Grant to Sir Robert Heath (October 30, 1629) by King Charles I:
<Charles by the Grace of God of England Scotland France & Ireland King Defender of the Faith...
Whereas our beloved and faithful subject and servant Sir Robert Heath Knight...kindled with a certain laudable and pious desire as well of enlarging the Christian religion as our Empire & increasing the Trade & Commerce of this our kingdom...in the parts of America...neither inhabited by ours or the subjects of any other Christian king...
But some parts of it inhabited by certain Barbarous men who have not any knowledge of the Divine Deity, He being about to lead thither a Colony of men large & plentiful, professing the true religion...
And furthermore...all Churches which shall happen to be built hereafter in the said Region Territory...by the increase of the religion & worship of Christ Together with all...these...Rights...To have exercise use & enjoy in like manner as any Bishop of Durham within the Bishopric or County palatine of Durham in our kingdom of England...
We...think fit to erect the said Region...in...the province of Carolina..And because... seated among so many barbarous nations it is probable that the incursions as well of those Barbarous as of other enemies Pirates & Robbers may cause fear.
Therefore we...have given...Sir Robert Heath... power...to pursue enemies & Robbers aforesaid by land & sea, even beyond the bounds of his province, and then (with God's blessing) to overcome & to take, & being taken by right of war to slay, or according to his pleasure to preserve...
And if by chance hereafter some doubts & questions may be framed about the true sense & meaning of any word clause or sentence contained in this our present charter we...command...that no interpretation be made by which the religion of the Holy God & true Christian, or the Allegiance due to us our heirs & successors may suffer in the least.> 1629RH001
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American Quotations by William J. Federer, 2024, All Rights Reserved, Permission granted to use with acknowledgement.
Endnotes:
1629RH001. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). Grant to Sir Robert Heath, October 30, 1629, by King Charles I.