USA > Virginia > The generall historie of Virginia, New-England, and the Summer isles: with the names of the adventurers, planters, and governours, from their first beginning, an. 1584. To this present 1626. With the proceedings of those severall colonies > Part 4
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During this time, the Lady Rebecca, alias Pocahontas, daughter to Powhatan, by the diligent care of Master John Roffe her husband and his friends, as taught to speake such English as might well bee understood, well iustructed in Christianitie, and was become very formall and cinill after our English manner; shee had also by him a childe which she loued most dearely and the Treasurer and Company tooke order both for the maintenance of her and it, besides there were diuers persons of great ranke and qualitie had beene very kinde to her; and before she arrived at London, Captaine Smith to deserue ber former courtesies, made hor qualities knowne to the Queenes most excellent Maiestie and her Court, and writ a little booke to this effect to the Queene: An abstract wherof followeth.
To the most high and rertuous Princesse Queene Anne of Great Brittaine.
Most admired Queene,
THE loue I beare my God, my King and Countrie hath so oft emboldened mee in the worst of extreme dangers, that now honestie doth constraine mec presume thus farro bevond my selfe, to present your Maiestie this short discourse: if in- gratitude be a deadly poyson to all honest vertues, I must bee guiltie of that er me if I should omit any meanes to bee thankfull. So it is.
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Captaine Smiths relation to Queene Anne.
That some ten yeeres agoe being in Virginia, and taken prisoner by the power of Powhatan their chiefe King, I re- ceiued from this great Saluage exeeding great courtesie, es- pecially from his souve Nantagnaus, the most manliest, come - liest, boldest spirit, I euer saw in a Saluage, and his sister Pocahontas. the King's most deare and wel-beloued daughter, being but a childe of twelne or thirteene yceres of age, whose compassionate pitifull heart, of desperate estate, gau me much cause to respect her:, I being the first Christian this proud King and his grim attendants euer saw: and thus in- thralled in their barbarous power, I cannot say I felt the least occasion of want that was in the power of those my mortall foes to prevent, notwithstanding al their threats. After some six weeks fatting amongst those Saluage Courtiers, at the minute of my execution, she hazarded the beating out of her owne braines to saue mine, and not onely that, but so pre- uailed with her father, that I was safely conducted to hommes towne, where I found about eight and thirtie miserable poore and sicke creatures, to keepe possession of all those large territories of Virginia, such was the weaknesse of this poore Commonwealth, as had the Saluages not fed vs, we directly had starucd.
And this reliefe, most gracious Queene, was commonly brought vs by this Lady Pocahontas, notwithatanding all these passages when inconstant Fortune turned our prace to warre, this tender Virgin would still not spare to dare to visit vs, and by her our jarres have beene oft appeased, and our wants still suppdyed: were it the policie of her father thus to imploy her, or the ordinance of God thus to make her his instrument, or her extraordinarie affection to our Nation, I know now but of this I am sure; when her father with the rtmiost of his policie and power, sought to surprize mee, hau- ing but eight ene with mee, the dark night could not atiright her from comming through the irkesome woods. and with watered eies gane me intilligence, with her best aduice to escape his furie; which had hee knowne, hee had surely slaine her. lines towne with her wild traine she as freely frequeated, as her fathers ha citation: and during the time of two or three yceres, she next vnder God, was still the instru- ment to preserue this Colonie from death, famine and viter confusion, which if ju those times had once beene dissolned. Virginia might have line as it was at our first arrival to
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Concerning the Princesse Pocahontas.
this day. Since then, this businesse hauing beene turned and varied by many accidents from that I left it at: it is most certaine, after a long and troublesome warre after my depar- ture, betwixt her father and our Colonie, all which time shee was not heard of, about two yeeres after she her selfe was taken prisoner, being so detained neere two yeeres longer. the Colonie by that meanes was relicued, peace concluded. and at last reiecting her barbarous condition, was maried to an English Gentleman, with whom at this present she is in England; the first Christian cuer of that Nation, the first Virginian euer spake English, or had a childe in mariage by an Englishman, a matter surely, if my meaning bee truly considered and well understood, worthy a Princes vader- standing.
Thus most gracious Lady, I hauc related to your Majestic. what at your best leasure our approved Histories will ac- count you at large, and done in the time of your Maiesties: life, and howeuer this might bee presented you from a more worthy pen, it cannot from a more honest heart, as vet I no- uer begged any thing of the state, or any, and it is my want of abilitie and . her exceeding - desert, your birth, meanes, and authoritie, hir birth, vertue, want and simplici- tie, doth make mee thus bold, humbly to beseoch your Ma- iestie to take this knowledge of her, though it be from one so vnworthy to be the reporter, as myselfe, her husbands es- tate not being able to make her fit to attend your Maiestie: the most and least I can doe, is to tell you this, because none so oft hath tried it as myselfe; and the rather being of' so great a spirit, howeuer her stature: if she should not be well received, seeing this Kingdome may rightly haue a Kingdome by her meanes: her present loue to vs and Christianitie. might turne to such scorne and furio, as to diuert all this good to the worst of euill, where finding so great a Queene should doc her some honour more than she can imagine. for being so kinde to your seruants and subiects, would so rauish her with content, as endeare her dearest bloud to effect that. vour Maiestie and all the Kings honest subiects most car- nestlv desire: And so I humbly kisse your gracious bands.
Being about this time preparing to set saile for Non- Eng- land, I could not stav to dos her that sernice I desired, and shee well deserved; but hearing shee was at Branford with diners of my friends, I went to see her: After a modest
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Concerning the Princesse Pocahontas.
salutation, without any word, she turned about, obscured her face, as not seeming well contented; and in that humour her husband, with diuers others, we all left her two or three houres, repenting myself to haue writ shee could speake English. But not long after, she began to talke, and remen- bered mee well what courtesies shee had done: saving, You did promise Powhatan what was yours should bee his, and be 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 haue excused, I durst not allow of that title, because she was a Kings daughter; with a well set counte- nance 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 euer and euer your Countrieman. They did till vs al- waies you were dead, and I knew no other till I came to Pli- moth; yet Powchutun did command Vitamatomakkin to seeke you, and know the truth, because your Countriemen will lie much.
This Saluage, 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 Poi- moth, according to his directions, he got a long sticke, where- on by notches hee did thinke to haue kept the number of all the men bee could see, but he was quickly wearie of that taske: Comming to London, where by chance I met him, hauing renewed our acquaintance, where many were desi- rous to heare and see his bebauiour, hce told me Powhatan . did bid him to finde me out, to show him our God, the King, Queene, and Prince, I so much had told them of: Concern- ing 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 euer to have seene the King, till by circumstances he was satisfied he had: Then he replyed very sadly, You gauo Powhatan a white Dog, which Powhatan fed as himselfe. but your King gave me nothing, and I am better than Fou: white Dog.
The smal time I staid in London, Jiuers Courtiers and others, my a quaintances, hath gone with mee to see her. that generally concluded, they did thinke God had a great
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The government of Captaine Samuell Argall.
hand in her conversion, and they haue scene many English Ladies worse fauoured, proportioned and behauioured, and as since I haue heard, it pleased both the King and Queenes Maiestie honourably to esteeme her, accompanied with that honourable Lady the Lady De la Warre, and that honour- able Lord her husband, and divers other persons of good qual - ities, both publikely at the maskes and otherwise, to her great satisfaction and content, which doubtlesse she would haue deserued, had she liued to arriue in Virginia.
The gouernment deuolued to Captaine Samuel Ar- gall, 1617.
THE Treasurer, Councell and Cempanie, hauing well fur- nished Captaine Samuel Argall, the Lady Pocahontas alias Rebecca, her husband and others, in the good called the George, it pleased God at Gravesend to take this young La- dy to his mercie, where shee made not more sorrow for her vnexpected death, than ioy 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 vice-Admirall was gone before, but bee 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 Year- ley and his Companie in a martiall order, whose right hand file was led by an Indian. In Iames towne he found but fue or six houses, the Church downe, the Palizado's broken the Bridge in pieces, the Well of fresh water spoiled; the Store- house they vsed for the Church, the market-place, and streets, and all other spare places planted with Tobacco, the Salua- ges as frequent in their houses as themsclues, whereby, they were become expert in our armes, and had a great many in their custodie and possession, the Colonie dispersed all about, planting Tobacco. Captaine Argall not liking those pro- ceedings, altered them agreeable to his owne minde, taking the best order he could for repairing those defects which did exceedingly trouble "s; we were constrained euery yeere to build and repaire our old Cottages, which were alwaies a decaying in all place, of the Countrie, yea, the very Courts of Guard built by Sir Thomas Dale, was ready to fall, and Vol. 2-F
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The government of Sir Samuel Argall.
the Palizado's not sufficient to keepe out Hogs. Their num. ber of people were about 400. but not past 200. fit for hus- bandry and tillage: we found there in all one hundred twen- tie eight cattell, and fourescore and eight Goats, besides in- numerable numbers of Swine, and good plentie of Corne in some places, yet the next yeere the Captaine sent out a Fri- gat and a Pinnace, that brought vs neere six hundred bushels more, which did greatly relieue the whole Colonie: For from the tenants wee seldome had aboue foure hundred bushels of rent Corne to the store, and there was not remaining of the Companies companie, past foure and fiftie men, women and Children.
This yeere hauing 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 Georgc, being fiue moneths in her passage, proued very dadly conditioned, but ere she arriued, we had gathered and made vp our Tobacco, the best. at three shillings the pound, the rest at eighteene pence.
To supply vs, the Councell and Company with all possi- ble care and diligence, furnished a good ship of some two hundred and Giftie tunne, with two hundred people and the Lord la Ware. They set saile in Aprill, and tooke their course by the westerne Iles, where the Gouernour of the Ile of Saint Michael received the Lord la Ware, and honour- ably feasted him, with all the content hee could give him .--- Going from thence, they were long troubled with con- trary winds, in which time many of them fell very sicke, thirtie died, one of which number was that most hon- ourable Lord Gouernour the Lord la Ware, whose most no- ble and generous disposition, is well knowne to this great cost, bad beene most forward in this businesse for his Coun- tries good: Yet this tender state of Virginia was not growne to that maturitie, to maintaine such state and pleasures as was fit for such a personage, with so braut and great attendance: for some small number of aduenturous Gentlemen to make discoueries, and lie in Garrison, ready vpon any occasion to keepe in feare the inconstant Saluages, nothing were more requisite, but to have more to wait and play than worke, or more commanders and officers than industrious laborours was not so necess: rie: for in Virginia, a plaine Souldier that can sse a Pick-axe and spade, is better than five Knights although they
= sak
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The government of Sir Samuel Argall.
were Knights that could breake a Lance; for men of great place not inured to those incounters; when they finde things not sut- able, growmany times so discontented, they forget themselues, and of tbecome so carelesse, that a discontented melancholy brings them to much sorrow, and to others much miseric. At last they stood in for the coast of New-England, where they met a small Frenchman, rich of Beauers 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 themselues there with wood and water, as by the helpe of God thereby, hauing beene at. Sea sixteene weekes, got to Virginia, who without this re- liefe had heene in great danger to perish. The French-men made them such a feast, with such an abundandance of va- rietie of Fish, Fowle and Fruits, as they all admired, and lit- tle expected that wild wildernesse could affoord such wonder- full abundance of plentie. In this ship came about two hun- dred men, but very little prouision, and the ship called the Treasurer came in againe not long after with fortie passen- gers; the Lord la Wares ship lying in Virginia three moneths, wee victualled her with threescore bushels of Corne, and eight Hogsheads of flesh, besides other victuall she spent whilst they tarried there: this ship brought vs aduice that great multitudes were preparing in England to be sent, and relied much vpon that victuall they should finde here: where- upon our Captaine called a Councell, and 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 skil- full husbandmen, and meanes to set their Ploughs on worke, hauing as good ground as any man can desire, and about for- tie Bulls and Oxen, but they wanted men to bring them to labour, and Irons for the Ploughs, and harnesse for the Cat- tell. 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 Cat- tell and Rats in the Barne, but no better Corne could bee for the quantitie.
Richard Killingbeck being with the Captaine at Kekough- tan, desired leaue to returne to his wife at Charles hundred, 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
1744324
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36
A relation from Master Iohn Rolfe.
trade with the Indians of Chickahamania, where making shew of a great quantitie of trucke they had, which the Sal- uages perceiving, partly for their trucke, partly for reuenge of some friends they pretented should have beene slaine by Captaine Yearly, one of them with an English peece shot Killingbeck dead, the other Saluages assaulted the rest and sle :" them, stripped them, and tooke what they had: But fear- in : this murther would come to light, and might cause them to suffer for it, would now proceed to the perfection of vil- la 2: for presently they robbed their Machacomocko house of the towne. stole all the Indian treasure thereabout, and Red into the woods, as other Indians related. On Sunday fol - lowing, one Farfax 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; presently after came three or foure of those fugitiue Salua- ges, and 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 disas- aster the Captaine sent to Opechankanough for satisfaction, but excused the matter, as altogether ignorant of it, at the same time the Saluages that were robbed were complaining to Opechankanough, and much feared the English would bee reuenged on them, so that Opschankenough sent to Captaine Argall, to assure him the peace should neuer be broken by him, desiring that he would not reuenge the iniurie of those fugitiues vpon the innocent people of that towne, which towne he should haue, and sent him a basket of earth, as possession giuen of it, and promised so soone as possibly they could catch these robbers, to send him their heads for satis- faction, but he neuer performed it. Samuel Argall John Rolfe.
A relation from Master Iohn Rolfe, Iune 15. 1618.
CONCERNING the tate of our new Common-wealth, it is somewhat bettered, for we have sufficient to content our selues, though not in such abundance as is vainly reported in England. Powhatan died this last Aprill, yet the Indians
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The government of Sir George Yearly.
continne in peace. Itopatin his second brother succeeds him, aud both hee and Opechankanough haue 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, that none durst goe out of their doores, and though it tore the barke and leaues 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 priuate differences happened betwixt Captaine Bruster and Captaine Argall, and Captaine Argull and the Companie here in England; but of them I am not fully informed, neither are they here for any vse, and therefore vnfit to be remembred. In De- cember one Captaine Stullings, 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 vpon the coast, and thence re- turned to winter in Virginia.
The gouernment surrendered to Sir George Yearly -
FOR to begin with the yeere of our Lord, 1619. there ar- riued a little Pinnace priuatly from England about Easter for Captaine Argall, who taking order for his affaires, within foure or fiue daies returned in her, and left for his Deputy. Captaine Nathaniell Powell. On the eighteenth of Aprill, which was but ten or twelue daies after, arrived Sir George Yearley, by whom we understood Sir Edwin Sands was chosen Treasurer, and Master John Farrar his Deputy, and what great supplies was a preparing to be sent vs, which did ra- uish vs so much with ioy and content, we thought our selues now fully satisfied, for our long toile and labours, and as hap- py men as any in the world. Notwithstanding, such an ao- cident hapned Captaine Stallings, the next day his ship was cast away, and he not long after slaine in a priuate quarrell.
1
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The government of Sir George Yearly.
.
Sir George Yearly to beginne bis gouernment, 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 pro- pounded to haue a general assembly with all expedition .--- Vpon the twelfth of this Moneth, came in a Pinnace of Cap- taine Borgrauss, and on the seventeenth Captaine Lounes, and one Master Eaans, who intended to plant themselves at Waraskoyack, but nowy Ophechankanough will not come at vs, that causes vs suspect his former promises.
In May came in the Margaret of Bristoll, with foure and thirty mon, all well and in health, and also many deuout gifts, and we were much troubled in examining some scandalous letters sent into England, to disgrace this Country with bar- rennesse, to discourage the aduenturers, and so bring it and vs to ruine and confusion; notwithstanding, we finde by them of best experience, an industrious man not other waies im- ploied, 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, we baue ordinarily foure or fiue, but of new ground six, seuen. 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 prouide Corne for fine, and apparell for two by the profit of his Tobacco; they say also English Wheat will yeeld but six- teene bushels an aker, and we haue reaped thirty: besides to manure the Land, no place hath more white and blew Mar- ble than here, had we bat Carpenters to build and make Carts and Ploughs, and skilfull men that know how to vse them, and traine vp our cattell to draw them, which though we indeuour to effect, yet our want of experience brings but lit- tle to perfection but planting Tobaco, and yet of that many are so couetous to haue much, they make little good; besides there are so many so fisticating Tobaco-mungers in England, were it neuer so bad, they would sell it for Verinas, and the trash that remaineth should be Virginia, such deuilish 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 line came in the Triall with Corne and Cat- tell all in safety, which tooke from vs cleerely all feare of famine; then our gouernour and councell caused Burgesses
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A relation from Master Iohn Rolfe.
to be chosen in all places, and met at a generall Assembly, where all matters were debated thought expedient for the good of the Colony, and Captaine Wurd was sent to Mona- higan in new England, to fish in May, and returned the lat- ter end of May, but 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 seuen weekes. About the last of August came in a dutch man of warre that sold vs twenty Negars, and lupacous King of Patawomeck, came. to James towne, to desire two ships to come trade in his Riuer, 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 iealous the Saluages would surprze vs. The Gouernours haue bounded foure Corporations: which is the Companies, the Vniversity, the Gouernours and Gleabe land: Ensigne Wil. Spencer, and Thomas Barret a Sergeant, with some others of the ancient Planters being set free, we are the first farmers that went forth, and haue chosen places to their content, so that now knowing their owne land, they strive who should exceed in building and planting. The fourth of Nouember the Bond noua came in with all her people lusty and well; not long after one Master Dirmer sent out by some of Plimoth for Neu-England, arriued in a Barke of fiue tunnes, and returned the next Spring; notwithstanding the ill rumours of the vnwho!somnesse of James towne, the new commers that were planted at old Pas- paheghe, little more then a mile from it, had their healths better then any in the Country. In December Captaine Ward returned from Patawomeck the people there deal falsly with him, so that hee tooke 800. bushels of Corne from them perforee. Captaine Wodilife of Bristol came in not long after, with all his people lusty and in health, and we had two particular Goucruours sent vs, vader the titles of Depu- ties to the Company, the one to haue charge of the Colledge Lands, the other of the Companies: Now you are to vnder- stand, that because there have beene many complaints against the Gouernours, Captaines, and Officers in Virginia, for buy- ing and selling men and boies, or to bee ser ouer. from one to another for a yeerely rent, was held in England a thing most intollerable, or that the tenants or lawfull seruants should be put from their places, or abridged their Covenants,
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