the restoration of the King he applied himself to writing plays and was the author of almost as many as his godfather. He was the first to introduce women as actresses on the stage. He died in 1668. Sir Wiliam Davenant was evidently very close to royal favor, as he retired with the young Prince, the Queen and other loyalists into France upon the defeat of the King. From all accounts of the wit and ability of Sir William Davenant, the cloak of the godfather fell-if lightlyupon his shoulders. In view of this it seems rather a pity after all for Maryland, whose capital city more than a century ago was termed the "social Athens of America," to have missed the distinction of having been governed by one who had sat at the feet of the great Bard of Avon! No doubt the scintillation of his wit would have been a delightful relief after the long faces of the Puritans! CHAPTER XVI THE OLDEST CHURCH IN MARYLAND THERE can be no question that the "Old Church," known until the middle of the nineteenth century as "the Church in Dorchester Parish," is the most ancient church edifice in Maryland, for while the Poplar Hill Church, in St. Mary's County, has been rebuilt, as have others in parishes of earlier settlement than that of Dorsett, the "Old Church" has never been burned or otherwise demolished. And so it stands today in a picturesque spot on the Little Choptank River, on the narrow creek to which it has given the name of Church Creek which name has in turn been transmitted to the village half a mile beyond-so that one has the rather confusing experience of seeing those who speak of their destination as "going up the Creek," deliberately turn their backs upon the sparkling waters of the stream which flows by the church and wend their way up to the village postoffice, known to the United States Government as Church Creek. The ancient little edifice was built so long ago that all memory of its date as been lost, and no record extant bears evidence of its foundation. Certain it is, however, that this was one of the 30 parish churches (including chapels of ease) paying tithes to the Bishop of London in the year 1690, two years before the Act of Assembly which erected the counties into parishes. |