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" By the Lord Proprietary, a Proclamation.
" Forasmuch as the taking up of land by rights within
this our province of Maryland, hath proved not only grevious
and burthensome to the inhabitants of this our said province,
as well for want of such rights upon their occasions, as for
paying for the same extravagant and extortious rates when to
be procured; but also very injurious and prejudiciall to
ourself by undue and unjust probate made of such rights as we
have seen and been informed: We doe, therefore as well for
the ease benefit and certainty of the inhabitants of this our
province, and other persons inhabiting trading or residing
within the same, as also for the preservation of our own just
right and property, hereby fully resolve determine and
ordain, that no rights shall hereafter be proved admitted or
allowed off, for the taking up of land within our said province
as formerly by the conditions of plantation of our late dear
father Caecilus &c. of noble memory hath been accustomed;
but for the encouragement of any person or persons
adventuror or adventurors or others inhabiting residing or trading
within this province, We Doe resolve determine and ordain,
and hereby declare publish and make known, that any person or
persons adventuring trading inhabiting or residing within this
our province, and willing to take up any land here, shall for
every fifty acres of land he or they shall designe to take up
as aforesaid pay or cause to be paid unto us or our heirs the
just quantity of one hundred pounds of tobacco in cask
together with two shillings sterling yearly rent, unless on the
sea board side or the Whorekills, for every fifty acres whereof
any person or persons taking up such land shall only pay for
the same as aforesaid the sum of fifty pounds of tobacco in
cask together with one shilling sterling yearly rent, and so
proportionably for any greater or lesser quantity he or they
first applying themselves to our secretarys of this our
province, or other oflicer or officers thereunto appointed, and
giving good and sufficient caution for the same, as to him or
them shall seem meete; Hereby willing and requiring our
said secretarys or other officer or officers as aforesaid, upon
such caution or security given to issue out warrants under
the lesser seale of this our province, for any quantity of
land to any person or persons suitor or suitors for the same in
manner aforesaid. And to the end that this our will and
pleasure may be made known, Wee Do hereby strictly charge
and command all and singular the sheriffs of this our
province forthwith upon receipt hereof, to make publick proclamation
