HISTORICAL SKETCH. 9

he was known to be a friend of the King; and while Mary-
land had no direct interest in the controversy, much
partisan feeling was aroused. In January, 1644, one
Richard Ingle, commander of a merchant ship, was in St.
Mary's, and being a violent partisan of Parliament, and a
loose and loud talker of open treason, made himself so
obnoxious, that he was arrested, though presently released
and suffered 'to sail away unmolested. In the autumn of
the same year, he came back with an armed ship and a
force of men, seized St. Mary's and overthrew the govern-
ment. For two years the Province remained in the hands
of Ingle and his men, joined by such of the baser sort as
were lured by the prospect of plunder; and they pillaged
and destroyed at their pleasure for about two years. No
blood, however, seems to have been shed. Governor
Calvert, at length, obtained some help from Virginia,
and, returning with a force, regained his authority without
a blow. On June 9, 1647, this just and humane Governor
died.

In 1648, Baltimore sent out as governor William Stone,
a Protestant and a friend of the parliamentary party; and at
the same time reconstructed the Council, so as to give the
Protestants a majority.

Baltimore's instructions to his first colonists, as we have
said, forbade any discrimination on account of religious
differences, or any disputes on matters of faith, and all were
allowed, under the common law of the province, the
undisturbed enjoyment of their religion. In 1649, this
policy was made written law and placed on the statute-
book in the famous "Toleration Act. " In this Act, the
calling others by reproachful names on account of religious
differences were forbidden under penalties, and "the better
to preserve love and amity, " it is enacted that "no person
professing to believe in Jesus Christ shall be in any way
molested or discountenanced for, or in respect of his
religion, nor in the free exercise thereof. " This Act
remained the law of the land until the Puritan supremacy
in 1652.

The Puritans came into Maryland in this way: In 1643,
the Virginia Assembly passed a law expelling all non-con-
formists from the colony, upon which many came over to
Maryland, where they were kindly received by the
Proprietary, and wide and fertile lands in Anne Arundel