# Manx Primary Source Archive — Transcription

**Source image:** `20260219_101843.jpg`  
**Transcribed:** 2026-02-25 19:26  
**Method:** Automated (Claude Batch API — claude-opus-4-6)

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CHARLOTTE Ducheſs of Atholl his Wife, Baroneſs STRANGE,

THE *Iſle of Man* is a feudatory Kingdom held of the Crown of *England.*
The Patronage of the Biſhoprick of *Sodor* proves it to have been an antient Kingdom, and it has always been governed by its own Prince, Legiſlature, Laws, and Cuſtoms.
The Firſt Grant of this Iſle to the Noble Family under whom their Graces claim by lineal Deſcent, was to Sir *John Stanley* and his Heirs, in the 7th Year of King *Henry* the 4th.
In order to determine ſome Family Diſputes which had ariſen and been made an End of for a pecuniary Con- ſideration paid by *William* Earl of *Derby*, King *James* I. in the 7th Year of his Reign, re-granted the Iſle to the ſaid Earl.
And in the ſame Year an Act of Parliament paſſed, intituled, " An Act for the Aſſuring and Eſtabliſhing the *Iſle of Man*;" by which it was Enacted, That the Iſle ſhould for ever thereafter be held and enjoyed by the Earl and the Counteſs his Wife, and their Two Sons, *James* Lord *Stanley* and *Robert Stanley*, in Tail Male, and the Heirs Male of the Body of the Earl; and in Default of ſuch Iſſue, by the right Heirs of *James* Lord *Stanley*, quietly, freely, and clearly againſt his Majeſty, his Heirs and Succeſſors, under the Tenures, Rents, and Services reſerved, and againſt the ſeveral other Perſons named in the Act, the Co-heireſſes of *Ferdinando* Earl of *Derby*—with a Reſtraint of Alienation upon the ſeveral Perſons appointed to take under the Act.
The Grant, as deſcribed both in the Letters Patent and Act of Parliament, is made in the moſt general and comprehenſive Terms— It is,
*The Iſle, Caſtle, Peele, and Lordſhip of Man*, with the Appurtenances.
And all Iſlands, Lordſhips, Caſtles, *&c.* thereto belonging—The Patronage of the Biſhoprick—All Foreſts, Parks, *&c.*
Fiſheries, Fiſhing-Places, Royalties, Regalities, Franchiſes, Sea-Ports, and all Things to Ports duly appertaining, Lands then or theretofore overflown with the Sea and then gained from the Sea, or which ſhould be thereafter gained from the Sea, lying or being in or near to the ſaid *Iſle of Man*, Fines, Amerciaments, Anchorage, Groundage, Wrecks of the Sea, Eſcheats, Forfeitures, Courts Admiral, Courts Port Morte, *&c.* and all Forfeitures, Penalties, Caſualties, and Advantages whatever incident to the ſaid Courts—Tolls, Cuſtoms, Free Cuſtoms, Imports, Profits, Emoluments, and Hereditaments whatſoever, being or happening in or within the ſaid Iſle, Caſtle, Peel, and Lordſhip, *or within the Sea to the ſaid Iſland adjacent or belonging*, or in or within any other Iſlands, Lordſhips, or Lands belonging, or in, to, or out of the ſame, or any of them, howſoever incident or belonging, or Part or Parcel of the ſame, at any time theretofore had, known, reputed, occupied, or enjoyed; and the Reverſion of all the Premiſes and the Rents, Duties, Cuſtoms, and Services thereto incident or appertaining; and all Liberties, Franchiſes, Privileges, Juriſdictions, Forfeitures, Depredaries, Immunities, *&c.*
And the General Saving Clauſe expreſsly bars all Right of the Crown.
The Iſland hath been always governed by its own Laws and Cuſtoms; and when royal Commiſſions have heretofore iſſued (for the King's Writ runneth not in the Iſle) for Redreſs of Injuries, the Juſtices aſſigned were to proceed " Secundum Legem & Conſuetudinem " Partium illarum."
The Government is compoſed of Three States—1ſt. The Lord, who (though the Title hath been long ſince waived) hath ever retained the Rights of the antient Kings, in aſſenting or diſſenting to the Laws propoſed, and by exerciſing an appellate Juriſdiction—2d. The Governor and Council; and 3d. The Keys, who are the Repreſentatives of the Commons—Their triple Concurrence makes the Law.
The Laws of the Iſland have eſtabliſhed a Book of Rates payable to the Lord for various enumerated Commodities—All other Goods pay a Duty of Two and One-half *per Cent.* only *ad Valorem* upon Importations.
All the Courts are held in the Name of, and the Magiſtrates and Officers are ſworn to the Lord; and it is of their Juriſdiction to take Cognizance of every Thing ariſing within the Limits of the Grant, and the Courts of Judicature in the neighbouring Kingdoms have frequently, upon Application, refuſed to intermeddle, from a Want of Juriſdiction.
Courts Admiral and Port Morte are conſtantly held, and Proceſſes executed under the Authority of the Lord only; and the Juriſ- diction of the Judges extends from the full Sea Mark on the Shore to the Bounds of the Lord's Juriſdiction in the Seas adjacent to the Iſle. Frequent Seizures have been made upon the Coaſt for Importations without paying the Lord's Duty, re-ſhipping Goods from one [obscured] Frequent Seizures have been made upon the Coaſt for [obscured] the Lord's Benefit—All royal Fiſh, Wrecks of the Sea,