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




Back to Claiborne's Fort

It pleased me much when the governor gave orders that the captives, in charge of twenty of our musketeers, be sent to St. Mary's in the small pinnace, that my name was not called among those who were to go.

Therefore it was that I held my place as one of the army when we marched back to Claiborne's fort, and such Indian runners as had been found there were sent off to summon all the people of the island to appear before Governor Calvert.

[Illustration] from Calvert of Maryland by James Otis

When we were come to the fort again, John declared that there was nothing more for us men-at-arms to do, save lounge around while the governor dealt out justice to these islanders who had dared to raise their voices against us of St. Mary's, and I was not displeased, because of fearing that I might in some way bring reproach upon my father and the name Calvert of Maryland, if called upon to stand against our enemies, although it would be contrary to my will and desires.

However, I need not have settled down to idleness quite so soon, for we had hardly more than entered the fort when Governor Calvert sent one of the men in search of me, and I obeyed the summons quickly, inwardly quaking lest I had ignorantly done some wrong.