_b. Grant of Charles I to Sir Ferdinando Gorges for the Province of
Maine, 1639_
Hazard's _State Papers_ (1792), I, 442-455.
The members of the Plymouth Council surrendered the charter of 1620
back to the King in 1634, having first divided the territory among
themselves. The King confirmed Gorges' allotment ("The Province
of Maine") and gave him the usual proprietary jurisdiction in a
lengthy charter (April 3/13, 1639), from which come the following
clauses.
... And wee doe for us, our heirs and successors, give and graunte
unto the saide Sir Ferdinando Gorges, his heirs and assignes, power
and authoritie, =_with the assent of the greater parte of the
freeholders of the said Province and premisses for the time being_=,
when there shalbe any to be called therunto from time to time, when
and as often as shall be requisite, to make and ordeyne and publish
lawes, ordinances and constitucons, reasonable, and not repugnant and
contrary, but agreable as nere as conveniently may bee, to the lawes
of England, for the publique good of the said Province and premisses,
and of the inhabitants thereof, by imposing of penalties, imprisonment
or other corections, or, if the offence shall requier, by taking away
of life or member; the said lawes and constitucons to extend aswell
to such as shalbe passing unto or returning from the said Province or
premisses as unto the inhabitants or residents of or within the same,
and the same to be put into execucon by the said Sir Ferdinando Gorges,
his heirs or assignes, or by his or there depputies, liftenants,
judges, officers or ministers in that behalfe, lawfully authorized; and
the same lawes ordinances and constitucons, or any of them, to alter,
change, and revoke, or to make voide and to make new, not repugnant nor
contrary, but agreable as nere as may bee, to the lawes of England, as
the said Sir Ferdinando Gorges his heires and assignes, together with
the said freeholders, or the greater part of them for the time being,
shall from time to time thinke fitt and convenient:...
40. The Maryland Toleration Act of 1649
_Maryland Archives_, I, 244 ff.
For explanation, cf. _American History and Government_, # 43.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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