"Who builds his hope in air of your fair looks,
Lives like a drunken sailor on a mast."
_Richard III._
The new comers were Lawrence and Drummond, who, as will be recollected
by the reader, were left in Jamestown to watch the proceedings of the
Governor, and to convey to Bacon any needful intelligence concerning
them. Although he had, in the first impulse of triumph after receiving
his commission, confided fully in the promises of the vacillating
Berkeley, yet, on reflection, Bacon did not rely very implicitly upon
them. The Governor had once before broken his word in the affair of the
parole, promising to grant the commission which he craved, upon
condition of his confession of his former disloyal conduct and his
promise to amend. Bacon was not the man to be twice deceived, and it did
not therefore much surprise him to see the two patriots so soon after
his departure from Jamestown, nor to hear the strange tidings which they
had come to detail.
"Why, how is this, General?" said Lawrence. "You have had bloody work
already, it seems; and not without some loss to your own party."
"Yes, there they lie," returned Bacon. "God rest their brave souls! But
being dead, they yet speak--speak to us to avenge their death on the
bloody savages who have slaughtered them, and to proclaim the insane
policy of Berkeley in delaying our march against the foe. But what make
you from Jamestown?"
"Bad news or good, General, as you choose to take it," replied Lawrence.
"Berkeley has dissolved the Assembly in a rage, because they supported
you in your demand of yesterday, and has himself, with his crouching
minions, retired to Gloucester."
"To Gloucester!" cried Bacon. "That is indeed news. But what can the old
dotard mean by such a movement?"
"He has already made known his reasons," returned Lawrence. "He has
cancelled your commission, and proclaimed you, and all engaged with you,
as rebels and traitors."
"Why, this is infamous!" said Bacon. "Is the old knave such an enemy to
truth that it cannot live upon his lips for one short day? And who,
pray, is rash enough to uphold him in his despotism, or base enough to
screen him in his infamy?"
"It was whispered as we left," said Drummond, "that a certain Colonel
Henry Temple had avouched the loyalty of Gloucester, and prevailed upon
the Governor to make his house his castle, during what he is pleased to
term this unhappy rebellion."
"And by my soul," said Bacon, fiercely, "I will teach this certain
Colonel Henry Temple the hazard that he runs in thus abetting tyranny
and villainy. If he would not have his house beat down over his ears, he
were wise to withdraw his aid and support; else, if his house be a
castle at all, it is like to be a castle in Spain."
Hansford, who was an eager listener, as we may suppose, to the foregoing
conversation, was alarmed at this determination of his impulsive leader.
He knew too well the obstinate loyalty of Temple to doubt that he would
resist at every hazard, rather than deliver his noble guest into the
hands of his enemies. He felt assured, too, that if the report were
true, Virginia had accompanied her father to Gloucester, and his very
soul revolted at the idea of her being subjected to the disagreeable
results which would flow from an attack upon Windsor Hall. The only
chance of avoiding the difficulty, was to offer his own mediation, and
in the event, which he foresaw, of Colonel Temple refusing to come to
terms, he trusted that there was at least magnanimity enough left in the
old Governor to induce him to seek some other refuge, rather than to
subject his hospitable and loyal host to the consequences of his
kindness. There was indeed some danger attending such a mission in the
present inflamed state of Berkeley's mind. But this, Hansford held at
naught. Hastily revolving in his mind these thoughts, he ventured to
suggest to Bacon, that an attack upon Colonel Temple's house would
result in the worst consequences to the cause of the patriots; that it
would effect no good, as the Governor might again promise, and again
recant--and, that it would be difficult to induce his followers to
embark in an enterprise so foreign to the avowed object of the
expedition, and against a man whose character was well known, and
beloved by the people of the Colony.
Bacon calmly heard him through, as though struck with the truth of the
views he presented, and then added with a sarcastic smile, which stung
Hansford to the quick, "and moreover, the sight of soldiers and of
fire-arms might alarm the ladies."
"And, if such a motive as that did influence my opinion," said Hansford,
"I hope it was neither unworthy a soldier or a man."
"Unworthy alike of both," replied Bacon, "of a soldier, because the will
and command of his superior officer should be his only law--and of a
man, because, in a cause affecting his rights and liberties, any
sacrifice of feeling should be willingly and cheerfully made."
"That sacrifice I now make," said Hansford, vainly endeavouring to
repress his indignation, "in not retorting more harshly to your
imputation. The time may yet come when no such sacrifice shall be
required, and when none, I assure you, shall be made."
"And, when it comes, young man," returned Bacon, haughtily, "be assured
that I will not be backward in affording you an opportunity of defending
yourself--meantime you are under my command--and will please remember
that you are so. But, gentlemen," he continued, turning to the others,
"what say you to our conduct in these circumstances. Shall we proceed to
Powhatan, against the enemy of a country to which we are traitors, or
shall we march on this mendacious old Knight, and once again wipe off
the stigma which he has placed upon our names?"
"I think," said Lawrence, after a pause of some moments, "that there is
a good deal of truth in the views presented by Major Hansford. But,
could not some middle course be adopted. I don't exactly see how it can
be effected, but, if the Governor were met by remonstrance of his
injustice, and informed of our determination to resist it as such, it
seems to me that he would be forced to recant this last proclamation,
and all would be well again."
"And who think you would carry the remonstrance," said Bacon. "It would
be about as wise to thrust your head in a lion's mouth, as to trust
yourself in the hands of the old fanatic. I know not whom we could get
to bear such a mission," he added, smiling, "unless our friend Ingram
there, who having been accustomed to ropes in his youth, if report
speaks true, need have no fear of them in age."[38]
"In faith, General," replied the quondam rope-dancer, "I am only expert
in managing the cable when it supports my feet. But I have never been
able to perform the feat of dancing on nothing and holding on by my
neck."
"General Bacon," said Hansford, stepping forward, "I am willing to
execute your mission to the Governor."
"My dear boy," said Bacon, grasping him warmly by the hand, "forgive me
for speaking so roughly to you just now, I am almost ready to cut my
tongue out of my head for having said anything to wound your feelings.
But damn that old treacherous fox, he inflamed me so, that I must have
let out some of my bad humour or choked in retaining it."
Hansford returned his grasp warmly, perhaps the more ready to forgive
and forget, as he saw a prospect of attaining his object in protecting
the family of his friend from harm.
"But you shall not go," continued Bacon. "It were madness to venture
within the clutch of the infuriated old madman."
"Whatever were the danger," said Hansford, "this was my proposition, and
on me devolves the peril, if peril there be in its execution. But there
is really none. Colonel Temple, although a bigot in his loyalty, is the
last person to violate the rites of hospitality or to despise a flag of
truce. And Sir William Berkeley dare not disregard either whilst under
his roof."
"Well, so let it be then," said Bacon, "but I fear that you place too
much reliance on the good faith of your old friend Temple. Believe me,
that these Tories hold a doctrine in their political creed, very much
akin to the Papal doctrine of intolerance. 'Faith towards heretics, is
infidelity to religion.' But you must at least take some force with
you."
"I believe not," returned our hero, "the presence of an armed force
would be an insuperable barrier to a reconciliation. I will only take my
subaltern, Berkenhead, yonder, and that poor old negro, in whose
liberation I sincerely rejoice. The first will be a companion, and in
case of danger some protection; and the last, if you choose," he added
smiling, "will be a make-peace between the political papist and the
rebel heretic."
"Well, God bless you, Hansford," said Bacon, with much warmth, "and
above all, forget my haste and unkindness just now. We must learn to
forgive like old Romans, if we would be valiant like them, and so
'When I am over-earnest with you, Hansford,
You'll think old Berkeley chides, and leave me so.'"
"With all my heart, my noble General," returned Hansford, laughing, "and
now for my mission--what shall I say on behalf of treason to his royal
highness?"
"Tell him," said Bacon, gravely, "that Nathaniel Bacon, by the grace of
God, and the special trust and confidence of Sir William Berkeley,
general-in-chief of the armies of Virginia, desires to know for what act
of his, since such trust was reposed in him, he and his followers have
been proclaimed as traitors to their king. Ask him for what reason it is
that while pursuing the common enemies of the country--while attacking
in their lairs the wolves and lions of the forest, I, myself, am
mercilessly assaulted like a savage wild beast, by those whom it is my
object to defend. Tell him that I require him to retract the
proclamation he has issued without loss of time, and in the event of his
refusal, I am ready to assert and defend the rights of freemen by the
last arbiter between man and man. Lastly, say to him, that I will await
his answer until two days from this time, and should it still prove
unfavourable to my demands, then woe betide him."
Charged with the purport of his mission, Hansford shook Bacon cordially
by the hand, and proceeded to prepare for his journey. As he was going
to inform his comrade, old Lawrence gently tapped him on the shoulder,
and whispered, "Look ye, Tom, I like not the appearance of that fellow
Berkenhead."
"He is faithful, I believe," said Hansford, in the same tone; "a little
rough and free spoken, perhaps, but I do not doubt his fidelity."
"I would I were of the same mind," returned his companion; "but if ever
the devil set his mark upon a man's face that he might know him on the
resurrection morning, he did so on that crop-eared Puritan. Tell me,
aint he the same fellow that got his freedom and two hundred pounds for
revealing the insurrection of sixty-two?"
"The same, I believe," said Hansford, carelessly; "but what of that?"
"Why simply this," said the honest old cavalier, "that faith is like a
walking-cane. Break it once and you may glue it so that the fracture can
scarcely be seen by the naked eye; but it will break in the same place
if there be a strain upon it."
"I hope you are mistaken," said Hansford; "but I thank you for your
warning, and will not disregard it. I will be on my guard."
"Here, Lawrence," cried Bacon, "what private message are you sending to
the Governor, that you must needs be delaying our ambassador? We have a
sad duty to perform. These brave men, who have fallen in our cause, must
not be suffered to lie a prey to vultures. Let them be buried as becomes
brave soldiers, who have died right bravely with their harness on. I
would there were some one here who could perform the rites of
burial--but their requiem shall be sung with our song of triumph. Peace
to their souls! Comrades, prepare their grave, and pay due honour to
their memory by discharging a volley of musketry over them. I wot they
well loved the sound while living--nor will they sleep less sweetly for
it now."
By such language, and such real or affected interest in the fate of
those who followed his career, Nathaniel Bacon won the affection of his
soldiery. Never was there a leader, even in the larger theatres of
action, more sincerely beloved and worshipped--and to this may be
attributed in a great degree the wonderful power which he possessed over
the minds of his followers--moulding their opinions in strict
conformity with his own; breathing into them something of the ardent
heroism which inspired his own soul, and making them thus the willing
and subservient instruments of his own ambitious designs.
With sad countenances the soldiers proceeded to obey the order of their
general. Scooping with their swords and bayonets a shallow grave in the
soft virgin soil of the forest, they committed the bodies of their
comrades to the ground, earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to
dust--and as they screened their ashes forever from the light of day,
the "aisles of the dim woods" echoed back the loud roar of the unheard,
unheeded honour which they paid to the memory of the dead.
FOOTNOTES:
[38] He was in truth a rope-dancer in his early life.