board, more distant from the England its passengers
knew than a space ship to the moon would seem today.
It was to be a world full of terrors but also of hope as it
carried the colonists to their new home.

Lord Baltimore's Dream

   Lord Baltimore must have felt relief and hope but
also disappointment as his ships took off without him.
His instructions for the voyage and first settlement show
a mixture of anxiety and optimism. The Commissioners
were to "be very carefull to preserve unity and peace
amongst all the passengers." All "Acts of Roman Cath-
olique Religion" were to be done "as privately as may
be" and Catholics were "to be silent upon all occasions
of discourse concerning matters of Religion.... And this
is to be observed at Land as well as Sea." At the same
time the leaders were to try to discover what sailors or
passengers might know "concerning the private plotts
of his Lo^pps adversaries in England, who endeavored to
overthrow his voyage" and report back to him as soon
as possible. The instructions also anticipated sabotage
from Virginia once the ships arrived, and he gave a
detailed plan for avoiding trouble, especially with Wil-
liam Claibourne. His optimism was more evident when
he required construction for himself of a house and
chapel and establishment of a town nearby. He ordered
the charter to be read aloud to all the settlers that they
might know their rights as well as his powers. And he
announced his intention to be there shortly to assist
them "that they may reape the fruites of their charges
and labors."⁵²