and provident Circumspection of Mind, WE repose the greatest
Confidence) and to his Heirs, for the good and happy Govern-
ment of the said province, free, full, and absolute Power, by the
Tenor of these Presents, to Ordain, Make, and Enact LAWS, of
what kind soever, according to their sound Discretions, whether
relating to the Public State of the said province, or the private
Utility of Individuals, of and with the Advice, Assent, and Ap-
probation of the Free-Men of the same province, or of the great
Part of them, or of their Delegates or Deputies, whom WE will
shall be called together for the framing of LAWS, when, and as
often as Need shall require, by the aforesaid now Baron of BAL-
TIMORE, and his Heirs, and in the Form which shall seem best
to him or them, and the same to publish under the Seal of the
aforesaid now Baron of BALTIMORE, and his Heirs, and duly
to execute the same upon all Persons, for the Time being, within
the aforesaid province, and the Limits thereof, or under his or
their Government and Power, in Sailing toward MARYLAND,
or thence Returning, Outward bound, either to England, or else-
where, whether to any other Part of Our, or of any foreign Do-
minions, wheresoever established, by the Imposition of Fines,
Imprisonment, and other Punishment whatsoever; even if it be
necessary, and the Quality of the Offence require it, by Privation
of Member, or Life, by him the aforesaid now Baron of BALTI-
MORE, and his Heirs, or by his or their Deputy, Lieutenant,
Judges, Justices, Magistrates, Officers, and Ministers, to be con-
stituted and appointed according to the Tenor and true Intent of
these Presents, and to constitute and ordain Judges, Justices,
Magistrates and Officers, of what Kind, for what Cause, and
with what Power soever, within that Land, and the Sea of those
Parts, and in such Form as to the said now Baron of BALTI-
MORE, or his Heirs, shall seem most fitting: And also to Remit,
Release, Pardon, and Abolish, all Crimes and Offences whatso-
ever against such Laws, whether before, or after Judgment
passed; to do all and singular other Things belonging to the
Completion of Justice, and to Courts, Praetorian Judicatories,
and Tribunals, judicial Forms and Modes of Proceedings, al-
though express Mention thereof in these Presents be not made;
and, by Judges by them delegated, to award Process, hold Pleas,
and determine in those Courts, Praetorian Judicatories, and
Tribunals, in all Actions, Suits, Causes, and Matters whatsoever,
as well Criminal as Personal, Real and Mixed, and Praetorian:
Which said Laws, so to be published as above said, WE will, en-
join, charge, and command, to be the 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
aforesaid 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 Freeholders of
the said province, their Delegates, or Deputies, can be called to-
gether for the framing of Laws; neither will it be fit that so great
a number of People should immediately, on such emergent Oc-
casion, be called together, WE therefore, for the better Govern-
ment 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 BALTIMORE, and to his Heirs, that the
aforesaid now Baron of BALTIMORE, and his Heirs, by them-
selves, or by their Magistrates and Officers, thereunto duly to be
constituted as aforesaid, may, and can make and constitute fit
and wholesom Ordinances from Time to Time, to be kept and
observed within the province aforesaid, as well for the Conser-
vation of the Peace, as for the Better Government of the People
inhabiting therein, and publickly to notify the same to all Per-
sons whom the same in anywise do or may affect. Which Ordi-
nances WE will to be inviolably observed within the said prov.
ince, under the Pains to be expressed in the same. So that the
said Ordinances be Consonant to Reason, and be not repugnant
nor contrary, but (so far as conveniently may be done) agreeable

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 in-
crease by a Multitude of People resorting thither, and at the
same Time may be more firmly secured from the Incursions of
Savages, or of other Enemies, Pirates, and Ravagers: WE there-
fore, for US, our Heirs and Successors, do by these Presents give
and grant Power, Licence and Liberty, to all the Liege-Men and
Subjects, present and future, of US, our Heirs and Successors,
except such to whom it shall be expressly forbidden, to transport
themselves and their Families to the said province with fitting
Vessels, and suitable provisions, and therein to settle, dwell, and
inhabit; and to build and fortify Castles, Forts, and other Places
of Strength, at the Appointment of the aforesaid now Baron of
BALTIMORE, and his Heirs, for the Public and their own De-
fense; the Statute of Fugitives, or any other whatsoever to the
contrary of the Premisses in any wise notwithstanding.

X. we will also, out of our more abundant Grace, for US, our
Heirs and Successors, do firmly charge, constitute, ordain, and
commend, that the said province be of our Allegiance; and that
all and singular the Subjects and Liege-men of US, our Heirs
and Successors, transplanted, or hereafter to be transplanted into
the province aforesaid, and the children of them, and of others
their Descendants, whether already born there, or hereafter to
be bom, be and shall be natives and Liege-Men of US, our Heirs
and Successors, of our Kingdom of England and Ireland; and in
all Things shall be held, treated, reputed, and esteemed as the
faithful Liege-Men of US, and our Heirs and Successors, born
within our Kingdom of England; also Lands, Tenements, Reve-
nues, Services, and other Hereditaments whatsoever, within our
Kingdom of England, and other our Dominions, to inherit, or
otherwise purchase, receive, take, have, hold, buy, and possess,
and the same to use and enjoy, and the same to give, sell, alien
and bequeath; and likewise all Privileges, Franchises and Liber-
ties of this our Kingdom of England, freely, quietly, and peacea-
bly to have and possess, and the same may use and enjoy in the
same Manner as our Liege-Men bom, or to be born within our
same Kingdom of England, without Impediment, Molestation,
Vexation, Impeachment, or Grievance of US, or any of our
Heirs or Successors; any Statute, Act, Ordinance, or Provisions
to the contrary thereof, notwithstanding.

XI. furthermore, That our Subjects may be incited to under-
take this Expedition with a ready and chearful Mind: KNOW
YE, that WE, of our especial Grace, certain Knowledge, and
mere Motion, do, by the Tenor of these Presents, give and grant,
as well to the aforesaid Baron of BALTIMORE, and to his
Heirs, as to all other Persons who shall from Time to Time re-
pair to the said Province, either for the sake of Inhabiting, or of
Trading with the Inhabitants of the Province aforesaid, full Li-
cense to Ship and Lade in any the Forts of US, our Heirs and
Successors, all and singular their Goods, as well moveable as im-
moveable, Wares and Merchandise, likewise Grain of what Sort
soever, and other Things whatsoever necessary for Food and
Clothing, by the Laws and Statutes of our Kingdoms and Do-
minions, not prohibited to be transported out of the said King-
doms; and the same to transport, by themselves, or their Ser-
vants or Assigns, into the said province, without the
Impediment or Molestation of US, our Heirs or Successors, or of
any officers of US, our Heirs or Successors, (saving unto Us, our
Heirs and Successors, the Impositions, Subsidies, Customs, and
other Dues payable for the same Goods and Merchandizes) any
Statute, Act, Ordinance, or other Thing whatsoever to the con-
trary notwithstanding.

XII. Bur because, that in so remote a Region, placed among so
many barbarous Nations, the Incursions as well of the Barbari-
ans themselves, as of other Enemies, Pirates and Ravagers, prob-
ably will be feared, therefore WE have Given, and for US, our