CHARTER. 21

pretorian judicatories, and tribunals, in all actions, suits,
causes and matters whatsoever, as well criminal as personal,
real and mixed, and pretorian: Which said laws, so to be
published as abovesaid, WE will, enjoin, charge, and com-
mand, to be most absolute and firm in law, and to be kept
in those parts by all the subjects and liege-men of us, our
heirs and successors, so far as they concern them, and to be
inviolably observed under the penalties therein expressed,
or to be expressed. So NEVERTHELESS, that the laws afore-
said be consonant to reason, and be not repugnant or con-
trary, but (so far as conveniently may be) agreeable to the
laws, statutes, customs and rights of this our kingdom of
England.

VIII. And forasmuch as, in the government of so great
a PROVINCE, sudden accidents may frequently happen, to
which it will be necessary to apply a remedy, before the
free holders of the said PROVINCE, their delegates, or depu-
ties, can be called together for the framing of laws; neither
will it be fit that so great a number of people should imme-
diately on such emergent occasion, be called together, WE,
therefore, for the better government of so great a PROVINCE,
do will and ordain, and by these presents, for us, our heirs
and successors, do grant unto the said now baron of Balti-
more; and bis heirs, by themselves, or by their magistrates
and officers, thereunto duly to he constituted as aforesaid,
may, and can make and constitute fit and wholesome ordi-
nances from time to time, to be kept and observed within
the PROVINCE aforesaid, as well for the conservation of the
peace, as for the better government of the people inhabiting
therein, and publicly to notify the same to all persons whom
the same in any wise do or may effect. Which ordinances,
WE will to be inviolably observed within the said PROVINCE,
under the pains to be expressed in the same. So that the
said ordinances be consonant to reason, and be not repug-
nant nor contrary, but (so far as conveniently may be done)
agreeably to the laws, statutes, or rights of our kingdom of
England; and so that the same ordinances do not, in any
sort, extend to oblige, bind, charge, or take away the right
or interest of any person or persons, of, or in member, life,
freehold, goods or chattels.

IX. Furthermore, that the new colony may more happily
increase by a multitude of people resorting thither, and at
the same time may be more firmly secured from the incur-