the said Governor and Company, and their Successors by theis Presents that theis our Letters-patents shalbe firme, good, effectuall, and availeable in all Things, and to all Intents and Construccons of Lawe, according to our true Meaning herein before declared, and shalbe construed, reputed, and adiudged in all Cases most favourablie on the Behalf, and for the Benefitt and Behoofe of the saide Governor and Company and their Successors: ALTHOUGH expresse mencon of the true yearely Value or certenty of the Premisses or any of them, or of any other Guiftes or Grauntes, by Vs, or any of our Progenitors or Predecessors to the foresaid Governor or Company before this tyme made, in theis Presents is not made; or any Statute, Acte, Ordiñnce, Provision, Proclamacōn, or Restrainte to the contrarie thereof, heretofore had, made, published, ordeyned, or provided, or any other Matter, Cause, or Thinge whatsoever to the contrarie thereof in any wise notwithstanding.

IN WITNES whereof, Wee have caused theis our Letters to be made Patents.

WITNES Ourself, at Westminster, the fourth day of March, in the fourth Yeare of our Raigne.

Per Breve de Privato Sigillo,

WOLSELEY.

CHARTER OF MARYLAND—1632.

LORD BALTIMORE's first attempt at colonization was at Avalon, Newfoundland. Discouraged by the severity of the climate he visited Virginia, and obtaining from Charles II. a promise of lands there, abandoned Newfoundland. Dying shortly after, the promised patent was issued in 1632 to his son and successor, who made the first settlement at St. Mary's. The Palatinate of Durham served as a model for Lord Baltimore's Avalon patent, and this in turn helped mould the Maryland charter. "The Maryland charter is full of interest as being the first proprietary constitution that bore any actual fruit. It conferred on the grantee probably the most extensive political privileges ever enjoyed by an English subject since the great houses had bowed before the successive oppression of Yorkist and Tudor rule." (Doyle.) With the exception of the reservation of allegiance, and the provision that the laws "be consonant to reason and be not repugnant nor contrary to the laws and statutes of the kingdom of England," Lord Baltimore was an independent monarch. Maryland continued under this charter till 1776, when a convention meeting at Annapolis (Aug. 14-Nov. 11) formulated a constitution for the state. A second constitution

was adopted in 1851, a third in 1864, and a fourth in 1867.

Consult Doyle's English Colonies, I., 281; Bancroft's U.S., 1st ed. I., 241; cen. ed. I., 181; last ed. I., 157; Hildreth's U. S., I., 206; Bryant and Gay's U. S., I., 487; Neil's English Colonization, Browne's Maryland, 18; Bozman's Maryland; Chalmers' Political Annals, 200.

CHARTER OF MARYLAND.

[Translated from the Latin original.]

CHARLES, by the Grace of God, King of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, etc. To all to whom these presents shall come, greeting: Whereas our right trusty and well-beloved subject Caecilius Calvert, Baron of Baltimore, in our kingdom of Ireland, son and heir of Sir George Calvert, knight, late Baron of Baltimore, in the same kingdom of Ireland, pursuing his father's intentions, being incited with a laudable and pious zeal for the propagation of the Christian faith, and the enlargement of our empire and dominion, hath humbly besought leave of us, by his industry and charge, to transport an ample colony of the English nation into a certain country hereafter described in the parts of America not yet cultivated and planted, though in some parts thereof inhabited by a certain barbarous people, having no knowledge of the Almighty God; and hath humbly besought our royal majesty to give, grant and confirm the said country, with certain privileges and jurisdictions, requisite for the said government and State of his colony and country, aforesaid, to him and his heirs for

ever.

Know ye, therefore, that we, favoring the pious and noble purpose of the said Barons of Baltimore, of our

especial grace, certain knowledge, and mere motion, have given, granted, and confirmed, and by this our present charter, for us, our heirs and successors, do give, grant, and confirm, unto the said Caecilius, now Baron of Baltimore, his heirs and assigns, all that part of a peninsula lying in the parts of America between the ocean on the east, and the bay of Chesapeak on the west, and divided from the other part thereof by a right line drawn from the promontory or cape of land called Watkins' Point (situate in the aforesaid bay, near the river of Wighco) on the west, unto the main ocean on the east ; and between that bound on the south unto that part of Delaware Bay on the north, which lieth under the fortieth degree of northerly latitude from the equinoctial where New England ends; and all that tract of land between the bounds aforesaid; that is to say, passing from the aforesaid unto the aforesaid bay called Delaware Bay, in a right line by the degree aforesaid, unto the true meridian of the first fountain of the river Potomac, and from thence tending towards the south unto the further bank of the aforesaid river, and following the west and south side thereof into a certain place called Cinquack situate near the mouth of the said river, where it falls into the bay of Chesapeak, and from thence by a straight line unto the aforesaid promontory and place called Watkins' Point (so that all that tract of land divided by the line aforesaid, drawn between the main ocean and Watkins' Point, unto the Promontory called Cape Charles, and all its appurtenances, do remain entirely excepted to us, our heirs and successors forever).

We do also grant and confirm to the said Lord Baltimore, his heirs and assigns, all islands and islets within the limits aforesaid, and all and singular the islands and islets which are or shall in the ocean, within ten leagues from the eastern shore of the said country towards the east, with all and singular ports, harbors, bays, rivers, and inlets belonging unto the country and islands afore

said, and all the soil, lands, fields, woods, mountains, fens, lakes, rivers, bays, and inlets, situate or being within the limits and bounds aforesaid. With the fishing of all sorts of fish, whales, sturgeons, and all other royal fishes in the sea, bays, inlets, and rivers, within the premises, and all the fish therein taken.

And moreover all veins, mines, and quarries, as well discovered as not discovered, of gold, silver, gems, and precious stones, and all other whatsoever, be it of stones, metals, or of any other thing or matter whatsoever, found, or to be found within the country, isles and limits aforesaid.

And, futhermore, the patronages and advowsons of all churches, which (as Christian religion shall increase within the country, isles, islets, and limits aforesaid) shall happen hereafter to be erected; together with license and power to build and found churches, chapels, and oratories, in convenient and fit places within the premises, and to cause them to be dedicated and consecrated according to the ecclesiastical laws of our kingdom of England; together with all and singular the like, and as ample rights, jurisdictions, privileges, prerogatives, royalties, liberties, immunities, royal rights and franchises, of what kind soever, temporal, as well by sea as by land, within the country, isles, islets, and limits aforesaid, to have, exercise, use and enjoy the same, as amply as any bishop of Durham, within the bishopric or county palatine of Durham, in our kingdom of England, hath at any time heretofore had, held, used, or enjoyed, or of right, ought or might have had, held, used, or enjoyed.

And him the said now Lord Baltimore, his heirs and assigns, we do by these presents, for us, our heirs, and successors, make, create, and constitute the true and absolute lords and proprietaries of the said country aforesaid, and of all other the premises (except before excepted), saving always the faith and allegiance and sovereign dominion due unto us, our heirs and success