第 16 节
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疯狂热线 更新:2021-12-07 09:33 字数:9322
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 any successful
opposition to the charter; since Parliament had been dissolved by the King;
not to be summoned again for eleven years。 The Privy Council was subservient;
and; as the Sovereign was his friend; Baltimore saw the signing of the charter
assured and began to gather together his first colonists。 Then; somewhat
suddenly; in April; 1632; he sickened; and died at the age of fifty…three。
His son; Cecil Calvert; second Lord Baltimore; took up his father's work。
This young man; likewise able and sagacious; and at every step in his
father's confidence; could and did proceed even in detail according to what
had been planned。 All his father's rights had descended to him; in Maryland
he was Proprietary with as ample power as ever a Count Palatine had
enjoyed。 He took up the advantage and the burden。
The father's idea had been to go with his colonists to Maryland; and this
it seems that the son also meant to do。 But now; in London; there deepened
a clamor against such Catholic enterprise。 Once he were away; lips would be
at the King's ear。 And with England so restless; in a turmoil of new
thought; it might even arise that King and Privy Council would find trouble
in acting after their will; good though that might be。 The second Baltimore
therefore remained in England to safeguard his charter and his interests。
The family of Baltimore was an able one。 Cecil Calvert had two brothers;
Leonard and George; and these would go to Maryland in his place。 Leonard he
made Governor and Lieutenant…general; and appointed him councilor。 Ships
were made readythe Ark of three hundred tons and the Dove of fifty。 The
colonists went aboard at Gravesend; where these ships rode at anchor。 Of
the company a great number were Protestants; willing to take land; if their
condition were bettered so; with Catholics。 Difficulties of many kinds kept
them all long at the mouth of the Thames; but at last; late in November;
1633; the Ark and the Dove set sail。 Touching at the Isle of Wight; they
took aboard two Jesuit priests; Father White and Father Altham; and a
number of other colonists。 Baltimore reported that the expedition consisted
of 〃two of my brothers with very near twenty other gentlemen of very good
fashion; and three hundred labouring men well provided in all things。〃
These ships; with the first Marylanders; went by the old West Indies sea
route。 We find them resting at Barbados; then they swung to the north and;
in February; 1634; came to Point Comfort in Virginia。 Here they took
supplies; being treated by Sir John Harvey (who had received a letter from
the King) with 〃courtesy and human ity。〃 Without long tarrying; for they
were sick now for land of their own; they sailed on up the great bay; the
Chesapeake。
Soon they reached the mouth of the Potomaca river much greater than any
of them; save shipmasters and mariners; had ever seenand into this turned
the Ark and the Dove。 After a few leagues of sailing up the wide' stream;
they came upon an islet covered with trees; leafless; for spring had hardly
broken。 The ships dropped anchor; the boats were lowered; the people went
ashore。 Here the Calverts claimed Maryland 〃for our Savior and for our
Sovereign Lord the King of England;〃 and here they heard Mass。 St。
Clement's they called the island。
But it was too small for a home。 The Ark was left at anchor; while Leonard
Calvert went exploring with the Dove。 Up the Potomac some distance he went;
but at the last he wisely determined to choose for their first town a site
nearer the sea。 The Dove turned and came back to the Ark; and both sailed
on down the stream from St。 Clement's Isle。 Before long they came to the
mouth of a tributary stream flowing in from the north。 The Dove; going
forth again; entered this river; which presently the party named the River
St。 George。 Soon they came to a high bank with trees tinged with the
foliage of advancing spring。 Here upon this bank the English found an
Indian village and a small Algonquin group; in the course of extincti