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




Taking Possession of the Island

When the gentlemen had broken their fast, we all went on shore. Not a brown man could be seen anywhere, and certain it is there were none on the island.

I ventured to say sportively to John that mayhap we had dreamed of those watch fires, and of the armed men who marched to and fro, but he replied grimly, that unless we had a care there would soon be good proof it was no vision.

"They are hiding amid the foliage all around use, I make no doubt," he said, "to learn what is our purpose, and it will be well if we do not offend them."

Surely the wickedest brown men that ever lived could not have been offended at that which we did on this first morning in the Province of Maryland. Our gentlemen themselves, with Governor Calvert lending a hand, hewed down two large trees, fashioned both roughly into the form of square timbers, and of them made a huge cross, after which we formed in procession, serving men as well as gentlemen, marching two by two, with Father White and the governor leading. At the head were four of the gentlemen bearing the cross, which was carried to the highest part of the island.

Here a hole was dug, and the cross set therein, where it might be seen from far out over the bay.

[Illustration] from Calvert of Maryland by James Otis

We recited the litanies of the. Holy Cross with great emotion, and Governor Calvert took solemn possession of the soil of Maryland in such form as must have been pleasing in the sight of the good God who had delivered us out of so many dangers.

As soon as all this had been done, and verily it seemed to me after the religious services as if we were indeed at home, I could see that it was not the purpose of our governor to waste any time before beginning to build a town wherein we might live.