CHARTER. 11

the aforesaid Inhabitants and Merchants of the PROVINCE of
MARYLAND aforesaid, and their Servants and Ministers,
Factors and Assigns, in the fullest Use and Enjoyment of this
our CHARTER.

XXI. AND FURTHERMORE WE WILL, and by these
Presents; for US, our Heirs and Successors, do grant unto
the aforesaid now Baron of BALTIMORE, his Heirs and
Assigns, and to the Freeholders and Inhabitants of the said
PROVINCE, both present and to come, and to every of them,
that the said PROVINCE and the Freeholders or Inhabitants of
the said Colony or Country, shall not henceforth be held or
reputed a member or Part of the Land of Virginia or of
any other Colony already transported, or hereafter to be
transported, or be dependent on the same, or subordinate in
any kind of Government, from which WE do separate both
the said PROVINCE, and Inhabitants thereof, and by these
Presents do WILL to be distinct, and that they may be im-
mediately subject to our Crown of England, and dependent on
the same for ever.

XXII. AND if, peradventure, hereafter it may happen that
any Doubts or Questions should arise concerning the true
Sense and Meaning of any Word, Clause or Sentence,, con-
tained in this our present CHARTER, WE will, charge and
command, THAT Interpretation to be applied, always, and in
all Things, and in all our Courts and Judicatories whatsoever,
to obtain which shall be judged to be the more beneficial,
profitable, and favourable to the aforesaid now Baron of BAL-
TIMORE, his Heirs and Assigns: PROVIDED always that
no Interpretation thereof be made, whereby GOD'S holy and
true Christian Religion, or the Allegiance due to US, our
Heirs and Successors, may in any wise suffer by Change,
Prejudice, or Diminution; although express Mention be not
made in these Presents of the true yearly Value or Certainty
of the Premisses, or any Part thereof, or of other Gifts and
Grants made by US, our Heirs and Predecessors, unto the
said now Lord BALTIMORE, or any Statute, Act, Ordi-
nance, Provision, Proclamation or Restraint heretofore had,
made, published, ordained or provided, or any other Thing,
Cause or Matter whatsoever, to the contrary thereof in any
wise notwithstanding.

XXIII. IN WITNESS whereof WE have caused these our
Letters to be made Patent. WITNESS OURSELF at Wes-
minister, the Twentieth Day of June, in the Eighth Year of
our Reign.