USA > Virginia > Narratives of early Virginia, 1606-1625 > Part 29
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Captaine Hamer all this while not knowing any thing, comming to his Brother that had sent for him to go hunt with the King, meeting the Salvages chasing some yet escaped, retired to his new house then a building, from whence he came ; there onely with spades, axes, and brickbats, he defended him- selfe and his Company till the Salvages departed. Not long after, the Master from the ship had sent six Musketiers, with which he recovered their Merchants store-house, where he armed ten more; and so with thirtie more unarmed workmen, found his Brother and the rest at Baldwins. Now seeing all they had was burnt and consumed, they repaired to James
1 Brother of Captain Ralph Hamor.
2 Nathaniel Basse, who had his settlement at Basse's Choice on the west side of Pagan River Bay.
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Towne with their best expedition ; yet not far from Martins hun- dred, where seventy three were slaine, was a little house and a small family, that heard not of any of this till two daies after.
All those, and many others whom they have as mali- ciously murdered, sought the good of those poore brutes, that thus despising Gods mercies, must needs now as miscreants be corrected by Justice: to which leaving them, I will knit together the thred of this discourse.
At the time of the massacre, there were three or foure ships in James River, and one in the next; and daily more to come in, as there did within foureteene daies after ; one of which they in- devoured to have surprised : yet were the hearts of the English ever stupid, and averted from beleeving any thing might weaken their hopes, to win them by kinde usage to Christianitie. But divers write from thence, that Almighty God hath his great worke in this Tragedy, and will thereout draw honor and glory to his name, and a more flourishing estate and safetie to themselves, and with more speed to convert the Salvage children to himselfe, since he so miraculously hath preserved the English; there being yet, God be praised, eleven parts of twelve remaining,1 whose carelesse neglect of their owne safeties, seemes to have beene the greatest cause of their destructions: yet you see, God by a converted Salvage that disclosed the plot, saved the rest, and the Pinnace then in Pamaunkes River, whereof (say they) though our sinnes made us unworthy of so glorious a conversion, yet his infinite wisdome can neverthelesse bring it to passe, and in good time, by such meanes as we thinke most unlikely : for in the delivery of them that survive, no mans particular carefulnesse saved one person, but the meere good- nesse of God himselfe, freely and miraculously preserving whom he pleased.
The Letters of Master George Sands, a worthy Gentle- man, and many others besides them returned, brought us this
1 "Eleven parts of twelve" would be 3817 persons, which seems to be a great exaggeration. In March, 1622, there were only 1240 persons resident in Virginia, and of them 347 were killed by the Indians, March 22, which reduced the number to 893. Brown, First Republic, p. 464.
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363
unwelcome newes, that hath beene heard at large in publike Court, that the Indians and they lived as one Nation: yet by a generall combination in one day plotted to subvert the whole Colony, and at one instant, though our severall Plantations were one hundred and fortie miles up on River on both sides.
But for the better understanding of all things, you must - remember these wilde naked natives live not in great numbers together; but dispersed, commonly in thirtie, fortie, fiftie, or sixtie in a company. Some places have two hundred, few places more, but many lesse; yet they had all warning given them one from another in all their habitations, though farre asunder, to meet at the day and houre appointed for our destruc- tion at al our several Plantations; some directed to one place, some to another, all to be done at the time appointed, which they did accordingly. Some entring their houses under colour of trading, so tooke their advantage ; others drawing us abroad under faire pretences ; and the rest suddenly falling upon those that were at their labours.
Six of the counsell1 suffered under this treason, and the slaughter had beene universall, if God had not put it into the heart of an Indian, who lying in the house of one Pace, was urged by another Indian his Brother, that lay with him the night before, to kill Pace, as he should doe Perry which was his friend, being so commanded from their King: telling him also how the next day the execution should be finished. Perrys Indian presently arose and reveales it to Pace, that used him as his sonne; and thus them that escaped was saved by this one converted Infidell. And though three hundred fortie seven were slaine, yet thousands of ours were by the meanes of this alone thus preserved; for which Gods name be praised for ever and ever.
Pace upon this, securing his house, before day rowed to James Towne, and told the Governor of it, whereby they were prevented, and at such other Plantations as possibly intelligence could be given : and where they saw us upon our
1 These were George Thorpe, Nathaniel Powell, John Berkeley, Samuel Macock, John Rolfe, Michael Lapworth.
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guard, at the sight of a peece they ranne away; but the rest were most slaine, their houses burnt, such Armes and Munition as they found they tooke away, and some cattell also they destroied. Since, wee finde Opechankanough the last yeare 1 had practised with a King on the Easterne shore, to furnish him with a kind of poison, which onely growes in his Country to poison us. But of this bloudy acte never griefe and shame possessed any people more then themselves, to be thus butch- ered by so naked and cowardly a people, who dare not stand the presenting of a staffe in manner of a peece, nor an uncharged peece in the hands of a woman. (But I must tell those Authors, though some might be thus cowardly, there were many of them had better spirits.) 2
Thus have you heard the particulars of this massacre, which in those respects some say will be good for the Planta- tion, because now we have just cause to destroy them by all meanes possible : but I thinke it had beene much better it had never happened, for they have given us an hundred times as just occasions long agoe to subject them, (and I wonder I can heare of none but Master Stockam and Master Whitaker of my opinion.) Moreover, where before we were troubled in cleering the ground of great Timber, which was to them of small use: now we may take their owne plaine fields and Habitations, which are the pleasantest places in the Countrey. Besides, the Deere, Turkies, and other Beasts and Fowles will exceedingly increase if we beat the Salvages out of the Coun- trey : for at all times of the yeare they never spare Male nor Female, old nor young, egges nor birds, fat nor leane, in season or out of season; with them all is one. The like they did in our Swine and Goats, for they have used to kill eight in tenne more then we, or else the wood would most plentifully abound with victuall; besides it is more easie to civilize them by conquest then faire meanes; for the one may be made at once, but their civilizing will require a long time and much industry. The manner how to suppresse them is so often related and approved, I omit it here: And you have twenty 1 1621.
2 A comment by Smith.
1622]
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examples of the Spaniards how they got the West-Indies, and forced the treacherous and rebellious Infidels to doe all man- ner of drudgery worke and slavery for them, themselves living like Souldiers upon the fruits of their labours. This will make us more circumspect, and be an example to posteritie : (But I say, this might as well have beene put in practise sixteene yeares agoe as now).
Thus upon this Anvill shall wee now beat our selves an Armour of proofe hereafter to defend us against such incur- sions, and ever hereafter make us more circumspect: but to helpe to repaire this losse, besides his Majesties bounty in Armes he gave the Company out of the Tower, and divers other Honorable persons have renewed their adventures, we must not omit the Honorable Citie of London, to whose end- lesse praise wee may speake it, are now setting forward one hundred persons : and divers others at their owne costs are a repairing ; and all good men doe thinke never the worse of the businesse for all these disasters.
What growing state was there ever in the world which had not the like? Rome grew by oppression, and rose upon the backe of her enemies: and the Spaniards have had many of those counterbuffes, more than we. Columbus, upon his returne from the West-Indies into Spaine, having left his people with the Indies, in peace and promise of good usage amongst them, at his returne backe found not one of them living, but all treacherously slaine by the Salvages. After this againe, when the Spanish Colonies were increased to great numbers, the Indians from whom the Spaniards for trucking stuffe used to have all their corne, generally conspired together to plant no more at all, intending thereby to famish them ; themselves living in the meane time upon Cassava, a root to make bread, onely then knowne to themselves. This plot of theirs by the Spaniards oversight, that foolishly depended upon strangers for their bread,1 tooke such effect, and brought them to such misery by the rage of famine, that they spared no un-
1 " A lamentable example too oft approved [i.e., proved]," says the margin.
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cleane nor loathsome beast, no not the poisonous and hideous Serpents, but eat them up also, devouring one death to save them from another; and by this meanes their whole Colony well-neere surfeted, sickned and died miserably. And when they had againe recovered this losse, by their incontinency an infinite number of them died on the Indian disease, we call the French Pox, which at first being a strange and an unknowne malady, was deadly upon whomsoever it lighted. Then had they a little flea called Nigua, which got betweene the skinne and the flesh before they were aware, and there bred and multiplied, making swellings and putrifactions, to the decay and losse of many of their bodily members.
Againe, divers times they were neere undone by their ambition, faction, and malice of the Commanders. Columbus, to whom they were also much beholden, was sent with his Brother in chaines into Spaine; and some other great Com- manders killed and murdered one another. Pizzaro was killed by Almagros sonne, and him Vasco 1 beheaded; which Vasco was taken by Blasco, and Blasco was likewise taken by Piz- zaros Brother: And thus by their covetous and spightfull quarrels, they were ever shaking the maine pillars of their Common-weale. These and many more mischiefes and calami- ties hapned them, more then ever did to us, and at one time being even at the last gaspe, had two ships not arrived with supplies as they did, they were so disheartned, they were a leaving the Countrey : yet we see for all those miseries they have attained to their ends at last, as is manifest to all the world, both with honour, power, and wealth; and whereas before few could be hired to goe to inhabit there, now with great sute they must obtaine it ; 2 but where there was no hon- esty, nor equity, nor sanctitie, nor veritie, nor pietie, nor good civilitie in such a Countrey, certainly there can bee no stabilitie.
Therefore let us not be discouraged, but rather animated by those conclusions, seeing we are so well assured of the
1 By Vasco the writer means Vaca de Castro, Pizarro's successor as gov- ernor of Peru; by Blasco, the viceroy Blasco Nuñez Vela.
2 Permission to go.
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goodnesse and commodities may bee had in Virginia; nor is it to be much doubted there is any want of Mines of most sorts, no not of the richest, as is well knowne to some yet living that can make it manifest when time shall serve: and yet to thinke that gold and silver Mines are in a country otherwise most rich and fruitfull, or the greatest wealth in a Plantation, is but a popular error ; as is that opinion likewise, that the gold and silver is now the greatest wealth of the West Indies at this present. True it is indeed, that in the first conquest the Spaniards got great and mighty store of treasure from the Natives, which they in long space had heaped together; and in those times the Indians shewed them entire and rich Mines, which now by the relations of them that have beene there, are exceedingly wasted, so that now the charge of getting those Metals is growne excessive, besides the consuming the lives of many by their pestilent smoke and vapours in digging and refining them, so that all things considered, the cleere gaines of those metals, the Kings part defraied, to the Adventurers is but small, and nothing neere so much as vulgarly is imagined. And were it not for other rich Commodities there that inrich them, those of the Contraction House 1 were never able to subsist by the Mines onely; for the greatest part of their Commodities are partly naturall, and partly transported from other parts of the world, and planted in the West-Indies, as in their mighty wealth of Sugar canes, being first transported from the Canaries; and in Ginger and other things brought out of the East-Indies, in their Cochanele, Indicos, Cotton, and their infinite store of Hides, Quick-silver, Allum, Woad, Brasill woods, Dies, Paints, Tobacco, Gums, Balmes, Oiles, Medicinals and Perfumes, Sassaparilla, and many other phys- icall drugs: These are the meanes whereby they raise that mighty charge of drawing out their gold and silver to the great and cleare revenue of their King. Now seeing the most of
1 " Contraction " for "Contractation." The Casa de Contratacion at Seville was the India House of Spain, where the Board of Colonial Trade held its sessions and administered in economic respects the Spanish colonial empire.
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those commodities, or as usefull, may be had in Virginia by the same meanes, as I have formerly said; let us with all speed take the priority of time, where also may be had the priority of place, in chusing the best seats of the Country; which now by vanquishing the salvages, is like to offer a more faire and ample choice of fruitfull habitations, then hitherto our gentle- nesse and faire comportments could attaine unto.
The numbers that were slaine in those severall Plantations.
1 At Captaine Berkleys Plantation, himselfe and 21. others, seated at the Falling-Crick, 66. miles from James City. 22
2 Master Thomas Sheffelds Plantation, some three miles from the Falling-Crick, himselfe and 12. others. 13
3 At Henrico Iland, about two miles from Sheffelds Plantation. 6
4 Slaine of the College people, twenty miles from Henrico. 17
5 At Charles City, and of Captaine Smiths men. 5
6 At the next adjoyning Plantation. 8
7 At William Farrars house. 10
8 At Brickley hundred,1 fifty miles from Charles City, Master Thorp and 10
9 At Westover, a mile from Brickley. 2
10 At Master John Wests Plantation. 2
11 At Captaine Nathaniel Wests Plantation. 2
12 At Lieutenant Gibs his Plantation.
12
13 At Richard Owens house, himselfe and
6
14 At Master Owen Macars house, himselfe and 3
15 At Martins hundred, seven miles from James City. 73
16 At another place. 7
17 At Edward Bonits 2 Plantation. 50
18 At Master Waters his house, himselfe 3 and 4
19 At Apamatucks River, at Master Perce his Plantation, five miles from the College. 4
Berkeley Hundred. 2 Bennett's.
3 This was a mistake. Edward Waters escaped.
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SMITH'S GENERALL HISTORIE, BOOK IV. 369
20 At Master Macocks Divident, Captaine Samuel Macock and
4
21 At Flowerda hundred, Sir George Yearleys Plantation. 6
22 On the other side opposite to it. 7
23 At Master Swinhows house, himselfe and 7
24 At Master William Bickars house, himselfe and
4
25 At Weanock, of Sir George Yearleys people. 21
26 At Powel Brooke, Captaine Nathaniel Powel, and 12
27 At South-hampton hundred.
5
28 At Martin Brandons hundred.
7
29 At Captaine Henry Spilmans house.
2
30 At Ensigne Spences house.
5
31 At Master Thomas Perse his house by Mulbery Ile, himselfe and
4
The whole number 347.
Men in this taking bettered with affliction,
Better attend, and mind, and marke Religion,
For then true voyces issue from their hearts.
Then speake they what they thinke in inmost parts,
The truth remaines, they cast off fained Arts.
This lamentable and so unexpected a disaster caused them all beleeve the opinion of Master Stockam, and drave them all to their wits end. It was twenty or thirty daies ere they could resolve what to doe, but at last it was concluded, all the petty Plantations should be abandoned, and drawne onely to make good five or six places, where all their labours now for the most part must redound to the Lords of those Lands where they were resident. Now for want of Boats, it was impossible upon such a sudden to bring also their cattle, and many other things, which with much time, charge and labour they had then in possession with them; all which for the most part at their departure was burnt, ruined and destroyed by the Sal- vages. Only Master Gookins at Nuports-newes would not obey the Commanders command in that, though hee had scarce five and thirty of all sorts 1 with him, yet he thought
1 Boys and men.
2 B
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himselfe sufficient against what could happen, and so did to his great credit and the content of his Adventurers. Master Samuel Jorden gathered together but a few of the straglers about him at Beggers-bush, where he fortified and lived in despight of the enemy. Nay, Mistrisse Proctor, a proper, civill, modest Gentlewoman did the like, till perforce the English Officers forced her and all them with her to goe with them, or they would fire her house themselves; as the Salvages did when they were gone, in whose despight they had kept it and what they had, a moneth or three weeks after the Mas- sacre; which was to their hearts a griefe beyond comparison, to lose all they had in that manner, onely to secure others pleasures.
Now here in England it was thought,1 all those remainders might presently have beene reduced into fifties or hundreds in places most convenient with what they had, having such strong houses as they reported they had, which with small labour might have beene made invincible Castles against all the Salvages in the Land: and then presently raised a com- pany, as a running Armie to torment the Barbarous and secure the rest, and so have had all that Country betwixt the Rivers of Powhatan and Pamaunke to range and sustaine them; especially all the territories of Kecoughtan, Chiskact and Paspahege, from Ozenies to that branch of Pamaunke, com- ming from Youghtanund, which strait of land is not past 4. or 5. miles, to have made a peninsula much bigger then the Summer Iles, invironed with the broadest parts of those two maine Rivers, which for plenty of such things as Virginia affords is not to be exceeded, and were it well manured, more then sufficient for ten thousand men. This, were it well understood, cannot but be thought better then to bring five or six hundred to lodge and live on that, which before would not well receive and maintaine a hundred, planting little or nothing, but spend that they have upon hopes out of England, one evill begetting another, till the disease is past cure. There-
1 The margin has a note against this paragraph, "The opinion of Captaine Smith."
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fore it is impossible but such courses must produce most feare- full miseries and extreme extremities; if it prove otherwise, I should be exceeding glad. I confesse I am somewhat too bold to censure other mens actions being not present, but they have done as much of me; yea many here in England that were never there, and also many there that knowes little more then their Plantations, but as they are informed: and this doth touch the glory of God, the honour of my Country, and the publike good so much, for which there hath beene so many faire pretences, that I hope none will be angry for speaking my opinion; seeing the old Proverbe doth allow losers leave to speake, and Du Bartas 1 saith,
Even as the wind the angry Ocean moves, Wave hunteth Wave, and Billow Billow shoves, So doe all Nations justell each the other, And so one people doe pursue another, And scarce a second hath the first unhoused, Before a third him thence againe have roused.
Amongst the multitude of these severall Relations, it appeares Captaine Nuse 2 seeing many of the difficulties to ensue, caused as much Corne to be planted as he could at Elizabeths city, and though some destroyed that they had set, fearing it would serve the Salvages for Ambuscadoes, trusting to releefe by trade, or from England (which hath ever beene one cause of our miseries, for from England wee have not had much : and for trading, every one hath not Ships, Shalops, Interpreters, men and provisions to performe it; and those that have, use them onely for their owne private gaine, not the publike good), so that our beginning this yeere doth cause many to distrust the event of the next. Here wee will leave Captaine Nuse for a while, lamenting the death of Captaine Norton, a valiant industrious Gentleman, adorned with many good qualities, besides Physicke and Chirurgery, which for
1 Guillaume du Bartas, whose epic, La Création, translated into English by Joshua Sylvester, was one of the most popular poems of the time.
2 Captain Thomas Newce, a member of the Council.
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the publike good he freely imparted to all gratis, but most bountifully to the poore; and let us speake a little of Captaine Croshaw amongst the midst of those broiles in the River of Patawomeke.
Being in a small Barke called the Elizabeth, under the com- mand of Captaine Spilman, at Cekacawone,1 a Salvage stole aboord them, and told them of the Massacre ; and that Opechan- canough had plotted with his King and Countrey to betray them also, which they refused: but them of Wighcocomoco at the mouth of the river had undertaken it. Upon this Spilman went thither, but the Salvages seeing his men so vigilant and well armed, they suspected themselves discovered, and to colour their guilt, the better to delude him, so contented his desire in trade, his Pinnace was neere fraught; but seeing no more to be had, Croshaw went to Patawomek, where he in- tended to stay and trade for himselfe, by reason of the long acquaintance he had with this King that so earnestly entreated him now to be his friend, his countenancer, his Captaine and director against the Pazaticans, the Nacotchtanks,2 and Moyaons his mortall enemies. Of this oportunity Croshaw was glad, as well to satisfie his owne desire in some other pur- pose he had, as to keepe the King as an opposite to Opechan- canough, and adhere him unto us, or at least make him an instrument against our enemies ; so onely Elis Hill stayed with him, and the Pinnace returned to Elizabeths City ; here shall they rest also a little, till we see how this newes was entertained in England.
It was no small griefe to the Councell and Company, to understand of such a supposed impossible losse, as that so many should fall by the hands of men so contemptible; and yet having such warnings, especially by the death of Nemat- tanow, whom the Salvages did thinke was shot-free,3 as he had perswaded them, having so long escaped so many dangers without any hurt. But now to leape out of this labyrinth of melancholy, all this did not so discourage the noble adventurers, nor divers others still to undertake new severall Plantations ;
1 Chicacoan.
2 Nacostans.
3 Immune from shot.
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but that divers ships were dispatched away, for their supplies and assistance thought sufficient. Yet Captaine Smith did in- treat and move them to put in practise his old offer; seeing now it was time to use both it and him, how slenderly heretofore both had beene regarded, and because it is not impertinent to the businesse, it is not much amisse to remember what it was.1
The project and offer of Captaine John Smith, to the Right Honour- able and Right Worshipfull Company of Virginia.
If you please I may be transported with a hundred Souldiers and thirty Sailers by the next Michaelmas,2 with victuall, munition, and such necessary provision ; by Gods assistance, we would endevour to inforce the Salvages to leave their Country, or bring them in that feare and subjection that every man should follow their businesse securely. Whereas now halfe their times and labours are spent in watching and ward- ing, onely to defend, but altogether unable to suppresse the Salvages : because every man now being for himselfe will be unwilling to be drawne from their particular labours, to be made as pack-horses for all the rest, without any certainty of some better reward and preferment then I can understand any there can or will yet give them.
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