objects of their abomination lived and labored. There is no sense in judging a man of the seventeenth century by laws that have grown out of the advancement that has taken place since the seventeenth century. What would be an arbitrary measure now would not have been an arbitrary measure then. What would be a lofty and imperious manner now in the case of some public protest, in the midst of a people all of whose officers are of their own choosing, passing ministers of their will, would not have been a lofty and imperious manner in the days when kings ruled, and when the limits of constitutional authority were indefinitely understood both by kings and people. So, to read such strictures now, as we sometimes find our nineteenth century historians indulging in, rather palls upon the ear, and it becomes our desire to leave their judgments and ascertain their facts. Governor Nicholson seems to have been a man of hasty temper and impatient of restraint. He seems also to have had the unfortunate faculty of pursuing any object of his antipathy relentlessly. At the same time, while it is the fashion now to say hard things of him, very pleasant things were said of him while he was governor of Maryland, as the council proceedings show, things highly commendatory of his course; the final testimonial of this nature being given in 1698 when his authority in Maryland ceased. In Virginia, also, he was very popular, a handsome donation, as a testimonial, having been voted him, though it is true he was not there uninterruptedly popular. Years afterwards, also, when he became governor of South Carolina, he was held

in high favor, and in such completed a long political association with the colonies.

This was the man that without any special appointment for this reason, became the patron of the cause of the Church in Maryland under the recently enacted law; and coming into power he immediately set about establishing the church's influence. Regarding the law as going into effect upon its passage, as it did, he caused the accumulated tax to be used in building churches, while also he had the gratification of being able to induct eight ministers into Cures. Some of these, it appears, had accompanied him to the colony. His influence, also, made the establishment very popular as far as his influence was needed; and we are informed "the churches were crowded as full as they could hold." This, as already surmised, was not only because the governor favored the church and clergy, but probably also because it was the first opportunity furnished for the general assembling of the people in protestant places of worship; and there was a strong yearning at that time to worship God under the ministrations of a protestant ministry. The antagonism of the whole protestant body to the Roman Church, with which sentiment the air was charged, both in England and America, made even dissenters glad to embrace the establishment as a strongly felt want. Probably never at any time, either in England or in the colony, was there a nearer approach to an accommodation on the part of dissenters and churchmen than now. This had been brought about by the common uprising of all classes against the perfidious but plausible

designs of James II. Both the Act of Toleration and the proposed Act of Comprehension testify to this. Gov. Nicholson did all he could to make the Church of England acceptable to the whole body of the people, and he so far succeeded as that opposition to it was not found among the non-conformists in general, but only among the widely separated bodies, the Quaker and Roman Catholics.

Another subject which early excited his interest was that of education. Before coming into Maryland, while Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, he had secured the establishment of the College of William and Mary, and while he did not attempt so elaborate an enterprise in Maryland his aim was to provide free schools throughout the province. In 1696 the attempt was repeated in an act petitioning the king for liberty to establish a school in every county. The idea was, that such schools should be feeders to William and Mary College. The attempt was in a measure successful and various schools were opened. It is highly probable that such a system was supplemented by parochial schools conducted by the clergy. There is frequent evidence of this given; though with both opportunities the standard of education in the province must have been low. There were always some men of high attainments, among them a small number who had been sent to Europe to complete thetr training. The mass. of the people, however, had neither the appreciation nor the leisure to attain more than the rudiments.

Besides Governor Nicholson, Maryland was

also extremely fortunate at the same time in the possession of another eminent man in the administration of her affairs. This was the Rev. Dr. Bray who for some years acted as commissary, a church officer whose duty was to have supervision of the clergy and a certain oversight in the regulation of church matters. It is difficult to speak very clearly about his influence, because the office was at best but a passing adaption to a passing need. He possessed none of the powers of the episcopate. He was only the Bishop's representative for supervision to take cognizance of cases, to warn the unruly. In Dr. Bray's case the office was highly respected. Afterwards, however, when it came into other hands, and jealousies were excited, it is questionable whether often it did not do more harm than good. Pretensions were put forth on the one side and a grasping after authority, which were resisted with violence and virulence. Dr. Bray occupied a relatively higher position than any one that succeeded him did. He was in the colony but a short time. Efforts were often made by the clergy, sometimes jointly with the civil authority, to secure the residence of a Bishop. Even at this early date such an effort was made. The Bishop of London was ordinary for the colonies, though this title was sometimes given to the Governor of Maryland; but of course the benefit of such an arrangement was small compared with the influence a Bishop on the spot might exercise. Discipline was always at fault, and incalculable harm was often done by unworthy ministers. Ordination to the holy ministry could only be obtained by crossing the sea, and

so the supply was kept down. Dependence was altogether upon clergymen from Great Britain, many of whom left their country for their country's good. Confirmation of course could never be administered.

To obtain a Bishop, however, was impossible in the then state of things, and so as the next best thing a commissary was chosen and sent out. This was done at the solicitation of the clergy, who desired that the officer sent might be "capacitated to redress what is amiss and supply what is wanting in the church.” There was no law of the colony providing for such an officer, neither had regulation been made for his support or for his authority over the person of the citizens, whether clerical or lay; questions that were to excite in the coming days a great deal of discussion and bitterness. Dr. Bray was readily fixed upon for the office, having by his writings had the attention of Dr. Compton called to himself, and in 1696 he was chosen. He did not immediately, however, go over to his province, but remained in England till the close of 1699, reaching the colony early in the next year. It was the peculiarly good fortune of Maryland to have had at the same time two such ardent friends laboring for her, Governor Nicholson in immediate administration of her civil affairs and Dr. Bray using all his endeavors to forward her best religious interests. For the latter was indefatigable in his efforts to provide for his jurisdictions not only ministers to whom he offered many worthy inducements, but also parish libraries of the best works of the day for the information of the clergy, and through them