Charles II (a secret Catholic, r. 1649 – 1651, in Scotland; 1660 – 1685, in England and Scotland) issues the Charter of the Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, lending his assent to the grand experiment in religious liberty: “That our royall [sic] will and pleasure is, that noe [sic] person within the sayd colonye [sic], at any tyme [sic] hereafter, shall bee [sic] any wise molested, punished, disquieted, or called in question, for any differences in opinione [sic] in matters of religion. …”

       [udated 10/13/2024]