"That all and every the subjects of us, our heirs and successors," (i.e. of the king of England granting the charter,) "which are already planted and settled within our said colony of Providence Plantations, or which shall hereafter go to inhabit within the said colony, and all and every of their children which have been born there, or which shall happen hereafter to be born there, or on the sea going thither, or returning from thence, shall have and enjoy all liberties and immunities of _free_ and natural subjects, within any of the dominions of us, our heirs and successors, to all intents, constructions and purposes whatsoever, as if they and every of them were born within the realm of England." The following enactment of William Penn, as proprietary and Governor of the Province of Pennsylvania and its territories, illustrates one of the common uses of the word "freeman," as known to the English law, and as used in this country prior to the revolution--that is, as distinguishing a native born citizen, and one capable of holding real estate, &c. from a foreigner, _not naturalized_, and on that account subject to certain disabilities, such as being incompetent to hold real estate. "And forasmuch as it is apparent that the just encouragement of the inhabitants of the province, and territories thereunto belonging, is likely to be an effectual way for the improvement thereof; and since some of the people that live therein and are likely to come thereunto, _are foreigners, and so not freemen, according to the acceptation of the laws of England, the consequences of which may prove very detrimental to them in their estates and traffic_, and so injurious to the prosperity of this province and territories thereof. _Be it enacted_, by the proprietary and governor of the province and counties aforesaid, by and with the advice and consent of the deputies of the _freemen_ thereof, in assembly met, _That all persons who are strangers and foreigners_, that do now inhabit this province and counties aforesaid, _that hold land in fee in the same, according to the law of a freeman_, and who shall solemnly promise, within three months after the publication thereof, in their respective county courts where they live, upon record, faith and allegiance to the king of England and his heirs and successors, and fidelity and lawful obedience to the said William Penn, proprietary and governor of the said province and territories, and his heirs and assigns, according to the king's letters, patents and deed aforesaid, _shall be held and reputed freemen of the province and counties aforesaid, in as ample and full a manner as any person residing therein_. And it is hereby further enacted, by the authority aforesaid, That when at any time any person, that is a foreigner, shall make his request to the proprietary and governor of this province and territories