Wealthy Baltimore and his destitute, desperate band of ex-planters from Newfoundland disembark in the warmer climate of Virginia but their reception by the colonists there is frosty. There are no welcoming arms – completely the opposite. The reason? Baltimore has been on the Council for New England since 1622, the body that voided the Virginians original Charter in 1624. Furthermore, Baltimore refuses to take the oath of supremacy and allegiance to the established church, so they kick him out of Virginia.

Up to now Baltimore has spent over £20,000 on his colonisation efforts, but, undaunted, on his return to England he seeks, in 1630, a grant of land from King Charles along Chesapeake Bay in New England to found a Catholic colony to be called Maryland. The title is a smart move because it’s the name of Charles’ Catholic Queen, Henrietta Maria. The ploy pays off because, despite objections from members of the old Virginia Company the idea appeals both to the King and Parliament so a royal charter is prepared, ready for Charles’ great seal.

Alas! Time runs out for George Calvert the first Lord Baltimore, for he suddenly sickens and dies in London on April 15 1632 (Note wall monument in lower scene). Nevertheless, his project of establishing a New England colony in which all Christians can worship according to their own conscience is taken up with vigour by his eldest son Cecilius (Cecil), named after Sir Robert Cecil.

Cecilius, another Oxford graduate, now becomes the second Lord Baltimore and is shown receiving the Maryland Charter, sealed by the King on 30 June 1632. He thus becomes the proprietor of almost 7,000,000 acres of stolen Indian land that up to now has been Virginian territory. However being practical, Cecilius realises he must protect Maryland’s future interests by remaining in England and trusts his brother Leonard to rule Maryland as Governor, for Leonard has already experienced the rigours of colonisation with their father in Newfoundland in 1629. Meantime, it will take over a year to recruit Catholic colonists, who as depicted have to swear loyalty to the King before being allowed to emigrate on board two ships, the Ark and the Dove berthed at Gravesend.