of the reign of King George the first, intituled, "An act for the further fecurity of his Majesty's perfon and government, and the fucceffion We have alfo thought fit, with the advice of our privy council as aforefaid, to Power to give unto our governours and councils of our faid three new colonies upon the grant lands. continent full power and authority to fettle and agree with the inhabitants of our faid new colonies, or any other perfon who fhall refort thereto, for fuch lands, tenements, and hereditaments as are now, or hereafter fhall be, in our power to difpofe of, and them to grant to any fuch perfon or perfons, upon fuch terms and under fuch moderate quit-rents, fervices, and acknowledgments as have been appointed and fettled in other colonies, and under fuch other conditions as fhall appear to us to be neceffary and expedient for the advantage of the grantees, and the improvement and fettlement of our faid colonies. And whereas we are defirous, upon all occafions, to teftify our royal fenfe and Lands to be approbation of the conduct and bravery of the officers and foldiers of our armies, granted to and to reward the fame, we do hereby command and impower our governours of reduced offiour several three new colonies, and other our governours of our feveral provinces cers and folon the continent of North America, to grant, without fee or reward, to fuch re- diers. duced officers and foldiers as have ferved in North America, during the late war, and are actually refiding there, and fhall perfonally apply for the fame, the following quantities of land, subject at the expiration of ten years, to the fame quit-rents as other lands are fubject to in the province within which they are granted, as alfo fubject to the fame conditions of cultivation and improveinent, viz. To every perfon having the rank of a field officer, 5000 acres. To every captain, 3000 acres. To every fubaltern or staff officer, 2000 acres. To every non-commiffioned officer, 200 acres. To every private man, 50 acres. We do likewife authorize and require the governours and commanders in chief And likewise of all our faid colonies upon the continent of North America to grant the like quan- to reduced tities of land, and upon the fame conditions, to fuch reduced officers of our navy officers of the of like rank as ferved on board our fhips of war in North America at the times navy. of the reduction of Louifbourg and Quebeck in the late war, and who fhall perfonally apply to our refpective governours for fuch grants. And whereas it is juft and reasonable, and effential to our intereft, and the security of our colonies, that the feveral nations or tribes of Indians, with whom we are connected, and who live under our protection, should not be molested or difturbed in the poffeffion of fuch parts of our dominions and territories as, not having been ceded to us, are referved to them, or any of them, as their hunting grounds; we do therefore, with the advice of our privy council, declare it to be our royal will and pleasure, that no governour or commander in chief in any of our colonies of Quebeck, Eaft Florida, or Weft Florida, do prefume, upon any No pretence whatever, to grant warrants of furvey, or pafs any patents, for lands gover beyond the bounds of their respective governments, as defcribed in their comnor shall miffions; as alfo that no governour or commander in chief of our other colo- make grants nies or plantations in America do prefume, for the prefent, and until our fur- of lands that ther pleasure be known, to grant warrants of furvey, or pafs patents, for any lands beyond the heads or fources of any of the rivers which fall into the At- fold or ceded lantic Ocean from the weft or north-weft, or upon any lands whatever, which, to the king by not having been ceded to or purchased by us as aforefaid, are referved to the faid the Indians. Indians, or any of thom. have not been And we do further declare it to be our royal will and pleasure, for the prefent, as All tbt lands aforefaid, to referve under our fovereignty, protection, and dominion, for the use of not included the faid Indians, all the land and territories not included within the limits of our in the new faid three new governments, or within the limits of the territory granted to governments the Hudson's Bay company; as alfo all the land and territories lying to the shall be reweftward of the fources of the rivers which fall into the fea from the weft and ferved for north-west as aforesaid; and we do hereby strictly forbid, on pain of our dif- the Indians. pleasure, 1 fucceffion of the crown in the heirs of the late princefs Sophia, being proteftants, and for extinguishing the hopes of the pretended prince of Wales, and his open and fecret abettors;" as alfo that you make and fubfcribe the declaration mentioned in an act of parliament made in the twenty-fifth year of the reign of King Charles the second, intituled, " An act for preventing dangers pleasure, all our loving fubjects from making any purchases or fettlements whatfoever, or taking poffeffion of any of the lands above reserved, without our especial leave and licenfe for that purpose first obtained. All perfons And we do further strictly enjoin and require all perfons whatfoever, who have fettled on the either wilfully or inadvertently feated themselves upon any lands within the coungrounds re- tries above defcribed, or upon any other lands which, not having been ceded to Jerved for or purchased by us, are ftill referved to the faid Indians as aforefaid, forthwith the Indians to remove themselves from fuch fettlements. are required to retire therefrom. The trade And whereas great frauds and abuses have been committed in the purchafing lands of the Indians, to the great prejudice of our interefts, and to the great diffatisfaction of the faid Indians; in order therefore to prevent fuch irregularities for the future, and to the end that the Indians may be convinced of our juftice and determined refolution to remove all reasonable cause of difcontent, we do, with the advice of our privy council, ftrictly enjoin and require, that no private No private perfon do prefume to make any purchase from the faid Indians of any lands reprivate perferved to the faid Indians, within those parts of our colonies where we have fons fall thought proper to allow fettlement; but if at any time any of the faid Indians purchase any fhould be inclined to difpofe of the faid lands, the fame fhall be purchased only Lands of the for us, in our name, in fome public meeting or affembly of the faid Indians, to Indians. be held for that purpofe by the governour or commander in chief of our colony respectively within which they fhall lie and in cafe they fhall lie within the limits of any proprietaries, conformable to fuch directions and inftructions as we or they hall think proper to give for that purpose. And we do, by the advice of with the In- our privy council, declare and enjoin, that the trade with the faid Indians fhall dians fhall be be free and open to all our fubjects whatever; provided that every person who may incline to trade with the said Indians, do take out a licenfe for carrying on fuch trade from the governour or commander in chief of any of our colonies respectively where fuch perfon fhall refide, and also give fecurity to observe such regulations as we fhall at any time think fit, by ourselves or commiffaries to be appointed for this purpofe, to direct and appoint for the benefit of the faid trade: and we do hereby authorize, enjoin and require the governours and commanders in chief of all our colonies refpectively, as well thofe under our immediate government, as thofe under the government and direction of proprietaries, to grant fuch licences without fee or reward, taking especial care to infert therein a condition that fuch license shall be void, and the fecurity forfeited, in cafe the perfon to whom the fame is granted fhall refufe or neglect to obferve fuch regulations as we shall think proper to prefcribe as aforefaid. free to all the King's Jubjects. Power to And we do further exprefsly enjoin and require all officers whatever, as well Seixe and military as thofe employed in the management and direction of the Indian affend back fairs within the territories referved, as aforefaid, for the use of the faid Indians, criminals, to feize and appehend all perfons whatever, who ftanding charged with treason, who fly from mifprifon of treafon, murder, or other felonies or mifdemeanors, shall fly from justice to the juftice and take refuge in the faid territory, and to fend them under a proper Indian coun- guard to the colony where the crime was committed of which they shall ftand accufed, in order to take their trial for the fame. try. Given at our court of St. James's, the 7th day of October 1763, in the third year of our reign. GOD Save the KIN G. fice. which may happen from Popish recufants ;" and likewife that you Oath of Of take the oath of office ufually taken by our governours in the other colonies for the due execution of the office and truft of our captain general and governour in chief in and over our faid province, and for the due and impartial administration of juftice; and further, that you take the oath required to Oath to obbe taken by the governours of the plantations to do their ut- ferve the moft that the feveral laws relating to trade and plantations be ing to trade duly obferved: which faid oaths and declarations our coun- and plantacil of our faid province, or any three of the members thereof, have hereby full power and authority, and are hereby required, to tender and administer to you.* All The following are oaths of allegiance and abjuration of the Pope's power, and the Pretender's right to the crown of Great Britain. I. The OATH of ALLEGIANCE. I A. B. do fincerely promife and swear, that I will be faithful, and bear true allegiance, to his Majesty King George. So help me GOD. II. The OATH of ABJURATION of the POPE's POWER. I A. B. do fwear, that I do from my heart abhor, deteft, and abjure, as impious and heritical, that damnable doctrine and pofition, that princes excommunicated or deprived by the Pope, or any authority of the fee of Rome, may be depofed or murdered by their fubjects, or any other whatsoever. And I do declare, that no foreign prince, perfon, prelate, ftate, or potentate, hath, or ought to have, any jurisdiction, power, fuperiority, pre-eminence, or authority, ecclefiaftical or spiritual, within this realm. So help me GOD. III. The OATH of ABJURATION of the PRETENDER'S RIGHT to the CROWN of GREAT BRITAIN. laws relat tions. AcknowI A. B. do truly and fincerely acknowledge, profess, teftify, and declare in my confcience, before God and the world, that our fovereign lord King George ledgement of is the rightful King of this realm, and all other his Majesty's dominions therethe King's unto belonging. right. And I do folemnly and fincerely declare, that I do believe in my confcience, Declaration that the perfon pretended to be prince of Wales, during the life of the late King against the James, and fince his decease pretending to be, and taking upon himself the ftile Pretender's and title of, King of England, by the name of James the Third, or of Scotland, title; by the name of James the Eighth, or the ftile and title of King of Great Britain, and renunci hath not any right or title whatsoever to the crown of this realm, or any other ation of all the dominions thereto belonging: and I do renounce, refuse, and abjure any al- allegiance to legiance or obedience to him. bim. And I do fwear, that I will bear faith and true allegiance to his Majesty King George, and him will defend, to the utmost of my power, against all traitorous Promise to confpiracies and attempts whatsoever, which fhall be made against his perfon, defend the crown, or dignity. And I will do my utmost endeavour to disclose and make King and known to his Majefty, and his fucceflors, all treafons and traitorous confpiracies disclose all which I fhall know to be against him, or any of them. confpiracies. And I do faithfully promife, to the utmost of my power, to fupport, maintain, and defend the fucceffion of the crown against him the faid James, and all other Promife to perfons whatsoever, which fucceffion, by an act, intituled, "An act for the fur- maintain the ther limitation of the crown and better fecuring the rights and liberties of Proteftant "the subject," is and ftands limited to the princefs Sophia, electorefs and fucceffion. dutchefs dowager of Hanover, and heirs of her body, being protestants. And Montreal and Trois Rivieres. Oaths to be All which being duly performed, you fhall yourself adtaken by the council- minifter to each of the members of our faid council, and to lors, &c. of the lieutenant-governours of Montreal and Trois Rivieres, the faid oaths mentioned in the faid act, intituled, "An act for the further fecurity of his Majesty's perfon and government, and the fucceffion of the crown in the heirs of the late Princess Sophia, being Proteftants, and for extinguishing the hopes of the pretended Prince of Wales, and his open and fecret abettors ;" and alfo caufe them to make and fubfcribe the afore-mentioned declaration, and alfo fhall adminifter unto them the ufual oaths for the due execution of their places and trust. And Sincerity of And all these things I do plainly and fincerely acknowledge and fwear, accordall thefe de- ing to thefe exprefs words by me spoken, and according to the plain and comclarations, mon fenfe and understanding of the fame words, without any equivocation, mental evafion, or fecret refervation whatsoever. And I do make this recogniaccording to the plain tion, acknowledgment, abjuration, renunciation, and promife, heartily, wilmeaning of lingly, and truly, upon the true faith of a chriftian. So help me GOD. the words. Acknow The foregoing oath of abjuration is that mentioned in the commiffion aboverecited of captain general and governour in chief of the province of Quebeck, granted to general Murray, which was paffed in the life-time of the perfon pretending to be the fon of King James the Second. Since the death of that Pretender it has been neceflary to make fome alteration in the wording of it;, and this has been done by the ftatute of the 6th year of the reign of his prefent Majefty, by which the following oath of abjuration is enjoined to be taken inftead of the former. IV. The OATH of ABJURATION of the RIGHT of any of the DESCEN GREAT BRITAIN. Appointed by the ftat. 6 Geo. III. cap. 53. I A. B. do truly and fincerely acknowledge, profefs, teftify, and declare, in ledgement of my confcience, before God and the world, that our fovereign lord King George the King's is the lawful and rightful King of this realm, and all other his Majesty right. dominions and countries thereunto belonging. And I de folemnly and fincerely declare, that I do believe in my confcience, Declaration that not any of the defcendants of the perfon who pretended to be prince of against the Wales during the life of the late King James the Second, and, fince his deceafe, title of the pretended to be, and took upon himself the ftile and title of, King of England, defcendants by the name of James the Third, or of Scotland, by the name of James the of the Pre- Eighth, or the ftile and title of King of Great Britain, hath any right or title tender. whatsoever to the crown of this realm, or any other the dominions thereunto belonging. And I do renounce, refuse, and abjure any allegiance or obedience to any of them. Promife to defend the King, and disclose all confpiracies, And I do fwear that I will bear faith and true allegiance to his Majefty King George, and him will defend, to the utmost of my power, against all traitorous confpiracies and attempts whatfoever, which fhall be made against his perfon, crown, or dignity. And I will do my utmost endeavour to disclose and make known to his Majefty, and his fucceffors, all treafons and traitorous confpiracies which I fhall know to be against him, or any of them. Promife to And I do faithfully promife, to the utmost of my power, to fupport, mainmaintain the tain, and defend the fucceffion of the crown against the defcendants of the faid Proteftant James, and all other perfons whatsoever; which fucceffion, by an act, intituled, fucceffion "An act for the further limitation of the crown, and better securing the rights and the gover nor to ad thers to ad And we do further give and grant unto you, the faid Power for James Murray, full power and authority from time to time and at any time hereafter, by yourself, or by any other to be minifter or authorized by you in this behalf, to adminifter and give the impower ooaths mentioned in the faid act" for the further fecurity of his minifter the Majefty's perfon and government, and the fucceffion of the crown faid oaths. in the heirs of the late princefs Sophia, being proteftants, and for extinguishing the hopes of the pretended prince of Wales, and his open and fecret abettors," to all and every fuch perfon or perfons as you shall think fit, who fhall at any time or times pafs into our faid province, or fhall be refident or abiding there. "and liberties of the fubject," is and ftands limited to the princefs Sophia, electorefs and dutchefs dowager of Hanover, and the heirs of her body, being proteftants. And all these things I do plainly and fincerely acknowledge and fwear, accord- Sincerity of ing to thefe exprefs words by me fpoken, and according to the plain common all these defenfe and understanding of the fame words, without any equivocation, mental clarations, evafion, or fecret reservation whatsoever. And I do make this recognition, ac- according to knowledgement, abjuration, renunciation and promise, heartily, willingly, and the plain truly, upon the true faith of a christian. V. The DECLARATION against TRANSUBSTANTIATION. I A. B. do declare, that I do believe that there is not any transubstantiation in the facrament of the Lord's fupper, or in the elements of bread and wine, at or after the confecration thereof by any perfon whatsoever. Five years after the appointment of this decleration against tranfubftantiation, to wit, in the 30th year of the reign of King Charles the Second, and A. D. 1679, another declaration against fome of the principal errors of popery was appointed to be taken on certain occafions, which is ufually called The declaration against popery, and is as follows: VI. The DECLARATION against POPERY. Appointed to be taken in certain cafes by the ftat. 30 Car. II. ftat. 2. meaning of the words. No tranfub I A. B. do folemnly and fincerely, in the prefence of God, profefs, teftify, ftantiation of and declare, that I do believe, that in the facrament of the Lord's fupper there the elemente is not any transubstantiation of the elements of bread and wine into the body and of bread and blood of Chrift, at or after the confecration thereof by any person whatsoever; wine. and that the invocation or adoration of the Virgin Mary, or any other faint, Saint worand the facrifice of the mafs, as they are now used in the church of Rome, are ship, &c. fuperftitious and idolatrous. idolatrous. And I do folemnly, in the prefence of God, profess, teftify, and declare, that I do Sincerity of make this declaration, and every part thereof, in the plain and ordinary sense of this declarathe words read unto me, as they are commonly understood by English proteftants, tion, accordwithout any evasion, equivocation, or mental refervation whatsoever, and with- ing to the out any difpenfation already granted me for this purpose by the Pope, or any other true meaning authority or perfon whatfoever, or without any hope of any fuch difpenfation of the words. from any perfon or authority whatsoever, or without thinking that I am, or can be acquitted before God or man, or abfolved of this declaration, or any part thereof, although the Pope, or any other perfon or perfons, or power whatsoever, fhall difpenfe with, or annul, the fame, or declare that it was null and void from the beginning. |