1

The
Fundamental Constitutions
of
CAROLINA

OUR SOVERAIGN LORD THE
KING having out of his Royal Grace and
Bounty, granted unto us the Province of Caro-
lina, with all the Royalists, Properties, Juris-
dictions, and Privileges of a County Palatine,
as large and ample as the County Palatine of
Durham, with other great Priviledges; for the
better settlement of the Government of the
said place, and establishing the Interest of the
Lords Proprietors with Equality, and without Confusion, and that the
Governmet of this Province may be made most agreeabe to the
Monarchy under which we live, and of which this Province is a part;
and that we may avoid erecting a numerous Democracy, we the
Lords and Proprietors of the Province afroesaid, have agreed to this
following Form of Government, to be perpetually established amongst
us, unto whih we do Oblige our selves, our Heirs, Assignes and
Successors, in the most binding ways that can be devised.

The eldest of the Lords Proprietors shall be Pallatine, and upon the
decease of the Pallatine, the eldst of those who were Proprietors
the first of March, One thousand six hundered sixty and Nine, shall succeed
him. And when none of them are living he that hath been longest a
Proprietor shall succeed; but after the Year One thousand seven hundred, {& the death of all &c who were Proprietors 1st of March 1669.}
the eldest man of the ^then Lords Proprietors shall always be Pallatine.

There shall be seven other chief Offices erected, viz. The Admirals, Chamberlains, Chancellors, Constables, Chief Justices, High Stewads, and