The difficulty of procuring and furnishing a sufficient number of colonists, with the necessary conveniences to enable them permanently to form their colony, caused some delay before their departure from England.
It was not until this year that the colonists were ready to embark on their voyage, and Lord Baltimore, who had originally designed to accompany them in person, changed his mind, and appointed his brother, Leonard Calvert, Esquire, to go in his stead, in the character of governor, or lieutenant-general.
On the 22d of November, 1633, they sailed from Cowes, in the Isle of Wight, and on the 24th of February, 1634, arrived off Point Comfort in Virginia. After entering the Potomac and sailing up 1634. that river about fourteen leagues, they came to an island called 'Heron Island,' and anchored under another neighbouring isle, to which they gave the name of 'St. Clements.' Here the governor landed, and setting up a cross, in the Roman Catholic manner, took formal possession of the country; 'for our Saviour and for our sovereign lord the king of England.' But the governor on reflection thinking it would not be advisable to settle so high up the river, in the infancy of the colony, determined to seek for a settlement further down. He, therefore, returned down the Potomac, taking captain Fleet with him. They proceeded to a small river on the north side of the Potomac, within four or five leagues of its mouth, which the governor called 'St. George's river.' Sailing up this river about four leagues, they came to an Indian town, called by the natives Yoamaco, from whence the tribe. here inhabiting, was called Yoamacoes. The governor