[24] This article was not ratified by Parliament.
[25] This was reënacted in 1658. Hening, I, 475. But cf. Nos. 105-109 for later developments.
[VII. MARYLAND]
36. Lord Baltimore to King Charles, August 19/29, 1629
Scharf's Maryland, I, 44, 45. The letter was written from Avalon (No. 38), in Nova Scotia. Only the second half is given here; the first half defends the writer against certain "slanders" by Protestant enemies.
Most Gracious and Dread Sovereign:—
... So have I met with greater difficultys ... here, which in this place are no longer to be resisted, but enforce me presently to quitt my residence and to shift to some other warmer climate of this new world, where the wynter be shorter and less rigorous. For here Your Majesty may please to understand that I have found by too deare bought experience, [what] other men for their private interests always concealed from me, that from the middlest of October to the middlest of May there is a sadd fare of wynter upon all this land; both sea and land so frozen, for the greater part of the tyme, as they are not penetrable, no plant or vegetable thing appearing out of the earth; ... nor fish in the sea, besides the ayre so intolerable cold as it is hardly to be endured. By means whereof, and of much salt meate, my house hath been an hospital all this wynter; of 100 persons, 50 sick at a time, myself being one; and nyne or ten of them dyed. Hereupon I have had strong temptations to leave all proceedings in plantations, and, being much decayed in my strength, to retire myselfe to my former quiett. But my inclination carrying me naturally to these kynd of workes, and not knowing how better [to use] the poore remaynder of my dayes, than ... to further ... the enlarging your majesty's empire in this part of the world, I am determined to committ this place to fisherman (that are able to encounter stormes and hard weather) and to remove myselfe with some 40 persons to your majesty's dominion Virginia; where, if your majesty will please to grant me a precinct of land with such privileges as the king your father, my gracious master, was pleased to grante me here, I shall endeavor, to the utmost of my power, to deserve it....
37. Charter of Maryland, June 20/30, 1632
The text in Latin and English is given in Bacon's Laws of Maryland. For explanation of events leading to this grant, see American History and Government, § 38. The document is in Latin.
I.—CHARLES, by the grace of GOD, of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, etc. To all to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting.