We will preserve and do hereby continue the patent and charter
heretofore granted to them by our royall father of blessed memory, and
that they shall freely enjoy all the priviledges and libertys granted to
them in and by the same, and that We will be ready to renew the same
charter to them under our great seale of England, whenever they shall
desire it. And because the licence of these late ill times has likewise
had an influence upon our colony, in which they have swerved from the
rules prescribed, and even from the government instituted by the
charter, which we do graciously impute rather to the iniquity of the
time than to the evil intents of the hearts of those who exercised the
government there. And we do therefore publish and declare our free and
gracious pardon to all our subjects of that our plantation, for all
crimes and offences committed against us during the late troubles,
except any persons who stand attainted by our parliament here of high
treason, if any such persons have transported themselves into these
parts; the apprehending of whom and delivering them into the hands of
justice, we expect from the dutiful and affectionate obedience of those
of our good subjects in that colony, if they be found within the
jurisdiction thereof. Provided always, and be it our declared
expectation, that upon a review of all such laws and ordinances that are
now or have been during these late troubles in practice there, and which
are contrary or derogatory to our authority and government, the same may
be annulled and repealed, and the rules and prescriptions of the said
charter for administering and taking the oath of allegiance be
henceforth duly observed, and that the administrations of justice be in
our name. And since the principle and foundation of that charter was and
is the freedom of liberty of conscience, We do hereby charge and require
you that freedom and liberty be duly admitted and allowed, so that they
that desire to use the book of common prayer and performe their devotion
in that manner that is established here be not denied the exercise
thereof, or undergoe any prejudice or disadvantage thereby, they using
their liberty peaceably without any disturbances to others; and that all
persons of good and honest lives and conversations be admitted to the
sacrament of the Lord's Supper, according to the said Book of Common
Prayer, and their children to baptism."]

[Footnote 125: Indeed, so conscious were they that