What Children We Have Of Theirs, To Learn Trades, &C. Ought To Be Put
Into Those Hands That Are Men
Of the best Lives and Characters,
and that are not only strict Observers of their Religion,
but also of a
Mild, winning and sweet Disposition, that these Indian Parents
may often go and see how well their Children are dealt with,
which would much win them to our Ways of Living, Mildness being a Vertue
the Indians are in love withal, for they do not practise
beating and correcting their Children, as we do. A general Complaint is,
that it seems impossible to convert these People to Christianity,
as, at first sight, it does; and as for those in New Spain, they have
the Prayer of that Church in Latin by Rote, and know the external Behaviour at
Mass and Sermons; yet scarce any of them are steady and abide with constancy
in good Works, and the Duties of the Christian Church. We find that
the Fuentes and several other of the noted Indian Families about Mexico,
and in other parts of New Spain, had given several large Gifts
to the Altar, and outwardly seem'd fond of their new Religion;
yet those that were the greatest Zealots outwards, on a strict Enquiry,
were found guilty of Idolatry and Witchcraft; and this seems to proceed from
their Cohabiting, which, as I have noted before, gives Opportunities of Cabals
to recal their ancient pristine Infidelity and Superstitions. They never
argue against our Religion, but with all imaginable Indifference own,
that it is most proper for us that have been brought up in it.
In my opinion, it's better for Christians of a mean Fortune
to marry with the Civiliz'd Indians, than to suffer
the Hardships of four or five years Servitude, in which they meet
with Sickness and Seasonings amidst a Crowd of other Afflictions,
which the Tyranny of a bad Master lays upon such poor Souls, all which
those acquainted with our Tobacco Plantations are not Strangers to.
This seems to be a more reasonable Method of converting the Indians,
than to set up our Christian Banner in a Field of Blood, as the Spaniards
have done in New Spain, and baptize one hundred with the Sword
for one at the Font. Whilst we make way for a Christian Colony
through a Field of Blood, and defraud, and make away with those
that one day may be wanted in this World, and in the next appear against us,
we make way for a more potent Christian Enemy to invade us hereafter,
of which we may repent, when too late.
The Second
CHARTER
Granted by
King CHARLES II.
to the
PROPRIETORS
of
CAROLINA
Charles II. by the Grace of God, &c. Whereas by Our Letters Patents,
bearing Date the Four and Twentieth Day of March, in the Fifteenth Year
of Our Reign, We were Graciously Pleas'd to Grant unto Our right Trusty,
and right Well-beloved Cousin and Counsellor Edward Earl of Clarendon,
our High Chancellor of England, Our right Trusty, and right entirely Beloved
Cousin and Counsellor, George Duke of Albemarle, Master of our Horse,
Our right Trusty and Well Beloved William, now Earl of Craven,
our right Trusty and well-beloved Counsellor, John Lord Berkeley,
our right Trusty, and well-beloved Counsellor, Anthony Lord Ashley,
Chancellor of our Exchequer, our right Trusty and Well-beloved Counsellor
Sir George Carterett Knight and Baronet, Vice-Chamberlain of our Houshold,
Our right Trusty and well-beloved, Sir John Colleton Knight and Baronet,
and Sir William Berkeley Knight, all that Province, Territory,
or Tract of Ground, called Carolina, situate, lying and being within
our Dominions of America, Extending from the North End of the Island,
called Luke Island, which lyeth in the Southern Virginia Seas,
and within six and thirty Degrees of the Northern Latitude;
and to the West, as far as the South Seas; and so respectively
as far as the River of Mathias, which bordereth upon the Coast of Florida,
and within One and Thirty Degrees of the Northern Latitude, and so West
in a direct Line, as far as the South Seas aforesaid.
Now, know Ye, that We, at the Humble Request of the said Grandees
in the aforesaid Letters Patents named, and as a farther Mark
of Our especial Favour towards them, We are Graciously Pleased
to Enlarge Our said Grant unto them, according to the Bounds and Limits
hereafter Specifyed, and in Favour to the Pious and Noble Purpose
of the said Edward Earl of Clarendon, George Duke of Albemarle,
William Earl of Craven, John Lord Berkeley, Anthony Lord Ashley,
Sir George Carterett, Sir John Colleton, and Sir William Berkeley,
their Heirs and Assigns, all that Province, Territory, or Tract of Ground,
situate, lying, and being within Our Dominions of America aforesaid,
extending North and Westward, as far as the North End
of Carahtuke River, or Gulet, upon a streight Westerly Line,
to Wyonoake Creek, which lies within, or about the Degrees of Thirty Six,
and Thirty Minutes Northern Latitude, and so West, in a direct Line,
as far as the South Seas; and South and Westward, as far as
the Degrees of Twenty Nine Inclusive Northern Latitude,
and so West in a direct Line, as far as the South Seas;
together with all and singular Ports, Harbours, Bays, Rivers and Islets,
belonging unto the Province or Territory, aforesaid. And also,
all the Soil, Lands, Fields, Woods, Mountains, Ferms, Lakes, Rivers,
Bays and Islets, situate, or being within the Bounds, or Limits,
last before mentioned; with the Fishing of all sorts of Fish,
Whales, Sturgeons, and all other Royal Fishes in the Sea, Bays,
Islets and Rivers, within the Premises, and the Fish therein taken;
together with the Royalty of the Sea, upon the Coast within
the Limits aforesaid. And moreover, all Veins, Mines and Quarries,
as well discovered as not discover'd, of Gold, Silver,
Gems and Precious Stones, and all other whatsoever; be it of Stones, Metal,
or any other thing found, or to be found within the Province, Territory,
Islets and Limits aforesaid.
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