Contents ▼▲
Front Matter A Name to be Proud of Ready for Sea The King's Gift Why I am an Adventurer The Signal for Departure A Lad's Portion The Allotment of Land An Unexpected Delay Our Arrival at Cowes We Put to Sea The Dove Disappears A Second Tempest An Unseemly Christmas The Port of Barbadoes The Arrival of the Dove Under Sail Again The Land of America The Land Given by the King Fear of the Brown Men Where to Build the City Taking the Island A Voyage of Discovery Visiting the Indians An Unexpected Meeting Captain Fleet's Story An Indian Werowance Indian vs. English Claims Seeking a Place for the City The Bargain The Village of Yaocomico What the Indians Look Like Indian Weapons and Tools Landing the Goods Counting Our Blessings The Susquehanoughs A Land of Abundance Buying Cattle Storehouse and Fort A Visitor from Virginia A Talk with the Indians Running up the Colors Settling Down Master William Claiborne Lord Baltimore's Claims Stirring up the Indians Winning Back the Indians Busy Times Indian Women as Servants Making a Canoe A Boat of Bark Indian Money A Generous Harvest Trouble at Plymouth Strange Religious Service The Dance Begins An Odd Ceremony William Claiborne's War Settlement on Kent Island We Prepare for War The Army leaves St. Mary's In Command of the Guard A Flag of Truce Captain Fleet Repents The First Prize of War A Battle is Fought The Return of the Fleet William Claiborne's Flight The City of Saint Mary's A Cruel Murder Mystery Remains Unsolved Master George Evelin A Fatal Accident Preparing for Action Ready for a Man's Duty I Wear the Uniform My New Name On Board the Pinnance Indians in War Paint The Arrival at Kent Island The Capture of the Fort Butler and Smith Captives Back to Claiborne's Fort I am Assigned New Duties A Narrow Escape Words of Praise

Calvert of Maryland - James Otis




An Unexpected Delay

It had been in my mind when we left Gravesend, that the voyage would be continued as fast as the wind might permit, and yet here we are at anchor off Tillbury Hope. I do not exactly understand why we have returned so near to our starting-point, nor can John explain it to me.

Certain it is, however, that before we were four and twenty hours in the Channel, one of his Majesty's ships, with Edward Watkins on board, came in pursuit, firing a gun as signal that we must heave the vessel to, as the sailors say when they speak of stopping a ship.

[Illustration] from Calvert of Maryland by James Otis

Master Watkins is the king's officer in London whose duty it is to search after any who may be wronging his Majesty, and he is known as the London Searcher.

Then it was that the captain was ordered back into the Thames, and I heard Governor Calvert, who had gone on board the king's vessel to learn the cause of the trouble, say to my father that false information had been given concerning the purpose of our voyage. The Ark  and the Dove  were commanded by his Majesty to return until every man and boy on board both vessels had signed written oath declaring that he was loyal to the king and counted himself a subject of England.

One would not suppose many hours would be spent doing such a thing, but yet a full ten days have we lain here at Tillbury Hope, and only within an hour has permission come for us to sail again.

John tells me that most like some of Lord Baltimore's enemies had given false information to his Majesty in order to detain us, and, perchance, put an end to the carrying of a colony to that portion of America which shall *be called the Province of Maryland.