Thursday 9 October 2025

 

        

 

 

THE
CONSTITUTION,
OR
FORM OF GOVERNMENT,
AGREED TO, AND RESOLVED UPON,
BY THE
REPRESENTATIVES of the FREEMEN
OF THE
STATE
OF
NORTH-CAROLINA,
ELECTED and CHOSEN for that particular PURPOSE,
IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED, AT HALIFAX,
The Eighteenth Day of December, in the Year of our LORD
One Thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy-Six.

PHILADELPHIA:
PRINTED BY F. BAILEY, IN MARKET-STREET.
M.DCC.LXXIX.

A DECLARATION of RIGHTS, made by
the Representatives of the Freemen of
the State of North-Carolina.

  1. THAT all Political Power is vested in, and derived from, the People only.
  2. That the People of this State ought to have the sole and exclusive Right of regulating the internal Government and Police thereof.

        III. That no Man, or set of Men, are intitled to exclusive or separate Emoluments or Privileges from the community, but in consideration of publicservices.

  1. That the legislative, executive, and supreme judicial Powers of Government, ought to be for ever separate and distinct from each other.
  2. That all powers of suspending Laws, or the Execution of Laws, by any Authority, without Consent of the Representatives of the People, is injurious to their Rights, and ought not to be exercised.
  3. That Elections of Members, to serve as Representatives in General Assembly, ought to be free.

        VII. That in all criminal Prosecutions every Man has a Right to be informed of the accusation against him, and to confront the Accusers and Witnesses with other Testimony, and shall not be compelled to give Evidence against himself.

        VIII. That no Freeman shall be put to answer any criminal Charge but by Indictment, Presentment, or Impeachment.

  1. That no Freeman shall be convicted of any Crime, but by the unanimous Verdict of a Jury of good and lawful Men, in open Court, as heretofore used.
  2. That exessiveBail should not be required, nor excessive Fines imposed, nor cruel or unusual Punishments inflicted.
  3. That General Warrants, whereby any Officer

 

or Messenger may be commanded to search suspected Places, without Evidence of the Fact committed, or to seize any Person or Persons not named, whose Offences is not particularly described and supported by Evidence, are dangerons to Liberty, and ought not to be granted.

        XII. That no Freeman ought to be taken, imprisoned, or disseized of his freehold, Liberties or Privileges, or outlawed or exiled, or in any Manner destroyed or deprived of his Life, Liberty, or Property, but by the Law of the Land.

        XIII. That every Freeman restrained of his Liberty is intitled to a Remedy to inquire into the Lawfulness therof, and to remove the same if unlawful, and that such Remedy ought not to be denied or delayed.

        XIV. That in all controversies at Law respecting Property, the ancient Mode of Trial by Jury is one of the best Securities of the Rights of the People, and ought to remain sacred and inviolable.

  1. That the freedom of the Press is one of the great Bulwarks of Liberty, and therefore ought never to be restrained.

        XVI. That the People of this State ought not to be taxed, or made subject to the Payment of any Impost or Duty, without the Consent of themselves, or their Representatives in General Assembly, freely given.

        XVII. That the People have a Right to bear Arms for the defence of the State; and as standing Armies in Time of Peace are dangerous to Liberty, they ought not to be kept up; and that the Military should be kept under strict Subordination to, and governed by the civil Power.

        XVIII. That the People have a Right to assemble together, to consult for their common good, to instruct their Representatives, and to apply to the Legislature for Redress of Grievances.

        XIX. That all Men have a natural and unalienable

 

Right to worship Almighty God, according to the Dictates of their own Conscience.

  1. That for Redress of Grievances, and for amending and strengthening the Laws, Elections ought to be often held.

        XXI. That a frequent Recurrence to fundamental Principles is absolutely necessary to preserve the Blessings of Liberty.

        XXII. That no hereditary Emoluments, Privileges, or Honours, ought to be granted or conferred in this State.

        XXIII. That Perpetuities and Monopolies are contrary to the Genius of a free state and ought not to be allowed.

        XXIV. That retrospective Laws punishing Facts commited before the existance of such Laws, and by them only declared criminal, are oppressive, unjust, and incompatible with Liberty, wherefore no ex post Facto Law ought to be made.

        XXV. The property of the Soil in a free Government being one of the essential Rights of the collective Body of the people, it is necessary, in order to avoid future Disputes, that the Limits of the State should be ascertained with Precision; and as the former temporary Line between North and South Carolina was confirmed and extended by commissioners, appointed by the Legislatures of the two States, agreeable to the Order of the late King George II. in Council, that Line, and that only, should be esteemed the Southern Boundary of this State, that is to say, Beginning on the Sea Side at a Cedar Stake, at or near the Mouth of Little River (being the Southern Extremity of Brunswick County, and running from thence a North West Course through the Boundary House, which stands in thirty three Degrees fifty six Minutes to thirty five Degrees North Latitude, and from thence a West Course, so far as is mentioned in the Charter of King Charles II. to the late Proprietors of Carolina: Therefore all the Territory, Seas, Waters, and Harbours, with their Appurtenances,

 

lying between the Line above described and the Southern Line of the State of Virginia, which begins on the Sea Shore, in thirty six Degrees thirty Minutes North Latitude, and from thence runs West agreeable to the said Charter of King Charles, are the Right and property of the people of this State, to be held by them in Sovereignty; any partial Line, without the Consent of the Legislature of this State, at any Time thereafter directed, or laid out in anywise notwithstanding. Provided always, That this Declaration of Right shall not prejudice any Nation or Nations of Indians from enjoying such hunting-Grounds as may have been, or hereafter shall be secured to them, by any former or future Legislature of this state. And provided also, That it shall not be construed so as to prevent the Establishment of one or more Governments Westward of this State, by Consent of the Legislature. And provided further, That nothing herein contained shall affect the Titles or Possessions of individuals, holding or claiming under the Laws heretofore in Force, or Grants heretofore by the late King George III. or his Predecessors, or the late lords Propriators, or any of them.

 

The Constitution, or Form of Government,
agreed to and resolved upon by the Representatives
of the Freemen of the State
of North Carolina, elected and chosen
for that particular Purpose, in Congress
assembled, at Halifax, the Eighteenth
Day of December, in the Year of our
Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and
Seventy six. 

        WHEREAS Allegiance and Protection are in their Nature reciprocal, and the one should of Right be refused, when the other is withdrawn; and whereas George the Third, King of Great Britain, and late Sovereign of the British American Colonies, hath not only withdrawn from them his Protection, but by an act of the British Legislature declared the Inhabitants of these States out of the Protection of the British Crown, and all their Property found upon the High Seas liable to be seized and confiscated to the Uses mentioned in the said Act; and the said George the third has also sent Fleets and Armies to prosecute a cruel War against them, for the purpose of reducing the Inhabitants of the said Colonies to a State of abject Slavery; in Consequence whereof, all Government under the said King within the said Colonies hath ceased, and a total Dissolution of Government in many of them hath taken Place. And whereas the Continental Congress, having considered the Premises, and other previous Violations of the Rights of the good People of America, have therefore declared, that the Thirteen United Colonies are of Right wholly absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, or any other foreign Jurisdiction whatsoever; and that the said colonies now are, & for

 

ever shall be, free and independent States: Wherefore, in our present State, in order to prevent Anarchy and Confusion, it becomes necessary that Government should be established in this State; therefore We, the representatives of the Freemen of North Carolina, chosen and assembled in Congress, for the express purpose of framing a Constitution, under the Authority of the people, most conducive to their Happiness and prosperity, do declare, that a Government for this State shall be established in Manner and Form following, to wit,

  1. That the legislative Authority shall be vested in two distinct Branches, both dependent on the People, to wit,a Senate, and House of Commons.
  2. That the Senate shall be composed of Representatives annually chosen by Ballot, one for each County in the State.

        III. That the House of Commons shall be composed of Representatives annually chosen by Ballot, two for each County, and one for each of the Towns of Edenton, Newbern, Wilmington, Salisbury, Hillsborough, and Halifax.

  1. That the Senate and house of Commons, assembled for the Purpose of Legislation, shall be denominated the General Assembly.
  2. That each member of the Senate shall have usually resided in the County in which he is chosen for one Year immediately preceedinghis Election, and for the same Time shall have possessed, and continue to possess, in the County which he represents, not less than three Hundred Acres of Land in Fee.
  3. That each Member of the House of Commons shall have usually resided in the County in which he is chosen for one Year immediately preceding his Election, and for six Months shall have possessed, and continue to possess, in the County which he represents, not less than One Hundred Acres of Land in Fee, or for the Term of his own Life.

        VII. That all Freemen of the Age of Twenty One

 

Years, who have been Inhabitants of any one County within the State twelve Months immediately preceding the Day of any Election, and possessed of a Freehold within the same County of Fifty Acres of Land for six Months next before, and at the Day of Election, shall be intitled to vote for a Member of the Senate.

        VIII. That all Freemen of the Age of Twenty One Years, who have been Inhabitants of any County within the State twelve Months immediately preceding the Day of any Election, and shall have paid Public Taxes, shall be intitled to vote for Members of the House of Commons for the County in which he resides.

  1. That all Persons possessed of a Freehold in any Town in this State, having a Right of Representation and also all Freemen who have been Inhabitants of any such Town twelve Months next before, and at the day of Election, and shall have paid Public Taxes, shall be intitled to vote for a Member to represent such town in the House of Commons. Provided always,That this Section shall not intitle any Inhabitant of such town to vote for Members of the House of Commons for the County in which he may reside, nor any Freeholder in such County who resides without, or beyond the Limits of such Town, to vote for a Member for said Town.
  2. That the Senate and House of Commons, when met, shall each have power to choose a speaker, and other their Officers, be Judges of the Qualifications and Elections of their Members; sit upon their own Adjournments from Day to Day; and prepare bills to be passed into Laws. The two Houses shall direct Writs of Election for suplyingintermediate Vacancies, and shall also jointly, by Ballot, adjourn themselves to any future Day and Place.
  3. That all Bills shall be read three Times in each House before they pass into Laws, and be signed by the speaker of both Houses.

        XII. That every Person who shall be chosen a Member

 

of the Senate or House of Commons, or appointed to any Office or Place of Trust, before taking his Seat, or entering upon the Execution of his Office, shall take an Oath to the State, and all Officers shall also take an Oath of Office.

        XIII. That the the General Assembly shall, by joint Ballot of both Houses, appoint Judges of the Supreme Courts of Law and Equity, Judges of Admiralty, and Attorney General, who shall be commissioned by the Governor, and hold their Offices during good Behaviour.

        XIV. That the Senate and House of Commons shall have power to appoint the Generals and Field Officers of the Militia, and all Officers of the regular Army of this Sate.

  1. That the Senate and House of Commons, jointly, at their first Meeting after each annual Election, shall by Ballot elect a Governor for one Year, who shall not be eligible to that Office longer than three Years in six successive Years. That no Person under thirty Years of Age, and who has not been a Resident in this State above five Years, and having in the State a Freehold in Lands and Tenements above the Value of One Thousand Pounds, shall be eligible as a Governor.

        XVI. That the Senate and House of Commons, jointly, at their first Meeting after each annual Election, shall by Ballot elect seven Persons to be a Council of State for one Year, who shall advise the Governor in the Execution of his Office, and that four Members shall be a Quorum; their Advice and Proceedings shall be entered in a journal to be kept for that purpose only, and signed by the Members present, to any part of which any Member present may enter his Dissent. And such Journal shall be laid before the General Assembly, when called for by them.

        XVII. That there shall be a Seal of this State, which shall be kept by the Governor, and used by him as Occasion may require; and shall be called the

 

Great Seal of the State of North Carolina, and be affixed to all Grants and Commissions.

        XVIII. The Governor, for the time being, shall be Captain General, and Commander in Chief of the Militia; and in the Recess of the General Assembly, shall have Power, by and with the Advice of the Council of State, to embody the Militia for the Public Safety.

        XIX. That the Governor, for the Time being, shall have Power to draw for, and apply, such Sums of Money as shall be voted by the General Assembly for the Contingencies of Government, and be accountable to them for the same. He also may, by and with the advice of the Council of State, lay Embargoes, or prohibit the Exportation of any Commodity, for any Term, not exceding thirty Days at any one Time, in the Recess of the General Assembly; and shall have the Power of granting Pardons and Reprieves, except where the Prosecution shall be carried on by the General Assembly, or the Law shall otherwise direct; in which Case he may, in the Recess grant a Reprieve until the next sitting of the General Assembly; and may exercise all the other executive Powers of Government, limited and restrained, as by this Constitution is mentioned, and according to the Laws of the State. And on his death, inability or Absence from the State, the Speaker of the Senate for the Time being, and in Case of his Death, Inability, or Absence from the State, the Speaker of the House of Commons, shall exercise the Powers of Government, after such Death, or during such Absence or Inability, of the Governor, or Speaker of the Senate, or until a new Nomination is made by the General Assembly.

  1. That in every Case where any officer, the Right of whose Appointment is by this Constitution vested in the General Assembly, shall during their Recess die, or his Office by other Means become vacant, the Governor shall have Power, with the advice of the Council of State, to fill up such Vacancy

 

by granting a temporary Commission, which shall expire at the End of next session of the General Assembly.

        XXI. That the Governor, Judges of the Supreme Court of Law and Equity, Judges of Admiralty, and Attorney General, shall have adequate Salaries, during their Continuance in Office.

        XXII. That the General Assembly shall, by joint Ballot of both Houses, annually appoint a Treasurer or Treasurers for this State.

        XXIII. That the Governor, and other Officer, offending against the State, by violating any Part of this Constitution, Mal-Administration, or Corruption, may be prosecuted on the Impeachment of the General Assembly, or Presentment of the Grand Jury of any Court of Supreme Jurisdiction in this State.

        XXIV. That the General Assembly shall, by joint Ballot of both Houses, triennially appoint a Secretary for this State.

        XXV. That no Persons, who heretofore have been, or hereafter may be Receivers of Public Monies, shall have a Seat in either House of General Assembly, or be eligible to any Office in this State, until such Person shall have fully accounted for, and paid into the Treasury, all Sums for which they may be accountable and liable.

        XXVI. That no Treasurer shall have a Seat in either Senate, House of Commons, or Council of State, during his Continuance in that Office, or before he shall have finally settled his Accounts with the Public for all Monies which may be in his Hands, at the Expiration of his Office belonging to the State, and hath paid the same into the Hands of the succeeding Treasurer.

        XXVII. That no Officer in the regular Army or Navy, in the Service and Pay of the United States of this or any other State, nor any Contractor or Agent for suplying such Army or Navy with clothing or provisions, shall have a Seat in either the Senate, House of Commons or Council of State, or be eligible

 

thereto; and any Member of the Senate, House of Commons, or Council of State, being appointed to, and accepting of such Office, shall thereby vacate his Seat.

        XXVIII. That no Member of the Council of State shall have a Seat either in the Senate or House of Commons.

        XXIX. That no Judge of the Supreme Court of Law or Equity, or Judge of Admiralty, shall have a Seat in the Senate, House of Commons, or Council of State.

        XXX. That no Secretary of this State, Attorney General, or Clerk of any Court of Record, shall have a Seat in the Senate, House of Commons, or Council of State.

        XXXI. That no Clergyman or Preacher of the Gospel, of any Denomination, shall be capable of being a Member of either the Senate, House of Commons, or Council of State, while he continues in the Exercise of the Pastoral Function.

        XXXII. That no Person who shall deny the Being of God, or the Truth of the Protestant Religion, or the divine Authority either of the Old or New Testament, or who shall hold religious Principles incompatible with the Freedom and Safety of the State, shall be capable of holding any Office, or Place of Trust or profit in the civil Department within this State.

        XXXIII. That the Justices of the Peace within their respective Counties in this State, shall in future be recommended to the Governor, for the time being, by the Representatives in General Assembly, and the Governor shall commission them accordingly; and the Justices, when so commissioned, shall hold their Offices during good Behaviour, and shall not be removed from Office by the General Assembly, unless for Misbehaviour, Absence, or Inability.

        XXXIV. That there shall be no Establishment of any one religious Church or Denomination in this State in Preference to any other, neither shall any Person, on any Pretence whatsoever, be compelled to attend

 

any Place of Worship contrary to his own Faith or Judgment, nor be obliged to pay for the Purchase of any Glebe, or the building of any House of Worship, or for the Maintenance of any Minister or Ministry, contrary to what he believes right, or has voluntarily and personally engaged to perform; but all Persons shall be at liberty to exercise their own Mode of Worship. Provided, That nothing herein contained shall be constructed to exempt Preachers of treasonable or seditious Discourses from legal Trial and Punishment.

        XXXV. That no person in the State shall hold more than one lucrative Office at any one Time. Provided, That no Appointment in the Militia, or the Office of a Justice of the Peace, shall be considered as a lucrative Office.

        XXXVI. That all Commissions and Grants shall run in the Name of the State of North Carolina, and bear Test, and be signed by the Governor. All writs shall run in the same Manner, and bear Test, and be signed by the Clerks of the respective Courts. Indictments shall conclude, Against the Peace and Dignity of the State.

        XXXVII. That the Delegates for this State to the Continental Congress, while necessary, shall be chosen annually by the General Assembly, by Ballot, but may be superseded in the mean time in the same Manner, and no Person shall be elected to serve in that Capacity for more than three Years successively.

        XXXVIII. That there shall be a Sheriff, Coroner or Coroners, and constables, in each County within this State.

        XXXIX. That the Person of a Debtor, where there is not a strong Presumption of Fraud, shall not be continued in Prison, after delivering up, bona fide, all his Estate, real and personal, for the use of his Creditors, in such manner as shall be hereafter regulated by Law. All Prisoners shall be bailable by sufficient sureties, unless for capital Offences, when the proof is evident, or the Presumption great.

 

  1. That every Foreigner who comes to settle in this State, having first taken an Oath of Allegiance to the same, may purchase, or by other just Means acquire, hold and transfer Land, or other real Estate; and after one Year's Residence, shall be deemed a free Citizen.

        XLI. That a School or Schools shall be established by the Legislature, for the convenient Instruction of Youth, with such Salaries to the Masters, paid by the public, as may enable them to instruct at low Prices; and all useful Learning shall be duely encouraged and promoted in one or more Universities.

        XLII. That no purchase of Lands shall be made of the Indian Natives, but on Behalf of the public, by Authority of the General Assembly.

        XLIII. That the future Legislature of this State shall regulate Intails, in such a Manner as to prevent Perpetuities.

        XLIV. That the Declaration of the Rights is hereby declared to be Part of the Constitution of this State, and ought never to be violated, on any Pretence whatsoever.

        XLV. That any Member of either House of General Assembly shall have Liberty to dissent from, and protest against, any act or Resolve which he may think injurious to the Public, or any individual, and have the Reasons of his Dissent entered on the Journals.

        XLVI. That neither House of the General Assembly shall proceed upon Public Business, unless a Majority of all the Members of such House are actually present; and that upon a Motion made and seconded, the Yeas and Nays upon any Question shall be taken and entered on the Journals; and that the Journals of the Proceedings of both Houses of the General Assembly shall be printed, and made public, immediately after their Adjournment.

        This Constitution is not intended to preclude the present Congress from making a temporary Provision for the well ordering of this State, until the General

 

Assembly shall establish Government agreeable to the Mode herein before described.

RICHARD CASWELL, PRESIDENT.

December the Eighteenth, One Thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy Six,
read the third Time, and ratified in open Congress.

By Order, 

JAMES GREEN, Jun. Sec'ry

Details
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Anglo-Saxon Law - Extracts From Early Laws of the English

 

The laws of all nations which have developed steadily and in their own seats, with little or no intermixture of foreign elements, are generally perpetuated by custom and oral tradition. Hence the earliest written laws contain amendments of older unwritten customs, or codifications of those customs when they are gradually wearing out of popular recollection. Such documents are then generally obscure, requiring for their elucidation a knowledge of the customs they were intended to amend, which is not easily attainable; and where they are clear, they will be found frequently to contain little more than assessments of fines for offenses and injuries, with very scanty indications of the process by which the laws are made or the fines exacted. Nor is the case much better where codification is attempted; for the diversity of customs being very great, and the code not intended to supersede but to perpetuate them, the lawgiver is apt to become didactic, and to enunciate principles drawn from religion or morality, rather than legal definitions. The following extracts from the Anglo-Saxon Laws and Institutes may seem a very small residuum, after the winnowing of a very bulky 'Corpus Juris.' But they will be found to contain nearly every mention that occurs in the Collection of our Laws of such matters as public assemblies, courts of law, taxation, or the legal machinery on the carrying out of which the discipline of self-government is based. The great bulk of the laws concern chiefly such questions as the practice of compurgation, ordeal, wergild, sanctity of holy places, persons, or things; the immunity of estates belonging to churches; and the tables of penalties for crimes, in their several aspects as offenses against the peace, the family, and the individual. These, as touching Constitutional History in a very indirect way, are here excluded.

Of the existing Anglo-Saxon laws, those of Ethelbert, Hlothere and Eadric, Wihtred, Ine, Edward the Elder, Athelstan, Edmund, and Edgar, are mainly of the nature of amendments of custom. Those of Alfred, Ethelred, Canute, and those described as Edward the Confessor's, aspire to the character of codes; but English law, from its first to its latest phase, has never possessed an authoritative, constructive, systematic, or approximately exhaustive statement, such as was attempted by the great compilers of the civil and canon laws, by Alfonso the Wise or Napoleon Buonaparte. The translation of the following extracts is that of Mr. Benjamin Thorpe, in the Ancient Laws and Institutes of the Anglo-Saxons.

A. D. 600. Kent. ETHELBERT; cap. 2. If the king call his 'leod' to him and any one there do them evil, let him compensate with a twofold 'bot' and fifty shillings to the king.

A. D. cir. 680. Kent. HLOTHAERE AND EADRIC; cap. 8. If one man make plaint against another in a suit, and he cite the man to a 'methel' or to a ' thing,' let the man always give 'borh' to the other, and do him such right as the Kentish judges prescribe to them.

A. D. cir. 690. Wessex. INI; Preamble to Laws. I, Ini, by God's grace king of the West Saxons, with the counsel and with the teaching of Cenred my father, and of Hedde my bishop, and of Eorcenwold my bishop, with all my ealdormen and the most distinguished 'witan' of my people, and also with a large assembly of God's servants, have been considering of the health of our souls and of the stability of our realm; so that just law and just kingly dooms might be settled and established throughout our folk, so that none of the ealdormen nor of our subjects should hereafter pervert these our dooms.

Cap. 8. If any one demand justice before a 'scirman' or other judge and cannot obtain it, and a man (the defendant) will not give him 'wedd,' let him make 'bot' with xxx. shillings, and within vii. days do him justice.

Cap. 11. If any one sell his own countryman, bond or free, though he be guilty, over sea, let him pay for him according to his 'wer.'

Cap. 36. Let him who takes a thief, or to whom one taken is given, and he then lets conceals the theft, pay for the thief according to his 'wer.' If he be an ealdorman, let him forfeit his shire, unless the king is willing to be merciful to him.

Cap. 39. If any one go from his lord without leave, or steal himself away into another shire, and he be discovered, let him go where he was before, and pay to his lord lx. shillings.

Cap. 45. 'bot' shall be made for the king's 'burg-bryce' and a bishop's, where his jurisdiction is, with cxx. shillings; for an ealdorman's, with lxxx. shillings; for a king's thegn's, with lx. shillings; for a 'gesithcund' man's, having land, with xxxv. shillings, and according to this make the legal denial.

Cap. 51. If a 'gesithcund' man owning land neglect the 'fyrd,' let him pay cxx. shillings and forfeit his land; one not owning land, lx. shillings; a ceorlish man, xxx. shillings, as 'fyrdwite.'

A. D. cir. 890. Wessex. ALFRED; Preamble....They then ordained.... that secular lords, with their (the bishops and witan) leave might without sin take for almost every misdeed, for the first offence the money 'bot' which they then ordained; except in cases of treason against a lord; to which they dared not assign any mercy.... I, then, Alfred, king, gathered these (laws) together, and commanded many of those to be written which our forefathers held, those which to me seemed good; and many of those which seemed to me not good I rejected them, by the counsel of my 'witan' .... I, then, Alfred, king of the West Saxons, shewed these to all my 'witan' and they then said that it seemed good to them all to be holder.

Cap. 4. If any one plot against the king's life, of himself, or by harbouring of exiles, or of his men; let him be liable in his life and in all that he has.... He who plots against his lord's life, let him be liable in his life to him, and in all that he has. . .

Cap. 22 If any one at the folkmote make declaration of a debt, and afterwards wish to withdraw it, let him charge it on a righter person, if he can; if he cannot, let him forfeit his 'angylde,' and [let the reeve] take possession of the 'wite.'

Cap. 27. If a man, kinless of paternal relatives, fight and slay a man, and then if he have maternal relatives, let them pay a third of the 'wer;' his guild-brethren a third part; for a third let him flee. If he have no maternal relatives, let his guild-brethren pay half, for half let him flee.

Cap. 28. If a man kill a man thus circumstanced, if he have no relatives, let half be paid to the king, half to his guild-brethren.

Cap. 38. If a man fight before a king's ealdorman in the 'gemot,' let him make 'bot' with 'wer' and 'wite,' as it may be right; and before this, cxx. shillings to the ealdorman as 'wite.' If he disturb the folkmote by drawing his weapon, cxx. shillings to the ealdorman as ' wite.' If aught of this happen before a king's ealdorman's junior, or a king's priest, xxx. shillings as 'wite.'

Cap. 41. The man who has 'boc-land,' and which his kindred left him, then ordain we that he must not give it from his 'maeg-burg,' if there be writing or witness that it was forbidden by those men who at first acquired it, and by those who gave it to him, that he should do so; and then let that be declared in the presence of the king and of the bishop before his kinsmen.

A. D. 879. ALFRED AND GUTHRUM'S PEACE. This is the peace that King Alfred and King Guthrum, and the 'witan' of all the English nation, and all the people that are in East Anglia, have all ordained and with oaths confirmed, for themselves and for their descendants, as well for born as for unborn, who reck of God's mercy or of ours.

1. Concerning our land boundaries; Up on the Thames, and then up on the Lea, and along the Lea unto its source, then right to Bedford, then up on the Ouse unto Watling Street.

2. Then is this: If a man be slain, we estimate all equally dear, English and Danish, at viii. half marks of pure gold; except the 'ceorl' who resides on 'gafol' land and their 'liesings;' they also are equally dear, either at cc shillings.

3. And if a king's thegn be accused of man-slaying, if he dare to clear himself, let him do that with xii. king's thegns. If any one accuse that man who is of less degree than the king's thegn, let him clear himself with xi. of his equals and with one king's thegn. And so in every suit which may be for more than iv. mancuses. And if he dare not, let him pay for it threefold, as it may be valued.

4. And that every man know his warrantor for men, and for horses, and for oxen.

5. And we all ordained on that day that the oaths were sworn, that neither bond nor free might go to the host without leave, no more than any of them to us. But if it happen that from necessity any of them will have traffic with us or we with them, with cattle and with goods, that is to be allowed in this wise: that hostages be given in pledge of peace, and as evidence whereby it may be known that the party has a clean back.

A. D. cir. 920. Wessex. EDWARD; cap. 4. King Edward exhorted his witan, when they were at Exeter, that they should all search out how their 'frith' might be better than it had previously been; for it seemed to him that it was more indifferently observed than it should be, what he had formerly commanded. He then asked them who would apply to its amendment, and be in that fellowship that he was, and love that which he loved, and shun that which he shunned, both on sea and on land. That is, then, that no man deny justice to another; if any one so do, let him make 'bot' as it before is written: for the first offense, with xxx. shillings; and for the second offense, the like; and for the third, with cxx. shillings to the king.

Cap. 11. I will that each reeve have a 'gemot' always once in four weeks, and so do that every man be worthy of folk-right; and that every suit have an end, and a term when it shall be brought forward. If that any one disregard, let him make 'bot' as we before ordained.
Of Oaths.

Thus shall a man swear fealty oaths. By the Lord before whom this relic is holy, I will be to A. faithful and true, and love all that he loves, and shun all that he shuns, according to God's law, and according to the world's principles; and never, by will nor by force, by word nor by work, do aught of what is loathful to him; on condition that he me keep as I am willing to deserve, and all that fulfil that our agreement was, when I to him submitted and chose his will.
Of People's Ranks and Law.

1. It was whilom, in the laws of the English, that people and law went by ranks, and then were the counsellors of the nation of worship worthy, each according to his condition, eorl and ceorl, thegen and theoden.

2. And if a ceorl throve, so that he had fully five hides of his own land, church and kitchen, bell-house and burh-gate-seat, and special duty in the king's hall, then was he thenceforth of thegn-right worthy.

3. And if a thegn throve, so that he served the king, and on his summons rode among his household; if he then had a thegn who him followed, who to the king's 'utware' five hides had, and in the king's hall served his lord, and thrice with his errand went to the king, he might thenceforth with his 'foreoath' his lord represent at various needs, and his plaint lawfully conduct, wheresoever he ought.

4. And he who so prosperous a vicegerent had not, swore for himself according to his right, or it forfeited.

5. And if a thegn throve so that he became an eorl, then was he thenceforth of eorl-right worthy.

6. And if a merchant throve, so that he fared thrice over the wide sea by his own means, then was he thenceforth of thegn-right worthy.

7. And if there a scholar were, who through learning throve, so that he had holy orders, and served Christ, then was he thenceforth of rank and power so much worthy. as then to those orders rightfully belonged, if he himself conducted so as he should; unless he should misdo, so that he those orders' ministry might not minister.

8. And if it happened that any one a man in orders, or a stranger, anywhere injured, by word or work, then pertained it to king and to bishop, that they that should make good as they soonest might.
Of Wergilds.

1. The north people's king's gild is 30,000 thrymsas; 15,000 are for the wergild, and 15,000 for the cynedom. The wer belongs to the kindred and the cynebot to the people.

2. An archbishop's and an aetheling's wergild is 15,000 thrymsas.

3. A bishop's and ealdorman's, 8000 thrymsas.

4. A hold's and a king's high reeve's, 4000 thrymsas.

5. A mass thegn's and a secular thegn's, 2000 thrymsas.

6. A ceorl's wergild is 266 thrymsas, that is 200 shillings by Mercian law....

A. D. cir. 930. ATHELSTAN. Conc. Greatanlea.

2. Of lordless men. And we have ordained, respecting those lordless men of whom no law can be got, that the kindred be commanded that they domicile him to folk-right, and find him a lord in the folk-mote; and if they then will not or cannot produce him at the term, then be he thenceforth a 'flyma,' and let him slay him for a thief who can come at him; and whoever after that shall harbour him, let him pay for him according to his 'wer,' or by it clear himself

12. And we have ordained, that no man buy any property out of port over xx. pence; but let him buy there within, on the witness of the port-reeve, or of another untying man; or further, on the witness of the reeves at the folk-mote.

20. If any one [when summoned] fail to attend the gemot thrice, let him pay the king's 'oferhyrnes,' and let it be announced seven days before the gemot is to be. But if he will not do right, nor pay the 'oferhyrnes,' then let all the chief men belonging to the 'burh' ride to him, and take all that he has, and put him in 'both.' But if any one will not ride with his fellows, let him pay the king's 'oferhyrnes.' . . .

ATHELSTAN. Conc. Exon.; cap. 1. And let there be named in every reeve's 'manung' as many men as are known to be unlying, that they may be for witness in every suit. And be the oaths of these untying men according to the worth of the property without election.

ATHELSTAN Judicia Civitatis Lundoniae; Preamble. This is the ordinance which the bishops and reeves belonging to London have ordained and with 'weds' confirmed, among our 'frith-gegildas' as well eorlish as ceorlish, in addition to the dooms which were fixed at Greatanlea and at Exeter and at Thunresfeld.

Cap. iii. That we count always x. men together, and the chief should direct the nine in each of those duties which we have all ordained; and [count] afterwards their 'hyndens' together, and one 'hynden man' who shall admonish the x. for our common benefit; and let these xi. hold the money of the 'hynden,' and decide what they shall disburse when aught is to pay, and what they shall receive, if money should arise to us at our common suit; and let them also know that every contribution be forthcoming which we have all ordained for our common benefit, after the rate of xxx. pence or one ox; so that all be fulfilled which we have ordained in our ordinances and which stands in our agreement.

Cap. viii. I. That we gather to us once in every month, if we can and have leisure, the 'hynden-men' and those who direct the tithings, as well with 'bytt-fylling' as else it may concern us, and know what of our agreement has been executed: and let these xii. men have their reflection together, and feed themselves according as they may deem themselves worthy and deal the remains of the meat for love of God.

2. And if it then should happen that any kin be so strong and so great, within land or without land, whether xii. 'hynde' or 'twy-hynde;' that they refuse us our right, and stand up in defence of a thief; that we all of us ride thereto with the reeve within whose 'manung' it may be....
A. D. 959-975. EDGAR. Ordinance of the Hundred.

It cannot be determined without question what is the historical connexion between the system of the Hundred, as exemplified in the hundred warriors and the hundred counsellors of the Germania, and the later institution of police organization and territorial division known under this name in England. The existence of a territorial subdivision intermediate between the vicus or township and the shire or under-kingdom, such as is known in various parts of England in the present day as the hundred, the wapontake, the lathe, or the rape, may be regarded as proved by numerous passages in Bede and the Chronicles; and this subdivision may be regarded as answering roughly to the pagus of Tacitus or the icon of Germany. But it is not equally clear when, how, or why the name of 'hundred' was first applied in the majority of the counties to this subdivision. It is sometimes stated that the hundred is a primitive subdivision consisting of a hundred hides of land, or apportioned to a hundred families: the great objection to plaice theory is the impossibility of reconciling the historical hundreds with any such computation. Another theory regards the use of the term as much more modern, and as arising from the police arrangement exemplified in the following document, and in two much earlier ones of Childebert and Clothaire, of the year 595, which exist among the Capitularies of the Frank kings. Upon this theory the 'hundred' was originally the association of a hundred persons for the conservation of peace and execution of law, parallel with the later institution of the tithing or association of ten freemen for a similar purpose. In process of time, the name of 'hundred' would naturally extend to the territory protected by this association, as the tithing itself became, in later times and in certain districts, a local division. This theory is more probable than the former, but requires to be adjusted in point of date and locality. We are not to regard the ordinances of Childebert and Clothaire, or this of Edgar, as the institution of an entirely new organization, and as creating the district as well as the police system from which it took its name. It would be as difficult to prove any historical connexion between the decrees of 595 and the ordinance of Edgar, as it would to trace either directly to the 'centeni' of the Germania. But it is extremely probable that both legislators utilised an existing machinery which was originally and closely allied to the centeni of Tacitus. There are thus three points: the existence of the subdivision of the shire, which is unquestionable; the existence of the machinery of the hundred for police purposes, which emerges in these ordinances, but which may fairly be presumed to be traceable to the analogy of the primitive usage, and which may have been customary for ages, during which there is no direct record of it; and, thirdly, the application of the personal name and organization of the hundred to the already existing territorial division, which occurs in Germany as well as in England. The last thus viewed becomes of minor importance; as the special names applied to the particular hundreds must in most cases have existed previous to the application. The hundred-court was the ordinary court of justice among the Franks and bore the name of mallus. The law of Childebert and Clothaire recognizes the existence of the territorial hundred even whilst instituting a new measure of police. The law of Edgar has a very much wider operation, regulating the practice of the hundred-court in other respects. The coincidence in the wording of the two documents is remarkable, rather as exhibiting the traces of ancient common institutions than as proving any direct connexion.

A. D. 959-975. EDGAR. This is the ordinance how the Hundred shall be held.

1. First, that they meet always within four weeks; and that every man do justice to another.

2. That a thief shall be pursued.... If there be present need, let it be made known to the hundredman, and let him make it known to the tithingmen; and let all go forth to where God may direct them to go. Let them do justice on the thief, as it was formerly the enactment of Edmund. And let the 'ceapgild' be paid to him who owns the cattle, and the rest be divided into two; half to the hundred, half to the lord, excepting men, and let the lord take possession of the men.

3. And the man who neglects this, and denies the doom of the hundred, and the same be afterwards proved against him, let him pay to the hundred xxx. pence; and for the second time lx. pence, half to the hundred, half to the lord. If he do so a third time, let him pay half a pound; for the fourth time, let him forfeit all that he owns, and be an outlaw, unless the king allow Him to remain in the country.

4. And we have ordained, concerning unknown cattle, that no one should possess it without the testimonies of the men of the hundred, or of the tithingman; and that he be a well trusty man; and unless he have either of these, let no vouching to warranty (team) be allowed him.

5. We have also ordained, if the hundred pursue a track into another hundred, that notice be given to the hundredman, and that he then go with them. If he neglect this, let him pay xxx. shillings to the king.

6. If any one flinch from justice and escape, let him who held him to answer for the offense pay the 'an-gylde.' And if any one accuse him of having sent him away, let him clear himself, as it is established in the country.

7. In the hundred, as in any other 'gemot,' we ordain that folk-right be pronounced in every suit, and that a term be fixed when it shall be fulfilled. And he who shall break that term, unless it be by his lord's decree, let him make 'bot' with xxx. shillings, and on the day fixed fulfil that which he ought to have done before.

8. An ox's bell, and a dog's collar, and a blast-horn-either of these three shall be worth a shilling, and each is reckoned an informer.

9. Let the iron that is for the threefold ordeal weigh iii. pounds; and for the single, one pound.

A. D. 959-975. EDGAR. Ordinance. This is the ordinance that King Edgar, with the counsel of his witan, ordained, in praise of God, and in honour to himself, and for the behoof of all his people.

1. These, then, are first: That God's churches be entitled to every right; and that every tithe be rendered to the old minster to which the district belongs; and that be then so paid, both from a thegn's 'in-land' and from 'geneat' land, so as the plough traverses it....

Secular Ordinance; cap. I. Now this is the secular ordinance which I will that it be held. This, then, is first what I will: that every man be worthy of folk-right, as well poor as rich; and that righteous dooms be judged to him; and let there be such remission in the 'bot' as may be becoming before God and tolerable before the world.

Cap. 2. And let no one apply to the king in any suit, unless he at home may not be worthy of law, or cannot obtain law. If the law be too heavy, let him seek a mitigation of it from the king; and for any 'bot' worthy crime let no man forfeit more than his 'wer.'

Cap. 5. And let the hundred gemot be attended as it was before fixed; and thrice in the year let a burh-gemot be held; and twice, a shire-gemot; and let there be present the bishop of the shire and the ealdorman, and there both expound as well the law of God as the secular law.

Cap. 6. And let every man so order that he have a 'borh'; and let the 'borh' then bring and hold him to every justice; and if any one then do wrong and run away, let the 'borh' bear that which he ought to bear. But if it be a thief, and if he can get hold of him within twelve months, let him deliver him up to justice, and let be rendered unto him what he before had paid.

Cap. 8. And let one money pass throughout the king's dominion; and that let no man refuse; and let one measure and one weight pass, such as is observed at London and at Winchester. . ...

Supplement; cap. 3. This, then, is what I will: that every man be under 'borh,' both within the 'burhs' and without the 'burhs;' and let witness be appointed to every 'burh' and to every hundred.

Cap. 4. To every 'burh' let there be chosen xxxiii. as witness.

Cap. 5. To small 'burhs' and in every hundred xii. unless ye desire more.

Cap. 6. And let every man, with their witness, buy and sell every of the chattels that he may buy or sell, either in a burh or in a wapontake; and let every of them, when he is first chosen as witness, give the oath that he never, neither for money, nor for love, nor for fear, will deny any of those things of which he was witness, nor declare any other thing in witness save that alone which he saw or heard; and of such sworn men let there be at every bargain two or three as witness.

A. D. 978-1016. ETHELRED. I. This is the ordinance which King Ethelred and his witan ordained as 'frith-bot' for the whole nation, at Woodstock, in the land of the Mercians, according to the law of the English.

Cap. I. Of 'Borhs.' That is, that every freeman have a true 'borh,' that the 'borh' may present him to every justice, if he should be accused. But if he be 'tyhtbysig,' let him go to the threefold ordeal. If his lord say that he has failed neither in oath nor ordeal since the gemot was at Bromdun, let the lord take with him two true thegns within the hundred, and swear that never bath oath failed him, nor had he paid 'theof-gyld;' unless he have the reeve who is competent to do that. If then the oath succeed, let the man then who is there accused choose whichever he will, either single ordeal, or a pound-worth oath, within the three hundreds, for above thirty pence. If they dare not take the oath, let him go to the triple ordeal And let every lord have his household in his own 'borh.'

II. Cap. 6. If the frith-breach be committed within a 'burh,' let the inhabitants of the 'burh' themselves go and get the murderers, living or dead, or their nearest kindred, head for head. If they will not, let the ealdorman go; if he will not, let the king go; if he will not, let the ealdordom lie in 'unfrith.'

III. Cap. 3 And that a gemot be held in every wapontake; and the xii. senior thegns go out, and the reeve with them, and swear on the relic that is given them in hand, that they will accuse no innocent man, nor conceal any guilty one.....

Cap. II. And let no man have any soken over a king's thegn except the king himself.

V. Cap. 2. And the ordinance of our lord and of his witan is, that Christian men and uncondemned be not sold out of the country, especially into a heathen nation; and be it jealously guarded against, that those souls perish not that Christ bought with his own life.

Cap. 3. And the ordinance of our lord and of his witan is, that Christian men for all too little be not condemned to death; but in general let mild punishments be decreed, for the people's need; and let not, for a little, God's handiwork and His own purchase be destroyed, which He dearly bought.

Cap. 26. But let God's law be henceforth zealously loved, by word and deed, then will God soon be merciful to this nation: and let 'frithes-bot' and 'feos-bot' everywhere in the country, and 'burh-bot' on every side, and 'bric-bot,' and the armaments (fyrdung) also be diligently attended to, according to what is always prescribed when there is need.

Cap. 28. And if any one without leave return from the 'fyrd' in which the king himself is, let it be at the peril of himself and all his estate; and he who else returns from the 'fyrd,' let him be liable in cxx. shillings.

A. D. 1016-1035. CANUTE. Secular Dooms; cap. 17. And let no one apply to the king unless he may not be entitled to any justice within his hundred; and let the hundred gemot be applied to under penalty of the 'wite,' so as it is right to apply to it.

Cap. 18. And thrice a-year let there be a 'burh-gemot,' and twice a 'shire-gemot'; under penalty of the 'wite,' as is right, unless there be need oftener. And let there be present the bishop of the shire and the ealdorman, and there let both expound as well the law of God as the secular law.

Cap. 19. And let no man take any distress either in the shire or out of the shire, before he has twice demanded his right in the hundred. If at the third time he have no justice, then let him go at the fourth time to the ' shire-gemot,' and let the shire appoint him a fourth term. If that then fail, let him take leave either from hence or thence, that he may seize his own.

Cap. 20. And we will that every free man be brought into a hundred and into a tithing.... And that every one be brought into a hundred and in 'borh;' and let the 'borh' hold and lead him to every plea....

Cap. 21. And we will that every man above xii. years make oath that he will neither be a thief nor cognizant of theft.

Cap. 70. This then is the alleviation which it is my will to secure to all the people of that which they before this were too much oppressed with. That then is first; that I command all my reeves that they justly provide on my own, and maintain me therewith; and that no man need give them anything as 'feorm-fultum' unless he himself be willing. And if any one after that demand a 'wite,' let him be liable in his 'wer' to the king.

Cap. 71. And if any one depart this life intestate, be it through his neglect, be it through sudden death; then let not the lord draw more from his property than his lawful heriot. And according to his direction, let the property be distributed very justly to the wife and children and relations, to every one according to the degree that belongs to him.

Cap. 72. And let the heriots be as it is fitting to the degree. An eorl's such as thereto belongs, that is, eight horses, four saddled and four unsaddled, and four helmets and four coats of mail, and eight spears and as many shields, and four swords and 200 mancuses of gold. And after that, a king's thegn's, of those who are nearest to him; four horses, two saddled and two undo saddled, and two swords and four spears and as many shields, and a helmet and a coat of mail and fifty mancuses of gold. And of the medial thegns, a horse and his trappings and his arms; or his 'healsfang' in Wessex; and in Mercia two pounds, and in East Anglia two pounds. And the heriot of a king's thegn among the Danes, who has his soken, four pounds. And if he have further relation to the king, two horses, one saddled and the other unsaddled, and one sword and two spears and two shields and fifty mancuses of gold; and he who is of less means, two pounds.

Cap. 81. And I will that every man be entitled to his hunting in wood and in field, on his own possession. And let every one forego my hunting: take notice where I will have it untrespassed on, under penalty of the full 'wite.'

Cap. 83. And I will that every man be entitled to 'grith' to the gemot and from the gemot, except he be a notorious thief
CHARTER OF CANUTE.

THE Charter affords a most important illustration of the policy of Canute with regard to his English subjects, and of the general spirit of his legislation after his rule was universally admitted. It probably belongs to the year 1020, in which the king returned from Denmark, as the earl Thurcyl, to whom it is addressed, was outlawed the following year. The laws of Edgar had been chosen by the Danes and English at Oxford in 1018. The document is published for the first time. (see also the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle : Eleventh Century; the years 1020-1022. Note added by the Avalon Project)

Canute, the king, greets his archbishops and his suffragan bishops, and Thurcyl the earl, and all his earls and all his people, twelfhynde and twyhynde, clerk and lay, in England, friendly; and I do you to wit that I will be kind lord and unfailing to God's rights and to right secular law. I took to my remembrance the writing and the word that archbishop Lyfing brought me from Rome from the pope, that I should everywhere maintain the glory of God and put down wrong, and work full peace by the might that God would give me. Now I shrank not from my cost whilst hostility was in hand among you; now I with God's help took away at my cost that of which men told me that it threatened us with more harm than well pleased us; and then went I myself into Denmark, with the men that went with me, from whence most harm came to you; and that have I with God's help taken precautions for that never henceforth should enmity come to you from thence whilst ye men rightly hold, and my life lasteth. Now I thank God Almighty for his help and mercy, that I have so allayed the great harms that threatened us, that we need expect Tom thence no harm, but to full peace and to deliverance if need be. Now I will that we all reverently thank God Almighty for the mercy that he has done for our help. Now I beseech my archbishops and all my suffragan bishops that they all be attentive about God's right, every one in his district which is committed to him; and also my ealdormen I command that they help the bishops to God's right and to my royal authority and to the behoof of all the people. If any be so bold, clerk or lay, Dane or English, as to go against God's law and against my royal authority, or against secular law, and be unwilling to make amends, and to alter according to my bishops' teaching, then I pray Thurcyl my earl, and also command him, that he bend that unrighteous one to right if he can; if he cannot, then will I with the strength of us both that he destroy him in the land or drive him out of the land, be he better, be he worse; and also I command all my reeves, by my friendship and by all that they own, and by their own life, that they everywhere hold my people rightly and judge right judgments by the shire bishops' witness, and do such mercy therein as the shire bishop thinks right, as a man may attain to; and if any harbour a thief, or neglect the pursuit, be he answerable to me as the thief should, unless he can clear himself towards me with full purgation. And I will that all people, clerk and lay, hold fast Edgar's law, which all men have chosen and sworn to at Oxford, for that all the bishops say that it right deeply offends God, that a man break oaths or pledges; and likewise they further teach us that we should with all might and main, alike seek, love, and worship the eternal merciful God, and eschew all unrighteousness; that is, slaying of kinsmen, and murder, and perjury, and witchcraft and enchantment, and adultery, and incest; and also we charge in the name of God Almighty, and of all his saints, that no man be so bold as to marry a hallowed nun or mynchen; and if any have done so, be he outlaw towards God, and excommunicated from all Christendom, and answerable to the king in all he has, unless he quickly alter and deeply make amends to God; and further still, we admonish that men keep Sunday's festival with all their might, and observe it from Saturday's noon to Monday's dawning; and no man be so bold that he either go to market or seek any court on that holy day; and all men, poor and rich, seek their church, and ask forgiveness for their sins, and keep earnestly every ordained fast, and earnestly honour the saints that the mass priests shall bid us, that we may altogether through the mercy of the everlasting God and the intercession of his saints come to the joy of the kingdom of heaven, and dwell with Him who liveth and reigneth for ever without end. Amen.

[York Gospel Book, MS.]

Source:
Stubbs, William
Select Charters and other Illustrations of English Constitutional History from the Earliest Times to the Reign of Edward the First.
Oxford at the Clarendon Press, 1900.

 

                                                                                                                    

 

Definitions:

 

Bohr-  Anglo-Saxon sureties The borh was a system of surety whereby individuals - a family member, a master for servants, a lord for dependents - became responsible for producing others in court in event of misdemeanors. At the same time, late Anglo-Saxon society increasingly shared responsibility in legal matters in groups of ten.

 

Elucidation-  the act of explaining or making something clear

Details
Hits: 1742

Treaty of 1213 - The Beginning of the Lie

Once upon a time before the year 1066 the people of England held Allodial title to their land. Not even the king could take the land for not paying a tithe. William the Conquer came in 1066 and stole the Kings Title and took the land of the people. From William I, 1066, to King John, 1199, England was in dire straits. It was bankrupt.

The King invoked the Law of Mortmain, the dead man's hand, so people couldn't pass their land on to the church or anyone else without the King's permission, (modern day probate?). Without Mortmain the King would lose the land he controlled. The Vatican didn't like that because the King owed a lot of pounds to the Vatican.(WHY?)(1). King John refused to accept The Vatican's representative, Stephen Langton, whom Pope Innocent III installed to rule England(religious or in fact?)(2) In 1208 England was placed under Papal interdict(?). Interdict means a prohibition.)

King John was excommunicated and in trying to regain his stature he groveled before the Pope and returned the title to his kingdoms of England and Ireland to the Pope as vassals, and swore submission and loyalty to him. King John accepted Langton as Archbishop of Canterbury, and offered the Pope a vassal's bond of fealty and homage. Two months later, in July of 1213, King John was absolved of excommunication, at Winchester, by the returned Archbishop of Canterbury, Langton. On October 3, 1213, by treaty, King John ratified his surrender of his kingdoms to the Pope, as Vicar of Christ who claimed ownership of everything and everyone on earth as tradition.


Question 1. Where in the Bible did Jesus give any man this kind of power over all men and land? He didn't. He did not create a religion nor did he create the office of Pope.


Question 2. Can you have a third party break a contract between you and another person under duress..? Don't those of you who are forced into a contract reserve all your rights under modern UCC 1-207 and claim UCC 1-103?
The contract (treaty of 1213) was between two parties. Now the Barons of England would not put up with being slaves anymore so they took to the sword and made King John sign the Magna Charta. So doesn't this act of the Barons violate the principle of natural law, when they created the Magna Charta, as having no force and effect upon a contract between two parties? Well Pope Innocent III, the other contracting party thought so, for he declared the Magna Charta to be: ". . .unlawful and unjust as it is base and shameful. . . whereby the Apostolic See is brought into contempt, the Royal Prerogative diminished, the English outraged, and the whole enterprise of the Crusade greatly imperiled." Quoted from G.R.C. Davis: Magna Charta. Trustee of the British Museum. London. 1965.
The Pope, in order to introduce strife in England and Ireland that would help him, used Jesus teachings to his advantage that is verified in the Gospels by two of His Apostles. So St. Levy (Mark 2:14; Luke 5:27), alias Matthew, cites Jesus at Matthew 10::34-36 and Luke 12:49, 51-3. Nothing reveals the antithesis of government and religion more clearly than these facts.


Question 3. What did the contract of 1213 A.D. create? A TRUST or CONTRACT. Only the two parties, the King's heirs and the Pope, can break the contract. For the Trust /Contract cannot be broken as long as there are heirs to both sides of the contract.
At this time in history we now know who controlled the Kings of England and the land of the world. For Now we have the Pope claiming the whole Western Hemisphere besides Europe. The Holy See of Antioch ruled all the easterly side and the Holy See of Alexandria ruled the western side, so there was a conflict. (3)



So, on with the story. The King's explorers had come to America to claim dominion over land by deceiving and murdering the natives, the American Indians. The King operated under the treaty of 1213 and everything was going along okay until the 1770's when the bunch of rogues called the "Founding Fathers" decided they wanted the benefits but not pay the taxes to the King. They, being lawyers, and professional educated men, didn't know they were still under the Pope's control? Their lies and fraud now would affect the American colonies and the people who lived on the land.

Those common people who fought in the American Revolution were unaware that the 1213 treaty still ruled despite the fact they THOUGHT the Magna Charta was a viable piece of work.(4) The Declaration of Rights in 1689 declared the Rights of the British subjects in England. At the end of the English Declaration it stated at Section III " ...that should any of the Rights just mentioned be in violation of the HOLY ALLIANCE (1213 Treaty), ...it is as if this Declaration was never written".

So we know that the English Declaration didn't fly, so what makes you think the 1774 Declaration of Rights in this British Colony would work. Weren't these people doing the same thing as the Barons did in 1215 A.D. to King John? A contract is a contract. Look at Article 1, Section 10, Clause 1 of the U.S. Constitution. Can anyone obligate a contract? Were the "founding fathers" trying to obligate a contract between two parties that still have heirs living today?
Question 4. How important is the "ultimate benefactor", the Pope, The HOLY SEE, in the scheme of things? Move through history till modern times and pull Public Law 88-244, which follows Public Law 88-243 - the institution of the law- merchants Uniform Commercial Code. Are you shocked that the Pope is listed in this Public Law?

Doesn't the United States have an ambassador in the Vatican? Why? Is it a government like all other nations such as France, Japan, Spain or Brazil? The Vatican runs the world, it controls the British Crown. Is it any wonder they separate man's Church and government? They don't talk about the Lord Almighty's Church (government) do they.(5) "Organized churches" are given special tax privileges because the Vatican dictates to the sixty United States trustees through the trust document, the U.S. Constitution created by the 1783 treaty between the King, frontman for the Vatican, and Adams, Hartly, Laurens, & Franklin who were operating for the King and not the people of America. Look at Article VI of the Constitution for the United States for your answer as stated in the "New History of America".(6)

You see we are still under the Pope who rules over all nations as he declared he did back in 1213. The 1783 Treaty did say in the opening statement quoted exactly as it appears in olde English; "It having pleafed the Divine Providence to difpofe the hearts of the Moft Serene and Moft Porent Prince, George the Third, by the grace of God, King of the Great Britain, France and Ireland, Defender, of the Faith , Duke of Brunfwick and Laurenberg, Arch-Treafurer and PRINCE ELECTOR OF THE HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE, & C. AND OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, . . .."
(Emphasis added in caps).

Did you catch the last few words? This is from a King (man) who can supposedly make no claim over the United States of America because he was defeated? The King claims God gave him the almighty power to say that no man can ever own property because it, "goes against the tenets of his church, the Vatican/Holy Roman Empire, because the King is the "Elector of the Holy Roman Empire’"

What about the secret Treaty of Verona, made the 22nd of November, 1822, which shows the power of the Pope and the Vatican's interest in the US Republic.

Here is part of The Secret Treaty of Verona. "The undersigned specially authorized to make some additions to the treaty of the Holy Alliance, after having exchanged their respective credentials, have agreed as follows:

ARTICLE I. The high contracting powers being convinced that the system of representative government is equally as incompatible with the monarchial principles as the maxim of the sovereignty of the people with the divine right, engage mutually, in the most solemn manner to use all their efforts to put an end to the system of representative governments, in what ever country it may exist in Europe, and to prevent its being introduced in those countries where it is not yet known.
ARTICLE II. As it cannot be doubted that the liberty of the press is the most powerful means used by the pretended supporters of the rights of nations to the detriment of those of princes, the high contracting parties promise reciprocally to adopt all proper measures to suppress it, not only in their own state but also in the rest of Europe.
ARTICLE III. Convinced that the principles of religion contribute most powerfully to keep nations in the state of passive obedience which they owe to their princes, the high contracting parties declare it to be their intention to sustain in their respective states, those measures which the clergy may adopt with the aim of ameliorating their own interests, so intimately connected with the preservation of the authority of the princes; and the contracting powers join in offering their thanks to the Pope for what he has already done for them, and solicit his constant cooperation in their views of submitting the nations."

Do we have a false God before us and worship him and his church instead of the real Lord, Jesus and his government. The divine right of kings exists in Clinton and every Governor of the states in corporate Union. Well let me go on record and say that the Lord gave me the same right as the Pope claims was given to him. Am I not a Steward upon the land of the Lord as a mere sojourner, the same as the Pope? Are not you also a Steward?

Did the Lord make a covenant with Adam and Eve to subdue the earth and reign over the animals and to populate the earth? Doesn't that contract still exist? And doesn't it exist with you also? And we, the true believers in that contract, can we take all the nations (mans) laws in the world and dump them in the ocean to regain our rightful place on this earth under the Lord's Natural Law to thwart the contract between King John and the Pope that appears to defeat the original contract the Lord made with man?

Yes, let us go back to the original contract and destroy the Vatican's control over everybody. Before 1066 the Pope did not claim all the land as the people claimed the land and didn't pay taxes on it to anybody. Didn't the Lord say to the people after coming out of Egypt, "why do you want a king when you have me and my contract?" Which Lord do you want to live under, a Pope, a King, President, Governors, Senators, Representatives, or a real Lord called Jesus Christ. "Christians," are ridiculed and put down because they read the Word of the Lord correctly and could defeat even the best the Pope has to throw at them.

The King James version of the Bible is just that. A version concocted by the King under the guidance of the Pope so as to hide the real truth. I was taught by the church I went to, which is government controlled as it has to be by the treaty of 1213 and reiterated in the 1783 Treaty between The Pope's Elector, King John and the First President of the United States, Sam Huntington and Charles Thompson, Secretary. I read the passage, when Jesus was on the cross, from a very old manuscript that said, "Forgive them NOT, for they know what they do." This is different than what most people believe he said, "Forgive them for they know not what they do." Bottom line is that when men write, transcribe, translate, update, and copy over thousands of years they always alter the interpretation, words and insert their own meanings. You can see this in just the 200 years that our country became separated from England, but still remains a colony under different compact and use of clever wording. But that is another whole subject that you do not know about.

Eminent domain and Allodial title:
Why and where did "eminent domain" rear its ugly head? Right after the King's government was formed here in America. Eminent domain replaced the Law of Mortmain of England and when government wanted your land they claimed eminent domain thereby destroying that to what people think they have allodial title. Allodial title only existed in America when the King granted the use of the land to the likes of William Penn, .........

But it could be taken at any time. Are you or were your great, great, great grandfathers ever free to hold land that could never be taken away? Ask some of today's farmers and see how many lost their farms to the government that belonged to their past family and I'll bet none of the land goes back to the 1789 era. Well it's a wonderful world to live in the end times, isn't it. Read Revelations to see where the false preachers come from. Who is the "Harlot" in Revelations?

Does the Vatican come close with a mortal calling himself the "vicar" of Christ?

Here is the definition of vicar in Webster's 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language.


Vicar: "In a general sense, a person deputed or authorized to perform the functions of another; a substitute in office."

The Pope PRETENDS to be vicar of Jesus Christ on earth.

Pretend; To hold out as a false appearance; to offer something feigned instead of that which is real; To exhibit as a cover for something hidden."

You bet your life the Pope has something to hide. He is no more powerful than You. The King is no more powerful than You. The American President and Governor's are no more powerful than You. You allow THEM run your lives ...WHY.?

Thinkers, you cannot fight the Pope or the King on their contract even though you are affected by the contract. You must go elsewhere for relief. Remember the first contract in history, God with Adam and Eve? You had better because you were a part of it as an heir and it is your saving grace. Why do you think the "courts of common law" are despised and Government and States are taking action to stop them? See where the power lies when this happens? Clinton, the Governors, and Congress of the United States and the Legislatures of the several states are only following orders and delegate to the 60 U.S. Trustees, who always show up in bankruptcy generated mostly by IRS actions. Isn't that a starting point?

What do Trustees administer? A trust? The Constitution is a trust, correct? It was created by the 1783 Treaty, correct? It is not the private man's trust contract, correct? Only those entering into the contract are UNDER the constitution and are bound by it, correct? Look up the definition of "under" in words and phrases and a good dictionary such as Webster's 1828 at Vol. II, 101. I, my dear readers, am not "under" some damn corporate trust (constitution) drafted in secrecy by the King and corporate lawyer esquires (you call them the "Founding Fathers") whom were controlled by the Treaty of 1213, wherein the Vatican still ruled over all. It was never "my constitution" and never will be. The Constitution does not apply to me nor will it ever.

However, some of the states' representatives in 1776 realized that the Constitution was a commercial contract among the Founding Fathers to protect their financial interests in the Americas and in Europe. The Articles of the Bill of Rights is designed to keep those United States citizens whom are bound by the Constitution (contract) from encroaching upon my natural Law Rights, (With this hint in mind you may discover where the IRS gets its purported power that makes you liable, because you claim to be UNDER the constitution, but they will never admit it because only a few know the real reason and they are not about to tell their agents. The same goes for any license issued to you by the corporate States). I hope you have read the Supreme Court cases of State and United States cited in my previous books that prove beyond any shadow of a doubt I am correct in my previous two sentences. Yet you always fall back into the trap by claiming citizenship of the United States AND THE STATES.

No! You are not a citizen of the corporate or organic State if you want to be free. You cannot claim it is your constitution and remain free. You cannot claim representatives in the legislatures and remain free. How about your estate? State and Estate come from the same contract.

Webster's 1828 Dictionary defines it;

"ESTA'TE, n. 1. In a general sense, fixedness; a condition; now generally written and pronounced state. (6) The general interest of business or government; hence a political body; a commonwealth; a republic.

But in this sense, we now use State." Get the picture? We are the ryots tenure holding the "estate" of the King called your estate. Belong to a body politic and you are a slave. In my previous books I told the people a "republic" is a fraud, for then you belong to the estate of the King which makes you a law-merchant holding as a trustee the King's land that he is holding in trust for the Vatican. The States are the "estate " of the Vatican/King cabal with the money changers along for the ride are a full blown consortium which includes the Congress/President/ Governors et al. I don't want to drive you crazy, since you might not comprehend all that is here. Once you know the truth and let go of all you were taught by the government and the preachers you don't become the drowning man grasping at the lies to stay afloat. Have you ever wondered why you were sinking while pleading case law and their constitution to protect you?

Bye till next time,
The Informer

(1) (WHY?). Because the Pope claimed all lands as the vicar of Christ and the king owed money from the Vatican that was to be collected by the Church of England. The church reduced their parishioners to mere serfdom. When they died the church got the property and the King, in order to preserve what property he had instituted the law of Mortmain. This prevented the people from willing the land to the Pope. When the pope got wind of this he excommunicated the King. That's the explanation for the Why?

(2) This is a fact that is documented in the English documents of History at the Leeds Library.

(3) The conflict between each of the Holy Sees, one controlling the western front (America) and the other controlling the China side with the dividing line somewhere in Spain and France through Germany. The Pope is the figurehead, remember and the best way to explain it is Congress is Alexandria and the Senate is Antioch.

(4) (Why doesn't the Magna Charta hold more force and effect than a later contract between the king and the Pope? Because the Pope decreed it null and void as it would break the contract he had initiated with the King. The Magna Charta was a contract breaker by third parties and that was a no-no in any law. Besides the Pope owned England and how could the Barons take the land that the King pledged let alone all the surfs that the Pope still controlled through the church of England? He can't and so the Magna Charta was declared Void. Now the Pope, through the front man, The King, could create the other contracts called treaties and no one is the wiser. Remember, the Pope was being controlled by the creditor, The Rothschilds to whom the Pope was indebted.

(5) Why? It is clear as a bell. The "church" of GOD is 'Government of GOD' and man created all these religions and made churches for them. They, man, cannot allow the Government of the Lord "Church upon this rock" to get in the way of the government of men, now can they?

(6) "New History of America", by The Informer

People you can read this for yourself in American Council of Christian Laymen: "How Red Is The Federal Council of Churches", Madison, Wisconsin, 1949. Now you may better understand James Montgomery's latest as to why all the declarations, Magna Charta, etc. have no effect. Read on to see why.

See: James Montgomery's - "British Colony III" on the Internet. To further prove what I say that the declared rights were also at the mercy of any previous charters or grants from the king of England you must read section 25 of the 1776 North Carolina Constitution, Declaration of Rights which states;09"And provided further, that nothing herein contained shall affect the titles or possessions of individuals holding or claiming under the laws heretofore in force, or grants heretofore made by the late King George II, or his predecessors, or the late lords proprietors, or any of them."


www.truthcontrol.com/articles/treaty-1213-beginning-lie

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What Is The Virginia Company Of 1604?

In 1604, a group of leading politicians, businessmen, merchants, manufacturers and bankers, met in Greenwich, then in the English county of Kent, and formed a corporation called the Virginia Company in anticipation of the imminent influx of white Europeans, mostly British at first, into the North American continent. Its main stockholder was the reptilian, King James I, and the original charter for the company was completed by April 10th 1606. This and later updates to the charter established the following:

...The Virginia Company comprised of two branches, the London Company and the Plymouth or New England Company...The ‘Pilgrims’ of American historical myth were, in fact, members of the second Virginia Company branch called the New England Company. The Pilgrim Society is still a major elite grouping within the Illuminati..

The Virginia Company owned most of the land of what we now call the USA, and any lands up to 900 miles offshore. This included Bermuda and most of what is now known as the Caribbean Islands. The Virginia Company (the British Crown and the bloodline families) had rights to 50%, yes 50%, of the ore of all gold and silver mined on its lands, plus percentages of other minerals and raw materials, and 5% of all profits from other ventures. These rights, the charters detailed, were to be passed on to all heirs of the owners of the Virginia Company and therefore continue to apply... forever! The controlling members of the Virginia Company who were to enjoy these rights became known as the Treasurer and Company of Adventurers and Planters of the City of London.

After the first 21 years from the formation of the Virginia Company, all ‘duties, imposts, and excises’ paid on trading activities in the colonies had to be paid directly to the British Crown through the Crown treasurer...

The lands of the Virginia Company were granted to the colonies under a Deed of Trust (on lease) and therefore they could not claim ownership of the land...

The monarch, through his Council for the Colonies, insisted that members of the colonies impose the Christian religion on all the people, including the Native Americans...

The criminal courts on the lands of the Virginia Company were to be operated under Admiralty Law, the law of the sea, and the civil courts under common law, the law of the land...

Now, get this. All of the above still applies today!

“First, let no one rule your mind or body. Take special care that your thoughts remain unfettered... . Give men your ear, but not your heart. Show respect for those in power, but don't follow them blindly. Judge with logic and reason, but comment not. Consider none your superior whatever their rank or station in life. Treat all fairly, or they will seek revenge. Be careful with your money. Hold fast to your beliefs and others will listen.”
“Wise? No, I simply learned to think.”

 

 

Map of Virginia Colony

 

Greater view of the North American continent in a map dated from 1783

 

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The Constitution of the Iroquois Nations

 The Great Law of Peace

 

  1. I am Dekanawidah and with the Five Nations' Confederate Lords I plant the Tree of Great Peace. Iplant it in your territory, Adodarhoh, and the Onondaga Nation, in the territory of you who are Fire 

 

I name the tree the Tree of the Great Long Leaves. Under the shade of this Tree of the Great Peace we spread the soft white feathery down of the globe thistle as seats for you, Adodarhoh, and your cousin-Lords.

 

We place you upon those seats, spread soft with the feathery down of the globe thistle, there beneath the shade of the spreading branches of the Tree of Peace. There shall you sit and watch the Council Fire of the Confederacy of the Five Nations, and all the affairs of the Five Nations shall be transacted at this place before you, Adodarhoh, and your cousin Lords, by the Confederate Lords of the Five Nations.

 

  1. Roots have spread out from the Tree of the Great Peace, one to the north, one to the east, one to the south and one to the west. The name of these roots is The Great White Roots and their nature is Peace and 

 

If any man or any nation outside the Five Nations shall obey the laws of the Great Peace and make known their disposition to the Lords of the Confederacy, they may trace the Roots to the Tree and if their minds are clean and they are obedient and promise to obey the wishes of the Confederate Council, they shall be welcomed tot ake shelter beneath the Tree of the Long Leaves.

 

We place at the top of the Tree of the Long Leaves an Eagle who is able to see afar. If he sees in the distance any evil approaching or any danger threatening he will at once warn the people of the Confederacy.

 

  1. To you Adodarhoh, the Onondaga cousin Lords, I and the other Confederate Lords have entrusted the care-taking and the watching of the Five Nations Council Fire.

 

When there is any business to be transacted and the Confederate Council is not in session, a messenger shall be dispatched either to Adodarhoh, Hononwirehtonh or Skanawatih, Fire Keepers, or to their War Chiefs with a full statement of the case desired to be considered. Then shall Adodarhoh call his cousin (associate)Lords together and consider whether or not the case is of sufficient importance to demand the attention of the Confederate Council. If so, Adodarhoh shall dispatch messengers to summon all the Confederate Lords to assemble beneath the Tree of the Long Leaves.

 

When the Lords are assembled the Council Fire shall be kindled, but not with chestnut wood, and Adodarhoh shall formally open the Council.

 

[ ed note: chestnut wood throws out sparks in burning, thereby creating a disturbance in the council ]

 

Then shall Adodarhoh and his cousin Lords, the Fire Keepers, announce the subject for discussion.

 

The Smoke of the Confederate Council Fire shall ever ascend and pierce the sky so that other nations who may be allies may see the Council Fire of the Great Peace.

 

Adodarhoh and his cousin Lords are entrusted with the Keeping of the Council Fire.

 

  1. You, Adodarhoh, and your thirteen cousin Lords, shall faithfully keep the space about the Council Fire-clean and you shall allow neither dust nor dirt to accumulate. I lay a Long Wing before you as a broom. As a weapon against a crawling creature I lay a staff with you so that you may thrust it away from the Council  If you fail to cast it out then call the rest of the United Lords to your aid.

 

  1. The Council of the Mohawk shall be divided into three parties as follows: Tekarihoken, Ayonhwhathahand Shadekariwade are the first party; Sharenhowaneh, Deyoenhegwenh and Oghrenghrehgowah are the second party, and Dehennakrineh, Aghstawenserenthah and Shoskoharowaneh are the third party. The third party is to listen only to the discussion of the first and second parties and if an error is made or the proceeding is irregular they are to call attention to it, and when the case is right and properly decided by the two parties they shall confirm the decision of the two parties and refer the case to the Seneca Lords for their decision. When the Seneca Lords have decided in accord with the Mohawk Lords, the case or question shall be referred to the Cayuga and Oneida Lords on the opposite side of the house.

 

  1. I, Dekanawidah, appoint the Mohawk Lords the heads and the leaders of the Five Nations Confederacy.The Mohawk Lords are the foundation of the Great Peace and it shall, therefore, be against the Grea t Binding Law to pass measures in the Confederate Council after the Mohawk Lords have protested against 

 

No council of the Confederate Lords shall be legal unless all the Mohawk Lords are present.

 

  1. Whenever the Confederate Lords shall assemble for the purpose of holding a council, the Onondaga Lords shall open it by expressing their gratitude to their cousin Lords and greeting them, and they shall make an address and offer thanks to the earth where men dwell, to the streams of water, the pools, the springs and the lakes, to the maize and the fruits, to the medicinal herbs and trees, to the forest trees for their usefulness, to the animals that serve as food and give their pelts for clothing, to the great winds and the lesser winds, to the Thunderers, to the Sun, the mighty warrior, to the moon, to the messengers of the Creator who reveal his wishes and to the Great Creator who dwells in the heavens above, who gives all the things useful to men, and who is the source and the ruler of health and life.

 

Then shall the Onondaga Lords declare the council open.

The council shall not sit after darkness has set in.

 

  1. The Fire keepers shall formally open and close all councils of the Confederate Lords, and they shall pass upon all matters deliberated upon by the two sides and render their decision.

 

Every Onondaga Lord (or his deputy) must be present at every Confederate Council and must agree with the majority without unwarrantable dissent, so that a unanimous decision may be rendered.

 

If Adodarhoh or any of his cousin Lords are absent from a Confederate Council, any other Fire keeper may open and close the Council, but the Fire keepers present may not give any decisions, unless the matter is of small importance.

 

  1. All the business of the Five Nations Confederate Council shall be conducted by the two combined bodies of Confederate Lords. First the question shall be passed upon by the Mohawk and Seneca Lords,then it shall be discussed and passed by the Oneida and Cayuga Lords. Their decisions shall then be referred to the Onondaga Lords, (Fire Keepers) for final judgement.

 

The same process shall obtain when a question is brought before the council by an individual or a War Chief.

 

  1. In all cases the procedure must be as follows: when the Mohawk and Seneca Lords have unanimously agreed upon a question, they shall report their decision to the Cayuga and Oneida Lords who shall deliberate upon the question and report a unanimous decision to the Mohawk Lords. The Mohawk Lords will then report the standing of the case to the Fire keepers, who shall render a decision as they see fit in case of a disagreement by the two bodies, or confirm the decisions of the two bodies if they are identical.The Fire Keepers shall then report their decision to the Mohawk Lords who shall announce it to the open 

 

  1. If through any misunderstanding or obstinacy on the part of the Fire Keepers, they render a decision at variance with that of the Two Sides, the Two Sides shall reconsider the matter and if their decisions are jointly the same as before they shall report to the Fire Keepers who are then compelled to confirm their joint decision.

 

  1. When a case comes before the Onondaga Lords (Fire Keepers) for discussion and decision, Adodarhoshall introduce the matter to his comrade Lords who shall then discuss it in their two bodies. Every Onondaga Lord except Hononwiretonh shall deliberate and he shall listen only. When a unanimous decision shall have been reached by the two bodies of Fire Keepers, Adodarho shall notify Hononwiretonh of the fact when he shall confirm it. He shall refuse to confirm a decision if it is not unanimously agreed upon by both sides of the Fire Keepers.

 

  1. No Lord shall ask a question of the body of Confederate Lords when they are discussing a case, question or proposition. He may only deliberate in a low tone with the separate body of which he is a

 

  1. When the Council of the Five Nation Lords shall convene they shall appoint a speaker for the day. He shall be a Lord of either the Mohawk, Onondaga or Seneca Nation.

 

The next day the Council shall appoint another speaker, but the first speaker may be reappointed if there is no objection, but a speaker's term shall not be regarded more than for the day.

 

  1. No individual or foreign nation interested in a case, question or proposition shall have any voice in the Confederate Council except to answer a question put to him or them by the speaker for the Lords.

 

  1. If the conditions which shall arise at any future time call for an addition to or change of this law, the case shall be carefully considered and if a new beam seems necessary or beneficial, the proposed change shall be voted upon and if adopted it shall be called, "Added to the Rafters", Rights, Duties and Qualifications of Lords.

 

  1. A bunch of a certain number of shell (wampum) strings each two spans in length shall be given to each of the female families in which the Lordship titles are vested. The right of bestowing the title shall be hereditary in the family of the females legally possessing the bunch of shell strings and the strings shall be the token that the females of the family have the proprietary right to the Lordship title for all time to come,subject to certain restrictions hereinafter mentioned.

 

  1. If any Confederate Lord neglects or refuses to attend the Confederate Council, the other Lords of the Nation of which he is a member shall require their War Chief to request the female sponsors of the Lord so guilty of defection to demand his attendance of the Council. If he refuses, the women holding the title shall immediately select another candidate for the title. No Lord shall be asked more than once to attend the Confederate Council.

 

  1. If at any time it shall be manifest that a Confederate Lord has not in mind the welfare of the people or disobeys the rules of this Great Law, the men or women of the Confederacy, or both jointly, shall come to the Council and upbraid the erring Lord through his War Chief. If the complaint of the people through the War Chief is not heeded the first time it shall be uttered again and then if no attention is given a third complaint and warning shall be given. If the Lord is contumacious the matter shall go to the council of War  The War Chiefs shall then divest the erring Lord of his title by order of the women in whom the title-ship is vested. When the Lord is deposed the women shall notify the Confederate Lords through their War Chief, and the Confederate Lords shall sanction the act. The women will then select another of their sons as a candidate and the Lords shall elect him. Then shall the chosen one be installed by the Installation Ceremony.

 

When a Lord is to be deposed, his War Chief shall address him as follows:

 

"So you, __________, disregard and set at naught the warnings of your women relatives. So you fling the warnings over your shoulder to cast them behind you.

 

"Behold the brightness of the Sun and in the brightness of the Sun's light I depose you of your title and  remove the sacred emblem of your Lordship title. I remove from your brow the deer's antlers, which was

the emblem of your position and token of your nobility. I now depose you and return the antlers to the women whose heritage they are

 

."The War Chief shall now address the women of the deposed Lord and say:

 

"Mothers, as I have now deposed your Lord, I now return to you the emblem and the title of Lordship, therefore repossess them.

 

"Again addressing himself to the deposed Lord he shall say:

 

"As I have now deposed and discharged you so you are now no longer Lord. You shall now go your way alone, the rest of the people of the Confederacy will not go with you, for we know not the kind of mind that

possesses you. As the Creator has nothing to do with wrong so he will not come to rescue you from the

precipice of destruction in which you have cast yourself. You shall never be restored to the position which you once occupied.

 

"Then shall the War Chief address himself to the Lords of the Nation to which the deposed Lord belongs and say:

 

"Know you, my Lords, that I have taken the deer's antlers from the brow of ___________, the emblem of his position and token of his greatness

 

."The Lords of the Confederacy shall then have no other alternative than to sanction the discharge of the offending Lord.

 

  1. If a Lord of the Confederacy of the Five Nations should commit murder the other Lords of the Nation shall assemble at the place where the corpse lies and prepare to depose the criminal Lord. If it is impossible to meet at the scene of the crime the Lords shall discuss the matter at the next Council of their Nation and request their War Chief to depose the Lord guilty of crime, to "bury" his women relatives and to transfer the Lordship title to a sister family.

 

The War Chief shall address the Lord guilty of murder and say:

 

"So you, __________ (giving his name) did kill __________ (naming the slain man), with your own hands! You have committed a grave sin in the eyes of the Creator. Behold the bright light of the Sun, and in the

brightness of the Sun's light I depose you of your title and remove the horns, the sacred emblems of your Lordship title. I remove from your brow the deer's antlers, which was the emblem of your position and token of your nobility. I now depose you and expel you and you shall depart at once from the territory of the Five Nations Confederacy and nevermore return again. We, the Five Nations Confederacy, moreover, bury your women relatives because the ancient Lordship title was never intended to have any union with bloodshed. Henceforth it shall not be their heritage. By the evil deed that you have done they have forfeited it forever.."

 

The War Chief shall then hand the title to a sister family and he shall address it and say:

 

"Our mothers, ____________, listen attentively while I address you on a solemn and important subject. I

hereby transfer to you an ancient Lordship title for a great calamity has befallen it in the hands of the family of a former Lord. We trust that you, our mothers, will always guard it, and that you will warn your Lord always to be dutiful and to advise his people to ever live in love, peace and harmony that a great calamity may never happen again."

 

  1. Certain physical defects in a Confederate Lord make him ineligible to sit in the Confederate Council.Such defects are infancy, idiocy, blindness, deafness, dumbness and impotency. When a Confederate Lordis restricted by any of these condition, a deputy shall be appointed by his sponsors to act for him, but in case of extreme necessity the restricted Lord may exercise his rights.

 

  1. If a Confederate Lord desires to resign his title he shall notify the Lords of the Nation of which he is a member of his intention. If his co-active Lords refuse to accept his resignation he may not resign his title.A Lord in proposing to resign may recommend any proper candidate which recommendation shall be received by the Lords, but unless confirmed and nominated by the women who hold the title the candidate so named shall not be considered.

 

  1. Any Lord of the Five Nations Confederacy may construct shell strings (or wampum belts) of any size or length as pledges or records of matters of national or international importance.

 

When it is necessary to dispatch a shell string by a War Chief or other messenger as the token of a summons, the messenger shall recite the contents of the string to the party to whom it is sent. That party shall repeat the message and return the shell string and if there has been a summons he shall make ready for the journey.

 

Any of the people of the Five Nations may use shells (or wampum) as the record of a pledge, contract or an agreement entered into and the same shall be binding as soon as shell strings shall have been exchanged by both parties.

 

  1. The Lords of the Confederacy of the Five Nations shall be mentors of the people for all time. The thickness of their skin shall be seven spans -- which is to say that they shall be proof against anger, offensive actions and criticism. Their hearts shall be full of peace and good will and their minds filled with a yearning for the welfare of the people of the Confederacy. With endless patience they shall carry out their duty and their firmness shall be tempered with a tenderness for their people. Neither anger nor fury shall find lodgement in their minds and all their words and actions shall be marked by calm deliberation.

 

  1. If a Lord of the Confederacy should seek to establish any authority independent of the jurisdiction of

the Confederacy of the Great Peace, which is the Five Nations, he shall be warned three times in open

council, first by the women relatives, second by the men relatives and finally by the Lords of the

Confederacy of the Nation to which he belongs. If the offending Lord is still obdurate he shall be

dismissed by the War Chief of his nation for refusing to conform to the laws of the Great Peace. His

nation shall then install the candidate nominated by the female name holders of his family.

 

  1. It shall be the duty of all of the Five Nations Confederate Lords, from time to time as occasion

demands, to act as mentors and spiritual guides of their people and remind them of their Creator's will and words. They shall say:

 

"Hearken, that peace may continue unto future days!

"Always listen to the words of the Great Creator, for he

has spoken.

"United people, let not evil find lodging in your minds.

"For the Great Creator has spoken and the cause of Peace

shall not become old.

"The cause of peace shall not die if you remember the

Great Creator."

 

Every Confederate Lord shall speak words such as these to promote peace.

 

  1. All Lords of the Five Nations Confederacy must be honest in all things. They must not idle or gossip,but be men possessing those honorable qualities that make true royaneh. It shall be a serious wrong foranyone to lead a Lord into trivial affairs, for the people must ever hold their Lords high in estimation out of respect to their honorable positions.

 

  1. When a candidate Lord is to be installed he shall furnish four strings of shells (or wampum) one span in length bound together at one end. Such will constitute the evidence of his pledge to the Confederate Lords that he will live according to the constitution of the Great Peace and exercise justice in all affairs.

 

When the pledge is furnished the Speaker of the Council must hold the shell strings in his hand and address the opposite side of the Council Fire and he shall commence his address saying: "Now behold him. He has now become a Confederate Lord. See how splendid he looks." An address may then follow. At the end of it he shall send the bunch of shell strings to the opposite side and they shall be received as evidence of the pledge. Then shall the opposite side say:

 

"We now do crown you with the sacred emblem of the deer's antlers, the emblem of your Lordship. You

shall now become a mentor of the people of the Five Nations. The thickness of your skin shall be seven spans -- which is to say that you shall be proof against anger, offensive actions and criticism. Your heart shall be filled with peace and good will and your mind filled with a yearning for the welfare of the people of the Confederacy. With endless patience you shall carry out your duty and your firmness shall be tempered with tenderness for your people. Neither anger nor fury shall find lodgement in your mind and all your words and actions shall be marked with calm deliberation. In all of your deliberations in the Confederate Council, in your efforts at law making, in all your official acts, self interest shall be cast into oblivion. Cast not over your shoulder behind you the warnings of the nephews and nieces should they chide you for any error or wrong you may do, but return to the way of the Great Law which is just and right. Look and listen for the welfare of the whole people and have always in view not only the present but also the coming generations, even those whose faces are yet beneath the surface of the ground -- the unborn of the future Nation."

 

  1. When a Lordship title is to be conferred, the candidate Lord shall furnish the cooked venison, the cornbread and the corn soup, together with other necessary things and the labor for the Conferring of Titles

 

  1. The Lords of the Confederacy may confer the Lordship title upon a candidate whenever the Great Law is recited, if there be a candidate, for the Great Law speaks all the rules.

 

  1. If a Lord of the Confederacy should become seriously ill and be thought near death, the women who are heirs of his title shall go to his house and lift his crown of deer antlers, the emblem of his Lordship, and place them at one side. If the Creator spares him and he rises from his bed of sickness he may rise with the antlers on his brow.

 

The following words shall be used to temporarily remove the antlers:

 

"Now our comrade Lord (or our relative Lord) the time has come when we must approach you in your illness. We remove for a time the deer's antlers from your brow, we remove the emblem of your Lord ship title. The Great Law has decreed that no Lord should end his life with the antlers on his brow. Wetherfore lay them aside in the room. If the Creator spares you and you recover from your illness you shall rise from your bed with the antlers on your brow as before and you shall resume your duties as Lord of the Confederacy and you may labor again for the Confederate people."

 

  1. If a Lord of the Confederacy should die while the Council of the Five Nations is in session the Council shall adjourn for ten days. No Confederate Council shall sit within ten days of the death of a Lord of the If the Three Brothers (the Mohawk, the Onondaga and the Seneca) should lose one of their Lords by death,the Younger Brothers (the Oneida and the Cayuga) shall come to the surviving Lords of the Three Brothers on the tenth day and console them. If the Younger Brothers lose one of their Lords then the Three Brothers shall come to them and console them. And the consolation shall be the reading of the contents of the thirteen shell (wampum) strings of Ayonhwhathah. At the termination of this rite a successor shall be appointed, to be appointed by the women heirs of the Lordship title. If the women are not yet ready to place their nominee before the Lords the Speaker shall say, "Come let us go out." All shall leave the Council or the place of gathering. The installation shall then wait until such a time as the women are ready.The Speaker shall lead the way from the house by saying, "Let us depart to the edge of the woods and lie in waiting on our bellies. 

 

"When the women title holders shall have chosen one of their sons the Confederate Lords will assemble in two places, the Younger Brothers in one place and the Three Older Brothers in another. The Lords who are to console the mourning Lords shall choose one of their number to sing the Pacification Hymn as they journey to the sorrowing Lords. The singer shall lead the way and the Lords and the people shall follow.When they each the sorrowing Lords they shall hail the candidate Lord and perform the rite of Conferring the Lordship Title.

 

  1. When a Confederate Lord dies, the surviving relatives shall immediately dispatch a messenger, a member of another clan, to the Lords in another locality. When the runner comes within hailing distance of the locality he shall utter a sad wail, thus: "Kwa-ah, Kwa-ah, Kwa-ah!" The sound shall be repeated three times and then again and again at intervals as many times as the distance may require. When the runner arrives at the settlement the people shall assemble and one must ask him the nature of his sad message. He shall then say, "Let us consider." Then he shall tell them of the death of the Lord. He shall deliver to them a string of shells (wampum) and say "Here is the testimony, you have heard the message." He may then return home.

 

It now becomes the duty of the Lords of the locality to send runners to other localities and each locality shall send other messengers until all Lords are notified. Runners shall travel day and night.

 

  1. If a Lord dies and there is no candidate qualified for the office in the family of the women title holders,the Lords of the Nation shall give the title into the hands of a sister family in the clan until such a time as the original family produces a candidate, when the title shall be restored to the rightful owners.

 

No Lordship title may be carried into the grave. The Lords of the Confederacy may dispossess a dead Lord of his title even at the grave.

 

Election of Pine Tree Chiefs.

 

  1. Should any man of the Nation assist with special ability or show great interest in the affairs of the Nation, if he proves himself wise, honest and worthy of confidence, the Confederate Lords may elect himto a seat with them and he may sit in the Confederate Council. He shall be proclaimed a 'Pine Tree’ sprung up for the Nation' and shall be installed as such at the next assembly for the installation of Lords. Should he ever do anything contrary to the rules of the Great Peace, he may not be deposed from office -- no one shall cut him down -- but there after everyone shall be deaf to his voice and his advice. Should he resign his seat and title no one shall prevent him. A Pine Tree chief has no authority to name a successor nor is his title hereditary. 

 

Names, Duties and Rights of War Chiefs.

 

  1. The title names of the Chief Confederate Lords' War Chiefs shall be:

 

Ayonwaehs, War Chief under Lord Takarihoken (Mohawk)

Kahonwahdironh, War Chief under Lord Odatshedeh (Oneida)

Ayendes, War Chief under Lord Adodarhoh (Onondaga)

Wenenhs, War Chief under Lord Dekaenyonh (Cayuga)

Shoneradowaneh, War Chief under Lord Skanyadariyo (Seneca)

 

The women heirs of each head Lord's title shall be the heirs of the War Chief's title of their respective Lord.The War Chiefs shall be selected from the eligible sons of the female families holding the head Lordship titles.

 

  1. There shall be one War Chief for each Nation and their duties shall be to carry messages for their Lords and to take up the arms of war in case of emergency. They shall not participate in the proceedings of the Confederate Council but shall watch its progress and in case of an erroneous action by a Lord they shall receive the complaints of the people and convey the warnings of the women to him. The people who wish to convey messages to the Lords in the Confederate Council shall do so through the War Chief of their  It shall ever be his duty to lay the cases, questions and propositions of the people before the Confederate Council.

 

  1. When a War Chief dies another shall be installed by the same rite as that by which a Lord is installed.

 

  1. If a War Chief acts contrary to instructions or against the provisions of the Laws of the Great Peace,doing so in the capacity of his office, he shall be deposed by his women relatives and by his men relatives.Either the women or the men alone or jointly may act in such a case. The women title holders shall then choose another candidate.

 

  1. When the Lords of the Confederacy take occasion to dispatch a messenger in behalf of the Confederate Council, they shall wrap up any matter they may send and instruct the messenger to remember his errand,to turn not aside but to proceed faithfully to his destination and deliver his message according to every 

 

  1. If a message borne by a runner is the warning of an invasion he shall whoop, "Kwa-ah, Kwa-ah," twiceand repeat at short intervals; then again at a longer interval. If a human being is found dead, the finder shall not touch the body but return home immediately shouting at short intervals, "Koo-weh!"

 

Clans and Consanguinity

 

  1. Among the Five Nations and their posterity there shall be the following original clans: Great Name Bearer, Ancient Name Bearer, Great Bear, Ancient Bear, Turtle, Painted Turtle, Standing Rock, Large Plover, Deer, Pigeon Hawk, Eel, Ball, Opposite-Side-of-the-Hand, and Wild Potatoes. These clans distributed through their respective Nations, shall be the sole owners and holders of the soil of the country and in them is it vested as a birthright.

 

  1. People of the Five Nations members of a certain clan shall recognize every other member of that clan,irrespective of the Nation, as relatives. Men and women, therefore, members of the same clan are forbidden to marry.

 

  1. The lineal descent of the people of the Five Nations shall run in the female line. Women shall be considered the progenitors of the Nation. They shall own the land and the soil. Men and women shall follow the status of the mother.

 

  1. The women heirs of the Confederated Lordship titles shall be called Royaneh (Noble) for all time to come.

 

  1. The women of the Forty Eight (now fifty) Royaneh families shall be the heirs of the Authorized Names for all time to come.

 

When an infant of the Five Nations is given an Authorized Name at the Midwinter Festival or at the Ripe Corn Festival, one in the cousin-hood of which the infant is a member shall be appointed a speaker. He shall then announce to the opposite cousin-hood the names of the father and the mother of the child together with the clan of the mother. Then the speaker shall announce the child's name twice. The uncle of the child shall then take the child in his arms and walking up and down the room shall sing: "My head is firm, I am of the Confederacy." As he sings the opposite cousin-hood shall respond by chanting, "Hyenh,Hyenh, Hyenh, Hyenh," until the song is ended.

 

  1. If the female heirs of a Confederate Lord's title become extinct, the title right shall be given by the Lords of the Confederacy to the sister family whom they shall elect and that family shall hold the name and transmit it to their (female) heirs, but they shall not appoint any of their sons as a candidate for a title until all the eligible men of the former family shall have died or otherwise have become ineligible.

 

  1. If all the heirs of a Lordship title become extinct, and all the families in the clan, then the title shall be

given by the Lords of the Confederacy to the family in a sister clan whom they shall elect.

 

  1. If any of the Royaneh women, heirs of a title-ship, shall willfully withhold a Lordship or other title and

refuse to bestow it, or if such heirs abandon, forsake or despise their heritage, then shall such women be

deemed buried and their family extinct. The title ship shall then revert to a sister family or clan upon

application and complaint. The Lords of the Confederacy shall elect the family or clan which shall in future

hold the title.

 

  1. The Royaneh women of the Confederacy heirs of the Lordship titles shall elect two women of their

family as cooks for the Lord when the people shall assemble at his house for business or other purposes.

It is not good nor honorable for a Confederate Lord to allow his people whom he has called to go hungry.

  1. When a Lord holds a conference in his home, his wife, if she wishes, may prepare the food for the

Union Lords who assemble with him. This is an honorable right which she may exercise and an expression

of her esteem.

 

  1. The Royaneh women, heirs of the Lordship titles, shall, should it be necessary, correct and admonish

the holders of their titles. Those only who attend the Council may do this and those who do not shall not

object to what has been said nor strive to undo the action.

 

  1. When the Royaneh women, holders of a Lordship title, select one of their sons as a candidate, they

shall select one who is trustworthy, of good character, of honest disposition, one who manages his own

affairs, supports his own family, if any, and who has proven a faithful man to his Nation.

 

  1. When a Lordship title becomes vacant through death or other cause, the Royaneh women of the clan in which the title is hereditary shall hold a council and shall choose one from among their sons to fill the office made Such a candidate shall not be the father of any Confederate Lord. If the choice is unanimous the name is referred to the men relatives of the clan. If they should disapprove it shall be their duty to select a candidate from among their own number. If then the men and women are unable to decide which of the two candidates shall be named, then the matter shall be referred to the Confederate Lords in the clan. They shall decide which candidate shall be named. If the men and the women agree to a candidate his name shall be referred to the sister clans for confirmation. If the sister clans confirm the choice, they-shall refer their action to their Confederate Lords who shall ratify the choice and present it to their cousin-Lords, and if the cousin Lords confirm the name then the candidate shall be installed by the proper ceremony for the conferring of Lordship titles.

 

Official Symbolism

 

  1. A large bunch of shell strings, in the making of which the Five Nations Confederate Lords have equally contributed, shall symbolize the completeness of the union and certify the pledge of the nations represented by the Confederate Lords of the Mohawk, the Oneida, the Onondaga, the Cayuga and the Senecca, that all are united and formed into one body or union called the Union of the Great Law, which they have 

 

A bunch of shell strings is to be the symbol of the council fire of the Five Nations Confederacy. And the Lord whom the council of Fire Keepers shall appoint to speak for them in opening the council shall holdthe strands of shells in his hands when speaking. When he finishes speaking he shall deposit the strings onan elevated place (or pole) so that all the assembled Lords and the people may see it and know that the council is open and in progress.

 

When the council adjourns the Lord who has been appointed by his comrade Lords to close it shall take the strands of shells in his hands and address the assembled Lords. Thus will the council adjourn until such time and place as appointed by the council. Then shall the shell strings be placed in a place for safekeeping.

 

Every five years the Five Nations Confederate Lords and the people shall assemble together and shall ask one another if their minds are still in the same spirit of unity for the Great Binding Law and if any of the Five Nations shall not pledge continuance and steadfastness to the pledge of unity then the Great Binding Law shall dissolve.

 

  1. Five strings of shell tied together as one shall represent the Five Nations. Each string shall represent one territory and the whole a completely united territory known as the Five Nations Confederate territory.

 

  1. Five arrows shall be bound together very strong and each arrow shall represent one nation. As the five arrows are strongly bound this shall symbolize the complete union of the nations. Thus are the Five Nations united completely and enfolded together, united into one head, one body and one mind. Therefore they shall labor, legislate and council together for the interest of future generations. The Lords of the Confederacy shall eat together from one bowl the feast of cooked beaver's tail. While they are eating they are to use no sharp utensils for if they should they might accidentally cut one another and bloodshed would follow. All measures must be taken to prevent the spilling of blood in any way.

 

  1. There are now the Five Nations Confederate Lords standing with joined hands in a circle. This signifies and provides that should any one of the Confederate Lords leave the council and this Confederacy his crown of deer's horns, the emblem of his Lordship title, together with his birthright, shall lodge on the arms of the Union Lords whose hands are so joined. He forfeits his title and the crown falls from his brow but it shall remain in the Confederacy.

 

A further meaning of this is that if any time any one of the Confederate Lords choose to submit to the law of a foreign people he is no longer in but out of the Confederacy, and persons of this class shall be called"They have alienated themselves." Likewise such persons who submit to laws of foreign nations shall forfeit all birthrights and claims on the Five Nations Confederacy and territory.

 

You, the Five Nations Confederate Lords, be firm so that if a tree falls on your joined arms it shall not separate or weaken your hold. So shall the strength of the union be preserved.

 

  1. A bunch of wampum shells on strings, three spans of the hand in length, the upper half of the bunch being white and the lower half black, and formed from equal contributions of the men of the Five Nations,shall be a token that the men have combined themselves into one head, one body and one thought, and it shall also symbolize their ratification of the peace pact of the Confederacy, whereby the Lords of the Five Nations have established the Great Peace.

 

The white portion of the shell strings represent the women and the black portion the men. The black portion, furthermore, is a token of power and authority vested in the men of the Five Nations. 

 

This string of wampum vests the people with the right to correct their erring Lords. In case a part or all the Lords pursue a course not vouched for by the people and heed not the third warning of their women relatives, then the matter shall be taken to the General Council of the women of the Five Nations. If the Lords notified and warned three times fail to heed, then the case falls into the hands of the men of the Five Nations. The War Chiefs shall then, by right of such power and authority, enter the open council to warn the Lord or Lords to return from the wrong course. If the Lords heed the warning they shall say, "we will reply tomorrow." If then an answer is returned in favor of justice and in accord with this Great Law,then the Lords shall individually pledge themselves again by again furnishing the necessary shells for the pledge. Then shall the War Chief or Chiefs exhort the Lords urging them to be just and true.

 

Should it happen that the Lords refuse to heed the third warning, then two courses are open: either the men may decide in their council to depose the Lord or Lords or to club them to death with war clubs. Should they in their council decide to take the first course the War Chief shall address the Lord or Lords, saying: "Since you the Lords of the Five Nations have refused to return to the procedure of the Constitution, we now declare your seats vacant, we take off your horns, the token of your Lordship, and others shall be chosen and installed in your seats, therefore vacate your seats."

 

... (portions deleted).

 

  1. A broad dark belt of wampum of thirty-eight rows, having a white heart in the center, on either side ofwhich are two white squares all connected with the heart by white rows of beads shall be the emblem of the unity of the Five Nations.

 

[ed note: This is the Hiawatha Belt, now in the Congressional Library.]

 

The first of the squares on the left represents the Mohawk nation and its territory; the second square on the left and the one near the heart, represents the Oneida nation and its territory; the white heart in the middle represents the Onondaga nation and its territory, and it also means that the heart of the Five Nations is single in its loyalty to the Great Peace, that the Great Peace is lodged in the heart (meaning the Onondaga Lords), and that the Council Fire is to burn there for the Five Nations, and further, it means that the authority is given to advance the cause of peace whereby hostile nations out of the Confederacy shall cease warfare; the white square to the right of the heart represents the Cayuga nation and its territory and the fourth and last white square represents the Seneca nation and its territory.

White shall here symbolize that no evil or jealous thoughts shall creep into the minds of the Lords while in Council under the Great Peace. White, the emblem of peace, love, charity and equity surrounds and guards the Five Nations

 

....portions deleted...

 

Laws of Adoption.

 

  1. Should any member of the Five Nations, a family or person belonging to a foreign nation submit a proposal for adoption into a clan of one of the Five Nations, he or they shall furnish a string of shells, aspan in length, as a pledge to the clan into which he or they wish to be adopted. The Lords of the nation shall then consider the proposal and submit a decision.

 

  1. Any member of the Five Nations who through esteem or other feeling wishes to adopt an individual, a family or number of families may offer adoption to him or them and if accepted the matter shall be brought to the attention of the Lords for confirmation and the Lords must confirm adoption.

 

Laws of Emigration.

 

  1. When any person or family belonging to the Five Nations desires to abandon their birth nation and the territory of the Five Nations, they shall inform the Lords of their nation and the Confederate Council of the Five Nations shall take cognizance of it.

 

  1. The soil of the earth from one end of the land to the other is the property of the people who inhabit it.By birthright the Ongwehonweh (Original beings) are the owners of the soil which they own and occupy and none other may hold it. The same law has been held from the oldest times.

 

The Great Creator has made us of the one blood and of the same soil he made us and as only different tongues constitute different nations he established different hunting grounds and territories and made boundary lines between them.

 

  1. When any alien nation or individual is admitted into the Five Nations the admission shall be understood only to be a temporary one. Should the person or nation create loss, do wrong or cause suffering of any kind to endanger the peace of the Confederacy, the Confederate Lords shall order one of their war chiefs to reprimand him or them and if a similar offence is again committed the offending party or parties shall be expelled from the territory of the Five United Nations.

 

  1. When a member of an alien nation comes to the territory of the Five Nations and seeks refuge and permanent residence, the Lords of the Nation to which he comes shall extend hospitality and make him a member of the nation. Then shall he be accorded equal rights and privileges in all matters except as after-mentioned

 

....portions deleted...

 

Rights and Powers of War.

 

  1. Skanawatih shall be vested with a double office, duty and with double authority. One-half of his being shall hold the Lordship title and the other half shall hold the title of War Chief. In the event of war he shall notify the five War Chiefs of the Confederacy and command them to prepare for war and have their men ready at the appointed time and place for engagement with the enemy of the Great Peace.

 

  1. When the Confederate Council of the Five Nations has for its object the establishment of the Great Peace among the people of an outside nation and that nation refuses to accept the Great Peace, then by such refusal they bring a declaration of war upon themselves from the Five Nations. Then shall the Five Nations seek to establish the Great Peace by a conquest of the rebellious nation.

 

  1. When the men of the Five Nations, now called forth to become warriors, are ready for battle with an obstinate opposing nation that has refused to accept the Great Peace, then one of the five War Chiefs shall be chosen by the warriors of the Five Nations to lead the army into battle. It shall be the duty of the War-Chief so chosen to come before his warriors and address them. His aim shall be to impress upon them the necessity of good behavior and strict obedience to all the commands of the War Chiefs. He shall deliver an oration exhorting them with great zeal to be brave and courageous and never to be guilty of cowardice. At the conclusion of his oration he shall march forward and commence the War Song and he shall sing:

 

Now I am greatly surprised

And, therefore I shall use it --

The powerr of my War Song.

I am of the Five Nations

And I shall make supplication

To the Almighty Creator.

He has furnished this army. 

My warriors shall be mighty

In the strength of the Creator.

Between him and my song they are

For it was he who gave the song

This war song that I sing!

 

...portions deleted...

 

Rights of the People of the Five Nations

 

  1. Whenever a specially important matter or a great emergency is presented before the Confederate Council and the nature of the matter affects the entire body of the Five Nations, threatening their utter ruin,then the Lords of the Confederacy must submit the matter to the decision of their people and the decision of the people shall affect the decision of the Confederate Council. This decision shall be a confirmation of the voice of the people.

 

  1. The men of every clan of the Five Nations shall have a Council Fire ever burning in readiness for a council of the clan. When it seems necessary for a council to be held to discuss the welfare of the clans,then the men may gather about the fire. This council shall have the same rights as the council of the women

 

....portions deleted...

 

Religious Ceremonies Protected

 

  1. The rites and festivals of each nation shall remain undisturbed and shall continue as before because they were given by the people of old times as useful and necessary for the good of men.

 

  1. It shall be the duty of the Lords of each brotherhood to confer at the approach of the time of the Midwinter Thanksgiving and to notify their people of the approaching festival. They shall hold a council over the matter and arrange its details and begin the Thanksgiving five days after the moon of Dis-ko-nah is  The people shall assemble at the appointed place and the nephews shall notify the people of the time and place. From the beginning to the end the Lords shall preside over the Thanksgiving and address the people from time to time.

 

  1. It shall be the duty of the appointed managers of the Thanksgiving festivals to do all that is needed for carrying out the duties of the occasions.

 

The recognized festivals of Thanksgiving shall be the Midwinter Thanksgiving, the Maple or Sugar-making Thanksgiving, the Raspberry Thanksgiving, the Strawberry Thanksgiving, the Corn planting Thanksgiving,the Corn Hoeing Thanksgiving, the Little Festival of Green Corn, the Great Festival of Ripe Corn and the complete Thanksgiving for the Harvest.

 

Each nation's festivals shall be held in their Long Houses.

 

  1. When the Thanksgiving for the Green Corn comes the special managers, both the men and women,shall give it careful attention and do their duties properly.

 

  1. When the Ripe Corn Thanksgiving is celebrated the Lords of the Nation must give it the same attention as they give to the Midwinter Thanksgiving.

 

  1. Whenever any man proves himself by his good life and his knowledge of good things, naturally fitted as a teacher of good things, he shall be recognized by the Lords as a teacher of peace and religion and the people shall hear him.The Installation Song

 

  1. The song used in installing the new Lord of the Confederacy shall be sung by Adodarhoh and it shall be:

 

"Haii, haii Agwah wi-yoh

" " A-kon-he-watha

" " Ska-we-ye-se-go-wah

" " Yon-gwa-wih

" " Ya-kon-he-wa-tha

 

Haii, haii It is good indeed

" " (That) a broom, --

" " A great wing,

" " It is given me

" " For a sweeping instrument."

 

Protection of the House

 

  1. A certain sign shall be known to all the people of the Five Nations which shall denote that the owner or occupant of a house is absent. A stick or pole in a slanting or leaning position shall indicate this and be the sign. Every person not entitled to enter the house by right of living within it upon seeing such a sign shall not approach the house either by day or by night but shall keep as far away as his business will permit.

Funeral Addresses

 

  1. At the funeral of a Lord of the Confederacy, say: Now we become reconciled as you start away. You were once a Lord of the Five Nations' Confederacy and the United People trusted you. Now we release you for it is true that it is no longer possible for us to walk about together on the earth. Now, therefore, we lay it (the body) here. Here we lay it away. Now then we say to you, 'Persevere onward to the place where the Creator dwells in peace. Let not the things of the earth hinder you. Let nothing that transpired while yet you lived hinder you. In hunting you once took delight; in the game of Lacrosse you once took delight and in the feasts and pleasant occasions your mind was amused, but now do not allow thoughts of these things to give you trouble. Let not your relatives hinder you and also let not your friends and associates trouble your mind. Regard none of these things.'

 

...portions deleted....

 

 

Prepared by Gerald Murphy (The Cleveland Free-Net - aa300)

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Significance

Pan American treaty of 12-26-1933 and what followed

Tuesday, September 21, 2021 Brian-Lee Historical Documents 1530

Pan American treaty of 12-26-1933 (49STAT3097) Treaty Series 881 - convention on Rights & Duties of the States - Congress took State statues off and put the States under international law. State statutes don't hold standing in international law. also called Montevideo treaty

International Organization Immunities Act of 12-9-1945 - - Congress relinquished every public office over to the UN. Local governments up to the president fall under UN jurisdiction. Congress gave the UN the right to dictate what laws will be international & gave them the right to tax the States.

International Reorganization Rescind Act- Congress put this into form but they never took action to rescind the act. Fairly recently an Ohio judge filed suit claiming that Congress did not have the right to relinquish government authority over to the UN (a corporation or foreign country) and that the Congressional act was a constitutional violation because they didn't put it to the States or the people to agree on it. In 2005 the US Supreme court declined to hear the case therefore all public offices are under UN jurisdiction & they are not American Citizens.

Some other interesting points to ponder:

Oath of Office - Title 5 USC 331, 332, 333 backed up by Title 22 CFR Foreign Relations 92.12 - 92.31 and Title 8 USC, section 1481 - the public official relinquishes his national citizenship and are thus foreign agents as stipulated under Title 22 USC, chapter 11, section 611, loss of national citizenship -- Public officials are no longer US Citizens, but rather are foreign agents and must register as such.

Criminal Prosecution - where is it provided IN LAW that the courts, States, etc have jurisdiction?
federal rules for civil Procedure, rules of Civil Procedure 7 Code of civil Procedure, and standard State Court Rules of civil Procedure - under RULE 2 it states that there is but on action that can be taken & that is civil.

Where, other than under title 50 USC, section 23 War & National Defense, is there any law giving jurisdiction to bring criminal actions? If you know of such, please share.
Under Title 50 USC section 23, they are using it o bring criminal charges and thus declaring us as an enemy of the state. If they are then they must prove when we Expatriated or were declared an enemy of the state because we were never told we were an enemy. also, they cannot just assume we expatriated.

review: The 11th Amendment was an amendment to Article III, section 1, clause 1 ("The judicial Power shall extend to all Cases, in Law and Equity, arising under this Constitution, the Laws of the United States, and Treaties made, or which shall be made, under their Authority;--to all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls;--to all Cases of admiralty and maritime Jurisdiction;--to Controversies to which the United States shall be a Party;--to Controversies between two or more States;--between a State and Citizens of another State;-- between Citizens of different States;--between Citizens of the same State claiming Lands under Grants of different States, and between a State, or the Citizens thereof, and foreign States, Citizens or Subjects.") - it stripped the courts of any judicial power. The 11th Amendment states "The Judicial power of the United States shall not be construed to extend to any suit in law or equity, commenced or prosecuted against one of the United States by Citizens of another State, or by Citizens or Subjects of any Foreign State.

Since it was ratified after the Judicial Act of 1787 which created all the inferior courts and the attorney generals office (see US Attorney's manual 3-2.110), it applies to the States. Georgia ratified the 11th Amendment on 11-29-1794 and ratification was completed on 2-7-1795.