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prestige； known； for all his recusancy； to be in favor with the present
King。 Here was the Proprietary of Avalon； guessed to be dissatisfied with
his chilly holding； on the scent perhaps of balmier； easier things！
The Assembly was in session when Lord Baltimore came to Jamestown。 All
arrivers in Virginia must take the oath of supremacy。 The Assembly proposed
this to the visitor who； as Roman Catholic； could not take it； and said as
much； but offered his own declaration of friendliness to the powers that
were。 This was declined。 Debate followed； ending with a request from the
Assembly that the visitor depart from Virginia。 Some harshness of speech
ensued； but hospitality and the amenities fairly saved the situation。 One
Thomas Tindall was pilloried for 〃giving my lord Baltimore the lie and
threatening to knock him down。〃 Baltimore thereupon set sail； but not；
perhaps； until he had gained that knowledge of conditions which he desired。
In England he found the King willing to make him a large grant； with no
less powers than had clothed him in Avalon。 Territory should be taken from
the old Virginia； it must be of unsettled landIndians of course not
counting。 Baltimore first thought of the stretch south of the river James
between Virginia and Spanish Floridaa fair land of woods and streams； of
good harbors； and summer weather。 But suddenly William Claiborne was found
to be in London； sent there by the Virginians； with representations in his
pocket。 Virginia was already settled and had the intention herself of
expanding to the south。
Baltimore； the King； and the Privy Council weighed the matter。 Westward；
the blue mountains closed the prospect。 Was the South Sea just beyond their
sunset slopes； or was it much farther away； over unknown lands； than the
first adventurers had guessed？ Either way； too rugged hardship marked the
west！ East rolled the ocean。 North； then？ It were well to step in before
those Hollanders about the mouth of the Hudson should cast nets to the
south。 Baltimore accordingly asked for a grant north of the Potomac。
He received a huge territory； stretching over what is now Maryland；
Delaware； and a part of Pennsylvania。 The Potomac； from source to mouth；
with a line across Chesapeake and the Eastern Shore to the ocean formed his
southern frontier； his northern was the fortieth parallel； from the ocean
across country to the due point above the springs of the Potomac。 Over this
great expanse he became 〃true and absolute lord and proprietary；〃 holding
fealty to England； but otherwise at liberty to rule in his own domain with
every power of feudal duke or prince。 The King had his allegiance； likewise
a fifth part of gold or silver found within his lands。 All persons going to
dwell in his palatinate were to have 〃rights and liberties of Englishmen。〃
But； this aside； he was lord paramount。 The new country received the name
Terra MariaeMarylandfor Henrietta Maria； then Queen of England。
Here was a new land and a Lord Proprietor with kingly powers。 Virginians
seated on the James promptly petitioned King Charles not to do them wrong
by so dividing their portion of the earth。 But King and Privy Council
answered only that Virginia and Maryland must 〃assist each other on all
occasions as becometh fellow…subjects。〃 William Claiborne； indeed； continued
with a determined voice to cry out that lands given to Baltimore were not；
as had been claimed； unsettled； seeing that he himself had under patent a
town on Kent Island and another at the mouth of the Susquehanna。
Baltimore was a reflective man； a dreamer in the good sense of the term；
and religiously minded。 At the height of seeming good fortune he could write：
〃All things； my lord； in this world pass away 。 。 。 。 They are but lent us
till God please to call for them back again； that we may not esteem
anything our own； or set our hearts upon anything but Him alone； who only
remains forever。〃 Like his King； Baltimore could carry far his prerogative
and privilege； maintaining the while not a few degrees of inner freedom。
Like all men； here he was bound； and here he was free。
Baltimore's desire was for 〃enlarging his Majesty's Empire；〃 and at the
same time to provide in Maryland a refuge for his fellow Catholics。 These
were now in England so disabled and limited that their status might fairly
be called that of a persecuted people。 The mounting Puritanism promised no
improvement。 The King himself had no fierce antagonism to the old religion；
but it was beginning to be seen that Charles and Charles's realm were two
different things。 A haven should be provided before the storm blackened
further。 Baltimore thus saw put into his hands a high and holy opportunity；
and made no doubt that it was God…given。 His charter； indeed； seemed to
contemplate an established church； for it gave to Baltimore the patronage
of all churches and chapels which were to be 〃consecrated according to the
ecclesiastical laws of our kingdom of England〃； nevertheless； no
interpretation of the charter was to be made prejudicial to 〃God's holy and
true Christian religion。〃 What was Christian and what was prejudicial was；
fortunately for him； left undefined。 No obstacles were placed before a
Catholic emigration。
Baltimore had this idea and perhaps a still wider one： a landMary's
landwhere all Christians might foregather； brothers and sisters in one
home！ Religious tolerancepractical separation of Church and Statethat
was a broad idea for his age； a generous idea for a Roman Catholic of a
time not so far removed from the mediaeval。 True； wherever he went and
whatever might be his own thought and feeling； he would still have for
overlord a Protestant sovereign； and the words of his charter forbade him
to make laws repugnant to the laws of England。 But Maryland was distant；
and wise management might do much。 Catholics； Anglicans； Puritans；
Dissidents； and Nonconformists of almost any physiognomy； might come and be
at home； unpunished for variations in belief。
Only the personal friendship of England's King and the tact and suave
sagacity of the Proprietary himself could have procured the signing of this
charter； since it was knownas it was to all who cared to busy themselves
with the matter…that here was a Catholic meaning to take other Catholics；
together with other scarcely less abominable sectaries； out of the reach of
Recusancy Acts and religious pains and penalties； to set them free in
England…in…America； and； raising there a state on the novel basis of free
religion； perhaps to convert the heathen to all manner of rrors； and embark
on mischiefs far too large for definition。 Taking things as they were in
the world； remembering acts of the Catholic Church in the not distant past；
the ill…disposed might find some color for the agitation which presently did
arise。 Baltimore was known to be in correspondence with English Jesuits； and
it soon appeared that Jesuit priests were to accompany the first colonists。 At
that time the Society of Jesus loomed large both politically and
educationally。 Many may have thought that there threatened a Rome in America。
But； however that may have been； there was small chance for