CALEDONIA. THE Declaration OF THE COUNCIL Conſtituted by the Indian and African Com­pany of Scotland; for the Government, and direction of their Colonies, and Settlements in the Indies.

THE ſaid Company purſuant to the Powers and Immu­munities Granted unto them, by His Majeſty of Great Britain, our Soveraign Lord, with Advice and Conſent of His Parliament of Scotland: having Granted and Conceded unto us and our Succeſſors in the Govern­ment for all times hereafter, full Power to equip, ſet out, freight, and navigate, our own or hired Ships, in War-like, or other manner, from any ports or places in Amity, or not in Hoſtility with His Majeſty; to any Lands, Iſlands, Countries, or places in Aſia, Africa2 or America: and there to Plant Colonies, build Cities, Towns or Forts in or upon the places not Inhabited, or in or upon any other place by conſent of the Natives or Inhabitants thereof, and not poſſeſt by any European Sovereign, Potentate, Prince, or State; and to provide and furniſh the aforeſaid Places, Cities, Towns, or Forts, with Magazines, Ordance, Arms, Weapons, Ammunition and Stores of War; and by force of Arms to defend the ſame Trade, Navigation, Colonies, Cities, Towns, Ferts, Plantations, and other Effects whatſo­ever; and likewiſe to make Reprizals, and to ſeek and take repara­tion of Damage done by Sea or by Land: and to make and con­clude Treaties of Peace, and Commerce with the Sovereign Princes, Eſtates, Rulers, Governours, or Proprietors of the aforeſaid Lands, Iſlands, Countries, or places in Aſia, Africa or America.

And reſerving to themſelves Five Per Cent. or one Twentieth part; of the Lands, Mines, Minerals, Pearls, Stones of Value, precious Woods, and Fiſhings: have further Conceded and Granted unto us, the free and abſolute right and property in and to all ſuch Lands, Iſlands, Colonies, Cities, Towns, Ports and Plantations, as we ſhall come to, eſtabliſh, or poſſeſs in mann••aforeſaid; as alſo to all manner of Treaſures, Wealth, Riches, Profits, Mines, Minerals and Fiſhings, with the whole product and benefit thereof, as well Under as above the Ground, as well in Rivers and Seas, as in the Lands thereunto be­longing; or for or by reaſon of the ſame in any ſort; together with the right of Government and Admiralty thereof; as likewiſe that all manner of Perſons who ſhall ſettle to Inhabite, or be born in any ſuch Plan­tations, Colonies, Cities, Towns Factories, or places ſhall be, and be reputed as Natives of the Kingdom of Scotland; and generally the ſaid Company have Communicated unto us a Right to all the Powers, Properties and Priviledges Granted unto them by Act of Parliament; or otherwiſe howſoever, with power to Grant and delegate the ſame; and to permit and allow ſuch ſort of Trade, Commerce, and Naviga­tion unto the Plantations, Colonies, Cities, Towns, and places of our poſſeſſion, as we ſhall judge fit and convenient.

And the Chief Captains and Supream Leaders of the People of Darien, in compliance with former Agreements, having now in moſt kind and obliging manner, received us into their Friendſhip3 and Country, with Promiſe and Contract to aſſiſt and join in de­fence thereof againſt ſuch as ſhall be their or our Enemies in any time to come. Which, beſides its being one of the moſt Healthful Rich, and Fruitful Countries upon Earth, hath the advantage of be­ing a Narrow ISTHMUS, Seated in the Heighth of the World, between the two vaſt Oceans, which renders it more convenient than any other for being the common Store-houſe of the Inſearch­able and Immenſe Treaſures of the Spacious South Seas, the door of Commerce to China and Japan, and the Emporium and Staple for the Trade of both Indies.

And now by Virtue of the before-mentioned Powers to us given, We do here Settle, and in the Name of GOD Eſtabliſh Our Selves, and in Honour, and for the Memory of that moſt Ancient and Renowned Name of our Mother Kingdom, We do, and will from hence-forward call this Country by the Name of Caledonia: and our ſelves, Succeſſors, and Aſſociates, by the name of Caledonians.

And ſuitable to the Weight and Greatneſs of the Truſt repoſed, and the valuable Opportunity now in our hands; being firmly reſolved to communicate and diſpoſe thereof in the moſt juſt and equal manner for Increaſing the Dominions and Subjects of the King Our Soveraign Lord, the Honour and Wealth of our Country, as well as the benefit and advan­tage of thoſe who now are, or may hereafter be concerned with us: We do hereby Publiſh and Declare, That all manner of Perſons of what Nation or People ſoever, ſhall from hence-forward be equally free and alike capable of the ſaid Properties, Priviledges, Protections, Im­munities, and Rights of Government. Granted unto us; and the Mer­chants, & Merchants Ships of all Nations; may freely come to, and Trade with us; without being liable in their Perſons, Goods or Effects, to any manner of Capture, Confiſcation, Seizure, Forfeiture, At­tachment, Arreſt, Reſtraint or Prohibition, for or by reaſon of any Embargo, breach of the Peace, Letters of Mark, or Reprizals, De­claration of War with any Forreign Prince, Potentate or State; or upon-any other account or pretence whatſoever.

And we do hereby not only Grant, and Concede, and Declare a general and equal freedom of Government and Trade to2〈1 page duplicate〉3〈1 page duplicate〉4thoſe of all Nations, who ſhall hereafter be of, or concerned with us; but alſo a full and free Liberty of Conſcience in matter of Religion, ſo as the ſame be not underſtood, to allow, connive at, or indulge the Blaſpheming of Gods Holy Name, or any of His Divine Attributes; or of the Unhallowing or Prophaning the Sab­bath Day.

And finally, as the beſt and ſureſt means to render any Go­vernment ſucceſsful, durable and happy; it ſhall (by the help of Almighty God) be ever our conſtant and chiefeſt care; that all our further Conſtitutions, Laws and Ordinances, be conſonant and agreeable to the Holy Scripture, Right Reaſon, and the Examples of the wiſeſt and juſteſt Nations; that from the Truth and Righte­ouſneſs thereof we may reaſonably hope for, and expect the Bleſ­ſings of Proſperity and Increaſe.