The Republican., 1931-10-01
An Interesting Fact
LORD BALTIMORE LOSES
MARYLAND
The Plundering Period

A brief sketch of events leading up
to the interesting fact in Maryland
history herein recorded is necessary
in order that we may have true per-
spective of the fast moving drama en-
acted both in England and in the
American Colonies.
In the year 1642 the King and Par
lament were engaged in actual war
fare, the echo of which was heard in
the new world, for the Maryland Col
ony had been settled sufficient time
for the development of fations, re-
sulting in sharp division between the
popular" faction on the one hand
and "class," or governors" faction
on the other. The situation thus pre-
sented was not unusual, as this di-
vision of sentiment and allegiance is
apparent at the present time.
This war in England and Ireland
affected the affairs of Lord Baltimore
at home and abroad. His estates in
Ireland suffered, as we'll as those in
America. His sympathies, like those
of his father, were with the royal
cause, but no doubt he realized that
if he adhered strictly to the Stuart
cause and the King should lose, he
would be ruined. The conflict between
King and Parliament ragged until 1649,
when the royal cause collapsed and
the King was beheaded in London.
Oliver Cromwell, after the death of
the king, came to the head of the ma
ton as '"Lord Protector of the Com
monwealth."
Although Lord Baltimore seems to
have attempted to preserve a neutral
attitude in the great struggle, there
were serious happenings in Maryland,
which, together with the general rest
lessness of the people, for a time
threatened to end his rule in the Col
ony. Governor Leonard Calvert had
gone to England in April, 1643, leav-
ing Giles Brent to act as governor
during his absence. When he re-
turned to St. Mary's in September,
1914, he found that the activities of
Richard Engle had precipitated real
trouble in the Colony. Engle was a
violent partisan of the Parliament and
by reason of his loose talk and his
threatening attitude, was arrested by
order of acting-Governor Brent on
the charge of "high treason to his
Majesty" This brought Maryland
face to face with the dreaded issue,
for if Engle suffered punishment, the
province was committed to the cause
of the King, while if he were allowed
to 20 free, it was committed to the
cause of the Parliament. But it ap-
pears that Captain CORVALLIS, who
was in charge of the prisoner, solved
the difficulty by allowing him to sail
away in his own ship, for which Of
fense the Captain was simply fined.
William Claiborne was still active
in his efforts to stir up the inhabitants
of Kent Island, who were inclined to-
wards the cause of the King. Engle
ioined forces with Claiborne and when
Governor Calvert returned in 1914 he
found these two gentlemen making
ready to invade the province.
Politics does indeed "make strange
bedfellows," for Engle had letters
from Parliament and Claiborne held
an alleged commission from the King.
However, whatever the reason for the
friendship, it produced desired results,
for Engle appeared before st. Mary's
with a heavily armed ship and cap
tured the town in February, 1645,
while Claiborne recovered Kent Is
land. Governor Calvert fled to Vir-
ginia.
For nearly two years following
Maryland was without any response
BILE governing head. Engle and his
men plundered the plantations and
carried off corn, tobacco and every
thing of value. The Great Seal of the
colony (made Of silver) and all the
official records were stolen or de-
stroyed. Governor Calvert, watching
the course of events and biding his
time, got together an armed force and
recovered the province>for Lord Bal
timore and brought to an end what
has been called "the plundering time"
in Maryland.