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laws of the preceding thirteen years. In Maryland and
upper Carolina there was ardent support of the Virginia
return to democracy. But by the merest accident the
retreating Sir William made a prisoner of Bland, and
some weeks later Bacon was suddenly taken ill and died.
There were no other competent democratic leaders available,
and before the end of November the authoritarian Governor was again on his throne with an increased number
of guards around him. He had ordered the immediate 
execution of Bland, Drummond and a score of his other 
opponents. Before the winter passed, his executions,
imprisonments and confiscations of property surpassed
in number, if not in brutality, the similar performances
of Charles II in 1660-68. There would be no vestige of
democracy left if the Governor remained in office.
Anxious people were leaving their homes and trekking
to upper Carolina or the Virginia wilderness.
In Maryland, the work of Charles Calvert,
although less arbitrary, from 1661 to 1675 gave evidence
of greater success. Although religious libetry was not
denied, the granting of vast strategic tracts of land
to kinsmen and political favorites had given the declining