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.

LT. WHEREAS 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 animated
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 uncultivated, 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 Govern-
ment 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 CONFIRMED,
and by this our present CHARTER, for US, our Heirs, and
Successors, do GIVE, GRANT and CONFIRM, unto the aforesaid
CECILIUS, now Baron of BALTIMORE, his Heirs and
Assigns, all that Part of the Peninsula, or Chersonese 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

*Charles the first, of England.