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 Proprietary, consti-
tuted an upper house. The clause in the charter giving Bal-
timore 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 col-
onists were diligent in spreading Christianity among the
Indians, who gladly listened to their teachings and embraced
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, he was
known to be a friend of the King; and while Maryland had
no direct interest in the controversy, much partisan feeling
was aroused. In January, 1644, one Richard Ingle, comman-
der 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 unmol-
ested. 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 government. Fur 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 Vir-
ginia, 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 religions
differences, or any disputes on matters of faith, and all were
allowed, under the common law of the province, the undis-
turbed enjoyment of their religion. In 1649, this policy was