peeces of ordenance mounted, and against a domestic noe other but a pale
inclosinge the Towne to the quantitye of foure acres, within which those
buildings that weare erected, coulde not in any man's judgement, neither
did stande above five yeares and that not without continuall
reparations; true it is that there was a Bricke Church intended to be
built, but not soe much as the foundation therof ever finished, but we
contentinge our selves with a church of wood answerable to those houses.
Many other workes of like nature weare by him donne at Henrico and the
precincts therof, but so slightly as before his departure hence, he
himself saw the ruine and desolation of most of them.
Sir Thomas Gates likewise in his time erected some buildinges in and
about James Towne, which by continuall cost in repaireinge of them doe
yet for the most part in some sort remaine.
A framed Bridge was alsoe then erected, which utterly decayed before the
end of Sir Thomas Smith's government, that being the only bridge (any
way soe to be called) that was ever in the country. At this time in all
these labours, the miserye throughout the wholl Collony, in the
scarcitye of foode was equall; which penurious and harde kinde of
liveinge, enforced and emboldened some to petition to Sir Thomas Gates
(then Governor) to grant them that favor that they might employ
themselves in husbandry, that therby they and all others by plantinge of
corne, might be better fed then those supplies of victual which were
sent from Englande woulde afforde to doe, which request of theirs was
denied unlesse they woulde paye the yearlye rent of three barrels of
corne and one monthe's worke to the Collonye, although many of them had
been imployed in the generall workes and services of the Collony from
the beginninge of the Plantation, which harde condition of Tenantship
was then accepted rather then they woulde continue in those generall
services and employments noe waye better then slavery. Most part of the
time that Sir Thomas Gates and Sir Thos. Dale governed we were at warre
with the natives, so that by them divers times were many of our people
slaine, whose blood Sir Thomas Dale neglected not to revenge, by divers
and sundry executions, in killinge many, cuttinge downe and takinge away
their corne, burninge their houses, spoiling their weares, &c.[HH]
[HH] "Their weares in which they take their fish, which are certain
enclosures made with reedes, and framed in the fashion of a laborinth or
maze, sett a fathome deepe in the water, with divers chambers or bedds,
out of which the entangled fish cannot returne or gett out, being once
in."--Strachey, p. 68.
In this time alsoe the two fortes, fort Henry and fort Charles, at
Kicoughton, were againe erected with such buildings as were formerly
expressed, not fortified at all against a forreine enemye, and against
the Indian that common order of a pale or pallisadoe.
The supplies sent out of Englande while Sir Thos. Gates and Sir Thos.
Dale governed were these; a small barque called the John and Francis,
which brought few men and less victual; the next a small ship called the
Sarah, with the like number of men and victuall; the next ship called
the Tresorer, wherin came Capt. Samuell Argoll, bringinge with him to
the number of fiftie good men, which ship and men were wholly imployed
in Trade and other services for relevinge of the Collonye; the next
ship, called the Elizabeth, with about thirteene persons, for them
little provision; the next the same Elizabeth came againe, with some
small store of provisions only; in her Sir Thos. Gates went for
Englande, leavinge the government with Sir Thomas Dale.
A little before the departure of Sir Thomas Gates many of the ancient
planters (by the instigation of Sir Thomas Dale), uppon the promise of
an absolute freedome after three yeares more to be expired (havinge most
of them already served the Collonye six or seaven yeares in that
generall slavery) were yet contented to worke in the buildinge of
Charles Citty and Hundred, with very little allowance of clothinge and
victuall, and that only for the first yeare, being promised one moneth
in the yeare, and one daye in the weeke from Maye daye till harvest, to
gett our maintenance out of the earth without any further helpe; which
promise of Sir Thos. Dale was not performed, for out of that small time
which was allowed for our maintenance we were abridged of nere halfe,
soe that out of our daily taskes we were forced to redeeme time wherin
to labour for our sustenance, therby miserably to purchase our freedome.
Yet so fell it out that our State (by God's mercy) was afterwardes more
happie then others who continued longer in the aforementioned slaverye;
in which time we built such houses as before and in them lived with
continual repairs, and buildinge new where the old failed, untill the
massacre.
For matter of fortification in all this time, were only foure peeces of
ordinance mounted for our defence against the natives. Soone after we
weare seated at Charles Hundred, Sir Thomas Dales resolved of a journey
to Pamonkey River, there to make with the Salvadges either a firme
league of friendship or a present warre; they percieving his intent
inclined rather for peace (more for feare then love) which was then
concluded betwixt them. That donne we retorned to our habitations, where
great want and scarcitye, oppressed us, that continuinge and
increasinge, (our first harvest not yet being ripe) caused in many an
intended mutinye, which beinge, by God's mercy, discovered, the prime
actors were duly examined and convicted, wherof sixe beinge adjudged and
condemned were executed.
After this, arrived for supply a small ship called the John and Francis,
with about twenty persons and little or noe provisions for them. The
next ship, called the Tresorer, arived heere with the number of twenty
persons and as little provisions as the former, in which ship after many
other designes were effected by Sir Thos. Dale, as makinge spoile of the
Keschiacks[II] and Wariscoyacks, impaling some necks of Lande, for
defence against the Salvadges, and in fishing for our reliefe, &c., he
departed from Virginia, and left the Government to Captain George
Yardley, under whom the Collony lived in peace and best plentye that
ever it had till that time, yet most part of the people for that yeare
of his Government continued in the generall services followinge their
labors as Sir Thos. Dale left them by order.
[II] Kiskiack (now Chescake--pronounced Cheesecake) on Smith's map is
located on the south side of the Pamunck (now York) river about the site
of Yorktown.--See Campbell, p. 66.
For Wariscoyack see footnote CC.
At Michaelmas followinge arrived a small ship called the Susan, her
lading (beinge the first Magazin) consistinge of some necessarye
provisions of clothinge, as our wants required, which goods were sould
by Sir Thos. Smith's factor, as we suppose, for a sufficient proffit,
exchanginge with us their commodities for our Tobacco.
At Christmas then followinge, just occasion beinge given by the Indians
of Chiquohomini in many and severall kindes of abuses, and in deridinge
of our demandes, wherunto they had formerly agreed and conditioned with
Sir Thomas Dale to paye us yearlye tribute, viz: a bushell of corne for
every Boweman, for which, by agreement, we were to give to each man one
peece of copper and one iron tomahawke, and to the eight chiefe men each
a suit of redd cloth, which clothes and truckinge stuffe we esteemed of
more worth then their corne. These and the like grosse abuses moved our
Governor, Captaine George Yeardley, to levye a company of men, to the
number of eighty-four, to bee revenged uppon those contemptuous Indians,
which he, accordinge to his desire, fully executed, and returned home
with the spoile of them; concludinge, before his departure from them, a
more firme league in appearance than formerly was, for that it continued
unviolated almost the space of two yeares; our people freely travelinge
from Town to Towne (both men, women and children) without any armes, and
were by the Salvadges lodged in their houses, every way kindly intreated
and noe way molested.
In March followinge, our three yeares' time beinge expired, as it was
our due, we of Charles Hundred demanded our long desired freedome from
that common and generall servitude; unto which request Captaine George
Yeardley, freely and willingly assented, to our great joy and comfort.
Yet remained the most part of the Collony in the former servitude; part
of whom were farmers, the rest imployed in such workes as Sir Thomas
Dale gave order for before his departure.
We that were freed, with our humble thankes to God, fell cheerfully to
our perticular labours, wherby to our great comfort, through his
blessinge, we reaped a plentifull harvest.
In May followinge arived Captain Samuell Argoll with commission to be
Governor. He brought with him to the number of a hundred persons, partly
at the charge of the Company and partly at the charge of private
adventurers; with them was brought a very little provision for that
nomber. At his arrival heere he founde the Collony in all parts well
stored with corne, and at Charles Hundred a granery well furnished by
rentes lately raised and received from the farmers, which corne he tooke
possession of, but how it was imployed himselfe can best give an
account. Whilest he governed, the Collony was slenderly provided of
munition, wherby a strict proclamation was made for restraint of
wastinge or shooting away of powder, under paine of great punishment;
which forbiddinge to shoot at all in our peeces caused the losse of much
of oure corne then growinge uppon the grounde; the Indians perceivinge
our forbearance to shoote (as formerly) concluded thereuppon that our
peeces were, as they saide, sicke and not to be used; uppon this, not
longe after they were boulde to presume to assault some of our people,
whom they slew, therin breakinge that league, which before was so fairly
kept.
Duringe his time of Government most of the people of the Collony
remained (as formerly) in the common service, their freedome not beinge
to be obtained without extraordinary payement.
The next ship that arrived heere was the George, sett forth, as we
supose, at the charge of private adventurers, but came soe meanly
provided with victuall, that had not we, the old Planters, relieved them
most of them had been starved. The next ships, called the Neptune and
Treasurer, arived in August followinge, set out at the charge of the
Right Hono^{ble} the Lord Laware, his noble associates, and some other
private adventurers. The people w^{ch} arived were soe poorely
victualled that had they not been distributed amongst the old Planters
they must for want have perished; with them was brought a most pestilent
disease (called the Bloody flux) which infected all most all the whole
Collonye. That disease, nothstanding all our former afflictions, was
never knowne before amongst us.
The next supply weare two ships called the William & Thomas and the
Guift, which arived in Januarie; the Guift beinge sett forth at the
charge of the Societie of Martin's Hundred, the other by the Magazin and
some private adventurers.
The next, a small ship called the Elinor (sett forth at whose charge we
know not), arived heere in Aprill after, and in her Capt. Samuell
Argoll, leaving his Government, shipt himselfe for Englande. Whatsoever
els befell in the time of his Government we omit to relate, much beinge,
uppon our oathes, alreadie sufficiently examined and our answers sent
for Englande.
By all which hath heertofore beene saide concerninge this Collony, from
the infancie therof and untill the expiration of Sir Thomas Smith's
government, may easily be perceived and plainly understood what just
cause he or any els have to boast of the flourishing estate of those
times, wherin so great miseries and callamities were indured, and soe
few workes of moment or importance performed, himselfe beinge justly to
be charged as a prime author therof, by his neglect of providinge and
alloweinge better meanes to proceede in so great a worke, and in
hindering very many of our frendes from sendinge much releife and meanes
who beinge earnestly solicited from hence by our letters--wherin we
lamentablie complained unto them--have often besought Sir Thomas Smith
that they might have leave to supplie us at their owne charge both with
provision of victuall and all other necessaries, wherin he utterlie
denied them so to doe, protestinge to them that we were in noe want at
all, but that we exceeded in abundance and plentie of all things, so
that therby our frendes were moved both to desist from sendinge and
to doubt the truth of our letters, most part of which weare by him
usually intercepted and kept backe; farther giveinge order by his
directions to the Governor heere, that all men's letters should be
searched at the goinge away of ships, and if in anye of them weare
founde that the true estate of the Collony was declared, they were
presented to the Governor and the indighters of them severely punished;
by which meanes noe man durst make any true relation to his frendes of
his owne or the Collonye's true estate; neither was it permitted to anye
to have passe to goe home, but by force were kept heere and employed as
we have saide (save some few), one of whom receved his passe from the
Kinge, and that closely made up in a garter, least it should have been
seized uppon and he kept heere notwithstandinge. Those whom their
frendes procured their passe in open courte from the Companye were, by
private direction, neverthelesse made staye of, others procuringe
private letters having been lett goe.
We must alsoe noat heere, that Sir Thos. Dale, at his arivall finding
himself deluded by the aforesaid protestations, pulled Capt. Newport by
the beard, and threatninge to hange him, for that he affirmed Sir Thos.
Smith's relation to be true, demandinge of him whether it weare meant
that the people heere in Virginia shoulde feed uppon trees.
Soe may we heere conclude, as some have concluded for him, to what great
growth of perfection (with the expence of that seaventie thousand
poundes) the Plantation was advanced in the time of his 12 years'
government, but whether, as it is saide, he be to be praised for the
managaing of these affaires, with much unanimity, moderation, integritie
and judgment, we leave it to censure.
At the end of this twelve yeares arived Sir George Yeardley to be Gov^r
and founde the Collony in this estate and thus furnished, vizt: For
fortification against a forreign ennemie there was none at all; two demy
culverin only were mounted uppon rotten carriages and placed within
James Citty, fitter to shoot downe our houses then to offend an ennemie.
At Charles Hundred, which were mounted by Sir Thos. Dale, two demy
culverin and one sacre; fortifications against a domestique enimie very
mean. For Forts, Towns and Plantations he founde these: James Citty,
Henrico, Charles Citty and Hundred, Shirley Hundred, Arrahattock, Martin
Brandon and Kicoughton, all w^{ch} were but poorely housed and as ill
fortified; for in James Cittie were only those houses that Sir Thom.
Gates built in the time of his government, with one wherin the Gov^r
allwayes dwelt, an addition beinge made therto in the time of Captaine
Sam^l Argoll, and a church, built, wholly at the charge of the
inhabitants of that cittie, of Timber, beinge fifty foote in length and
twenty foot in breadth; at Paspahayes alsoe weare some few slight houses
built; at Henrico, two or three old howses, a poore ruinated church with
some few poore buildings in the Island; Coxen Dale and the Maine and att
Arrahatocke one house, at Charles Cittie sixe howses much decayed, and,
that we may not be too tedious, as these, soe were the rest of the
places furnisht.
For people then alive about the nomber of foure hundred, very many of
them in want of corne, utterlie destitute of cattle, twine, Poultrie and
other Provisions to nourish them.
For Barques, Pinnaces, Shallops, Barges and Boates he founde only one
olde Frigott, which belonged to the Sommer Islandes, one olde Shallopp
built in Sir Thos. Dale's time, one boat built in Sir Sam'l Argoll's
time, with two small boates belonginge to private men. For munition a
very small quantitye, the most part thereof beinge very bad and of
little use. For ministers to instruct the people he founde only three
authorized, two others who never received their orders.
For staple commodities at his arrivall he founde none afoot save only
Tobacco. The natives he founde uppon doubtfull termes, neither did we
ever perceive that at any time they voluntarilie yealded themselves
subjects or servants to our Gracious Soveraigne, neither that ever they
tooke any pride in that title, nor paide they at any time any yearly
contribution of corne for the sustentation of the Collony, nor could we
at any time keepe them in such goode respect or correspondencie that
they and we did become mutuallie helpfull or proffitable, each to other,
but to the contrary, whatsoever at any time was done uppon them
proceeded from fear without love, for such help as we have had from them
have been procured by sworde or trade. And heere can we noe way approve
of that which hath lately beene saide in the behalfe of Sir Thos. Smith,
by some of his new frendes, that a flourishinge plantation in Virginia,
erected in the time of his 12 yeares government, hath since been
distroyed through the ignorance of succeedinge Governors heere, for that
by what we have already saide all the worlde may judge in what a
flourishinge estate it was, and to what growth of perfection it was
advanced, at the arivall of Sir Geo. Yeardley to be Gov^r here, it
beinge then in our judgements, that were members of the colony, in a
poore estate.
The whole 12 yeares expired.
_Aprill, 1619._--Arived Sir Geo. Yeardeley, bringing certain commissions
and instructions from the Company for the better establishinge of a
Commonwealth heere, wherin order was taken for the removing of all those
grievances which formerly were suffred and manifested the same by
publishinge a Proclamation that all those that were residend heere
before the departure of Sir Thos. Dale should be freed and acquitted
from such publique services and labours which formerly they suffered,
and that those cruell lawes by which we had soe longe been governed were
now abrogated, and that we were now to be governed by those free lawes
which his Ma^{ty's} subjects live under in Englande. And farther that
free libertie was given to all men to make choice of their dividents of
lande and, as their abilities and meanes w^d permitt, to possesse and
plant uppon them. And that they might have a hande in the governinge of
themselves, it was granted that a general assemblie should be helde
yearly once, wherat were to be present the Gov^r and Counsell with two
Burgesses from each Plantation freely to be elected by the inhabitants
thereof; this assembly to have power to make and ordaine whatsoever
lawes and orders should by them be thought good and proffittable for our
subsistance. The effect of which proceedinge gave such incouragement to
every person heere that all of them followed their perticular labours
with singular alacrity and industry, soe that, through the blessinge of
God uppon our willinge labors, within the space of three yeares, our
countrye flourished with many new erected Plantations, from the head of
the River to Kicoughtan, beautifull and pleasant to the spectators, and
comfortable for the releife and succor of all such as by occasion did
travaile by land or by water; every man giveinge free entertainment,
both to frendes or others. The plenty of these times likewise was such
that all men generally were sufficiently furnished with corne, and many
alsoe had plenty of cattle, swine, poultry and other good provisions to
nourish them. Monethly courtes were held in every precinct to doe
justice in redressinge of all small and petty matters, others of more
consequence beinge referred to the Gov^r, Counsell and Generall
Assemblie. Now alsoe were begunne and sett a foote the erectinge of Iron
Workes, plantinge of vines and mulberrie trees for the nourishinge of
silke wormes; a trial made for silke grasse tillage for English graine,
gardeninge, and the like, which gave great hopes of present and future
plenty in their severall perticulars, wherin no doubt but much more had
been effected had not great sicknes and mortalitie prevented.
Those yeares fallinge out to be generally contagious through this
continent, the people alsoe sent over arrived heere at the most
unseasonable time of the yeare, beinge at the heat of Sommer, and divers
of the ships brought with them most pestilent infections, wherof many of
their people had died at Sea, soe that these times alsoe of plenty and
libertie were mixed with the calamities of sicknes and mortalitie.
* * * * *
_In October, 1621_, Arived Sir Fras. Wyatt, Knight, with commission to
be Gov^r and Capt. Gen^l of Virginia. He ratified and confirmed all the
afore mentioned liberties, freedomes and priveledges, to our great
happines and content; the country alsoe flourished and increased in her
former proceedinges, as iron workes, plantinge of vines and mulberrie
for silke, &c. A ship alsoe was sent to the Summer Islandes for such
commodities as that place afforded, as Potatoes, Fig Trees, Orange and
Lemon Trees, and such like, many of which prosper and growe very likely
to increase. But amidst this happines was the Hande of God sett against
us, in great part, no doubt, for the punishment of our ingratitude in
not being thankefull but forgettfull that by his mercye we were
delivered from such bondage and calamitie as before time we had
suffered. Justly likewise were we punished for our greedy desires of
present gaine and proffit, wherin many showed themselves insatiable and
covetous; we beinge too secure in trustinge of a treacherous enimie, the
Salvadges, they, whilest we entertained them frendley in our houses,
tooke their opportunities and suddenly fell uppon us, killing and
murdering very many of our people, burninge and devastinge their houses
and plantations, this happeninge uppon the _two and twenteth of March_
followinge (1622), stroocke so at the life of our wellfare by blood and
spoile, that it almost generally defaced the beautie of the wholl
Collonye, puttinge us out of the way of bringinge to perfection those
excellent workes wherin we had made soe faire a beginninge.