dom of England, for the time being, shall be bound to pay; beyond which, we will not that the inhabitants of the aforesaid province of Maryland shall be any charged.

And furthermore, of our ample and special grace, certain knowledge, and mere motion, we do, for us, our heirs and successors, grant unto the said now Lord Baltimore, his heirs and assigns, full and absolute power and authority to make, erect, and constitute, within the said province of Maryland, the isles and islets aforesaid, such and so many seaports, harbors, creeks, and other places, for discharging and unlading of goods and merchandises out of ships, boats and other vessels, and lading them in such and so many places, and with such rights, jurisdictions, and liberties, and privileges unto the said ports belonging, as to him or them shall seem most expedient; and that all and singular the ships, boats and other vessels, which shall come for merchandise and trade into the said province, or out of the same shall depart, shall be laden or unladen only at such ports as shall be so erected and constituted by the said now Lord Baltimore, his heirs and assigns, any use, custom, or other things to the contrary notwithstanding; saving always unto us, our heirs and successors, and to all the subjects (of our kingdoms of England and Ireland) of us, our heirs and successors, free liberty of fishing for sea fish, as well in the sea, bays, inlets, and navigable rivers, as in the harbors, bays, and creeks of the province aforesaid, and the privileges of salting and drying their fish on the shore of the said province, and for the same cause, to cut and take underwood and twigs there growing, and to build cottages and sheds necessary in this behalf, as they heretofore have or might reasonably have used; which liberties and privileges, nevertheless, the subjects aforesaid of us, our heirs and successors, shall enjoy without any notable damage or injury to be done to the said now Lord Baltimore, his heirs and assigns, or to the

dwellers and inhabitants of the said province, in the ports, creeks, and shores aforesaid, and especially in the woods and copses growing within the said province. And if any shall do any such damage or injury, he shall incur the heavy displeasure of us, our heirs and successors, the punishment of the laws, and shall moreover make satisfaction.

We do furthermore will, appoint, and ordain, and by these presents, for us, our heirs and successors, we do grant unto the said now Lord Baltimore, his heirs and assigns, that he, the said Lord Baltimore, his heirs and assigns, may from time to time, forever, have and enjoy the customs and subsidies in the ports, harbors, and other creeks and places aforesaid, within the province aforesaid, payable or due for merchandises or wares thereto laded or unladed: the said customs and subsidies to be reasonably assessed (upon any occasion) by themselves and the people there as aforesaid, to whom we give power, by these presents, for us, our heirs and successors, upon just cause and in a due proportion, to assess and impose the same.

And further, of special grace, certain knowledge, and mere motion, we have given and granted, and by these presents, for us, our heirs and successors, do give and grant, unto the said now Lord Baltimore, his heirs and assigns, full and absolute power, license, and authority, that he, the said now Lord Baltimore, his heirs and assigns, from time to time hereafter, for ever, at his and their will and pleasure, may assign, alien, grant, demise, or enfeoffe of the premises, so many and such parts and parcels to him or them that shall be willing to purchase the same, as they shall think fit; to have and to hold to them the said person or persons willing to take or purchase the same, their heirs and assigns, in fee simple, or in fee tail, or for the term of life or lives, or years, to be held of the said now Lord Baltimore, his heirs and assigns, by such services, customs, and rents, as shall seem

fit to the said now Lord Baltimore, his heirs and assigns, and not immediately of us, our heirs and successors: And to the same person or persons, and to all and every of them, we do give and grant, by these presents, for us, our heirs and successors, license, authority and power, that such person or persons may take the premises, or any parcel thereof, of the said now Lord Baltimore, his heirs or assigns (in what estate of inheritance soever, in fee simple, or in fee tail, or otherwise, as to them and the now Lord Baltimore, his heirs and assigns, shall seem expedient); the statute made in the parliament of Edward, son of King Henry, late King of England, our predecessor, commonly called the statute Quia emptores tenarum, lately published in our kingdom of England, or any other statute, act, ordinance, use, law, or custom, or any other thing cause or matter thereupon heretofore had, done, published, ordained or provided to the contrary, in any wise notwithstanding.

And by these presents, we give and grant license unto the said now Lord Baltimore and his heirs, to erect any parcels of land within the province aforesaid into manors, in every the said manors to have and hold a court of Baron, with all things whatsoever which to a court Baron do belong, and to have and hold view of frank-pledge (for the conservation of the peace, and the better government of those parts), by themselves, or their stewards, or by the lords, for the time being, of other manors to be deputed, when they shall be erected, and in the same to use all things belonging to view of frank-pledge.

And further, our pleasure is, and by these presents, for us, our heirs and successors, we do covenant and grant to and with the said now Lord Baltimore, and his heirs. and assigns, that we, our heirs and successors, shall at no time hereafter set or make, or cause to set any imposition, custom, or other taxation, rate, or contribution whatsoever, in and upon the dwellers and inhabitants of the aforesaid province, for their lands, tenements, goods,

or chattels within the said province, or in or upon any goods or merchandise within the said province, or to be laden or unladen within the ports or harbors of the said province. And our pleasure is, and for us, our heirs and successors, we charge and command, that this our declaration shall henceforward, from time to time, be received and allowed in all our courts, and before all the judges of us, our heirs and successors, for a sufficient and lawful discharge, payment and acquittance; commanding all and singular our officers and ministers of us, our heirs and successors, and enjoining them, upon pain of our high displeasure, that they do not presume, at any time, to attempt anything to the contrary of the premises, or that they do in any sort withstand the same; but that they be at all times aiding and assisting, as fitting, unto the said now Lord Baltimore, and his heirs, and to the inhabitants and merchants of Maryland aforesaid, their servants, ministers, factors and assigns, in the full use and fruition of the benefit of this our charter.

And further, our pleasure is, and by these presents, for us, our heirs and successors, we do grant unto the said now Lord Baltimore, and his heirs and assigns, and to the tenants and inhabitants of the said province of Maryland, both present and to come, and to every of them, that the said province, tenants, and inhabitants of the said colony or country, shall not from henceforth be held or reputed as a member, or as a part of Virginia, or of any other colony whatsoever, now transported or hereafter to be transported, nor shall be depending on, or subject to their government in anything, from whom we do separate that and them. And our pleasure is, by these presents, that they be separated, and that they be subject immediately to our crown of England, as depending thereof forever.

And if perchance hereafter it should happen any doubts or questions should arise concerning the true sense and understanding of any word, clause or sentence con

tained in this our present charter, we will, ordain and command, that at all times, and in all things, such interpretations be made thereof and allowed, in any of our courts whatsoever, as shall be adjudged most advantageous and favorable unto the said now Lord Baltimore, his heirs and assigns; provided always, that no interpretation be admitted thereof, by which God's holy and truly Christian religion, or the allegiance due unto us, our heirs and successors, may suffer any prejudice or diminution; although express mention be not made in these presents of the true yearly value of certainty of the premises, or of any part thereof, or of other gifts and grants made by us, our progenitors or predecessors, unto the said now Lord Baltimore, or any statute, act, ordinance, provision, proclamation, or restraint heretofore had, made, published, ordained, or provided, or any other thing, cause, or matter whatsoever to the contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding. In witness, etc., witness Ourself at Westminster, the twenty-eighth day of June, A.D., 1632, in the eighth year of our reign.

By Writ of Privy Seal.