From my Study, _Jan._ 10, 1665. [Illustration: A Land-skip of the Province of MARY LAND Or the Lord Baltimors Plantation neere Virginia By Geo: Alsop Gent. Am. Photo-Lithographic Co. N.Y. Osborne’s Process] A CHARACTER OF THE PROVINCE OF MARY-LAND. CHAP. I. _Of the situation and plenty of the Province of_ Mary-Land. Mary-land is a Province situated upon the large extending bowels of _America_, under the Government of the Lord _Baltemore_, adjacent Northwardly upon the Confines of _New-England_, and neighbouring Southwardly upon _Virginia_, dwelling pleasantly upon the Bay of _Chæsapike_ (see note No. 11), between the Degrees of 36 and 38, in the Zone temperate, and by Mathematical computation is eleven hundred and odd Leagues in Longitude from _England_, being within her own imbraces extraordinary pleasant and fertile. Pleasant, in respect of the multitude of Navigable Rivers and Creeks that conveniently and most profitably lodge within the armes of her green, spreading, and delightful Woods; whose natural womb (by her plenty) maintains and preserves the several diversities of Animals that rangingly inhabit her Woods; as she doth otherwise generously fructifie {36} this piece of Earth with almost all sorts of Vegetables, as well Flowers with their varieties of colours and smells, as Herbes and Roots with their several effects and operative virtues, that offer their benefits daily to supply the want of the Inhabitant whene’re their necessities shall _Sub-pœna_ them to wait on their commands. So that he, who out of curiosity desires to see the Landskip of the Creation drawn to the life, or to read Natures universal Herbal without book, may with the Opticks of a discreet discerning, view _Mary-Land_ drest in her green and fragrant Mantle of the Spring. Neither do I think there is any place under the Heavenly altitude, or that has footing or room upon the circular Globe of this world, that can parallel this fertile and pleasant piece of ground in its multiplicity, or rather Natures extravagancy of a superabounding plenty. For so much doth this Country increase in a swelling Spring-tide of rich variety and diversities of all things, not only common provisions that supply the reaching stomach of man with a satisfactory plenty, but also extends with its liberality and free convenient benefits to each sensitive faculty, according to their several desiring Appetites. So that had Nature made it her business, on purpose to have found out a situation for the Soul of profitable Ingenuity, she could not have fitted herself better in the traverse of the whole Universe, nor in convenienter terms have told man, _Dwell here, live plentifully and be rich_. {37}