Calvert of Maryland - James Otis |
Immediately this was done, the governor and gentlemen went into council to hear Master Evelin's story, and but little time was spent in deciding upon a course of action.
When, within the hour, the council had come to an end of its deliberations, Captain Cornwallis, having summoned all those who were capable of bearing arms, selected from among them thirty who were considered the best marksmen, ordering that they be ready to set sail in the Dove by daybreak on the following morning.
Within another hour we who loitered about the shore of the harbor near by, where were anchored our vessels, could see that not only the Dove, but two of the pinnaces, were being made ready for sea, and thus we knew that a force much larger than those marksmen selected by Captain Cornwallis would be sent against the Kent Islanders. Then it was I ran with all speed to Governor Calvert's house, having the good fortune to meet my father just as he was coming out from the council.
When I asked if he was likely to go with the company who would punish those evil-minded Englishmen who counted to stir up the brown men against us, he answered me "Yes," adding that the time had come when I should show myself to be a man by looking after his affairs while he was away.