Virgin Mary-land and the Lamb-like beast

Study:

John Ogilby, Nova Terrae-Mariae tabula, 1671. Huntingfield Collection, Maryland State Archives, MSA SC 1399-1-187.

Our starting point for this study... a map of Maryland (and a part of Virginia). The history of these two colonies is important for an understanding of prophecy. So we thus begin here.

Virginia and Maryland, do you know the sources of their names? First, Virginia...

Virginia... its name! What is its source?

   §. 3. Her Majesty accordingly took the Hint, and espoused the Project [...]; being so well pleased with the Account given, that as the greatest Mark of Honor she could do the Discovery, She call'd the Country by the Name of Virginia; as well, for that it was first discovered in her Reign, a Virgin Queen; [...]

Beverley, Robert, The History and Present State of Virginia, in four parts, London: Printed for R. Parker, 1705, p. 3.

   Queen Elizabeth was her self so well pleas'd with the Account these Adventurers gave of the Country, that she honor'd it with the Name of Virginia, either because it was first discover'd in her Reign, a Virgin Queen; [...]

Oldmixon, John; Moll, Herman, cart., The British empire in America, containing the history of the discovery, settlement, progress and present state of all the British colonies, on the continent and islands of America, with curious maps of the serval places, done from the newest surveys, London: Printed for John Nicholson ..., Benjamin Tooke ..., and Richard Parker and Ralph Smith ..., 1708, pp. 211-212.

[...] the Queen herself was pleased to name the Country Virginia, in Memory of it's having been first found out in the Reign of a Virgin Queen. [...]

Stith, William, The history of the first discovery and settlement of Virginia: being an essay towards a general history of this colony, Williamsburg [Va.]: Printed by William Parks, 1747, p. 11.

   Sir Walter Raleigh, a Native of England, Anno 1584, with People Settlers, landed at Roanoak in the present North Carolina, settled and took Possession for Queen Elizabeth, and called all the North America Coast by the Name of Virginia, in honour to the Virgin Queen Elizabeth. [...]

Douglass, William, A summary, historical and political, of the first planting, progressive improvements, and present state of the British settlements in North-America, Boston: Printed and sold by Daniel Fowle, 1751, vol. 2, pt. 1, p. 241.

[...] that Elizabeth, delighted with the idea of occupying a territory, superior, so far, to the barren regions towards the north hitherto visited by her subjects, bestowed on it the name of Virginia; as a memorial that this happy discovery had been made under a virgin Queen.

Robertson, William, sr.; Robertson, William, jr., The history of America: books IX. and X. containing the history of Virginia to the year 1688; and of New England to the year 1652, Philadelphia: Printed from the London edition by J. Humphreys ..., 1799, pp. 44-45.

[...] Elizabeth, as she heard their reports, esteemed her reign signalized by the discovery of the enchanting regions, and named them Virginia, as a memorial of her state of life.

Bancroft, George, A History of the United States, from the discovery of the American continent to the present time, Boston: Charles Bowen; London: R. J. Kennett, 1834[-74], vol. 1, p. 108.

Virginia (vėr-jin'i-ä), n. [[...] a general name for the region of the New World between New England and New York and the Spanish possessions: so named in honor of Queen Elizabeth, called "the Virgin queen," the name Virginia being supposed to be derived from L. virgo (virgin-), a virgin, but being prop. < L. Virginia, a fem. name, fem. of  Virginius, prop. Verginius, the name of a Roman gens.] [...]

"Virginia," The century dictionary, in...

Whitney, William Dwight; Smith, Benjamin Eli, The century dictionary and cyclopedia, a work of universal reference in all departments of knowledge with a new atlas of the world, 10 vols., New York: Published by The Century Co., 1901, vol. 8, p. 6765.

According to the above quotes, Virginia is named for Queen Elizabeth I, the Virgin Queen, and thus means "virgin!" Next, Maryland.

Maryland... its name! What is its source?

   His most Excellent Majestie having by his Letters Patent, under the Great Seale of England, granted a certaine Countrey in America (now called Maryland, in honour of our gratious Queene) [...]

White, Andrew; Hawks, Francis Lister, A Relation of Maryland: Reprinted from the London Edition of 1635, New York: Joseph Sabin, 1865, p. 3.

   Maryland had the Honour to receive its Name from Queen Mary, Royal Consort to King Charles the First.

Beverley, Robert, The History and Present State of Virginia, in four parts, London: Printed for R. Parker, 1705, p. 49.

   The King himself, when he sign'd the Pattent, was pleas'd to give this Province the Name of Maryland, in Honour of his belov'd Wife Henrietta Maria, Daughter of Henry the IVth of France. [...]

Oldmixon, John; Moll, Herman, cart., The British empire in America, containing the history of the discovery, settlement, progress and present state of all the British colonies, on the continent and islands of America, with curious maps of the serval places, done from the newest surveys, London: Printed for John Nicholson ..., Benjamin Tooke ..., and Richard Parker and Ralph Smith ..., 1708, p.184.

[...] The name of the country was called Terra Mariæ, alias Maryland, in honour of Henrieta Maria, the queen consort of King Charles I. [...]

Hardie, James, The new universal biographical dictionary, and American remembrancer of departed merit: containing complete and impartial accounts of the lives and writings of the most eminent persons in every age and nation, but more especially of those who have signalized themselves in America, 4 vols., New York: Printed and Published by Johnson & Stryker, 1801, vol. 1, p. 417.

   After the death of Sir George, the patent was drawn in the name of his eldest son Cecil, Lord Baltimore, and passed the seals on the 28th of June, 1632. The original draught being in Latin, the patentee is called Cecilius, and the country "Terra Mariæ, alias Maryland," in honour of Henrietta Maria, the Queen consort of Charles I.

Wilmer, James Jones, The American Nepos: a collection of the lives of the most remarkable and the most eminent men, who have contributed to the discovery, the settlement, and the independence of America, calculated for the use of schools, Baltimore: Published by G. Douglas, bookseller, 1805, p. 98.

[...] Remembering his services to his father, and perhaps moved by the intercessions of Henrietta Maria, his Catholic queen, who desired to secure an asylum abroad for the persecuted members of her church in England, Charles directed the patent to be issued. It was prepared by Lord Baltimore himself; but before it was finally executed, that truly great and good man died, and the patent was delivered to his son Cecilius, who succeeded as well to his noble designs, as to his titles and estates.

   The charter was issued on the 20th of June, 1632, and the new province, in honor of Queen Henrietta Maria, was named Terra Mariæ---Maryland.

McSherry, James, History of Maryland; from its first settlement in 1634, to the year 1848, Baltimore: Printed and published by John Murphy, 1849, p. 24.

   Baltimore had not the slightest sympathy with popular government, and he viewed with displeasure the firm and manly opposition of the Parliament to the arrogant demands of the King.

   Finding but little comfort where the popular will was beginning to control, and being a favorite of King Charles, his leisure hours were occupied in writing a charter for a new plantation, [...]

   After it was prepared, it was submitted to and approved by Charles the First. Having left a blank for the name of the proposed colony, Charles inserted Terra Mariæ, in honor of his French wife, Queen Mary, as Henrietta was frequently called. [...]

Neill, Edward Duffield, Terra Mariæ; or, Threads of Maryland colonial history, Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott & Co., 1867, pp. 52-53.

But is Maryland really named for Queen Mary, Charles' wife? There is some indication that it is not.

Concerning this quote and the question which provoked it, consider these two quotes from Edward Eggleston.

[...] A dangerous storm was raised on one occasion by all the "malignant spirits of the tempest and all the evil genii of Maryland." But Father White circumvented this combination of ordinary storm spirits with imps of Protestant proclivities by setting forth to Christ and the Blessed Virgin, while the storm was at its worst, "that the purpose of this journey was to glorify the Blood of our Redeemer in the salvation of the Barbarians, and also to build up a kingdom for the Saviour and to consecrate another gift to the Immaculate Virgin his mother." The last clause apparently refers to Maryland, as if it were named in honor of the Virgin. The representation was effective; the good father had scarcely ceased speaking when the storm began to abate.

Eggleston, Edward, The beginners of a nation; a history of the source and rise of the earliest English settlements in America, with special reference to the life and character of the people, New York: D. Appleton and Company, 1896, pp. 243-244.

   The colony had been named Maryland by King Charles in honor of his wife Henrietta Maria; at least there was assigned to the king responsibility for a name that, like nearly everything else about Maryland, was ambiguous. But the phrase Terra Mariæ in the charter, though represented there to be the equivalent of Maryland, was significant to a devout Catholic of something better than a compliment to a Catholic queen. The Indian village which with its gardens and cornfields had been bought for the germinal settlement and capital, took the name of St. Mary's, and the whole infant colony is called the Colony of St. Maries, by its own Legislative Assembly in 1638, as though by Maryland were intended the land of [the virgin] Mary. [...]

Eggleston, Edward, The beginners of a nation; a history of the source and rise of the earliest English settlements in America, with special reference to the life and character of the people, New York: D. Appleton and Company, 1896, p. 245.

Now let's look at some of the facts concerning the settlement of Maryland, in particular its first landing of settlers.

   His most Excellent Majestie having by his Letters Patent, under the Great Seale of England, granted a certaine Countrey in America (now called Maryland, in honour of our gratious Queene) unto the Lord Baltemore, with divers Priviledges, and encouragements to all those that should adventure with his Lordship in the Planting of that Countrey: [...]

[...] to the number of neere 200. people, imbarked theselves for the voyage, in the good ship called the Arke, of 300. tunne & upward, which was attended by his Lordships Pinnace, called the Dove, of about 50. tunne. And so on Friday, the 22. of November, 1633. a small gale of winde comming gently from the Northwest, they weighed from the Cowes in the Isle of Wight, about ten in the morning; [...]

White, Andrew; Hawks, Francis Lister, A Relation of Maryland: Reprinted from the London Edition of 1635, New York: Joseph Sabin, 1865, pp. 3,4.

[...] Lord Baltimore prepared to establish his first settlement in Maryland. He fitted out two vessels, which he named "the Ark" and "the Dove," and collected a body of two hundred emigrants, nearly all of whom were Catholics and gentlemen of fortune and respectability, who desired, like himself, as had his father, to fly from the spirit of intolerance which pervaded England, and to rear up their altars in freedom in the wilderness. [...]

McSherry, James, History of Maryland; from its first settlement in 1634, to the year 1848, Baltimore: Printed and published by John Murphy, 1849, p. 25.

   Cecil Baltimore now earnestly labored to collect a colony for embarkation, but he found his pathway filled with the thorns planted by opponents.

   After the "Ark," a ship of four hundred tons, and the "Dove," a pinnace of fifty tons, were purchased, it was whispered that he designed to carry nuns and soldiers to Spain; then, after they had sailed, it was reported that they had not complied with the custom-house regulations, [...]

   The vessels were immediately pursued and brought back, and on the thirtieth of October license was granted for the Ark and Dove to go to Maryland, the oath having been administered to the passengers.

Neill, Edward Duffield, Terra Mariæ; or, Threads of Maryland colonial history, Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott & Co., 1867, pp. 58,59.

   His most Excellent Majestie having by his Letters Patent, under the Great Seale of England, granted a certaine Countrey in America (now called Maryland, in honour of our gratious Queene) unto the Lord Baltemore, with divers Priviledges, and encouragements to all those that should adventure with his Lordship in the Planting of that Countrey: [...]

[...] to the number of neere 200. people, imbarked themselves for the voyage, in the good ship called the Arke, of 300. tunne and upward, which was attended by his Lordships Pinnace, called the Dove, of about 50. tunne. And so on Friday, the 22. of November, 1633. a small gale of winde comming gently from the Northwest, they weighed from the Cowes in the Isle of Wight, about ten in the morning; [...]

White, Andrew, A Relation of Maryland, London, 1635, in...

Hall, Clayton Colman, ed., Narratives of early Maryland, 1633-1684, New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1910, p. 70-71.

As further visual proof of this detail of Maryland's history, note the following commemorative US Postage stamp, commemorative of Maryland's Tercentenary, 1634-1934, and commemorative ship, a replica 17th Century English merchantmen pinnace, the Maryland Dove, commemorative of Maryland's 350th Anniversary.

"Ark" and the "Dove", shown here in a 1934 U.S. commemorative postage stamp.

"The Ark (ship)," Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ark_(ship), accessed: 2020/10/15.

The replica 17th Century English merchantmen pinnace Maryland Dove at St. Mary's City, Maryland, constructed for state 350th Anniversary, 1975-1978.

"Maryland Dove," Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryland_Dove, accessed: 2020/10/15.

Perhaps this will seem a strange thing to note at this time but take notice of the Latin for "dove."

Cŏlumbus, i, m. and oftener Columba, ae, f. a pigeon or dove.

"Columbus," Adam, Alexander, A compendious dictionary of the Latin tongue: for the use of schools, 2nd ed., Edinburgh: Printed by C. Stewart; Sold by T. Cadell and W. Davies, London; and Dickinson & Co., Edinburgh, 1814 (, p. 213).

We continue on with our facts concerning the settlement of Maryland, in particular its first landing of settlers. Note the day of first landing, still commemorated to this day through Maryland's state holiday, Maryland Day.

Maryland Day commemorates March 25, 1634. On that day, settlers disembarked from two small sailing ships - the Ark and the Dove - on to Maryland soil. At St. Clement's Island, they landed in what is now St. Mary's County, Maryland.

"Maryland Day - March 25," Maryland Manual Online, Maryland at a Glance: Holidays, https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/01glance/html/mday.html, accessed: 2021/01/03.

As further visual proof of this detail of Maryland's history, note the Maryland Historical Society's commemorative plaque on Saint Clement's Island.

St. Clement's Island Historic Marker, September 2009

[On the Marker: "Saint Clement's Island (one-half mile offshore) Site of the first landing of governor Leonard Calvert and the Maryland colonists, March 25, 1634. Here, on the same day, Father Andrew White, S. J. celebrated the first Catholic Mass in the British-American Colonies. ... Maryland Historical Society]

"St. Clement's Island State Park," Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Clement%27s_Island_State_Park, accessed: 2021/01/03.

So what of the date? What is so special about it? It seems, at first glance, nothing! But we are not seeing it from the mindset of a 17th-century Catholic. Perhaps this quote from the Jesuit Father Andrew's written account of the voyage will help.

   At length, sailing from this place, we reached the cape, which they call Point Comfort, in Virginia, on the 27th of February, [...]

   After being kindly treated for eight or nine days, we set sail on the third of March, and entering the Chesapeak Bay, we turned our course to the north to reach the Potomeack River. [...]

White, Andrew; McSherry, William, tr.; Dalrymple, Edwin A., ed.; Jesuits: Letters from missions (North America), Relatio itineris in Marylandiam: declaratio coloniae domini baronis de Baltimoro; Excerpta ex diversis litteris missionariorum ab anno 1635, ad annum 1638[77]. Narrative of a voyage to Maryland: an account of the colony of the lord baron of Baltimore; Extracts from different letters of missionaries, from the year 1635 to the year 1677, Baltimore: John Murphy, Printer to the Maryland Historical Society, 1874, pp. 30, 31.

   On the day of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Virgin Mary in the year 1634, [...] we celebrated the mass for the first time, on this island. This had never been done before in this part of the world. After we had completed the sacrifice, we took upon our shoulders a great cross, which we had hewn out of a tree, and advancing in order to the appointed place, with the assistance of the Governor and his associates and the other Catholics, we erected a trophy to Christ the Saviour, humbly reciting, on our bended knees, the Litanies of the Sacred Cross, with great emotion.

" ", pp. 32-33.

So, the day of the first landing of the Maryland settlers, March 25, coincided, in 1634, with the day of the celebration of the Catholic Feast of the Annunciation.

Now, we turn to some biblical history, namely that of the virgin Mary. Notice the sequence of events culminating in the birth of Christ.

I. the virgin Mary
 
II. (at the annunciation) impregnated by the Holy Spirit
III. gives birth to Jesus Christ
 

Next, notice the symbols used for the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ in scripture.

"And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:" Matthew 3:16

"The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." John 1:29

Lastly, notice that the rise of the land beast or lamb-like beast, the United States of America, forms a parallel sequence of events culminating in its birth to that of Jesus (from the virgin Mary).

I. British New World colonies of Virginia and Maryland
 
II. (on the Feast of the Annunciation) "impregnated" by (settlers from) "the Dove"
III. gives birth to lamb-like beast (the United States of America)    


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