discretion, think fit and reasonable: And that no Person or Persons unto whom such Liberty shall be given, shall be any way molested, punished, disquieted, or called in Question, for any Differences in Opinion, or Practice in Matters of religious Concernments, who do not actually disturb the Civil Peace of the Province, County or Colony, that they shall make their Abode in: But all and every such Perfon and Persons may, from Time to Time, and at all Times, freely and quietly have and enjoy his and their Judgments and Consciences, in Matters of Religion, throughout all the said Province or Colony, they behaving themselves peaceably, and not using this Liberty to Licentiousness, nor to the Civil Injury, or outward Disturbance of others: Any Law, Statute, or Clause, contained or to be contained, Usage or Custom of our Realm of England, to the contray hereof, in any-wise, notwithstanding.

AND in Case it shall happen, that any Doubts or Questions shall arise, concerning the true Sense and Understanding of any Word, Clause, or Sentence contained in this our present Charter; we will. Ordain, and command, that in all Times, and in all Things, such Interpre-