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




Seeking a New Place for the City

So great faith had Governor Calvert in the honest intent of Captain Fleet, that, without parley, we were all embarked once more, and the fleet of vessels, including the Ark, sailed down the Potomac to the mouth of a river which Governor Calvert named St. Mary's, and on the bank of which was an Indian village, called by the odd-sounding name of Yaocomico.

Verily it was a country fair to look upon, where a point of land ran out into the river with bold shores covered with an abundance of trees and springs of fresh water, making, so our gentlemen declared, a perfect location for fortifications in case enemies should come upon us.

[Illustration] from Calvert of Maryland by James Otis

There was also in this village another werowance, and when Governor Calvert, with my father and two others of the gentlemen, went on shore in company with Captain Fleet, this savage ruler invited them into his own dwelling, where, upon mats made of grass, did they sleep all night, while the remainder of our company stayed on board the vessels anxiously awaiting the result of the visit.