Charles the second, by the Grace of God, King of England, Scotland and France and Ireland, defender of the faythe &c. to all to whome these presents shall come Greeting—Whereas we have rec'd severall addresses from our subjects of severall coloneys of New England, all full of duty and affection, and expressions of loyalty and allegiance to us, with their humble desire that we would renew their several charters, and receive them into our favourable oppinion and protection; and severall of our coloneys there. And other our loveing subjects have likewise complayned, differences and disputes arisen upon the limits and bounds of theire severall charters and jurisdictions, whereby unneighbourly and unbrotherly contentions have and may arise, to the damage and discreditt of the English interests; and thatt all our good subjects, residing there, and being planters, is within the severall coloney's do not enjoy the liberty and priviledges granted to them by our severall charters; upon confidence and assurance of which, they transported themselves and their estates into those partes, and we having received some addresses from the great men and natives of those countreys, in which they complayne of breach of fayth and acts of violence and injustice, which they have been forced to undergoe from our subjects, whereby not onely our government is traduced, but the reputation and credit of Christian religion brought into prejudice and reproach with the Gentiles and inhabitance of those countreys, who know not God, the reduction of whom, to the true knowledge and feare of God, is the most worthy and glorious end of all those Plantations, upon all which motives, and as an evidence and manifestation of our fatherly affection towards all our subjects in those severall coloneys of New England, (that is to say) of the Massachusetts, Connecticutt, New Plimouth, Road Island and the Providence Plantations, and all other Plantations within that tract of land, known under the appelation of New England, and to the end we may be truely informed of the state and condition of our good subjects there, that soe we may the better now how to contribute to the farther improvement of their happynesse and prosperity; know yee therefore, that we reposeing speciall trust and confidence in the fidelitie, wisedome and circumspection of or trusty and well beloved Colonell Richard Nicolls, Sir Robert Carr, Knight, George Cartright Esquire and Samuell Mavericke, of or special grace certayn knowledge and mere motion, have made, ordayned, constituted and appoynted and by these presents doe make, ordayne, constitute and appoynt the sayd Colonell Richard Nicolls, Sir Robert Carr, Knight, George Cartwright and Samuel Maverick, our commissioners, and doe hereby give and grant unto them, or any three or two of them, or of the survivors of them (of whom we will the sayd Colonell Richard Nicolls dureing his life shall be allwayes one) and upon equall division of opinions to have the casting and decisive voyce, in our name to vissitt all and every the severall colonyes aforesayd and allso all power and authority to heare and receive and to examine and determine all complaynts, appeals in all causes and matters, as well miletary as criminall and civill, and proceed in all things for the providing for and setleing the appeals and equity of the said countrey, according to their good and sound discressions, and to such instructions as they or the survivours of them have, or shall from time to time receive from us, in that behalfe, and from time to time as they shall finde expedient, to certify us or our privy councill of theire actings or proceedings, touching the premises and for the doeing thereof any other matter or thing relating thereunto, these presents or the enrolement thereof, shall be unto them, and every of them a sufficient warrant and discharge in that behalfe.— In witnesse whereof we have caused these our letters to be made pattents.

Given at our Court, at White Hall the 26th day of Aprill 1664, and in the sixteenth year of our Raigne.