USA > Virginia > A history of the valley of Virginia, 1st ed > Part 3
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" man asked her what men she would lend us for guides in the wilderness and to assist us against our enemy In- dians, she spake to th' interpreter to inform her what the chairman said, [tho we believed she understood him] he told us she bid him ask her son to whom the Eng- lish tongue was familiar, & who was reputed the son of an English colonel, yet neither wou'd he speak to or seem to understand the Chairman but th' interpreter told us he referred all to his mother, who being againe urged she after a little musing with an carnest passionate coun- tenance as if tears were ready to gush out and a fervent sort of expression made a harangue about a quarter of an hour, often interlacing [with a high shrill voice & vehement passion] these words "Tatapatomoi Chepiack, i. e. Tatapatomoi dead : Coll: Hill being next me, shook his head, I ask'd him what was the matter, he told me all she said was too true to our shame, and that his father was generall in that battle, where diverse years before Tatapatamoi her husband had led a hundred of his In- dians in help to th' English against our former enemy Indians, and was there slaine with most of his men ; for which no compensation [at all] had been to that day rendered to her wherewith she now upbraided us.
Her discourse ending and our morose Chairman not advancing one cold word towards asswaging the anger and grief her speech and demeanour manifested under her oppression, nor taking any notice of all she had said, neither considering that we (then) were in our great ex- igency, supplicants to her for a favour of the same kind as the former, for which we did not deny the having been so ingrate he rudely push'd agains the same ques- tion "what Indians will you now contribute &c ? of this disregard she signified her resentment by a disdain- ful aspect, and turning her head half aside, sate mute till that same question being press't a third time, she not returning her face to the board, answered with a low slighting voice in her own language "six, but being fur- ther importun'd she sitting a little while sullen, without uttering a word between said "twelve, tho she then had
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a hundred and fifty Indian men, in her town, and so rose up and gravely walked away, as not pleased with her treatment.
Whilst some daies past in setling the Quota's of men arms and amunic'on provisions &c. each county was to furnish one morning early a bruit ran about the town Bacon is fled Bacon is fled, whereupon I went straight to Mr. Laurence, who (formerly) was of Oxford uni- versity, and for wit learning and sobriety was equall'd there by few, and who some years before [as Col: Lee tho one of the councill & a friend of the Govern'rs in- form'd me] had been partially treated at law, for a con- siderable estate on behalf of a corrupt favourite; which Laurence complaining loudly of, the Govern's bore him a grudge and now shaking his head, said " old treache- " rous villain, and that his house was searcht that morn- " ing, at day break, but Bacon was escaped into the coun - " try, having intimation that the Govern'rs generosity " in pardoning him and his followers and restoring him " to his seat in councill, were no other than previous " wheadles to amuse him & his adherents & to circum- " vent them by stratagem, forasmuch as the taking Mr. " Bacon again into the councill was first to keep him out " of the assembly, and in the next place the Govern'r " knew the country people were hastning down with " dreadfull threatnings to double revenge all wrongs " shou'd be done to Mr. Bacon or his men, or whoever " shou'd have had the least hand in 'em."
And so much was true that this Mr. young Nathan- iel Bacon [not yet arrived to 30 years] had a nigh rela- tion namely Colo. Nathaniel Bacon of long standing in the council a very rich politick man, and childless, de- signing this kinsman for his heir, who [not without much paines] had prevailed with his uneasy cousin to deliver the forementioned written recantation atthe bar, having compiled it ready to his hand & by whose meanes 'twas supposed that timely intimation was con- vey'd to the young gentleman to flee for his life, and also in 3. or four daies after Mr. Bacon was first seiz'd I saw
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abundance of men in town come thither from the heads of the rivers, who finding him restored & his men at liberty, return'd home satisfied ; a few daiesafter which, the Govern'r seeing all quiet, gave out private warrants to take him againe, intending as was thought to raise the militia and so to dispose things as to prevent his friends from gathering any more into a like numerous body and coming down a second time to save him.
In three or ffour daies after this escape, upon news that Mr. Bacon was 30 miles up the river, at the head of four hundred men, the Govern'r sent to the parts adja- cent, on both sides James river for the militia and all the men that could be gotten to come and defend the town, expres's came almost hourly of th' army's approaches, who in less than four daies after the first account of 'em att 2. of the clock entred the town, without being with- stood, and form'd a body upon a green, not a flight shot from the end of the State house of horse and ffoot, as well regular as veteran troops, who forthwith possesst themselves of all the avenues, disarming all in the town and coming thither in boats or by land.
In half an hour after this the drum beat for the house to meet, and in less than an hour more Mr. Bacon came with a file of ffusileers on either hand near the corner of the State-house where the Govern'r, and councill went forth to him ; we saw from the window the Gov- ern'r. open his breast, and Bacon strutting betwixt his two files of men with his left arm on Kenbow flinging his right arm every way both like men distracted ; and if in this moment of fury, that enraged multitude had faln upon the Govern'r & councill we of the assembly expected the same imediate fate; I stept down and amongst the crowd of Spectators found the seamen of my sloop, who pray'd me not to stir from them, when in two minutes, the Govern'r walk'd towards his private apartm't. a Coits cast distant at th' other end of the Statehouse, the gentlemen of the councill following him, and after them walked Mr. Bacon with outragious postures of his head arms body & leggs, often tossing
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his hand from his sword to his hat and after him came a detachment of ffusileers (musketts not being then in use) who with their cocks bent presented their fusils at at window of the assembly chamber filled with faces, repeating with menacing voices "we will have it, we will have it," half a minute when as one. of our house a person known to many of them, shook his handkercher out at the window, " saying you shall have it, you shall have it," 3 or 4 times ; at these words they sate down their fusils unbent their locks and stood still untill Ba- con coming back, they followed him to their main body; in this hubub a servant of mine got so nigh as to hear the Govern'rs words, and also followed Mr. Bacon, and heard what he said, who came & told me, that when the Govern'r opened his breast he said, " here ! shoot me, foregod fair mark, shoot ; often rehearsing the same, without any other words; whereto Mr. Bacon answer'd " No may it please yo'r hono'r we will not hurt a hair " of yo'r head, nor of any other mans, we are come for " a Co'mission to save our lives from th' Indians, which " you have so often promised, and now we will have it "before we go."
But when Mr. Bacon followed the Govern'r & Coun- cill with the forementioned impetuous (like delirious) actions whil'st that party presented their ffusils at the window full of ffaces, he said " Dam my bloud F'le kill " Govern'r Councill assembly & all, and then I'le sheath "my sword in my own hearts bloud;" and afterwards 'twas said Bacon had given a signal to his men who presented their fusils at those gasing out at the win low that if he should draw his sword, they were on sight of it to fire, and slay us, so near was the masacre of us all that very minute, had Bacon in that paroxism of phrentick fury but drawn his sword, before the pacifick handkercher was shaken out at window.
.. . In an hour or more after these violent concussions Mr. Bacon came up to our chamber and desired a co'mis- sion from us to go against the Indians; our Speaker sat silent, when one Mr. Blayton a neighbor to Mr. Bacon
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& elected with him a member of assembly for the same county (who therefore durst speak to him) made answer, "itwas not in our province, or power, nor of any other, " save the king's viceregent our Govern'r, he press'd hard nigh half an hours harangue on the preserving our lives from the Indians, inspecting the publick reve- nues, th' exorbitant taxes and redressing the grievan- ces and calamities of that deplorable country, whereto having no other answer he went away dissatisfied.
Next day there was a rumour the Govern'r & coun- cill had agreed Mr. Bacon should have a co mission to go Generall of the fforces, we then were raising, where- upon I being a member of Stafford, the most northern frontier, and where the war begun, considering that Mr. Bacon dwelling in the most Southern ffrontier, county, might the less regard the parts I represented, I went to Coll: Cole (an active member of the councill) desiring his advice, if applicac'ons to Mr. Bacon on that subject were then seasonable and safe, which he appro- ving and earnestly advising, I went to Mr. Laurence who was estcemed Mr. Bacon's principall consultant. to whom he took me with him, and there left me where I was entertained 2 or 3 hours with the particular re- lac'ons of diverse before recited transactions ; and as to the matter I spake of, he told me, the Govern'r had in- deed promised him the command of the forces, and if his hono'r shou'd keep his word (which he doubted) he assured me " the like care shou'd be taken of the remo- " test corners in the land, as of his own dwelling-house, " and pray'd me to advise him what persons in those " parts were most fit to bear commands." I frankly gave him my opinion that the most satisfactory gentle- me i to govern'r & people, would be co manders of the mil tia. wherewith he was well pleased, and himself wrote a list of those nominated.
That evening I made known what had past with Mr. Bacon to my colleague Coll: Mason [w hose bottle attendance doubted my task | the matter lic liked well, but questioned the Govern's approbation of it.
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I confess'd the case required sedate thoughts, reason- ing, that he and such like gentlemen must either co'mand or be co'manded, and if on their denials Mr. Bacon should take distaste, and be constrained to ap- point co'manders out of the rabble, the Govern'r him- self with the persons & estates of all in the land woud be at their dispose, whereby their own ruine might be owing to themselves; in this he agreed & said " If the " Govern'r woud give his own co'mission he woud be " content to serve under General Bacon [as now he be- " gan to be intituled] but first would consult other gen- " tlemen in the same circumstances; who all concurr'd 'twas the most safe barrier in view against pernicious designes, if such should be put in practice ; with this I acquainted Mr. Laurence who went [rejoicing] to Mr. Bacon with the good tidings, that the militia com'an- ders were inclined to serve under him, as their Generall, in case the Governor would please to give them his own co'missions.
Wee of the house proceeded to finish the bill for the war, which by the assent of the Govern'r and councill being past into an act, the Govern'r sent us a letter di- rected to his majesty, wherein were these words "Ihave " above 30 years governed the most flourishing country " the sun ever shone over, but am now encompassed " with rebellion like waters in every respect like to that " of Massanello except their leader, and of like import was the substance of that letter, But we did not believe his hono'r sent us all he wrote his majesty.
Some judicious gentlemen of our house likewise penn'd a letter or remonstrance to be sent his Maj'tie, setting forth the gradations of those erupc'ons, and two or three of them with Mr. Minge our clerk brought it me to compile a few lines for the conclusion of it, which I did [tho' not without regret in those watchfull times, when every man had eyes on him, but what I wrote was with all possible deferrence to the Govern'r and in the most soft terms my pen cou'd find the case to admit.
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Col. Spencer being my neighbor & intimate friend, and a prevalent member in the council I pray'd him to intreat the Govern'r we might be dissolved, for that was my first and should be my last going astray from my wonted sphere of merchandize & other my private concernments into the dark and slippery meanders of court embarrasments, he told me the Govern'r had not [then] determined his intention, but he wou'd move his hono'r about itt, and in 2 or 3 days we were dissolved, which I was most heartily glad of, because of my get- ting loose againe from being hampered amongst those pernicious entanglem'ts in the labyrinths & snares of state ambiguities, & which untill then I had not seen the practice nor the dangers of, for it was observ'd that severall of the members had secret badges of distinction fixt upon 'em, as not docill enough to gallop the future races, that court seem'd dispos'd to lead 'em, whose maxims I had oft times heard whisper'd before, and then found confirm'd by diverse considerate gentlem'n viz't. " that the wise & the rich were prone to ffaction " & sedition but the fools & poor were easy to be gov- "erned."
Many members being met one evening nigh sunsett, to take our leaves each of other, in order next day to re- turn homewards, came Gen'll. Bacon with his handfull of unfolded papers & overlooking us round, walking in the room said " which of these Gentlem'n shall I in- " terest to write a few words for me, where every one looking aside as not willing to meddle; Mr. Lawrence pointed at me saying " that gentleman writes very well which I endeavouring to excuse Mr. Bacon came stoop- ing to the ground and said " pray S'r Do me the ho'r to write a line for me."
This surprising accostin't shockt me into a melan- choly consternation. dreading upon ouc hand, that Staf- ford county would feel the smart of his resentment, if I should refuse him whose favour I had so lately sought. and been generously promis'd on their behalf; and on th' other hand fearing the Grovern'rs displeasure who I
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knew woud soon hear of it; what seem'd most prudent at this hazardous dilemma was to obviate the present impending peril; So Mr. Bacon made me sit the wholo night by him filling up those papers, which I then saw were blank com'issions sign'd by the Govern'r incerting such names & writing other matters as he dictated, which I took to be the happy effects of the consult be- fore mentioned, with the com'anders of the militia be- cause he gave me the names of very few others to put into these com'issions, and in the morning he left me with an hours worke or more to finish, when came to me Capt. Carver, and said he had been to wait on the Generall for a com'ission, and that he was resolved to adventure his old bones against the Indian rogues with other the like discourse, and at length told me that I was in mighty favour- --- and he was bid to tell me, that whatever I desired in the Generals power, was at my service, I pray'd him humbly to thank his hon'r and to acquaint him I had no other boon to crave, than his promis'd kindness to Stafford county, for beside the not. being worthy, I never had been conversant in military matters, and also having livedtenderly, my service cou'd be of. no benefit because the hardships and fatigues of a. wilderness campaigne woud put a speedy period to my daies : little expecting to hear of more intestine broiles, I went home to Potomack, where reports were after- wards various ; we had account that Generall Bacon was march'd with a thousand men into the forest to seek the enemy Indians, and in a few daies after our next news was, that the Govern'r had sum'oned to- gether the militia of Gloucester & Middlesex counties to the number of twelve hundred men, and proposed to them to follow & suppressthat rebell Bacon, whereupon arose a murmuring before his face " Bacon Bacon Ba- con, and all walked out of the field, muttering as they went . Bacon Bacon Bacon, leaving the Governor and those that came with him to themselves, who being thus abandon'd wafted over Chesepiacke bay 30 miles.to Accomack where are two counties of Virginia.
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Mr. Bacon hearing of this came back part of the way, and sent out parties of horse patrolling through every county, carrying away prisoners all whom he dis- trusted might any more molest his Indian prosecuc'on yet giving liberty to such as pledg'd him their caths to return home & live quiet ; the copies or contents of which oaths I never saw, but heard were very strict, tho' little observed.
About this time was a spie detected pretending him- self a deserter who had twice or thrice come and gone from party to party and was by councill of war senten- ced to death, after which Bacon declared openly to him, " that if any one in the army wou'd speak a word to " save him, he shou'd not suffer," which no man ap- pearing to do, he was executed, upon this manifestation of clemency Bacon was applauded for a mercifull man, not willing to spill Christian bloud, nor indeed was it said, that he put any other man to death in cold bloud, or plunder any house; nigh the same time came Maj'r Langston with his troop of horse and quartered two nights at my house who [after high compliments from the Generall | told me I was desired " to accept the Lieu- tenancy for preserving the peace in the 5 Northern counties betwixt Potomack & Rappahanock rivers, I humbly thank'd his hono'r excusing myself, as I had done before on that invitation of the like nature at James town, but did hear he was mightily offended at my evasions and threatened to remember me.
The Govern'r made a 2d. attempt coming over from Accomack with what men he coud procure in sloops and boats, forty miles up the river to James town, which Ba- con hearing of; came againe down from his fforest pur- suit, and finding a bank not a flight shot long, cast up thwart the neck of the peninsula there in James town, he stormed it, and took the town, in which attack were 12. men slaine & wounded but the Govern'r with most of his followers fled back, down the river in their ves- sells. .
Here resting a few daies they concerted the burning
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of the town, wherein Mr. Laurence and Mr: Drumond owning the two best houses save one; sat fire cach to his own house; which example the soultiers following laid the whole town with church and State house in ashes, saying, the rogues shoud harbour no more there.
On these reiterated molestac'ons Bacon calls a con- vention at Midle plantation 15. miles from James town in the month of August 1676, where an oath with one or more proclamations were formed, and writts by him issued for an Assembly; the caths or writts I never saw, but one proclamation com'anded all men in the land on pain of death to joine hin, and retire into the wil- dernesse upon arrival of the forces expected from Eng- land, and oppose thein untill they shoud propose to ac- cept to tucat of an accom'odntion, which we who lived comfortably coud not have undergone, so as the whole land must have become an Aceldama if gods exceeding mercy had not timely removed him.
During these tumults in Virginia a 2d. danger mena- ced Maryland by an insurrection in that province, com- plaining of their heavy taxes &c. where 2 or 3 of the leading malcontents [men otherwise of laudable char- acters] were put to death, which stifled the farther spreading of that flame. Mr. Bacon, [at this time] press't the best ship in James river, carrying 20 guns and putting into her his Lieutenant Generall Mr. Bland [a gentleman newly come thither from England to possesse the estate of his deceased uncle late of the coun- cil]and under him the forementioned Capt. Carver for- merly a com'ander of Merch'ts ships with men & all necessaries, he sent her to ride before Accomack to curb and intercept all small vossels of war com'ission'd by the Govern'r com'ing often over and making depreda- tions on the Western shoar, as if we had been fforreign enemies, which gives occasion in this place to digresse a few words.
Att first assembly after the peace came a message to them from the Covern'r for some mark+ of distinction to be set on his loyal friends of Accomack, who received
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him in his adversity which when came to be consider'd Col: Warner [then Speaker] told the house " Ye know " that what mark of distinction his hono'r coud have " sett on those of Accomack unlesse to give them ear " marks or burnt marks for robbing & ravaging honest " people, who stay'd at home and preserv'd the estates "of those who ran away, when none intended to hurt "'em."
Nowy returning to Capt. Carver the Govern'r sent for him to come on shoar, promising his peaceable return, who answer'd, he could not trust his word, but if he wou'd send his hand & seal, he wou'd adventure to wait upon his hono'r which was done, and Carver went in his sloop well arm'd & man'd with the most trusty of his men where he was caress'd with wine &c. and large promises, if he would forsake Bacon, resigne his ship or joine with him, to all which he answer'd that " if he served the Devill he would be true to his trust, " but that he was resolved to go home and live quiet.
In the mean time of this recepc'on and parley, an armed boat was prepared with many oars in a creek not far off, but out of sight, which when Carver sail'd, row'd out of the creek, and it being almost calm the boat out went the sloop whilst all on board the ship were upon the deck, staring at both, thinking the boats company coming on board by Carvers invitation to be civilly en- tertained in requitall of the kindness they supposed he had received on shoar, untill coming under the stern, those in the boat slipt nimbly in at the gun room ports with pistolls &c. when one courageous gentleman ran up to the deck, & clapt a pistoll to Blands breast, saying you are my prisoner, the boats company suddainly fol- lowing with pistolls swords &c. and after Capt. Lari- more (the com'ander of the ship before she was presst) having from the highest and hindinost part of the stern interchang'da signal from the shoar, by flirting his hand- kercher about his nose, his own former crew had laid handspikes ready, which they [at that instant] caught up Ke. so as Bland & Carvers men wereamazed and yielded.
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Carver seeing a hurly burly on the ships deck, woud have gone away with his sloop, but having little wind & the ship threat'ning to sink him, he tamely came on board, where Bland & he with their party were laid in irons, and in 3. or 4 daies Carver was hang'd on shoar, which S'r Henry Chichelly the first of the councill then a prisoner, [with diverse other gentlemen] to Mr, Bacon, did afterwards exclaime against as a most rash & wick- ed act of the Govern'r he in particular expecting to have been treated by way of reprizall, as Bacons friend Carver had been by the Govern'r. Mr. Bacon now returns from his last expedic'on sick of afflux; without finding any enemy Indians, having not gone far by reason of the vexations behind him, nor had he one dry day in all his marches to and fro in the fforest whilst the plantations [not 50. miles distant] had a sum'er so dry as stinted the Indian corn and tobacco &c. which the people ascribed to the Pawawings i. e. the sorceries of the Indians, in a while Bacon dyes & was succeed- ed by his Lieuten't Gen'll Ingram, who had one Wake- let next in com'and under him, whereupon hasten'd over the Govern'r to York river, and with whom they articled for themselves, and whom else they could, and so all submitted and were pardoned exempting those nominated and otherwise proscribed, in a proclamac'on of indempnity, the principall of whom were Laurence and Drum'ond.
Mr. Bland was then a prisoner having been taken with Carver, as before is noted, and in a few daies Mr, Drumond was brought in, when the Govern'r being on board a ship came in'ediately on shore and compliment- ed him with the ironicall sarcasm of a low bend, saying "Mr. Drumond! you are very unwelcome, I am more " glad to see you, than any man in Virginia, Mr. Dru- " mond you shall be hang'd in half an hour ; who an. swered What yo'r hono'r pleases, and as soon as a coun- cil of war con'd meet, his sentence be dispatchat & a gibbet erected [which took up near two houres] he was executed.
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