180 Claiborne's Petition and

P. R. O.

Colonial
Papers.

mores, comprehending two degrees, which is six score miles, is
wholy taken from them, and scare is theire any roome for any
Adventurers to take up any Land due unto them.
2^ly All Adventurers of the Company were Tenants in Com-
mon to all the land which was not actually devided and sett
out, and theire claime cannot justly be wipt out thus, and yett
theire interests sayd to be reserved.
3^Iy That the^xLord of Baltimore might have as large a pro-
portion of Land as ever was granted to any by the Company,
but wee thinke agreeing to reason that he should people it and
either showe his right to it by the Adventure of people sent
over to plant it, which was by the Company appoynted to bee.
50 acres to everie person transported thether, or als to have
soe many shares of land as hee can shewe right to by the
Adventure of money in the old stocke, otherwise how un-
reasonable is it hee should possesse two third parts of the Bay
of Virginia, which may trulie be sayd to be as bigg as the
kingdome of England and Scotland and yet now in seventeene
yeares, have not more men there, except such as have gone
from Virginia, then can or doe plant three or fower hundred
acres, and those cheifly imployed in Tobacco, and the great
name of Maryland is in effect made but a factorie for trade a
nursery of Jesuites and a barr to keepe of other planters, from
the best and temperatest parts of the Country, which being
farther remoate from the sea, and more Northward are
thought some what healthfuller then the lower parts of Vir-
ginia.
4^ly Wee say that after wee had discovered and brought the
Indians of those parts of Maryland to a trade of Corne and
Bever, by vertue of the King's Instructions under the broad
seale with expense of our bloud and estate and exercised
annuall entercourse with them above eight and twentie yeares
How can it be said that our interests are preserved, when wee
are interdicted this trade, our vessells and goods seized, our
persons imprisoned and men slaine and the whole trade
assumed onely to the Lord Baltimore's use.
5^ly Wee clearely claime right by possession haveing planted
the Ile of Kent almost three yeares before ever the name of
Maryland was heard of, and Burgesses for that place setting in
the Assemblyes of Virginia whereby it is evident that the Lord
of Baltimore's suggestion to the king that those parts were
uncultivated and unplanted, unlesse by barbarous people not
haveing knowledge of God, was a misinformation, and by it
that Patent appeares illegally gotten. And if the Lord Balti-
more takes awaie those lands (who have also purchased the
interest of the Natives a right not inconsiderable) and seize
theire goods and that in an hostile manner as hee hath done,