ðə lˌɛdʒɪslˈeɪʃən wˌɪtʃ ɡˈeɪv stˈætʃətˌoːɹi ɹˌɛkəɡnˈɪʃən tə ðə kˈaʊnsəl dɪdnˌɑːt spˈɛsᵻfˌaɪ ɪts ɹˈoʊl, bˌʌt dᵻklˈɛɹd ðætðə pɹˈɛzɪdənt ænd kˈaʊnsəl ʃˌʊdəv pˈaʊɚ tə hˈɪɹ ænd dɪtˈɜːmɪn "sˈʌtʃ kˈɔːzᵻz ænd mˈæɾɚz æz biː ɔːɹ hˈɪɹtʊfˌoːɹ hæθ bˌɪn ɐkˈʌstəmd ænd jˈuːzd".
The legislation which gave statutory recognition to the council did not specify its role, but declared that the president and council should have power to hear and determine "such Causes and Matters as be or heretofore hath been accustomed and used".