Potowmeek River, and so along to Watkins point, together with the Islands thereunto belonging, and by the said patent called the Province of Mariland. To hold the same in as ample manner as any Bishop of Durham, within the Bishohprick or County palatine of Durham in England, heretofore ever held or injoyed, and to hold the same in free and common soccadg. as of the Castle of Windsor, Reserving to the King, his Heirs, and successors faith, allegiance and dominion, and two indian arrows yearly with the fifth part of all gold and silver Oar found in and upon the said province, and also liberty for any the people of England, or Ireland to fish as well in those seas, as in any ports, or Creeks of the said province, and to salt and cure their fish there. That in and by the said patent, power is granted to the Lord Baltemore, and his heirs to make Laws by and with the Counsell assent, and approbation of the Freemen of the said Province, or the Major part of them, that shal concern life, or Member as often as his Lordship shal think fit, &c. so as such Laws be consonant to reason, and not repugnant, nor contrary, but as neer as possible may be agreeable to the Laws of this Nation.

That by the said Patent the said Province is separated from Virginia, but by express provisoe declared to be subject, and depending upon the Crown of England. And in case any doubts arise about any claim in the said patent, the same were to be decided by the Courts of England.

It also appears by examinations taken by this Committee that Kentish Island was before the date of the said Patent part of Virginia, and planted, and inhabited by Cap. Claiborn three years before the arrival of the Lord Baltemores Agents in Maryland, and that Burgesses sat in the Assembly at James Town in Virginia for the said Island. And that the Virginians had the sole possession of the Bay of Chesopiack, and a free Trade with the Indians.

That in the yeer 1633. upon the arrival of the Lord Baltemores Agents in Maryland, the Virginians were prohibited from trading with the Indians, in any part of Maryland, which formerly they had accustomed, whereupon severall differences arose between capt. Claiborns men, and the L. B. planters, and capt. Clayborn continuing his trade, a Vessell called the Longtail was seised upon by the Marilanders, and one Lieutenant Warren (with some others whom he sent to rescue the said Vessell) were killed by the Marilander in that attempt in Potomoke River. That the goods of Mr. Harman, and others were all seised by the Lord Baltemores Agents, and at length after three

yeares suffering, Captaine Claiborn was forsibly disseisd, and dispossest of his plantation in Kentish Island; and forced for safety of his life to fly into England, and ever since thát L : B. hath had possession of the said Island, not suffering any of the Virginians to trade in the said Bay without ceisure, and confiscation of their Goods.

It likewise appears unto this Committee upon perusal of the several parchments mentioned in the Order of Parlament, that the L B. hath constituted forms of Oaths, and injoyned the taking thereof by all persons as wel Officers, as others within the said province, and that not to the King, but to himself, and that he hath issued out Writs in his own name, all his Commissions and processe running in this stile (viz.) we, us, and given under our hand, and greater seal of arms in such a yeer of our Dominions over the said Province. That he hath likewise appointed an upper and lower house of Assembly and also a privie counsel of State, which is not mentioned in the said patent. And we further find that several of the Laws made by the said Lord Baltemore are not agreeable to the Laws, Statutes, and customes of England, as for instance.

That the Lands sold by the said Lord Baltemore are directed to be purchased and held of him, and his Heirs only in soccadg as of the Mannor: &c.

That the Oaths hereafter mentioned must be taken by all that shal bear Office, or shall inhabite, or come into the said province upon pain ofe being banished, and if they return, and refuse, to be subject to such Fine as his Lordship shall think fit.

The Oath of the Lieutenant or chief Governor of the Province of Maryland.

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A. B. doe Sweare I will be true and faithfull to the Right Honourable Cecilius, Lord Baron of Baltemore, the true and absolute Lord and Proprietary of this Province of Maryland, and his Heires, and him and them, and his and their Rights, Royall Jurisdictions and Seigniory, all and every of them into or over the said Province and Islands thereunto belonging. Will at all times Defend and Maintaine to the utmost of my power; and will never accept of, nor execute any Place, Office,

or Employment within the said Province, any way concerning or relating to the Government of the said Province, from any person or Authority, but by, from, or under the hand and Seale at Arms of his said Lordship, or his Heires or Assignes, Lords and Proprietaries of the said Province. I will faithfully serve his said Lordship as Lieutenant of the said Province, and in all other Offices committed to my Charge by his said Lordships Commission or Commissions to me, and will willingly yield up. the said Commission and Commissions againe, and all Offices, Powers, and Authorities granted or to be granted by them or any of them, into the hands of his said Lordship, and his Heires and Assignes, or to such person or persons as he or they shall appoint, whensoever he or they shall appoint me so to doe, and shall signifie the same to me in writing under his or their hand and Seale at Armes. And will not presume to put in execution, or attempt to execute any Office, Power, or Authority granted unto me by any of the said Commissions, after that his Lordship, his Heires or Assignes, Lords and Proprietaries of the said Province shall repeale them or any of them respectively by any writing under his or their respective hand and Seale at Armes, and that the said Repeale be published in this Province. I will doe equall Right and Justice to the poore and to the rich, within the said Province, to my best skill, judgement, and power, according to the Lawes and Ordinances of the said province, and in default thereof according to my conscience, and best discretion, and the power granted and to be granted to me by his said Lordships Commission or Commissions; I will not for fear, favour or affection, or any other cause, let, hinder, or delay Justice to any, but shal truely execute the said Office and Offices respectively according to his said Lordships Commissions to me in that behalf, and to the true intent and meaning thereof, and not otherwise, to the best of my understanding and Judgment. I wil not know of any attempt against his said Lordships person, or his Rights or Dominion into, or over the said province, and the people therin, but I will prevent, resist, and oppose it with the utmost of my power, and make the same known with all convenient speed to his said lordship, and I will in all things from time to time as occasion shal serve faithfully counsel and advise his said Lordship according to my heart and conscience And I do further swear I will not by my selfe, nor any other person directly, trouble, molest, or discountenance any person whatsoever in the said province professing to beleeve in Jesus Christ, and in particular no Roman Catholick, for or in respect of his or her Religion, nor his or her free exercise thereof within the said province,

so as they be not unfaithful to his said Lordship or molest or conspire against the civill Government established under him nor will I make any difference of persons in conferring Offices, Rewards, or Favours proceeding from the Authority which his Lordship hath conferred on me as his Lieutenant here, for or in respect to their said Religion respectively, but meerly as I shall find them faithful and wel-deserving of his said Lordship, and to the best of my understanding endowed with morall vertues and abilities fitting for such Offices, Rewards or Favours, wherein my prime aim and end shall be from time to time sincerely the advancement of his said Lordships service here, and the publick unity and good of the Province without partiallity to any, or any other sinister end, whatsoever. And if any other Officer or persons whatsoever shal during the time of my being his said Lordships Lieutenant here, without my consent, or privity molest or disturb any person within this province professing to beleeve in Jesus Christ meerely for, or in respect of his, or her Religion, or the free exercise thereof, upon notice or complaint thereof made unto him, I will apply my power, and Authority to relieve any person so molested, or troubled, whereby he may have Right done him for any damage which he shal suffer in that kind, and to the utmost of my power wil cause all and every such person or persons as shal molest or trouble any other person or persons in that manner to be punishment. I wil faithfully serve his lordship as his Chansellor and Keeper of his great Seal of this Province committed to my charge and custody by his said Lordships Commission to me, to the best of my skil, and understanding I will cause the impression in Wax of the said Seal to be affixed to all such things as I have, or shal from time to time receive commission or Warrant for so doing from his said Lordship under his hand and Seal at arms; and that it shall not be affixed to any other Writing, or thing whatsoever, directly or indirectly with my privy consent, or knowledg, I wil do my best endeavour carefully to preserve the said Great Seal in my custody so long as it shall please his said Lordship to continue me in the charge, and keeping thereof, to the end that it may not be lost, stollen, or unlawfully taken from me; And whereby any other Person may affix the impression thereof unto any Writing, or thing whatsoever without Authority for so doing lawfully derived, or to be derived from, by, or under a commission or Warrant under his said Lordships Hand and Seale at Arms, and that I will truly and faithfully deliver up againe the said great Seal into the hands of such Person or Persons as his said Lordship, or his Heirs shall appoint, when his, or their pleasure for that purpose shall be signified to me under his, or their

hands and Seale at arms; so help me God, and by the contents of this Book.

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The Oath of fidelity to the Lord Proprietor.

A: B. Do faithfully and truly acknowledge the Right Honourable Cecilius Lord Baron of Baltemore to be the true and absolute Lord and Proprietary of this Province and Country of Maryland, and the Islands thereunto belonging; And I do swear that I will bear true faith unto his Lordship, and his Heires as to the true and absolute Lords and proprietaries of the said Province and the Islands thereunto belonging, and will not at any time by words or actions in publick or private, wittingly or willingly to the best of my understanding any way derogate from; but will at all times as occasion shall require to the uttermost of my power defend and maintaine all such his said Lordships and his Heires Right, Title, Interest, Priveledges, Royal Jurisdiction, Prerogative, propriety and Dominion over, and in the said province of Maryland, and the Islands thereunto belonging, and over the people who are or shall be therein for the time being as are granted or mentioned to be granted to his said Lordship, and to his Heirs by the King of England in his said Lordships patent of the said province under the Great Seale of England, I do also swear that I will with all expedition discover to his said Lordship, or his Lieutenant or other chief Governor of the said province for the time being, and also use my best endeavours to prevent any plot, conspiracy, or combination which I shall know or have cause to suspect is intended or shall be intended against the person of his said Lordship, or which shal tend any wayes to the disinherison or deprivation of his said Lordships or his heirs the Right, Title, Royal Jurisdiction or Dominion aforesaid, or any part thereof, and 1 do swear that I will not either by myself or by any other person, or persons directly, or indirectly, take, accept, receive, purchase or possess any Lands, Tenements or Hereditants within the said Province of Maryland, or the Islands thereunto belonging from any Indian or Indians to any other use or uses, but to the use of his said Lordship and his heirs or knowingly from any other person or persons not deriving a legall Title thereunto from or under some Grant from his said Lordship, or his said Heirs legally passed or to be passed under his or their Great Seal of the said province for the time being, so help me God and by the Contents of this Book.