pleasure is, and so we do enjoin, require, and command, shall be most absolute and available in law; and that all the liege people and subjects of us, our heirs and successors, do observe and keep the same inviolably, in those parts, so far as they concern them, under the pains therein expressed, or to be expressed; provided nevertheless, That the said laws be consonant to reason, and be not repugnant or contrary, but as near as conveniently may be, agreeable to the laws, statute, and rights of this our kingdom of England.

And forasmuch as in the government of so great a province, sudden accidents often happen, whereunto it will be necessary to apply a remedy, before the freeholders of the said province, or their delegates, or deputies, can be assembled to the making of laws, neither will it be convenient that instantly upon every such emergent occasion so great a multitude should be called together; therefore, for the better government of the said province, we will and ordain, and by these presents for us, our heirs and successors, and grant unto the said Lord Baltimore, and his heirs, by themselves, or by their magistrates, and officers, in that behalf duly to be ordained, as aforesaid, to make and constitute fit and wholesome ordinances, from time to time, within the said province, to be kept and observed, as well for the preservation of the peace, as for the better government of the people there inhabiting, and publicly to notify the same to all persons whom the same doth or may in any way concern; which ordinances, our pleasure is, shall be observed inviolably within the said province, under the pains therein to be expressed; so as the said ordinances be consonant to reason, and be not repugnant nor contrary to the laws and statutes of the kingdom of England; and so as the said ordinances be not extended in any sort, to bend, charge, or take away the right or interest of any person or persons, or of their life, members, freehold, goods, or chattels.

Furthermore, that this new colony may the more happily increase by the multitude of people resulting thither, and may likewise be the more strongly defended from the incursions of savages, or other enemies, pirates and robbers, therefore we, for us, our heirs and successors, do give and grant, by these presents, power, license, and liberty, unto all the liege people and subjects, both present and future, for us, our heirs and successors (excepting those who shall be expressly forbidden), to transport themselves, and families into the said province, with convenient shipping, and fitting provisions and there to settle themselves, dwell and inhabit; and to build and fortify castles, forts, and other places of strength for the public, and their own private defence, at the appointment of the said now Lord Baltimore, and his heirs, the statute of fugitives, or any other whatsoever, the contrary of the premises in any wise notwithstanding.

And we will also, and of our more especial grace, for us, our heirs and successors, we do strictly enjoin, constitute, ordain, and command, That the said province shall be of our allegiance, and that all and singular, subjects and liege people of us, our heirs and successors, transported or to be transported into the said province, and the children of them, and of such as shall descend from them, there already born, or hereafter to be born, be, and shall be denizens and lieges of us, our heirs and successors, of our kingdoms of England and Ireland, and be in all things held, treated, reputed, and esteemed, as the liege faithful people of us, our heirs and successors, born within the kingdom of England; and likewise, any lands, tenements, revenues, services and other hereditaments whatsoever, within our kingdom of England, and other our dominions, may inherit, or otherwise purchase, receive, take, hold, have, buy and possess, and then may occupy and enjoy, give, sell, alien and bequeathe as likewise all liberties, franchises and privileges, of this our

kingdom of England, freely, quietly and peaceably have and possess, occupy and enjoy, as our liege people, born, or to be born, within our said kingdom of England, without the let, molestation, vexation, trouble or grievance of us, our heirs and successors; any Statute, act, ordinance or provision to the contrary thereof notwithstanding.

And furthermore, that our subject may be the rather encouraged to undertake this expedition with ready and cheerful minds, know ye, that we of our especial grace, certain knowledge, and mere motion, do give and grant, by virtue of these Presents, as well unto the said now Lord Baltimore, and his heirs, as to all others who shall, from time to time, repair unto the said country with a purpose to inhabit there, or to trade with the natives of the said province, full license to lade and trade in any ports whatsoever, of us, our heirs and successors, and into the said province of Maryland, by them, their servants or assigns, to transport all and singular their goods, wares, and merchandises, as likewise all sorts of grain whatsoever, and all other things whatsoever necessary for food and clothing, not prohibited by the laws and statute of our kingdoms and dominions to be carried out of the said kingdoms, any statute, act, ordinance, or other thing whatsoever to the contrary notwithstanding, without any lett or molestation of us, our heirs and successors; or of any of the heirs of us, our heirs and successors, saving always to us, our heirs and successors, the legal impositions, customs, and other duties and payments for the said weighers of merchandise, any statute, act, ordinance, or other thing whatsoever to the contrary notwithstanding.

And because in so remote a country, and situate near so many barbarous nations, the incursions as well of the savages themselves, as of other enemies, pirates, and robbers, may probably be feared, therefore we have given, and for us, our heirs and successors, do give power by

71 these Presents, unto the said now Lord Baltimore, his heirs and assigns, by themselves or their captains, or other their officers to levy, muster, and train all sorts of men, of what condition or wheresoever born, in the said province of Maryland, for the time being, and to make war, and pursue the enemies, robbers, aforesaid, as well by sea as by land, yea, even without the limits of the said province, and (by God's assistance) to vanquish and take them; and being taken, to put them to death, by the law of war, or to save them, at their pleasure; and to all and every other thing which unto the charge and office of a captain-general of an army belongeth, or hath accustomed to belong, as fully and freely as any captain-general of an army hath ever had the same.

Also, our will and pleasure is, and by this our charter, we do give unto the said now Lord Baltimore, his heirs and assigns, full power, liberty and authority, in case of rebellion, tumult or sedition, if any should happen (which God forbid) either upon the land, within the province aforesaid, or upon the main sea, in making a voyage thither, or returning from thence by themselves, or their captains, deputies, or other officers, to be authorized under their seals for that purpose (to whom we also, for us, our heirs and successors, do give and grant by these presents, full power and authority), to exercise martial law against mutinous and seditious persons of those parts, such as shall refuse to submit themselves to his or their government, or shall refuse to serve in the wars, or shall fly to the enemy, or forsake their ensigns, or be loiterers, or stragglers, or otherwise however offending against the law, custom, and discipline military, as freely and in as ample manner and form as a captaingeneral of any army, by virtue of his office, might, or hath accustomed to use the same.

Furthermore, that the way to honors and dignities may not seem to be altogether precluded and shut up to men well-born, and such as shall prepare themselves

unto this present plantation, and shall desire to deserve well of us and our kingdoms, both in peace and war, in so far distant and remote a country, Therefore we, for us, our heirs and successors, do give free and absolute power unto the said now Lord Baltimore, his heirs and assigns, to confer favors, rewards and honors, upon such inhabitants, within the province aforesaid, as shall deserve the same, to invest them with titles and dignities soever as he shall think fit (so as they be not such as are now used in England), as like to erect and incorporate towns into boroughs, and boroughs into cities, with convenient privileges and immunities, according to the merit of the inhabitants, and fitness of the places, and to do all and every other thing or things touching the premises, which to him and them shall seem meet and requisite; albeit they be such as of their own nature might otherwise require a more special commandment and warrant than in these presents is expressed.

We will also, and by these presents for us, our heirs and successors, do give and grant license, by this our charter, unto the said now Lord Baltimore, his heirs and assigns, and to all the inhabitants and dwellers in the said province aforesaid, both present and to come, to import, unlade, by themselves or their servants, factors or assigns, all merchandises and goods whatsoever, that shall arise of the fruits and commodities of the said province, either by sea or land, into any of the ports of us, our heirs and successors, in our kingdoms of England or Ireland, or otherwise to dispose of the said goods, in the said ports, and if need be, within one year next after unlading the same, to lade the same merchandise and goods again into the same or other ships, and export the same into any other countries either of our dominion or foreign (being in amity with us, heirs and successors). Provided always that they pay such customs, imposi tions, subsidies, and duties, for the same, to us, our heirs. and successors, as the rest of our subjects of our king