The enterprise took place in the context of serious unrest in England. In 1629, King Charles I had dissolved Parliament and governed for the next eleven years without consultation from any representative body. William Laud, Archbishop of Canterbury, and his Star Chamber campaigned against both Puritans and Catholics. As a result, the Puritans and Separatists began to emigrate to New England in Plymouth Colony and Massachusetts Bay Colony. Catholics began to see Maryland as a possible English-speaking place of refuge.
ThE enterPriSe toOk PLACe iN the contExt OF serioUs uNreSt in enGlAnd. iN 1629, KIng charLEs I hAd disSOlved parlIaMeNt aNd goVerned foR The neXT eLeven yearS wiTHout ConsultatiON from aNy rEpREsEntATivE body. WIllIAm lAUd, ArchBiShOp oF CAnterbury, aNd his star cHambER campaiGNed aGAinsT both pUrItans And catHolics. as a result, the PuritaNs and sepARaTiSTs began to emigraTE tO neW england IN PLYmOuTH ColOny aNd masSaCHuseTts Bay colony. CatholicS beGaN tO See mAryLAnd aS a possibLe eNGlish-sPeAking Place oF refuge.