The Potomac, from source to mouth,
with a line across Chesapeake and the Eastern Shore to the ocean formed his
southern frontier; his northern was the fortieth parallel, from the ocean
across country to the due point above the springs of the Potomac. Over this
great expanse he became "true and absolute lord and proprietary," holding
fealty to England, but otherwise at liberty to rule in his own domain with
every power of feudal duke or prince. The King had his allegiance, likewise
a fifth part of gold or silver found within his lands. All persons going to
dwell in his palatinate were to have "rights and liberties of Englishmen."
But, this aside, he was lord paramount. The new country received the name
Terra Mariae -- Maryland -- for Henrietta Maria, then Queen of England.
Here was a new land and a Lord Proprietor with kingly powers. Virginians
seated on the James promptly petitioned King Charles not to do them wrong
by so dividing their portion of the earth. But King and Privy Council
answered only that Virginia and Maryland must "assist each other on all
occasions as becometh fellow-subjects." William Claiborne, indeed, continued
with a determined voice to cry out that lands given to Baltimore were not,
as had been claimed, unsettled, seeing that he himself had under patent a
town on Kent Island and another at the mouth of the Susquehanna.
Baltimore was a reflective man, a dreamer in the good sense of the term,
and religiously minded. At the height of seeming good fortune he could write:
"All things, my lord, in this world pass away .
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