HISTORY OF NORTON. 23 



North lat., had been made to James, Marquis of Hamilton, 

 Philip, Earl of Pembroke, Henry, Earl of Holland, and Sir David 

 Kirke. But George, the late Lord Baltimore, having left the 

 plantation in no sort provided for, and Cecil, his heir, having also 

 deserted it, as had done several others who had grants of parcels 

 of land, "leaving divers of our poor subjects in the said province 

 living without government," the whole continent of Newfound- 

 land had been granted to Sir D. Kirke. 



Accordingly, Cecil, Lord Baltimore, petitioned the King. The 

 petition recited King James's patent of Newfoundland to his 

 father ; where he began a plantation, built a fair house, in which 

 he resided, and expended above ^30,000. After his decease, the 

 petitioner deputed Cap. Wm. Hill, Governor. In 1638, Sir David 

 Kirke surreptitiously obtained a patent, went over the following 

 year, and dispossessed the petitioner of all his rights there. In 

 1655, Kirke made over part of his patent to John Claypole (son- 

 in-law to Oliver Cromwell), Col. Rich, Col. Goffe, and others ; 

 and Sir Lewis Kirke and others were endeavouring to get a con- 

 firmation of that patent. He prayed that no grant might be 

 passed to his prejudice, and that he might be restored to his rights 

 according to his patent. Upon these matters Sir Orlando 

 Bridgenorth, and Sir Heneage Finch reported to the King. They 

 had heard Lord Baltimore, Sir Lewis Kirke, and his brother 

 John Kirke, and considered the patent granted to Sir George 

 Calvert to be still in force. The Kirkes having for years lived 

 and planted there, and their charges in improvement being 

 unknown, they were not able to certify what was fit to be done 

 in reference to that plantation. In 1661, the King sent his 

 warrant to Sir Lewis Kirke, John Kirke, and others, requiring 

 them to give up possession of any house or land in the province 

 of Avalon belonging to Lord Baltimore, by virtue of the patent 

 granted to his father. 



In 1655, the Protector entrusted the benefit and trade of Nova 

 Scotia, Acadia, and Canada, to Col. Thomas Temple, the Kirkes 

 having been attached to the King's cause. In 1660, Sir Lewis 

 Kirke, John Kirke, and Francis Berkley, petitioned the King for 



