|
34 HISTORY OF MARYLAND.
CHARTER OF AVALON.
[April 7, 1623. Source: sloan MS., No. 170, British Library]
I. JAMES, by the grace of God, King of England, Scotland, France and Ireland,
Defender of the Faith, &c. To all to whome these presents shall come, greeting.
II. WHEREAS our right trusty and well beloved Counsellor Sr. George Calvert
Knight, our Principall Secretary of State, being excited with a Laudable and pious Zeale
to enlarge the extents of the Christian world, and therewithall of our Empire and
dominion, hath heretofore to his greate cost purchased a certain Region or Territory here-
after described, in a Country of ours scituate in the West part of the World, commonly
called Newfound Land, not yet husbanded or planted, though in some parts thereof
inhabited by certaine barbarous People wanting the Knowledge of Almighty God ; And
intending now to transport thither a very greate and ample Colony of the English
Nation, hath humbly besought our Kingly Maiesty to give, grant, and conflrme all the
said Region with certaine Privileges and Jurisdictions requisite for the good Government
and State of the said Colony and Territory to him, his heires, and Assignes for ever.
III. Know yee therefore, that wee favoring the Godly and Laudable purpose of our
said Counsellor, of our speciall grace, certaine knowledge, and meere motion, have given,
granted, and confirmed, and by this our present Charter for us, our heires and successors,
doe give, grant, and confirme unto the said Sr George Calvert Knight, his heires and
assignes, for ever, All that entire portion of Land situated within our Country of New-
found Land aforesaid, beginning Southerly from the middle part of a certaine neck of
Land or Promontory scituate betweene the two harbours of Hermose and Aquafort, and
from thence following the shore towards the North, unto the middle part or halfe way
over a little harbour (called in that regard Petit Port) which boundeth upon the South
part of the Plantation of St. Johns, including the one halfe of a certaine fresh river that
falleth into the said Port of Petit Harbour, and so trending all along the south border of
the said Colonye of St. Johns, extendeth itselfe to a certain little bay comonly called
Salmon Cove lying on the South side of the Bay of Conception including the one
halfe of the River that falleth into the said Cove, as also the one halfe of the said Cove
it selfe. From whence passing along the shore of the said Bay towards the South, and
reaching unto the bottom thereof where it meets with the Lands of J,ohn Guy Citizen of
Bristol!, named Sea_-forest, is bounded with a certaine River or Brooke wich there falls
into the Sea, and from the mouth of the said Brooke ascendeth unto the furthest spring or
head thereof; From thence passeth towards the South, for five Miles together alongst the
borders of the said John Guies Plantation, and there crossing over Westward in a right
line reacheth unto the Bay of Placentia; and the space of one League within the said
Bay from the Shore thereof hence turning againe towards the South passeth along the
harbour Placentia with the like distance from the shore, and descending unto New Falk-
land towards the North and West part thereof stretcheth itself in a righte Line Eastward,
continuing the whole Southerly length upon the bounders of the sayd New-Falkland,
unto the middle part or point of the Promontory or neck of Land aforementioned between
the said Ports of Fermose and Aquafort, at which place is described and finished the
perambulation of the whole precinct.
IV.- Wee doe further give, and by this present Charter for us our heirs and successors,
wee doe grante and confirme unto the said Sr George Calvert his heires and Assignes all
and singular the Islands and Iletts that are or shall be within Tenne Leagues from the
Easterrne Shoare of the said Region towards the East with all and singular Ports, har-
bours and Creekes of the Sea belonging unto the said Region or the Islands aforesaid,
And all the Soilc, Landes, Woods, Lakes, and Rivers scituate or being within the Region
Isles or Limitts aforesaid, with the Fishings of all sortes of Fishe, Whales, Sturgions, and
other Royall Fishes in the Sea or Rivers; and moreover all Veines, Mines and delues as
well discovered as not discovered, of Gold, Silver, Gemmes and precious Stones, and all
|
