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future concernments, that, as in nation and religion, so in ot spects, we be and continue one, according to the tenor an meaning of the ensuing articles.

I. Wherefore, it is fully agreed and concluded by and b the parties or jurisdictions above named, and they do joint severally by these presents agree and conclude, that they all henceforth be called by the name of the United Colonies England.

II. The said United Colonies for themselves and their pos do jointly and severally hereby enter into a firm and perpetual of friendship and amity, for offense and defense, mutual adv succor, upon all just occasions, both for preserving and prop the truth and liberties of the Gospel, and for their own mutua and welfare.

III. It is further agreed that the plantations which at are, or hereafter shall be settled within the limits of the Ma setts, shall be forever under the government of the Massach And shall have peculiar jurisdiction amongst themselves, as a body, and that Plymouth, Connecticut, and New Haven sha of them, in all respects, have the like peculiar jurisdiction and ment within their limits. And in reference to the plantations already are settled, or shall hereafter be erected and shall settle any of their limits, respectively, provided that no other juris shall hereafter be taken in, as a distinct head or member of th federation, nor shall any other either plantation, or jurisdic present being, and not already in combination, or under th diction of any of these confederates, be received by any of the shall any two of these confederates join in one jurisdiction, consent of the rest, which consent to be interpreted as in th ensuing article is expressed.

1 The Great Rebellion, which broke out in 1642

inhabitants there. And that according to the different nu which from time to time shall be found in each jurisdiction, true and just account, the service of men and all charges of th be borne by the poll: each jurisdiction or plantation being left t own just course and custom of rating themselves and people, acc to their different estates, with due respect to their qualities a emptions among themselves, though the confederation take no of any such privilege. And that, according to the different of each jurisdiction and plantation, the whole advantage of th (if it please God so to bless their endeavors) whether it be in goods, or persons, shall be proportionably divided among the confederates.

V. It is further agreed that if any of these jurisdictions, o plantation under or in combination with them, be invaded by enemy whomsoever, upon notice and request of any three magis of that jurisdiction so invaded, the rest of the confederates, wi any further meeting or expostulation, shall forthwith send aid t confederate in danger, but in different proportion, namely, the M chusetts one hundred men sufficiently armed and provided for a service and journey, and each of the rest five-and-forty me armed and provided, or any less number, if less be required, acco to this proportion. But if such a confederate may be supplie their next confederate, not exceeding the number hereby ag they may crave help there and seek no further for the present. charge to be borne, as in this article is expressed. And at the turn to be victualed, and supplied with powder and shot (if the need), for their journey, by that jurisdiction which employed or for them. But none of the jurisdictions to exceed these num till by a meeting of the commissioners for this confederation a gr aid appear necessary. And this proportion to continue, till

from the rest of the confederates toward the same.

And further, if any jurisdiction see any danger of an invasion proaching, and there be time for a meeting, that in such case t magistrates of that jurisdiction may summon a meeting, at s convenient place as themselves shall think meet, to consider provide against the threatened danger. Provided, when they met, they may remove to what place they please, only, while an these four confederates have but three magistrates in their juris tion, a request or summons, from any two of them, shall be accoun of equal force with the three mentioned in both the clauses of article, till there be an increase of magistrates there.

VI. It is also agreed that for the managing and concluding of affairs proper to, and concerning the whole confederation, two c missioners shall be chosen by, and out of the four jurisdictions, nam two for the Massachusetts, two for Plymouth, two for Connecti and two for New Haven, being all in Church fellowship with which shall bring full power from their several general courts, resp tively, to hear, examine, weigh, and determine all affairs of wa peace, leagues, aids, charges, and numbers of men for war, divis of spoils, or whatsoever is gotten by conquest, receiving of m confederates or plantations into combination with any of these o federates, and all things of like nature, which are the proper o comitants or consequences of such a confederation for amity, offer and defense, not intermeddling with the government of any of jurisdictions, which by the third article is preserved entirely to the selves. But if these eight commissioners, when they meet, shall all agree, yet it is concluded that any six of the eight agreeing s have power to settle and determine the business in question. I if six do not agree, that then such propositions, with their reasons far as they have been debated, be sent and referred to the four gene courts, viz, the Massachusetts, Plymouth, Connecticut, and N

and then Hartford, New Haven, and Plymouth, and so in cou cessively, if in the meantime some middle place be not found agreed on, which may be commodious for all the jurisdictio

VII. It is further agreed that at each meeting of these eig missioners, whether ordinary or extraordinary, they all or an them agreeing as before, may choose their president out of selves, whose office and work shall be to take care and direct for and a comely carrying on of all proceedings in the present m But he shall be invested with no such power or respect, as by he shall hinder the propounding or progress of any business, way cast the scales, otherwise than in the precedent article is a

VIII. It is also agreed that the commissioners for this con tion hereafter at their meetings, whether ordinary or extraor as they may have commission or opportunity, do endeavor to and establish agreements and orders in general cases of a civil wherein all the plantations are interested, for preserving peace an themselves and preventing (as much as may be) all occasions or differences with others, as about the free and speedy pass justice in each jurisdiction to all the confederates equally as to own, receiving those that remove from one plantation to a without due certificates, how all the jurisdictions may carry it t the Indians, that they neither grow insolent nor be injured w due satisfaction, lest war break in upon the confederates th such miscarriages. It is also agreed that if any servant run from his master into any other of these confederated jurisdic that in such case, upon the certificate of one magistrate in the diction, out of which the said servant fled, or upon other due the said servant shall be delivered either to his master or any that pursues and brings such certificate or proof. And that the escape of any prisoner whatsoever, or fugitive, for any cri

granted unto him that craves the same, he paying the charges

IX. And for that the justest wars may be of dangerous quence, especially to the smaller plantations in these United C it is agreed that neither the Massachusetts, Plymouth, Conn nor New Haven, nor any of the members of any of them, shal time hereafter begin, undertake, or engage themselves, or t federation, or any part thereof in any war whatsoever (sud gencies with the necessary consequences thereof excepted, wh also to be moderated, as much as the case will permit) with consent and agreement of the forenamed eight commissioner least six of them, as in the sixth article is provided. And charge be required of any of the confederates, in case of a de war, till the said commissioners have met and approved the of the war, and have agreed upon the sum of money to be which sum is then to be paid by the several confederates, in tion, according to the fourth article.

X. That in extraordinary occasions, when meetings an moned by three magistrates of any jurisdiction, or two as in t article, if any of the commissioners come not, due warning bein or sent, it is agreed that four of the commissioners shall have to direct a war which cannot be delayed, and to send for due tions of men out of each jurisdiction, as well as six might d met; but not less than six shall determine the justice of the allow the demands or bills of charges, or cause any levies to b for the same.

XI. It is further agreed that if any of the confederat hereafter break any of these present articles, or be any oth injurious to any one of the other jurisdictions, such breach o ment or injury shall be duly considered and ordered by the o sioners for the other jurisdictions, that both peace and this confederation may be entirely preserved without violation.

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