nine o'clock
`` Nay , who ever heard of women clamoring to be heard among men in council , '' suggested Mary Chilton , while Alden , with a side glance and smile at the merry maids , followed the governor a step and said , -- `` Ay , sir , and I will moreover warn goodwife Billington to-night , that she may have the Common house redded betimes . '' `` Well thought on , John , '' replied Carver smiling , for goodwife Billington 's untidiness was but too notorious among her associates . `` Thou ` lt have to lay a hand to ' t thyself , John , '' murmured Priscilla as the young man returned to the fire to gather up the bullets and moulds , and if it must be confessed to seize the chance of one more word with Priscilla ; `` best bring up two or three buckets of sand from the beach , and when yon slattern hath done her best , spill you the sand over all , and so hide her shortcomings . '' '' ' T is good advice , as thine ever is , '' returned the lover , and so energetic did Goody Billington find both his reminders and his help that evening and the next morning , that the Common house was set in order at a good hour , and by nine o'clock the Council , consisting of nineteen men , all that were left of the forty-one who signed the original compact on board the Mayflower , gathered around the table , where beside the governor sat Howland , ready to take minutes of the proceedings of the meeting , and , as it were , to open the Town Records of Plymouth . The governor in a short address set forth the danger which evidently menaced the little colony , and invited the opinion of the freemen assembled as to the means of meeting it . One and another offered his brief remarks , and at last Bradford in a few strong and sensible words proposed that the whole company there present should be resolved into a military body , and properly exercised in the use of arms and tactics of defense . `` That is my own thought , Master Bradford , '' replied Carver eagerly ; `` and this course is the more feasible that we have among us a man so skilled in warfare , and so judicious in counsel as our brother Standish , who hath already the rank of Captain in the armies of our sovereign King James , and hath for love of liberty and the truth given up the sure prospect of advancement in the king 's armies , now that the hordes of Spain are again let loose upon our Dutch allies , and every British soldier is called to their defense .