"We were driven off like rats in five minutes"

This quote by Roger Sherman is describing a scenario in which he and his group were rapidly and forcefully removed from a location. The expression "repelled like rats" implies that the group was treated with little respect and were rapidly and forcefully gotten rid of. This could be interpreted as a metaphor for how the group was treated, as rats are frequently seen as pests and are quickly and powerfully removed from places. The expression "in five minutes" implies that the removal of the group was done rapidly and effectively, with little time lost. This might be translated as a sign of disrespect, as the group was not given the chance to appropriately leave the location. Overall, this quote implies that the group was treated with little regard and were rapidly and forcefully removed from the place.