There is a great quantity of Syder made there at present, and as good as in any other Countrey; good Perry and Quince-drink is there likewise made in great plenty: The Ground doth naturally bring forth Vines in great quantities, the quality whereof being something corrected by Industry, (as there have been several trials thereof already made there) may no doubt produce good Wine, to the great encouragement and advantage of the Undertakers.
Brave Ships may be built there with little charge, Clab-board, Wainscot, Pipe-staves, and Masts for Ships, the Woods will afford plentifully; some small Vessels have been already built there: In fine, Beef, Furrs, Hides, Butter, Cheese, Pork, and Bacon, to Transport to other Countreys, are no small Commodities, which by Industry, are, and may be had there in great plenty, the English being already plentifully stock’d with all sorts of Cattel and Horses; and were there no other Staple-Commodities to be hop’d for, but Silk and Linnen (the materials of which apparently will grow there) it were sufficient to enrich the Inhabitants.
But the general Trade of Mary-land at present depends chiefly upon Tobacco, it being the Planters greatest concern and study to store himself betimes with that Commodity, wherewith he buys and sells, and after which Standard all other Commodities receive their Price there; they have of late vented such quantities of that and other Commodities, that a hundred Sail of Ships from England, Barbadoes, and other English Plantations, have been usually known to Trade thither in one Year; insomuch, that by Custom and Excize paid in England for Tobacco and other Commodities Imported from thence, Mary-land alone at this present, hath by his Lordships vast Expence, Industry, and Hazard for many years, without any charge to the Crown, improv’d His Majesties, the King of Englands Revenues, to the value of Forty thousand Pounds Sterl. per annum at least.
The general way of Traffick and Commerce there is chiefly by Barter, or Exchange of one Commodity for another; yet there wants not, besides English and other foraign Coyns, some of his Lordships own Coyn, as Groats, Sixpences, and Shillings, which his Lordship at his own Charge caus’d to be Coyn’d and dispers’d throughout that Province; ’tis equal in fineness of Silver to English Sterling, being of the same Standard, but of somewhat less weight, and hath on the one side his Lordships Coat of Arms stamp’d, with this Motto circumscrib’d, Crescite & Multiplicamini, and on the other side his Lordships Effigies, circumscrib’d thus, Cæcilius Dominus Terræ-Mariæ, &c.
The Government.
The Order of Government and settled Laws of this Province, is by the Prudence and endeavor of the present Lord Proprietary, brought to great Perfection; and as his Dominion there is absolute (as may appear by the Charter aforemention’d) so all Patents, Warrants, Writs, Licenses, Actions Criminal, &c. Issue forth there in his Name: Wars, Peace, Courts, Offices, &c. all in his Name made, held, and appointed.
Laws are there Enacted by him, with the advice and consent of the General Assembly, which consists of two Estates, namely, the first is made up by the Chancellor, Secretary, and others of his Lordships Privy-Council, and such Lords of Mannors, and others as shall be call’d by particular Writs for that purpose, to be Issu’d by his Lordship: The second Estate consists of the Deputies and Delegates of the respective Counties of the said Province, elected and chosen by the free voice and approbation of the Free-men of the laid respective Counties.
The Names of the Governor and Council in this present Year 1671. are as followeth, Mr. Charles Calvert, his Lordships Son and Heir, Governor; Mr. Philip Calvert, his Lordships Brother, Chancellor; Sir William Talbot Baronet, his Lordships Nephew, Secretary; Mr. William Calvert, his Lordships Nephew, Muster-Master-General; Mr. Jerome White, Surveyor-General; Mr. Baker Brooke, his Lordships Nephew; Mr. Edward Lloyd, Mr. Henry Coursey, Mr. Thomas Trueman, Major Edward Fits-Herbert, Samuel Chew Esq.
His Lordship, or his Lieutenant there for the time being, upon due occasion, Convenes, Prorogues, and Dissolves this Assembly; but whatsoever is by his Lordships Lieutenant there, with the consent of both the said Estates Enacted, is there of the same Force and Nature as an Act of Parliament is in England, until his Lordship declares his dis-assent; but such Laws as his Lordship doth assent unto, are not afterwards to be Alter’d or Repeal’d but by his Lordship, with the consent of both the said Estates.
Their chief Court of Judicature is held at St. Maries Quarterly every Year, to which all Persons concern’d resort for Justice, and is call’d The Provincial Court, whereof the Governor and Council are Judges: To the Court there doth belong several sworn Attorneys, who constantly are present there, and act both as Barristers and Attorneys; there are likewise chief Clerks, Bayliffs, and other Officers, which duly attend the Court in their respective places.