CHARTER OF MARYLAND.

Translated from the Latin Original.

CHARLES,* by the grace of GOD, of England, Scotland
France, and Ireland, KING, Defender of the Faith, &c. To
ALL to whom these Presents shall come, GREETING.

II. WHBREAS our well beloved and right trusty Subject,
CAECELIUS CALVERT, Baron of BALTIMORE, in our
Kingdom of Ireland, Son and Heir of GEORGE CALVERT,
Knight, late Baron of BALTIMORE, in our said Kingdom
of Ireland, treading in the Steps of his Father, being ani-
mated with a laudable and pious Zeal for extending the
Christian Religion, and also the Territories of our Empire,
hath humbly besought leave of Us, that he may transport by
his own Industry, and Expence, a numerous Colony of the
English Nation, to a certain Region, herein after described,
in a Country hitherto uncviltivated, in the parts of America
and partly occupied by Savages, having no Knowledge of the
Divine Being, and that all that Region, with some certain
Privileges, and Jurisdictions, appertaining unto the wholesome
Government, and State of his Colony and Region aforesaid
may by our Royal Highness be given, granted, and confirmed
unto him and his heirs.

III. KNOW YE therefore that WE, encouraging with our
Royal Favour, the pious and noble Purpose of the aforesaid
Baron of BALTIMORE, of our special Grace, certain Knowl-
edge, and mere Motion, have GIVEN, GRANTED, and CON-
FIRMED, and by this our present CHARTER, for US, our
Heirs, and Successors, do GIVE, GRANT and CONFIRM, unto
the aforesaid CAECILIUS, now Baron of BALTIMORE, his
Heirs and Assigns, all that Part of the Peninsula, or Cher-
sonese lying in the Parts of America, between the Ocean on
the East, and the bay of Chesapeake on the West, divided
from the Residue thereof by a Right Line drawn from the
Promontory, or Head Land, called Watkin's Point, situate
upon the Bay aforesaid, near the river of Wighco, on the
West, unto the Main Ocean on the East; and between that
Boundary on the South unto that Part of the Bay of Dela-
ware on the North, which lieth under the Fortieth Degree of
North Latitude from the Aequinoctial, where New-England
is terminated; And all the Tract of that Land within the
Metes underwritten, (that is to say,) passing from the said
Bay, called Delaware Bay, in a right line, by the degree
aforesaid, unto the true Meridian of the first Fountain of the
River of Pattowmack, thence verging toward the South, unto
the further Bank of the said River, and following the same
on the West and South, unto a certain place called Cinquack,
situate near the Mouth of the said River, where it disem-
bogues into the aforesaid Bay of Chesapeake, and thence by
*Charles the first, of England.