was merely affirming and recording the law which had hitherto governed the province. This liberality, as we shall see in subsequent chapters, was the cause of greatest misfortune to the province.

CHAPTER IX.

1649-1664-PURITAN SETTLEMENTS-The Liberal Policy attracts Settlers--Richard Bennett and his Puritans―― Chivalric Conduct of Marylanders--Influx of Puritans --Reduction of Virginia--Claiborne and Bennett's Descent upon Maryland--The Proprietaryship Abolished --Indian Troubles--Claiborne and Bennett's Invasion.

1. The liberal policy of Maryland could not fail to attract the attention of the colonies. The Puritans, on the James river, in Virginia, having been ordered to leave that colony, soon found an asylum here. Under the leadership of Richard Bennett, they founded settlements on the Severn. They called the place New Providence. It was near the present City of Annapolis.

2. These settlers governed themselves entirely independently of any connection with the colony, which received and protected them. They did not even obtain grants for the land they occupied.

Questions.-1. Who were ordered to leave Virginia? Where did they go? 2. What is said of this settlement?

3. At this time an event happened that showed the generous and chivalric character that has ever marked the sons of Maryland. Charles I, by a tribunal constituted for the purpose, had been put to death, and the parliament had passed a decree declaring it to be treason for any one to acknowledge his son Charles, as king He was immediately proclaimed sovereign by the authority of Maryland. This daring act of loyalty aroused the adherents of parliament, and finally led to the reduction of the province.

4. The Puritans, attracted by the liberal policy of the province, were settling in it, in considerable numbers. Besides those who came from Virginia, a colony came from England, under the patronage, it is supposed, of Governor Stone; another, on South river, and also a Protestant settlement, twenty miles from the mouth of the Patuxent, under Richard Brooke. When the assembly was called, it was found that the partizans of Cromwell, who had usurped the power in England, were in the majority.

5. Parliament had passed an ordinance for the reduction of Virginia. The armed force that was sent out to effect this, was joined by Claiborne and Bennett, the Puritan, who had been appointed conmissioners. The governor of Virginia made

Questions.-3. What happened at this time? What was the effect of this daring act? 4. What other Puritans came to the colony? 5. What decree had Parliament passed? Who joined the armed force? What did Virginia do?

his submission and received favorable terms. Although his duties as commissioner had now been performed, Claiborne could not forego the favorable opportunity he enjoyed of gratifying his ancient hostility to the colony of Maryland. The Puritan Bennett, who had lately been so kindly received in the province, when exiled from Virginia, eagerly joined in the schemes of Claiborne.

6. Having come to St. Mary's, towards the close of March, 1652, they demanded that the colony should submit to the Commonwealth, which was the name given to the government; they insisted that the name of the Proprietary should be erased from all writs and processes; they removed the governor from his office, and entirely abolished the authority of Lord Baltimore, in the province. — Stone was subsequently reinstated, but with modified powers.

7. Simultaneously with the ascendancy of the Puritans, the Indians began to be troublesome. The Nanticokes broke in upon the Eastern Shore settlers, burning, killing and ravaging Great efforts were made to raise a force and protect their frontiers. The Puritans of Anne Arundel however, refused to make their levies, and the expedition had to be abandoned.

Questions.-5. What did Claiborne then do? Who united with him ' 6. What did they require? 7. When did the Indians begin

to be troublesome? Who refused aid?

8. Lord Baltimore did not rest quietly under the wrong that had been done him. He immediately took steps to call the commissioners to account for their unlawful proceedings, and directed Governor Stone to require all persons to take the oath of fidelity, and to re-establish the Proprietary government, which was accordingly done in 1664.

9. Claiborne and Bennett immediately invaded Maryland with a considerable force, and Stone, either from timidity or disaffection, submittedBennett and his party having seized the government, disfranchised the very men who had received them into the province when flying from persecution abroad. An assembly was called, but no Roman Catholic or adherent to the royal cause was allowed to vote for delegates to it, or sit therein as a member. This body representing a minority of the people, immediately passed a law excluding Roman Catholics and members of the Church of England from the protection of the government. This act, disgraceful as it was, can hardly be called a stain upon the fair fame of Maryland. It was the act not of Marylanders, but of those whom they had received in their midst, and those, who, protected by the arms of

Questions.-8. What did Lord Baltimore do? 9 Who invaded Maryland? Who were disfranchised? Who were excluded from the assembly? Can this be called an act of Marylanders?

the usurping government at home, usurped the government of Maryland, of those who, like the serpent in the fable, stung to death the benefactor that had warmed them into life.

CHAPTER X.

RESTORATION OF THE PROPRIETARY - Rebuke to Governor Stone--Recovery of the Records-Unsuccessful Expedition to Providence--Barbarity of the Puritans-Appeal to Cromwell--Decision of the Board of Trads --Bennett Makes Terms-Fendall-The Last of Clai borne.

1. When Lord Baltimore was apprised of the proceedings, he dispatched William Eltonhead to the colony, with a severe rebuke to Governor Stone, for thus yielding up his authority without a blow and with instructions to resume it immediately. In 1655, Stone began to make levies among the people of St. Mary's, who had always remained faithful to the Proprietary.

2. He dispatched Eltonhead with a force of twenty men, to recover the provincial records, which the commissioners had seized, and to capture a magazine of arms, which the Puritans had gathered.

Questions-1. Who was sent to the colony and for what purpose? 2. Where did the governor send Eltonhead?