Charter of Avalon from Scharf, History of Maryland, I:34-40,
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Charter of Avalon from Scharf, History of Maryland, I:34-40,
Image No: 5
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38 HISTORY OF MARYLAND. howsoever offending against the Lawe, Custome, [and] discipline Military, as freely and in as ample a manner and forme as any Captaine Generall by virtue of his Office might or hath accustomed to use the same. XIV. Furthermore that the way to honors and dignityes may not seem to be alto- gether precluded and shutt up to men well borne and such as shall prepare themselves unto this present Plantation, and shall deserve well of us and our Kingdomes both in peace and warre in so farre distant and remote a Country, Therefore we, for us our heires and successors, doe give free and absolute power unto the sayd Sr George Calvert Knight, his heires and assignes,to conferre favors, Kewardes and honors upon such inhab- itants within the Province aforesayd, as shall deserve the same, and to invest them with what Titles and dignityes soever as hee shall think fitt, so as they be not such as are at this present used in our Kingdome of England; As likewise to erect and incorporate Townes into Burroughes, and Burroughes into Cittyes, with convenient privileges and imunityes according to the meritt of the Inhabitants, and the fittness of the places, and to doe all and every other things touching the premises, which to him or them shall seeme meete and requisite, albeit they be such as of their owne nature might otherwise require a more speciall comandment and warrant than in these presents is expressed. XV. And forasmuch as the beginnings of all Colonyes and Commonwealths are incumbred with sundry inconveniences and difficulties, wee therefore favouring the growth of this present Collonye and providing out of our Eoyall care, that those who are burdened one way may be eased another, of our especiall grace and meere motion doe by this our Charter give and grant to the sayd Sr George Calvert his heires and assignes and to all the Inhabitants and dwellers whomsoever present and to come in Avalon aforesayd, License to import and unlade by themselves or their servants, Factors, or assigns, all whatsoever Merchandize and Goods that shall arise of the fruits and Comodi- tyes of the sayd Province either by Land or Sea into any of the Ports of us, our heires and successors in our Kingdomes of England or Ireland, or otherwise to dispose of the sayd Goodes in the sayd Ports, and if neede be within one yeare after the discharge of the samer to Lade the sayd Marchandise and Goods again into the same shippes, or others, and to export the same into any other Countryes either of our dominion or forraigne without paying in any sort any manner of subsidy, Custome, Taxe, or imposition whatsoever unto us, our heires or successors, or to the Customers, Farmers and Lessees of us, our heires or successors in any manner wise. Provided allways, and it is our meaning and intention that this our grace and immunity from Customes, impositions, subsidies shall continue and be of force for Tenne yeares onely to be reckoned from the date of these presents, and no longer, which Tenne yeares being expired and ended, Our will and pleasure is, and wee doe, for us, our heires and successors grante, and ordaine, that the sayd Sr George Calvert, Knight, his heires and assignes, and all and every other Inhabitant and dweller present and to come within the Province of Avalon aforesayd, may by themselves or their Factors and servants import and unlade, and within the time aforesayd if they will relade and export all manner of Marchandises, wares and goods whatsoever arising from the fruites and comodities of Avalon into and out of any the Ports whatsoever of us, our heires and successors. Provided allwayes that they doe pay for the same unto us, our heires and successors such customes and Impositions subsidies and duties as other our subjects, for the time are bound to pay, beyond which we do not intend that the sayd Inhabitants of Avalon bee any way charged. XVI. And furthermore of our more ample and spsciall grace certaine knowledge' and meere motion wee doe for us our heires and successors grante unto the sayd Sr George Calvert Knight, his heires and assignes full and absolute power and authority to make erect and constitute within the Province of Avalon and Islands aforesaid, such and so many Sea Ports, harbours, Creekes and other places of charge and discharge for Shippes Boats and other Vessells, and in such and so many places and with such-