The Jesuit Press Documents Relating to Parks and Green

Not the least particle of evidence exists to indicate the possession of a
press by the Jesuits before 1655,or by the Province in 1660. Scharfs claims
in this matter were dictated by his sentiment of intense local pride, or as
has been said, by his misunderstanding of the nature of Father McSherry's
discoveries in the Professed House. An uncritical person, such as he was,
hearing of Father White's "Catechism" having been discovered in Rome,
would be likely to assume that a printed catechism was meant. Even if such
an assumption in this case had been correct, there would still exist no evi-
dence that the "Catechism" had been printed at St. Mary's in Maryland.
It would seem to be a futile exertion to attempt the refutation of a story
which no responsible scholar has given credence to since Scharfs first rela-
tion of it in 1879, but the frequent recurrence of the Jesuit press "legend"
in newspaper articles, and elsewhere occasionally, makes it seem desirable
in this narrative to present the case against its acceptance even as a legend
containing the usual modicum of truth.

THE FIRST ACT ON THE MARYLAND STATUTE BOOK FOR THE
ENCOURAGEMENT OF PRINTING

AN ACT FOR THE SPEEDY AND EFFECTUAL PUBLICATION OF THE LAWS OF THIS PROVINCE,

AND FOR THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF WlLLIAM PARKS, OF THE ClTY

OF ANNAPOLIS, PRINTER

(Passed in October Assembly 1727, printed at large in original printed acts of the Session,
reprinted Archives of Maryland, 36: 89)

Whereas at a former Session of this present General Assembly, held in the Month of
March, Seventeen Hundred and Twenty Six, it was Resolved, That the said William Parks
should print the Publick Laws, Speeches, and Answers, at the Opening each Session, and
that he should be allowed Two Thousand Pounds of Tobacco for each County, by the re-
spective Counties, Yearly.

And whereas the said William Parks, did (pursuant to the said Resolution) prin t and de-
liver to the Parties mention'd in the said Resolution, the several Publick Laws, enacted in
the said Session of Assembly held in the said Month of March, and also in the Session of
Assembly held in the Month of July, in the Year of Our Lord Seventeen Hundred and
Twenty Six, for which there was due to the said William Parks, Two Thousand Pounds of
Tobacco from each County respectively, according to the said Resolution.

And whereas the said William Parks, upon his Application to the Justices of the several
Counties, for an Allowance of the Payment of the said Quantities of Tobacco so due to him
as aforesaid, hath receiv'd the same from several Counties of this Province, but the Jus-
tices of some other Counties have (thro' a misapprehension of the said Resolution) refused
to allow and pay the same to the said William Parks: For the Remedying whereof, and for
the Prevention thereof for the Future, as also for the Encouragement of the said William
Parks, in the Service of the Country,

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