Tracts, ii.

[217:B] Only one ship appears to have been confiscated. Hening, i. 382.

[217:C] Chalmers' Annals, 123; Beverley, B. i. 54.

[217:D] Bancroft, Hist. of U. S., i. 223, citing Clarendon, B. xiii.
466, and other authorities, says that the fleet was sent over by
Cromwell, and came to Virginia after having reduced the West India
Islands. Cromwell, however, although at this time the master-spirit of
England, had not yet assumed dictatorial powers.

[219:A] Hening, i. 363.

[220:A] "Virginia and Maryland," Force's Hist. Tracts, ii. 20, in note.
Mr. Force, whose researches have brought to light such a magazine of
curious and instructive historical materials, appears to have been the
first to mention the non-ratification of some of the articles of
surrender. He says: "Three of the articles were not confirmed," and
therefore did not receive the last formal and final and definitive
ratification which Burk [Hist. of Va., ii. 92,] supposes they did. But
it appears that Burk referred only to the ratification by the parties at
Jamestown, and had no reference to the ulterior confirmation by the
Parliament.

CHAPTER XXIV.

1652-1656.

Bennet and Clayborne reduce Maryland--Cromwell's Letter--
Provisional Government organized in Virginia--Bennet made
Governor--William Clayborne Secretary of State--The Assembly--
Counties represented--Cromwell dissolves the Long Parliament,
and becomes Lord Protector--Sir William Berkley--Francis
Yeardley's Letter to John Ferrar--Discovery in Carolina--
Roanoke Indians visit Yeardley--He purchases a large Territory
--William Hatcher--Stone, Deputy Governor of Maryland, defies
the Authority of the Commissioners Bennet and Clayborne--They
seize the Government and entrust it to Commissioners--Battle
ensues--The Adherents of Baltimore defeated--Several prisoners
executed--Cromwell's Letters--The Protestants attack the
Papists on the Birth-day of St. Ignatius.

NOT long after the surrender of the Ancient Dominion of Virginia, Bennet
and Clayborne, commissioners, embarking in the Guinea frigate, proceeded
to reduce Maryland. After effecting a reduction of the infant province,
they, with singular moderation, agreed to a compromise with those who
held the proprietary government under Lord Baltimore. Stone, the
governor, and the council, part of them Papists, none well affected to
the Commonwealth of England, were allo