Heirs and Assigns, by so many, such, and so great Services, Cus-
toms and Rents OF THIS KIND, as to the same now Baron of
Baltimore, his Heirs and Assigns, shall seem fit and agreeable,
and not immediately of US, our Heirs or Successors. And WE
do give, and by these Presents, for US, our Heirs and Succes-
sors, do grant to the same Person and Persons, and to each and
every of them, Licence, Authority and Power, that such Person
and Persons, may take the premisses, or any Parcel thereof, of
the aforesaid now Baron of BALTIMORE, his Heirs and As-
signs, and hold the same to them and their Assigns, or their
Heirs, of the aforesaid Baron of BALTIMORE, his Heirs and
Assigns, of what Estate of Inheritance soever, in Fee-simple or
Fee-tail, or otherwise, as to them and the now Baron of BALTI-
MORE, his Heirs and Assigns, shall seem expedient; the Statute
made in the Parliament of Lord EDWARD, son of King HEN-
RY, late King of England, our Progenitor, commonly called the
"STATUTE QUIA EMPTORES TERRARUM, " heretofore
published in our Kingdom of England, or any other Statute,
Act, Ordinance, Usage, Law, or Custom, or any other Thing,
Cause or Matter, to the contrary thereof, heretofore had, done,
published, ordained or provided to the contrary thereof notwith-
standing.

XIX. we also, by these Presents, do give and grant Licence to
the same Baron of BALTIMORE, and to his Heirs, to erect any
Parcels of Land with the province aforesaid, into Manors, and
in every of those Manors, to have and to hold a Court-Baron,
and all Things which to a Court-Baron do belong; and to have
and to keep View of Frank-Pledge, for the Conservation of the
Peace and Better Government of those Parts, by themselves and
their Stewards, or by the Lords, for the Time being to be deput-
ed of other of those Manors when they shall be constituted, and
in the same to exercise all Things to the View of Frank-Pledge
belonging.

XX. and further WE will, and do, by these Presents, for US,
our Heirs and Successors, covenant and grant to, and with the
aforesaid now Baron of BALTIMORE, his Heirs and Assigns,
that WE, our Heirs, and Successors, at no Time hereafter, will
impose, or make or cause to be imposed, any Impositions, Cus-
toms, or other Taxations, Quotas or Contributions whatsoever,
in or upon the Residents or Inhabitants of the province afore-
said for their Goods, Lands, or Tenements within the same
province, or upon any tenements, lands, goods or chattels with-
in the province aforesaid, or in upon any Goods or Mer-
chandizes within the province aforesaid, or within the Ports or
Harbours of the said province, to be laden or unladen: And WE
Will and do, for US, our Heirs and Successors, enjoin and com-
mand that this our Declaration shall, from Time to Time, be re-
ceived and allowed in all our Courts and Praetorian Judicato-
ries, and before all the Judges whatsoever of US, our Heirs and
Successors, for a Sufficient and lawful Discharge, Payment, and
Acquittance thereof, charging all and singular the Officers and
Ministers of US, our Heirs and Successors, and enjoining them,
under our heavy Displeasure, that they do not at any Time pre-
sume to attempt any Thing to the contrary of the Premisses, or

that may in any wise contravene the same, but that they, at all
Times, as is fitting, do aid and assist the aforesaid now Baron of
BALTIMORE, and his Heirs, and 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 Free-
holders and Inhabitants of the said province, both present and
to come, and to every one 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 sub-
ordinate in any kind of Government, from which WE do sepa-
rate 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, contained 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 BALTIMORE, his Heirs and As-
signs: provided always, that no Interpretation thereof be made,
whereby GOD'S holy and true Christian Religion, or the Alle-
giance 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. Now witness whereof WE have caused these our Let-
ters to be made Patent. WITNESS OURSELF at Westminister,
the Twentieth Day of June, in the Eighth Year of our Reign.
(June 20, 1632).

Bibliographic Note: This translation of the Maryland Charter is
taken from the Reverend Thomas Bacon, The Laws of Maryland
(Annapolis, 1765). Bacon was unaware of the earliest printed
translation of the Charter, which was published in London in
1635 as part of a promotional pamphlet entitled A Relation of
Maryland. A facsimile edition of the 1635 Charter is available
from the Maryland State Archives, 350 Rowe Blvd., Annapolis,
MD 21401.