BOV. NICOIAS’ ANSWERS TO THE SEVERAL!. QUERIES

TO THE PLANTERS W THE TERR,TORIES OF H,S HS THE DONE OF YORKE » AMERICA .

[ Lond. Doc. II. ]

1st. The Governour and Councell with the High Sheriffe and the Justices of the Peace in theCourt of the Generali assizes haue the Supreame Power of making, altering, and abolishing anyLaws in this Government. The Country Sessions are held by Justices upon the Bench, ParticularTown Courts by a Constable and Eight Overseers. The City Court of N. Yorke by a Mayor andAldermen. All causes tried by Juries. .

2 nd . The Land is naturally apt to produce Come & Cattle so that the severall proportions or vidents of Land are alwaies allowed with respect to the numbers of the Planters, what they are ableto manage, and in w* time to accomplish their undertaking, the feed of Cattell is free in commonageto all Townships, The Lots of Meadow or Corne Ground are peculiar to each Planter.

3 rd . The Tenure of lands is derived from his R. H. s who gives and grants lands to Planters astheir freehold forever, they paying the customary rates and duties with others towards the defrayingof publique charges. The highes Rent or acknowledgment to his R. H. s will bee one penny pr acrefor Lands purchased by his R. H.», the least two shillings sixe pence for each hundred acres, whereofthe Planters themselves are purchasers from the Indyans.

4. The Governour gives liberty to Planters to find out and buy lands from the Indyans where itpleaseth best the Planters, but the seating of Towns together is necessary in these parts of America ,especially upon the Maine Land.

5. Liberty of Conscience is graunted and assured with the same Provisoe exprest in the Querie.

6. Liberty of fishing and fowling is free to all by the Patent.

7. All Causes are tried by Juries, no Lawes contrary to the Lawes of England. Souldyers onelyare tryable by a Court Marshall, and none others except in cases of suddaine invasion, mutiny orrebellion as his Ma tieS Lieutenants in any of his Countries of England may or ought to exercise.

8 th . As to this point there is no taxe, toledge, Impost or Custome payable upon the Planters uponCorne or Cattle: the Country at present hath little other product, the Rate for publicke charges wasagreed unto in a generall Assembly, and is now managed by the Governour his Councell and theJustices in the Court of Assizes to that onely behoofe.

9 th * The obtaining all thes priviledges is long since recomended to his R. H." as the next neces-sary encouragement to these his Territories, whereof a good answer is expected. :9

10 th . Every man who desires to trade for ft’urs at his request hath liberty so to doe.