Narratives of early Virginia, 1606-1625, Part 26

Author: Tyler, Lyon Gardiner, 1853-1935, ed. cn
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: New York, C. Scribner's Sons
Number of Pages: 520

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Being about this time preparing to set saile for New- England, I could not stay to doe her that service I desired, and she well deserved; but hearing shee was at Branford with divers of my friends, I went to see her. After a modest salutation, without any word, she turned about, obscured her face, as not seeming well contented; and in that humour her husband, with divers others, we all left her two or three houres, repenting my selfe to have writ she could speake English. But not long after, she began to talke, and remembered mee well what courtesies shee had done: saying, You did promise Powhatan what was yours should bee his, and he the like to you; you called him father being in his land a stranger, and by the same reason so must I doe you: which though I would have excused, I durst not allow of that title, because she was a Kings daughter; with a well set countenance she said,

Were you not afraid to come into my fathers Countrie, and caused feare in him and all his people (but mee), and feare you here I should call you father ; I tell you then I will, and you shall call mee childe, and so I will bee for ever and ever your Countrieman. They did tell us alwaies you were dead, and I knew no other till I came to

1 Pocahontas was, therefore, not tall.

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Plimoth; yet Powhatan did command Uttamatomakkin to seeke you, and know the truth, because your Countriemen will lie much.

This Salvage, one of Powhatans Councell, being amongst them held an understanding fellow; the King purposely sent him, as they say, to number the people here, and informe him well what wee were and our state. Arriving at Plimoth, according to his directions, he got a long sticke, whereon by notches hee did thinke to have kept the number of all the men hee could see, but he was quickly wearie of that taske. Comming to London, where by chance I met him, having renewed our acquaintance, where many were desirous to heare and see his behaviour, hee told me Powhatan did bid him to finde me out, to shew him our God, the King, Queene, and Prince, I so much had told them of. Concerning God, I told him the best I could, the King I heard he had seene, and the rest hee should see when he would; he denied ever to have seene the King, till by circumstances he was satisfied he had: Then he replyed very sadly, You gave Powhatan a white Dog, which Powhatan fed as himselfe ; but your King gave me noth- ing, and I am better than your white Dog.

The same time I staid in London, divers Courtiers and others, my acquaintances, hath gone with mee to see her, that generally concluded, they did thinke God had a great hand in her conversion, and they have seene many English Ladies worse favoured, proportioned, and behavioured; and as since I have heard, it pleased both the King and Queenes Majestie honourably to esteeme her, accompanied with that honourable Lady the Lady De la Ware, and that honourable Lord her husband, and divers other persons of good qualities, both publikely at the maskes and otherwise, to her great satis- faction and content, which doubtlesse she would have deserved, had she lived to arrive in Virginia.

The government devolved to Captaine Samuel Argall, 1617.

The Treasurer, Councell and Companie, having well fur- nished Captaine Samuel Argall, the Lady Pocahontas alias

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Rebecca, with her husband and others, in the good ship called the George; it pleased God at Gravesend 1 to take this young Lady to his mercie, where shee made not more sorrow for her unexpected death, than joy to the beholders to heare and see her make so religious and godly an end. Her little childe Thomas Rolfe therefore was left at Plimoth with Sir Lewis Stukly, that desired the keeping of it. Captaine Hamar his 2 vice-Admirall was gone before, but hee found him at Plimoth. In March they set saile 1617. and in May he arrived at James towne, where hee was kindly entertained by Captaine Yearley and his Companie in a martiall order, whose right hand file was led by an Indian. In James towne he found but five or six houses, the Church downe, the Palizado's broken, the Bridge in pieces, the Well of fresh water spoiled; the Store-house they used for the Church; the market-place, and streets, and all other spare places planted with Tobacco: the Salvages as frequent in their houses as themselves, whereby they were become expert in our armes, and had a great many in their cus- todie and possession ; the Colonie dispersed all about, planting Tobacco. Captaine Argall not liking those proceedings, altered them agreeable to his owne minde, taking the best order he could for repairing those defects which did exceed- ingly trouble us; we were constrained every yeere to build and repaire our old Cottages, which were alwaies a decaying in all places of the Countrie: yea, the very Courts of Guard built by Sir Thomas Dale, was ready to fall, and the Palizado's not sufficient to keepe out Hogs. Their number of people were about 400. but not past 200. fit for husbandry and tillage: we found there in all one hundred twentie eight cattell, and foure- score and eight Goats, besides innumerable numbers of Swine, and good plentie of Corne in some places, yet the next yeere 3 the Captaine sent out a Frigat and a Pinnace, that brought us neere six hundred bushels more, which did greatly relieve the whole Colonie. For from the tenants wee seldome had above foure hundred bushels of rent Corne to the store, and there was

1 It is lately reported (July, 1907) that her grave and skeleton have been found there. 2 Argall's. 3 1618.

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not remaining of the Companies companie, past foure and fiftie men women and Children.

This yeere 1 having planted our fields, came a great drought ; and such a cruell storme of haile, which did such spoile both to the Corne and Tobacco, that wee reaped but small profit: the Magazine that came in the George, being five moneths in her passage, proved very badly conditioned; but ere she arrived, we had gathered and made up our Tobacco, the best at three shillings the pound, the rest at eighteene pence.

To supply us, the Councell and Company with all possible care and diligence, furnished a good ship of some two hundred and fiftie tunne, with two hundred people and the Lord la Ware. They set saile in Aprill, and tooke their course by the westerne Iles,2 where the Governour of the Ile of Saint Michael received the Lord la Ware, and honourably feasted him, with all the content hee could give him. Going from thence, they were long troubled with contrary winds, in which time many of them fell very sicke ; thirtie died, one of which number was that most honourable Lord Governour the Lord la Ware, whose most noble and generous disposition is well knowne to his great cost, had beene most forward in this businesse for his Countries good. Yet this tender state of Virginia was not growne to that maturitie, to maintaine such state and pleasure as was fit for such a personage, with so brave and great at- tendance: for some small number of adventrous Gentlemen to make discoveries, and lie in Garrison ready upon any occa- sion to keepe in feare the inconstant Salvages, nothing were more requisite ; but to have more to wait and play than worke, or more commanders and officers than industrious labourers was not so necessarie. For in Virginia, a plaine Souldier that can use a Pick-axe and spade, is better than five Knights, although they were Knights that could breake a Lance: for men of great place, not inured to those incounters, when they finde things not sutable, grow many times so discontented, they forget themselves, and oft become so carelesse, that a dis-

1 Marginal reading, "1618. Sir Thomas Smith Treasurer." 2 Azores.

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contented melancholy brings them to much sorrow, and to others much miserie.

At last they stood in for the coast of New-England; where they met a small Frenchman,1 rich of Bevers and other Furres. Though wee had here but small knowledge of the coast nor countrie; yet they tooke such an abundance of Fish and Fowle, and so well refreshed themselves there with wood and water, as by the helpe of God thereby, having beene at Sea sixteene weekes, got to Virginia, who without this reliefe had beene in great danger to perish. The French-men made them such a feast, with such an abundance of varietie of Fish, Fowle and Fruits, as they all admired, and little expected that wild wildernesse could affoord such wonderfull abundance of plentie. In this ship came about two hundred men, but very little provision: and the ship called the Treasurer came in againe not long after with fortie passengers. The Lord la Wares ship lying in Virginia three moneths,2 wee victualled her with threescore bushels of Corne, and eight Hogsheads of flesh, besides other victuall she spent whilest they tarried there: this ship brought us advice that great multitudes were a preparing in England to bee sent, and relied much upon that victuall they should finde here: whereupon our Captaine 3 called a Councell, and writ to the Councell here in England the estate of the Colonie, and what a great miserie would insue, if they sent not provision as well as people; and what they did suffer for want of skilfull husbandmen, and meanes to set their Ploughs on worke: having as good ground as any man can desire, and about fortie Bulls and Oxen; but they wanted men to bring them to labour, and Irons for the Ploughs, and harnesse for the Cattell. Some thirtie or fortie acres wee had sowne with one Plough, but it stood so long on the ground before it was reaped, it was most shaken; and the rest spoiled with the Cattell and Rats in the Barne, but no better Corne could bee for the quantitie.

1 A small French ship.

2 From August to November, 1618. 3 Samuel Argall.

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Richard Killingbeck being with the Captaine at Kekough- tan, desired leave to returne to his wife at Charles hundred,1 hee went to James towne by water, there he got foure more to goe with him by land, but it proved that he intended to goe trade with the Indies 2 of Chickahamania: where. making shew of the great quantitie of trucke they had, which the Salvages perceiving, partly for their trucke, partly for revenge of some friends they pretended should have beene slaine by Captaine Yearley; one of them with an English peece shot Killingbeck dead, the other Salvages assaulted the rest and slew them, stripped them, and tooke what they had. But fearing this murther would come to light, and might cause them to suffer for it, would now proceed to the perfection of villanie; for presently they robbed their Machacomocko house 3 of the towne, stole all the Indian treasure thereout, and fled into the woods, as other Indians related. On Sunday follow- ing, one Fairfax 4 that dwelt a mile from the towne, going to Church, left his wife and three small children safe at home, as he thought, and a young youth : she supposing praier to be done, left the children, and went to meet her husband; pres- ently after came three or foure of those fugitive Salvages, entred the house, and slew a boy and three children : and also another youth that stole out of the Church in praier time, meeting them, was likewise murdered. Of this disaster the Captaine sent to Opechankanough for satisfaction, but he excused the matter, as altogether ignorant of it; at the same time the Salvages that were robbed were complaining to Opechankanough, and much feared the English would bee revenged on them; so that Opechankanough sent to Captaine

2 Indians.

1 Bermuda Hundred.

3 "Their Church and Storehouse," says the margin.

4 In 1620 William Fairfax, yeoman and ancient planter, who "has re- mained 8 years in the country, and Margery, his wife, an old planter also that came into the country, married to said Fairfax," sold to Rev. Richard Buck twelve acres of land a mile from Jamestown, in the eastern part of the island, on which were "a dwelling house and another little house." (Virginia Land Grants.) In 1622 he was killed by the Indians, while living at the house of Ensign William Spence in Archer's Hope.

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Argall, to assure him the peace should never be broken by him, desiring that he would not revenge the injurie of those fugitives upon the innocent people of that towne; which towne he should have, and sent him a basket of earth, as possession given of it, and promised, so soone as possibly they could catch these rob- bers, to send him their heads for satisfaction, but he never per- formed it.

SAMUEL ARGALL, JOHN ROLFE. A relation from Master John Rolfe, June 15, 1618.

Concerning the state of our new Common-wealth, it is somewhat bettered, for we have sufficient to content our selves, though not in such abundance as is vainly reported in England. Powhatan died this last Aprill, yet the Indians continue in peace. Itopatin his second brother succeeds him, and both hee and Opechankanough have confirmed our former league. On the eleventh of May, about ten of the clocke in the night, happened a most fearefull tempest, but it continued not past halfe an houre, which powred downe hailestones eight or nine inches about,1 that none durst goe out of their doores, and though it tore the barke and leaves of the trees, yet wee finde not they hurt either man or beast; it fell onely about James towne, for but a mile to the East, and twentie to the West there was no haile at all. Thus in peace every man followed his building and planting without any accidents worthy of note. Some private differences happened betwixt Captaine Bruster and Captaine Argall, and Captaine Argall and the Companie here in England; but of them I am not fully in- formed, neither are they here for any use, and therefore unfit to be remembered.2 In December 3 one Captaine Stallings,

1 Such storms were apparently more frequent in colonial days than in later times. There is record of a storm in 1667, which poured down hail- stones so large that they beat holes in the roofs of the houses.

2 Particulars of the suit of Brewster against Argall and of the relations between Argall and the company in London, may be found in the first volume of the Records of the Virginia Company (Washington, 1906), published by the Library of Congress from the manuscript in its possession. For the period 1619-1624, these records are the chief and authoritative source for the his- tory of the Virginia Company. 3 1617.

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SAMUEL ARGALL, JOHN ROLFE. A relation from Master John Rolfe, June 15, 1618.

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SMITH'S GENERALL HISTORIE, BOOK IV.

an old planter in those parts, being imployed by them of the West countrie for a fishing voyage in New-England, fell foule of a Frenchman whom hee tooke, leaving his owne ship to returne for England, himselfe with a small companie remained in the French barke, some small time after upon the coast, and thence returned to winter in Virginia.

The government surrendered to Sir George Yearley.

For to begin with the yeere of our Lord, 1619,1 there arrived a little Pinnace privatly from England about Easter 2 for Captaine Argall; who taking order for his affaires, within foure or five daies returned in her, and left for his Deputy, Captaine Nathaniel Powell. On the eighteenth of Aprill, which was but ten or twelve daies after, arrived Sir George Yearley, by whom we understood Sir Edwin Sandys was chosen Treasurer, and Master John Farrar his Deputy; and what great supplies was a preparing to be sent us, which did ravish us so much with joy and content, we thought our selves now fully satisfied for our long toile and labours, and as happy men as any in the world. Notwithstanding, such an accident hapned Captaine Stallings, the next day his ship was cast away, and he not long after slaine in a private quarrell. Sir George Yearly to beginne his government, added to be of his councell, Captaine Francis West, Captaine Nathaniel Powell, Master John Pory, Master John Rolfe, and Master William Wickam, and Master Samuel Macocke, and propounded to have a generall assembly with all expedition. Upon the twelfth of this Moneth, came in a Pinnace of Captaine Bar-

1 The margin reads, "1619. Sir Edwin Sands [Sandys, then pronounced Sands] Treasurer. Master John Farer [Ferrar] Deputie." This marks a great turning-point in the history of the Virginia Company, Sir Thomas Smith and his party being defeated in the spring election, and the opposite party becoming dominant, under the leadership of the Earl of Southampton, Sir Edwin Sandys, and the Ferrars, John and Nicholas. The history of all these struggles may be traced in E. D. Neill's Virginia Company of London (Albany, 1869), and in the Records of the Virginia Company.

2 Easter Sunday (old style) was March 28, in 1619.

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graves; 1 and on the seventeenth Captaine Lownes,2 and one Master Evans, who intended to plant themselves at Wara- skoyack : but now Ophechankanough will not come at us, that causes us suspect his former promises.

In May came in the Margaret of Bristoll, with foure and thirty men, all well and in health; and also many devout gifts: and we were much troubled in examining some scan- dalous letters sent into England, to disgrace this Country with barrennesse, to discourage the adventurers, and so bring it and us to ruine and confusion. Notwithstanding, we finde by them of best experience, an industrious man not other waies imploied, may well tend foure akers of Corne, and 1000. plants of Tobacco; and where they say an aker will yeeld but three or foure barrels,3 we have ordinarily foure or five, but of new ground six, seven, and eight, and a barrell of Pease and Beanes, which we esteeme as good as two of Corne, which is after thirty or forty bushels an aker, so that one man may provide Corne for five; and apparell for two by the profit of his Tobacco. They say also English Wheat will yeeld but sixteene bushels an aker, and we have reaped thirty : besides to manure the Land, no place hath more white and blew Marble 4 than here, had we but Carpenters to build and make Carts and Ploughs, and skilfull men that know how to use them, and traine up our cattell to draw them; which though we indevour to effect, yet our want of experience brings but little to per- fection but planting Tobaco. And yet of that, many are so covetous to have much, they make little good; besides there are so many sofisticating Tobaco-mungers in England, were it never so bad, they would sell it for Verinas,5 and the trash that remaineth should be Virginia : such devilish bad mindes we know some of our owne Country-men doe beare, not onely to the businesse, but also to our mother England her selfe; could they or durst they as freely defame her.

The 25. of June came in the Triall with Corne and Cattell

1 Captain George Bargrave. 2 Captain Christopher Lawne.

3 " A barrell they account foure bushels," says the margin.

4 Marl.

5 A high-grade Cuban tobacco.

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all in safety, which tooke from us cleerely all feare of famine; then our governour and councell caused Burgesses to be chosen in all places, and met at a generall Assembly, where all matters were debated thought 1 expedient for the good of the Colony, and Captaine Ward was sent to Monahigan 2 in new England, to fish in May, and returned the latter end of May, but to small purpose, for they wanted Salt. The George also was sent to New-found-land with the Cape Merchant: there she bought fish, that defraied her charges, and made a good voyage in seven weekes. About the last of August came in a dutch man of warre that sold us twenty Negars: 3 and Japa- zous King of Patawomeck, came to James towne, to desire two ships to come trade in his River, for a more plentifull yeere of Corne had not beene in a long time, yet very contagious, and by the trechery of one Poule, in a manner turned heathen, wee were very jealous 4 the Salvages would surprize us. The Governours have bounded foure Corporations; 5 which is 6 the Companies, the University, the Governours and Gleabe land. Ensigne Wil. Spencer, and Thomas Barret a Sergeant, with some others of the ancient Planters being set free, weare the first farmers that went forth; and have chosen places to their content: so that now knowing their owne land, they strive who should exceed in building and planting. The fourth of November, the Bona nova came in with all her people lusty and well; not long after one Master Dirmer 7 sent out by some

1 That were thought. This is the general assembly whose records have been printed on previous pages of this volume, pp. 245-278.

2 Monhegan Island, off the coast of Maine.

3 This was the first introduction of negro slavery into Virginia. See Ballagh, History of Slavery in Virginia, pp. 6-9, and p. 282, ante.

4 Fearful.

5 Elizabeth City, James City, Charles City, and Henrico. See Tyler, The Cradle of the Republic, pp. 117, 118.

6 In which are, etc. Sir Edwin Sandys had this spring proposed a uni- versity or college for Virginia, and a grant of land at Henrico had been made for its support.

7 Thomas Dermer during this voyage sailed up the Hudson River, and after visiting Virginia sailed to England, where he brought news of the Dutch trading posts on the Hudson, and the value of the fur trade. Therefore

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of Plimoth for New-England, arrived in a Barke of five tunnes, and returned the next Spring. Notwithstanding the ill rumours of the unwholsomnesse of James towne, the new commers that were planted at old Paspaheghe,1 little more then a mile from it, had their healths better then any in the Country. In December, Captaine Ward returned from Pata- womeck, the people there dealt falsly with him, so that hee tooke 800. bushels of Corne from them perforce. Captaine Woddiffe 2 of Bristol came in not long after, with all his people lusty and in health: and we had two particular Governours sent us, under the titles of Deputies to the Company, the one to have charge of the Colledge Lands, the other of the Com- panies.3 Now you are to understand, that because there have beene many complaints against the Governors, Captaines, and Officers in Virginia: for buying and selling men and boies, or to bee set over from one to another for a yeerely rent, was held in England a thing most intolerable; or that the tenants or lawfull servants should be put from their places, or abridged their Covenants, was so odious, that the very report thereof brought a great scandall to the generall action. The Councell in England did send many good and worthy instructions for the amending of those abuses, and appointed a hundred men should at the Companies charge be allotted and provided to serve and attend the Governour during the time of his govern- ment, which number he was to make good at his departure,

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Narratives of early Virginia, 1606-1625, Part 26

Author: Tyler, Lyon Gardiner, 1853-1935, ed. cn Publication date: 1907 Publisher: New York, C. Scribner's Sons Number of Pages: 520

Author: Tyler, Lyon Gardiner, 1853-1935, ed. cn
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: New York, C. Scribner's Sons
Number of Pages: 520