8 MARYLAND MANUAL.

Island, in the Chesapeake Bay, where, as the agent of a
London firm of merchants, he dealt with the Indians for
beaver skins. Baltimore was desirous of making a friend
of. Claiborne, and instructed Leonard, while notifying him
that his island was within the province of Maryland, to
make amicable overtures to him. Claiborne, however,
preferred to remain an enemy.

A vessel of Claiborne's having been seized by the Mary-
land authorities for trading in Maryland waters without a
license, he dispatched a shallop with an armed party to St.
Mary's to make reprisals. Calvert sent out a force in two
pinnaces to meet them, and a battle was fought on the
Pocomoke river, in which there was some bloodshed on
both sides, and Claiborne's vessel surrendered. Claiborne
soon after went to England, and his London principals sent
out an agent, who took possession of their property on
Kent Island and acknowledged the jurisdiction of Mary
land. Some disaffection still remaining on the island,
Governor Calvert sailed with a small force, when all the
residents peacefully submitted and were confirmed in their
holdings of land.

Of the first meeting of the Maryland Assembly, in 1635,
we have no record, but that of the second, in 1637-8, has
been preserved. It consisted of all the freemen of the
colony, present either in person or by proxies. This plan
proving inconvenient, was soon changed, and two burgesses
were elected by every hundred, forming a lower house,
while the Governor and Council, appointed by the Proprie-
tary, constituted an upper house. The clause in the charter
giving Baltimore the right to propose laws was waived by
him, and the initiative in legislation left to the Assembly,
he reserving the power of assent or dissent.

The missionaries sent out by the Jesuits with the first
colonists were diligent in spreading Christianity among the
Indians, who gladly listened to their teachings and em-
braced the faith; even the Tayac, or " emperor. " of
Pascataway, who was a sovereign over several tribes, asking
to be baptized and married according to the Christian rite;
and he afterwards brought his young daughter to be
educated at St. Mary's.

The peace of Maryland was disturbed by the civil war
in England. Although Baltimore took no part in the war,