5. It is further agreed,
that if any of these Jurisdictions or any Plantation under or in
combination with them, be invaded by any enemy whomsoever, upon notice
and request of any three magistrates of that Jurisdiction so invaded,
the rest of the Confederates without any further meeting or
expostulation shall forthwith send aid to the Confederate in danger
but in different proportions; namely, the Massachusetts an hundred men
sufficiently armed and provided for such a service and journey, and
each of the rest, forty-five so armed and provided, or any less
number, if less be required according to this proportion. But if such
Confederate in danger may be supplied by their next Confederates, not
exceeding the number hereby agreed, they may crave help there, and
seek no further for the present: the charge to be borne as in this
article is expressed: and at the return to be victualled and supplied
with powder and shot for their journey (if there be need) by that
Jurisdiction which employed or sent for them; but none of the
Jurisdictions to exceed these numbers until by a meeting of the
Commissioners for this Confederation a greater aid appear necessary.
And this proportion to continue till upon knowledge of greater numbers
in each Jurisdiction which shall be brought to the next meeting, some
other proportion be ordered. But in any such case of sending men for
present aid, whether before or after such order or alteration, it is
agreed that at the meeting of the Commissioners for this
Confederation, the cause of such war or invasion be duly considered:
and if it appear that the fault lay in the parties so invaded then
that Jurisdiction or Plantation make just satisfaction, both to the
invaders whom they have injured, and bear all the charges of the war
themselves, without requiring any allowance from the rest of the
Confederates towards the same. And further that if any Jurisdiction
see any danger of invasion approaching, and there be time for a
meeting, that in such a case three magistrates of the Jurisdiction may
summon a meeting at such convenient place as themselves shall think
meet, to consider and provide against the threatened danger; provided
when they are met they may remove to what place they please; only
whilst any of these four Confederates have but three magistrates in
their Jurisdiction, their requests, or summons, from any two of them
shall be accounted of equal force with the three mentioned in both the
clauses of this article, till there be an increase of magistrates
there.
