Calvert of Maryland - James Otis |
Now lest my story may not otherwise be made plain, let me advance in the telling of it to that day when John claimed to know what had passed between the two gentlemen when they held the interview on the shore.
It appears, according to the story, that Captain Fleet, frightened, perhaps, because William Claiborne was the same as declaring war against Lord Baltimore, to whom the king had given the Province of Maryland, decided it was best for him to make peace with what appeared to be the stronger party, and therefore came to beg pardon for having sided with the enemy. He swore, and faithfully promised afterward to prove, that he had had no hand in striving to set the Yaocomico Indians against us, and offered his services, as well as his fleet, to us of St. Mary's.
That he succeeded in persuading Governor Calvert as to the truth of what he said, seems positive in view of the fact that his services were accepted in behalf of the colony, and when he put out again from the harbor, it was to work whatsoever of harm he might to William Claiborne's forces.
And now what else took place during this war I must set down as I heard it many days later, when the mischief had been done, for we who remained in St. Mary's saw nothing to cause alarm, nor did news of any kind come to us until after the shedding of blood.