For several years Maryland and Kent Island
continued intermittently to make petty war on each other. At last, in 1638,
Calvert took the island by main force and hanged for piracy a captain of
Claiborne's. The Maryland Assembly brought the trader under a Bill of
Attainder; and a little later, in England, the Lords Commissioners of
Foreign Plantations formally awarded Kent Island to the Lord Proprietor.
Thus defeated, Claiborne, nursing his wrath, moved down the bay to Virginia.
CHAPTER X. CHURCH AND KINGDOM
Virginia, all this time, with Maryland a thorn in her side, was wrestling
with an autocratic governor, John Harvey. This avaricious tyrant sowed the
wind until in 1635 he was like to reap the whirlwind. Though he was the
King's Governor and in good odor in England, where rested the overpower to
which Virginia must bow, yet in this year Virginia blew upon her courage
until it was glowing and laid rude hands upon him. We read: "An Assembly to
be called to receive complaints against Sr. John Harvey, on the petition of
many inhabitants, to meet 7th of May." But, before that month was come, the
Council, seizing opportunity, acted for the whole. Immediately below the
entry above quoted appears: "On the 28th of April, 1635, Sr. John Harvey
thrust out of his government, and Capt. John West acts as Governor till the
King's pleasure known."*
* Hening's "Statutes" vol. I p. 223.
So Virginia began her course as rebel against political evils! It is of
interest to note that Nicholas Martian, one of the men found active against
the Governor, was an ancestor of George Washington.
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