USA > Virginia > Narratives of early Virginia, 1606-1625 > Part 16
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1 Jamestown Peninsula.
2 Food.
3 A mile up Gray's Creek (formerly Rolfe's Creek), opposite to James- town, is a bluff still called Smith's Fort, protected by water on three sides. It appears under this name in the land-grants as early as 1635.
4 This condition of things was not very creditable to Smith's circum- spection.
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lieftenant Percie to trie for fishing at point Comfort, but in 6 weekes, they would not agree once to cast out their net. Mr West, with as many, went up to the falles; but nothing could bee found but a fewe berries and acornes. Of that in the store, every one had their equall proportion. Till this present, by the hazard and endeavour of some 30 or 40, this whole number had ever been fed. Wee had more Sturgeon then could be devoured by dogge and man; of which, the industrious by drying and pownding, mingled with caviare, sorrel and other wholsome hearbs, would make bread and good meate. Others would gather as much Tockwough roots in a day as would make them bread a weeke. So that of those wilde fruites, fish, and berries these lived very well, in regard of such a diet. But such was the most strange condition of some 150, that had they not beene forced nolens volens perforce to gather and prepare their victuall, they would all have starved, and have eaten one another. Of those wild fruites, the Salvages often brought us: and for that the President would not fulfill the unreasonable desire of those distracted lubberly gluttons, to sell not only our kettles, howes, tooles, and Iron, nay swords, peeces, and the very ordenance and houses (might they have prevailed but to have beene but idle) for those salvage fruits, they would have imparted all to the Salvages. Es- pecially for one basket of corne they heard of to bee at Powhatans, 50 myles from our fort: though he bought neere halfe of it to satisfie their humours; yet to have had the other halfe, they would have sold their soules, though not sufficient to have kept them a weeke. Thousands were their exclama- tions, suggestions, and devises to force him to those base inventions, to have made it an occasion to abandon the Coun- trie. Want perforce constrained him to indure their exclaim- ing follies, till he found out the author, one Dyer, a most craftie knave, and his ancient maligner; whom he worthely punished : and with the rest, he argued the case, in this manner,
Fellow souldiers, I did little thinke any so false to report, or so many so simple to be perswaded, that I either intend to starve
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you; or that Powhatan at this present hath corne for himselfe, much lesse for you; or that I would not have it, if I knewe where it were to be had. Neither did I thinke any so malitious as nowe I see a great many : yet it shall not so much passionate me, but I will doe my best for my worst maligner. But dreame no longer of this vaine hope from Powhatan; nor that I wil longer forbeare to force you from your Idlenesse, and punish you if you raile. You cannot deny but that by the hazard of my life, many a time I have saved yours; when (might your owne wils have prevailed) you would have starved, and will doe still whether I will or no. But - I protest by that God that made me, since necessitie hath not power to force you to gather for your selvs those fruits the earth doth yeeld; you shall not only gather for your selves, but for those that are sicke. As yet I never had more from the store then the worst of you, and all my English extraordinarie provision 1 that I have, you shall see mee devide among the sick.
And this Salvage trash you so scornfully repine at, being put in your mouthes, your stomacks can digest it; and therefore I will take a course you shall provide it. The sicke shal not starve, but equally share of all our labours; and every one that gathereth not every day as much as I doe, the next daie, shall be set beyond the river, and for ever bee banished from the fort : and live there or starve.
This order, many murmured, was very cruell. But it caused the most part so well bestir themselves that of 200 men (except they were drowned), there died not past 7 or 8. As for Captaine Win and Mr Ley, they died ere this want hap- pened : and the rest died not for want of such as preserved the rest. Many were billitted among the Salvages, whereby we knewe all their passages, fieldes, and habitations; how to gather and use their fruits as well as themselves.
So well those poore Salvages used us, that were thus Bil- lited, as divers of the souldiers ran away, to search 2 Kemps our old prisoner. Glad was this Salvage to have such an occasion to testifie his love, for insteed of entertaining them and such things as they had stolne, with all the great offers and promises they made them (to revenge their injuries upon
1 Private provisions.
2 Search for.
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Captaine Smith): First, he made himselfe sport, in shewing his countrymen, by them, how he was used; feeding them with this law, who would not worke must not eat, till they were neere starved; continuallie threatning to beate them to death. Neither could they get from him, til perforce he brought them to our Captaine, that so we contented him, and punished them ; as manie others that intended also to have followed them, were rather contented to labour at home then adventure to live Idle among the Salvages; of whom there was more hope to make better christians and good subjects, then the one halfe of those that counterfeited themselves both. For so afeard were all those kings and the better sorte of their people to displease us, that some of the baser sort that we have extream- lie hurt and punished for their villanies, would hire us, that we should not tell it to their kings or countrymen, who would also repunish them, and yet returne them to James Towne to content the President, by that testimonie of their loves.
Mr Sicklemore well returned from Chawonock, but found little hope and lesse certainetie of them [that] were left by Sir Walter Rawley.1 So that Nathaniell Powell and Anas Tod- kill were also, by the Quiyoughquohanocks, conducted to the Mangoages to search them there. But nothing could we learne but they were all dead. This honest, proper, good promis- keeping king, of all the rest, did ever best affect us, and though to his false Gods he was yet very zealous; yet he would con- fesse, our God as much exceeded his, as our guns did his bowe and arrowes: often sending our President manie presents to praie to his God for raine, or his corne would perish; for his Gods were angrie all this time. To reclaime the Dutch- men, and one Bentley an other fugitive, we imploied one Will- iam Volda (a Switzer by birth), with pardons and promises to regaine them. Litle we then suspected this double villanie of anie villain, who plainly taught us, in the most trust was the greatest treason. For this wicked hypocrit, by the seem- ing hate he bore to the lewd condition of his cursed countrimen,
1 In 1587. See p. 17, note 2.
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having this opportunitie, by his imploiment to regaine them, conveighed them everie thing they desired to effect their project to destroie the colonie. With much devotion they expected the Spanyard, to whom they intended to have done good service. But to begin with the first oportunitie, they seeing necessitie thus inforced us to disperse our selves, importuned Powhatan to lend them but his forces, and they would not onlie destroie our hogs, fire our towne, and betraie our Pinnas: but bring to his service and subjection the most part of our . companies. With this plot they had acquainted manie dis- contents; and manie were agreed to their divelish practise. But Thomas Douese and Thomas Mallard, whose christian harts much relenting at such an unchristian act, voluntarily revealed it to Captaine Smith: who did his best it might be concealed, perswading Douese and Malard to proceed in the confederacie, onlie to bring the irreclamable Dutch men and inconstant Salvages in such a maner amongst his ambuscadoes as he had prepared, as not manie of them shoulde ever have returned from out our peni[n]sula. But this brute comming to the ears of the impatient multitude, they so importuned the President to cut of[f] those Dutchmen, as amongst manie that offered to cut their throates before the face of Powhatan, Master Wiffin and Jefra Abot were sent to stab or shoot them. But these Dutch men made such excuses, accusing Volday (whom they supposed had revealed their project), as Abbot would not; yet Wiffin would, perceiving it but deceipt. The king understanding of this their imploiment, sent presentlie his messengers to Captaine Smith to signifie it was not his fault to detaine them, nor hinder his men from executing his command; nor did he, nor would he maintaine them or anie, to occasion his displeasure. But ere this busines was brought to a point, God having seene our misery sufficient, sent in Captaine Argall 1 to fish for Sturgion, with a ship well furnished with wine and bisket; which, though it was not sent us, such
1 The celebrated Captain Samuel Argall, navigator, destroyer (1613) of the French settlements on Mt. Desert and at Port Royal, deputy-governor of Vir- ginia 1617-1619, and a member from 1622 of the Council for New England.
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were our occasions we tooke it at a price : but left him sufficient to returne for England. Still dissembling Valdo his villany ; but certainlie hee had not escaped, had the President continued.
By this you may see, for all those crosses, treacheries, and dissentions; howe he wrastled and overcame (without bloud shed) all that hapned : also what good was done, how few died, what food the country naturally affordeth; what small cause there is men should starve, or be murdered by the Salvages, that have discretion to manage this 1 courage and industry. The 2. first years though by his adventures he had oft brought the Salvages to a tractable trade, yet you see how the envious authority ever crossed him, and frustrated his best endeavours. Yet this wrought in him that experience and estimation among the Salvages, as otherwaies it had bin impossible he had ever effected that he did. Though the many miserable yet generous and worthy adventures he had long and oft indured as wel in some parts of Africa and America, as in the most partes of Europe and Asia, by land or sea, had taught him much: yet, in this case, he was againe to learne his Lecture 2 by experience ; which with thus much a doe having obtained, it was his ill chance to end when hee had but onlie learned how to begin. And though hee left these unknowne difficulties (made easie and familiar) to his unlawfull successors ; whoe onlie by living in James Towne, presumed to know more then al the world could direct them ; though they had all his souldiers, with their triple power, and twise triple better meanes: by what they have done in his absence, the world doth see; and what they would have done in his presence, had he not prevented their indiscretions- it doth justlie approve what cause he had to send them for Eng- land. But they have made it more plaine since their returne : having his absolute authoritie freely in their power, with all the advantages and opportunity that his labours had effected. As I am sorry their actions have made it so manifest, so am I unwill- ing to say what reason doth compell me to make apparant the truth, least I should seeme partial, reasonlesse, or malitious.
1 Manage with.
2 Lesson.
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CHAPTER XII
The Arival of the third supply.
To redresse those jarres and ill proceedings, the Councell in England altered the governement: and devolved the au- thoritie to the Lord De-la-ware. Who for his deputie, sent Sir Thomas Gates and Sir George Somers.1 With 9 ships and - 500 persons, they set saile from England in May 1609. A small catch perished at sea in a Herycano. The Admiral,2 with 150 men, with the two knights and their new commission, their bils of loading with al manner of directions, and the most part of their provision, arived not. With the other 7, as Cap- taines, arived Ratliffe (whose right name was Sickelmore), Martin, and Archer: who as they had been troublesome at sea, beganne againe to marre all ashore. For though, as is said, they were formerly deposed and sent for England: yet now returning againe, graced by the title of Captaines of the passengers, seeing the admirall wanting, and great probabilitie of her losse, strengthned themselves with those newe com- panies, so railing and exclaiming against Captaine Smith, that they mortally hated him ere ever they see his face. Who understanding by his scouts, the arivall of such a fleet, little dreaming of any such supply, supposing them Spaniards, hee so determined and ordered his affaires as wee little feared their arivall, nor the successe of our incounter: nor were the Salvages any way negligent or unwilling to aide and assist
1 This is an error. Sir Thomas Gates was given the first commission as governor of Virginia. Lord Delaware was second governor, though the office was given him for life. Sir Thomas Gates, a soldier in the Elizabethan and Low-Country wars, was one of the original incorporators of the Virginia Company, and is named first in the charter ; governor, 1609-1610, 1611-1614; a member of the Council of New England established in 1620. Sir George Somers had commanded important navalexpeditions in the last years of Queen Elizabeth, and had been a member of Parliament under King James.
2 Admiral in the sense of flagship; the Sea Venture, wrecked on the Bermuda Islands.
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us with their best power .. Had it so beene, wee had beene happy. For we would not have trusted them but as our foes; whereas receiving those as our countriemen and friends, they did their best to murder our President, to surprise the store, the fort, and our lodgings; to usurp the governement, and make us all their servants, and slaves to our owne merit: To 1000 mischiefes these lewd Captaines led this lewd company, wherein were many unruly gallants packed thether by their friends to escape il destinies: and those would dispose and determine of the governement, sometimes one, the next day another, to day the old commission, to morrow the new, the next day by neither. In fine, they would rule all or ruine all. Yet in charitie, we must endure them thus to destroy us; or by correcting their follies, have brought the worlds censure upon us, to have beene guiltie of their bloods. Happy had we bin had they never arrived, and we for ever abandoned and (as we were) left to our fortunes: for on earth was never more confusion or miserie then their factions occasioned.
The President seeing the desire those braves had to rule, seeing how his authoritie was so unexpectedly changed, would willingly have left all and have returned for England: but seeing there was smal hope this newe commission would arive, longer hee would not suffer those factious spirits to proceed. It would bee too tedious, too strange, and almost incredible, should I particularly relate the infinite dangers, plots, and practises hee daily escaped amongst this factious crue; the chiefe whereof he quickly laid by the heeles, til his leasure better served to doe them justice. And to take away al occa- sions of further mischiefe, Mr Persie had his request granted, to returne for England : and Mr West 1 with 120 went to plant at the falles ; Martin with neare as many to Nansamund ; with their due proportions of all provisions, according to their numbers.
Now the Presidents yeare being neere expired, he made Martin President: who knowing his own insufficiencie, and
1 Francis West, afterward deputy-governor of Virginia, a younger brother of Lord Delaware.
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the companies scorne, and conceit of his unworthinesse, within 3 houres, resigned it againe to Captane Smith: and at Nansa- mund thus proceeded. The people being contributers used him kindly. Yet such was his jealous feare and cowardize, in the midst of his mirth, hee did surprize this poore naked king, with his monuments, houses, and the Ile he inhabited; and there fortified himselfe, but so apparantly distracted with fear as imboldned the Salvages to assalt him, kill his men, redeeme their king, gather and carrie away more then 1000 . bushels of corne, hee not once daring to intercept them: but sent to the President, then at the Falles, for 30 good shotte, which from James towne immediatly were sent him. But hee so. well imploid them, as they did just nothing; but returned, complaining of his childishnesse, that with them fled from his company, and so left them to their fortunes.
Master West having seated his men at the Falles, presently returned to revisit James Towne. The President met him by the way, as he followed him to the falles: where he found this company so inconsiderately seated in a place, not only subject to the rivers inundation, but round invironed with many intollerable inconveniences.
For remedy whereof, he sent presently to Powhatan, to sell him the place called Powhatan, promising to defend him against the Monacans, and these should be his conditions : with his people, to resigne him the fort and houses and all that countrie for a proportion of copper. That allstealing offenders should bee sent him, there to receive their punishment. That every house as a custome 1 should pay him a bushell of corne for an inch square of copper, and a proportion of Pocones as a yearely tribute to King James for their protection, as a dutie : what else they could spare, to barter at their best discreation.
But both this excellent place and those good conditions did those furies 2 refuse, contemning both him, his kind care, and authoritie. The worst they could to shew their spite, they
1 Tax.
2 West's men.
0
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did. I doe more then wonder to thinke how only with 5 men, he either durst, or would adventure as he did (knowing how greedy they were of his blood) to land amongst them, and com- mit to imprisonment the greatest spirits amongst them, till by their multitudes, being 120, they forced him to retire. Yet in that retreate, hee surprised one of the boates, wherewith hee returned to their shippe wherein was their provisions, which also hee tooke. And well it chaunced hee found the marriners so tractable and constant, or there had beene small possibility he had ever escaped. Notwithstanding there were many of the best, I meane of the most worthy in Judgement, reason, or experience, that from their first landing, hearing the generall good report of his old souldiers, and seeing with their eies his actions so wel managed with discretion (as Cap- taine Wood, Captaine Web, Captaine Mone, Captaine Phitz- James, Mr Partridge, Mr White, Mr Powell, and divers others) : when they perceived the malice and condition of Ratliffe, Martin, and Archer, left their factions, and ever rested his faithfull friends. But the worst was, the poore Salvages that dailie brought in their contribution to the President. That disorderlie company so tormented those poore naked soules, by stealing their corne, robbing their gardens, beating them, breaking their houses, and keeping some prisoners, that they dailie complained to Captaine Smith he had brought them for protectors worst enimies then the Monocans themselves: which though till then, for his love, they had indured, they desired pardon, if hereafter they defended themselves, since he would not correct them, as they had long expected he would. So much they importuned him to punish their misdemeanores, as they offered, if hee would conduct them, to fight for him against them. But having spent 9. daies in seeking to reclaime them, shewing them how much they did abuse themselves with their great guilded hopes of seas, mines, commodities, or victories they so madly conceived; then, seing nothing would prevaile with them, he set saile for James Towne. Now no sooner was the ship under saile, but the Salvages assaulted those 120 in their fort, finding some stragling abroad in the
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woods, they slew manie; and so affrighted the rest as their prisoners escaped, and they scarse retired, with the swords and cloaks of these they had slaine. But ere we 1 had sailed a league, our shippe grounding, gave us once more libertie to summon them to a parlie. Where we found them all so strangelie amazed with this poore simple assault as they sub- mitted themselves upon anie tearmes to the Presidents mer- cie : who presentlie put by the heels 2 6 or 7 of the chiefe offenders. The rest he seated gallantlie at Powhatan in their . Salvage fort, they built and pretilie fortified with poles and barkes of trees sufficient to have defended them from all the Salvages in Virginia, drie houses for lodgings, 300 acres of grounde readie to plant; and no place so strong, so pleas- ant and delightful in Virginia, for which we called it Nonsuch. The Salvages also he presentlie appeased, redelivering to every one their former losses. Thus al were friends, new officers appointed to command, and the President againe readie to depart. But at that instant arrived Mr West, whose good nature, with the perswasions and compassion of 3 those muti- nous prisoners, was so much abused, that to regaine their old hopes, new turboiles 4 arose. For the rest, being possessed of al their victuall, ammunition and everie thing; they grow to that height in their former factions, as there the President left them to their fortunes : they returning againe to the open aire at West Fort, abandoning Nonsuch; and he to James Towne with his best expedition. But this hapned him in that Journie : 5
Sleeping in his boat, for the ship was returned 2 daies before, accidentallie one fired his powder bag; which tore his flesh from his bodie and thighes 9. or 10. inches square, in a most pittifull manner: but to quench the tormenting fire, frying him in his cloaths, he leaped over board into the deepe river, where ere they could recover him, he was neere drownd. In this estat, without either Chirurgeon or chirurgery, he was to
1 Richard Pott and William Phettiplace. 2 Put in irons.
3 By the persuasions of, and through his compassion for.
4 Dissensions. 5 About the beginning of September, 1609.
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go neare 100. miles.1 Ariving at James Towne, causing 2 all things to bee prepared for peace or warres,3 to obtain pro- vision. Whilest those things were providing, Martin, Ratliffe, and Archer being to have their trials, their guiltie consciences fearing a just reward for their deserts, seeing the President unable to stand, and neare bereft of his senses by reason of his torment; they had plotted to have murdered him in his bed. But his hart did faile him,4 that should have given fire to that mercilesse pistol. So, not finding that course to be the best, they joined togither to usurp the governement, thereby to escape their punishment, and excuse themselves by accusing him. The President had notice of their projects, the which to withstand, though his old souldiers importuned him but permit them to take of[f] their heads that would resist his commaund; yet he would not permit them: but sent for the masters of the ships, and tooke order with them, for his returne for England.
Seeing there was neither chirurgeon nor chirurgery in the fort to cure his hurt, and the ships to depart the next daie; his commission to be suppressed, he knew not why; himselfe and souldiers to be rewarded, he knew not how; and a new commission graunted, they knew not to whom, the which so disabled that authority he had, as made them presume so oft to those mutinies and factions as they did. Besides so grievous were his wounds and so cruell his torment few expected he could live; nor was hee able to follow his businesse, to regaine what they had lost, suppresse those factions, and range the countries for provision as he intended, and well he knew in those affaires his own actions and presence were as requisit as his experience and directions, which now could not be: he went presently abord, resolving there to appoint them govern- ours, and to take order for the mutiners and their confederates. Who seeing him gone, perswaded Master Persie to stay, and be their President: and within lesse then an howre was this mutation begun and concluded. For when the company
1 The distance by water from Powhatan to Jamestown was about 68 miles.
2 He caused. 3 After "warres" supply "and." 4 Coe or Dyer.
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understood Smith would leave them, and see the rest in Armes called Presidents and councellors; divers began to fawne on those new commanders, that now bent all their wits to get him resigne them his commission. Who, after many salt and bitter repulses, that their confusion should not be attributed to him (for leaving the country without government and au- thority), having taken order to bee free from danger of their malice, he was not unwilling they should steale it from him, but never consented to deliver it to any. But had that un- happy blast not hapned, he would quickly have quallified the heate of those humors and factions, had the ships but once left them and us to our fortunes; and have made that provision from among the Salvages as we neither feared Spanyard, Salvage, nor famine: nor would have left Virginia, nor our lawfull authoritie, but at as deare a price as we had bought it, and paid for it.
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