but that his lordship would bestow it upon him, &c. to which the proprietary gives the following answer¾     " If the petitioner, Mr. Thomas Gerrard will think it a " kindness to have the inheritance of the land mentioned in " his petition granted unto him after the expiration of the " lease by which Joshua Doyne at this present holds the " same, I am willing to let him have it, but upon no other " terms I can as yett grant it."     " The petitioner accepts the proprietary's offer and prays that his lordship would have such a patent drawn for his signature before his departure for England¾to be passed under the great seal in his lordship's absence¾which is also granted."     " Commn. to coll. George Talbott, )     " Charles, &c. To to lett any part of his lordp's. two ma-)     George Talbott, Esg. nors in Cecil county.                          )     Greeting:     March 19th, 1683.                        )     " Whereas it hath been always our intent to strengthen and fortify the northen parts of this our province of Maryland, the better to enable the inhabitants thereof to resist the invasion and outrages of the northern Indians: And whereas wee have two manors in New Ireland, in Cecil county, each called Baltemore mannor, lying between Elk river, and the North East (als Shennon) river, which if well seated would conduce much to the strength and conveniency of the neighourhood thereabouts; Wee Doe therefore hereby authorise you to lay out in each of our said mannors, two hundred acres for demesnes, and to grant warrants of survey on all the rest to such persons as shall intend immediately to seate upon the same; (noe warrant to exceed two hundred acres;) And we doe hereby promise to all such takers up of lands in our said mannors, that they shall at their election have leases of one and thirty years, or three lives granted them, at the yearly rent of one hundred pounds of tobacco, or one barrill of corne, or shall have firm grants to them and their heirs for ever, at the yearly rent of two hundred pounds of tobacco, per hundred acres; and wee doe hereby also authorise you the said George Talbott to signe, seale and deliver in our name leases of tenements for one and thirty years, or three lives, at the yearly rent of one hundred pounds of tobacco, or one barrill of corne, per hundred acres, within our said mannors, to all persons demanding the same: as also to signe, seale and deliver in our name to all persons who shall desire the same, and to their heirs and assignes for ever, firme conveyances of tenements not exceeding two hundred acres in each tenement. To be held of us and our heirs and successors, as of the mannor wherein they lye and whereof they are part, by fealty, suite of court