England was early set upon the road to many colonies in America, destined later to become many States.

One by one they were carved out of the first great unity.
In 1685 the tolerant Charles the Second died.

James the Second, a Catholic, ruled England for about three years, and then fled before the Revolution of 1688.

William and Mary, sovereigns of a Protestant England, came to the throne.

We have seen that the Proprietary of Maryland and his numerous kinsmen and personal adherents were Catholics.
Approximately one in eight of other Marylanders were fellows in that faith.