their destructions yet you see God by a conuerted Saluage that disclosed the plot saued the rest and the Pinnace then in Pamavukes Riuer whereof say they though our sinnes made vs vnworthy of so glorious a conuersion yet his infinite wisdome can neuerthelesse bring it to passe and in good time by such meanes as we thinke most vnlikely for in the deliuery of them that suruiue no mans particular carefulnesse saued one person but the meere goodnesse of God himselfe freely and miraculously preseruing whom he pleased The Letters of Master George Sands a worthy Gentleman and many others besides them returned brought vs this vnwelcome newes that hath beene heard at large in publike Court that the Indians and they liued as one Nation yet by a generall combination in one day plotted to subuert the whole Colony and at one instant though our seuerall Plantations were one hundred and fortie miles vp on Riuer on both sides But for the better vnderstanding of all things you must remember these wilde naked natiues liue not in great numbers together â—â—t dispersed commonly in thirtie fortie fiftie or sixtie in a company Some places haue two hundred few places more but many lesse yet they had all warning giuen them one from another in all their habitations though farre asunder to meet at the day and houre appointed for our destruction at al our seueral 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 vnder colour of trading so tooke their aduantage others drawing vs abroad vnder faire pretences and the rest suddenly falling vpon those that were at their labours Six of the counsell suffered vnder this treason and the slaughter had beene vniuersall if God had not put it into the heart of an Indian who lying in the house of one Pace was vrged 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 reueales it to Pace that vsed him as his sonne and thus them that escaped was saued by this one conuerted Infidell And though three hundred fortie seuen were slaine yet thousands of ours were by the meanes of this alone thus preserued for which Gods name be praised for euer and euer Pace vpon this securing his house before day rowed to Iamâ—s Towne and told the Gouernor of it whereby they were preuented and at such other Plantations as possibly intelligence could be giuen and where they saw vs vpon our 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 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 vs. But of this bloudy acte neuer griefe and shame possâ—ssed any people more then themselues to be thus butchered by so naked and cowardly a people who dare not stand the presenting of a staffe in manner of a peece nor an vncharged peecâ— 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 Thus haue you heard the particulars of this massacre which in those respects some say will be good for the Plantation because now we haue iust cause to destroy them by all meanes possible but I thinke it had beene much better it had neuer happened for they haue giuen vs an hundred times as iust occasions long agoe to subiect them and I wonder I can heare of none but Master â—â—ockam and Master Whitaker of my opinion Moreouer where before we were troubled in cleering the ground of great Timber which was to them of small vse now we may take their owne plaine fields and Habitations which are the pâ—easantest places in the Countrey Besides the Deere Turkies and other Beasts and Fowles will exceedingly increase if we beat the Saluages out of the Countrey for at all times of the yeare they neuer 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 haue vsed to kill eight in tenne more then we or else the wood would most plentifully abound with victuall besides it is more easie to ciuilize them by conquest then faire meanes for the one may be made at once but their ciuilizing will require a long time and much industry The manner how to suppresse them is so often related and approued I omit it here And you haue twenty examples of the Spaniards how they got the West-Indies and forced the treacherous and rebellious Infidels to doe all manner of drudgery worke and slauery for them themselues liuing like Souldiers vpon the fruits of their labours This will make vs more circumspect and be an example to posteritie But I say this might as well haue beene put in practise sixteene yeares agoe as now Thus vpon this Anuill shall wee now beat our selues an Armour of proofe hereafter to defend vs against such incuâ—sions and euer hereafter make vs more circumspect but to helpe to repaire this losse besides his Maiesties bounty in Armes he gaue the Company out of the Tower and diuers other Honorable persons haue renewed their aduentures we must not omit the Honorable Citie of London to whose endlesse praise wee may speake it are now setting forward one hundred persons and diuers others at their owne costs are a repairing and all good men doe thinke neuer the worse of the businesse for all these disâ—sters What growing state was there euer in the world which had not the like Rome grew by oppression and rose vpon the backe of her enemies and the Spaniards haue had many of those counterbuffes more than we Columbus vpon his returne from the West-Indies into Spaine hauing left his people with the Indies in peace and promise of good vsage amongst them at his returne backe found not one of them liuing but all treacherously slaine by the Saluages After this againe when the Spanish Colonies were increased to great numbers the Indians from whom the Spaniards for trucking stuffe vsed to haue all their corne generally conspired together to plant no more at all intending thereby to famish them themselues liuing in the meane time vpon Cassaua a root to make bread onely then knowne to themselues This plot of theirs by the Spaniards ouersight that foolishly depended vpon strangers for their bread tooke such effect and brought them to such misery by the rage of famine that they spared no vncleane nor loathsome beast no not the poisonous and hideous Serpents
sicke They noted also we had no women nor cared for any of theirs some therefore thought we were not borne of women and therefore not mortall but that we were men of an old generation many yeares past risen againe from immortalitie Some would Prophesie there were more of our generation yet to come to kill theirs and take their places Those that were to come after vs they imagined to be in the ayre yet invisible and without bodies and that they by our intreaties for loue of vs did make the people die as they did by shooting invisible bullets into them To confirme this their Physicians to excuse their Ignorance in curing the disease would make the simple people beleeue that the strings of bloud they sucked out of the sicke bodies were the strings wherein the invisible bullets were tyed and cast Some thought we shot them our selues from the place where we dwelt and killed the people that had offended vs as we listed how farre distant soever And others said it was the speciall worke of God for our sakes as we had cause in some sort to thinke no lesse whatsoever some doe or may imagine to the contrary especially some Astrologers by the eclipse of the Sunne we saw that yeare before our Voyage and by a Comet which began to appeare but a few dayes before the sicknesse began but to exclude them from being the speciall causes of so speciall an Accident there are farther reasons then I thinke fit to present or alledge These their opinions I haue set downe that you may see there is hope to imbrace the truth and honor obey feare and loue vs by good dealing and government though some of our company towards the latter end before we came away with Sir Francis Drake shewed themselues too furious in slaying some of the people in some Townes vpon causes that on our part might haue bin borne with more mildnesse notwithstanding they iustly had deserued it The best neverthelesse in this as in all actions besides is to be indevoured and hoped and of the worst that may happen notice to be taken with consideration and as much as may be eschewed the better to allure them hereafter to Civilitie and Christianitie Thus you may see How Nature her selfe delights her selfe in sundry Instruments That sundry things be done to decke the earth with Ornaments Nor suffers she her servants all should runne one race But wills the walke of every one frame in a divers pace That divers wayes and divers workes the world might better grace Written by Thomas Heriot one of the Voyage How Sir Richard Grenvill went to relieue them IN the yeare of our Lord 1586. Sir Walter Raleigh and his Associates prepared a ship of a hundred tun fraughted plentifully of all things necessary but before they set sayle from England it was Easter And arriving at Hatoraâ—k they after some time spent in seeking the Collony vp in the Country and not finding them returned with all the provision againe to England About 14. or 15. dayes after Sir Richard Grenvill accompanied with three ships well appoynted arrived there Who not finding the aforesaid ship according to his expectation nor hearing any newes of the Collony there seated and left by him as is said 1585. travailing vp and downe to seeke them but when he could heare no newes of them and found their habitation abandoned vnwilling to lose the possession of the Country after good deliberation he landed fiftie men in the I le of Roanoak plentifully furnished with all manner of provision for two yeares and so returned for England Where many began strangely to discant of those crosse beginnings and him which caused me remember an old saying of Euripides Who broacheth ought that 's new to fooles vntaught Himselfe shall iudged be vnwise and good for naught Three Ships more sent to relieue them by Mr. White WE went the old course by the west Indies and Simon Ferdinando our continuall Pilot mistaking Virginia for Cape Fear we sayled not much to haue beene cast away vpon the conceit of our all-knowing Ferdinando had it not beene prevented by the vigilancy of Captaine Stafford We came to Hatorask the 22. of Iuly and with fortie of our best men intending at Roanoack to find the 50 men left by Sir Richard Grenvill But we found nothing but the bones of a man and where the Plantation had beene the houses vnhurt but overgrowne with weeds and the Fort defaced which much perplexed vs. By the History it seemes Simon Ferdinando did what he could to bring this voyage to confusion but yet they all arrived at Hatorask They repayred the old houses at Roanock and Master George How one of the Councell stragling abroad was slaine by the Salvages Not long after Master Stafford with 20. men went to Croatan with Manteo whose friends dwelled there of whom we thought to haue some newes of our 50 men They at first made shew to fight but when they heard Manteo they threw away their Armes and were friends and desired there might be a token giuen to be knowne by least we might hurt them by misprision as the yeare before one had bin by Master Layne that was ever their friend and there present yet lame The next day we had conference with them concerning the people of Secotan Aquascogoc and Pomeiok willing them of Croatan to see if they would accept our friendship and renew our old acquaintance which they willingly imbraced and promised to bring their King and Governours to Roanoak to confirme it We also vnderstood that Master Howe was slaine by the men of Wingina of Dassamonpeack and by them of Roanoack that the fiftie men left by Sir Richard Grenvill were suddainly set vpon by three hundred of Secotan Aquascogoc and Dassamonpeack First they intruded themselues among 11 of them by friendship one they slew the rest retyring to their houses they set them on fire that our men with what came next to hand were forced to make their passage among them where one of them was shot in the mouth and presently dyed and a Salvage slaine by him On both sides more were hurt but our men retyring to the water side got their boat ere they had rowed a quarter of a myle towards Hatorask they tooke vp foure of their fellowes gathering Crabs and Oysters at last they landed on a little I le by Hatorask where they remained a while but after departed they knew not whether So taking our leaues of the Croatans we came to our Fleet at Hatorask The Governour having long expected the King and Governours of Pomeiok Secotan Aquascogoc and Dassamonpeack and the 7. dayes expired and no newes of them being also informed by those of Croatan that they of Dassamonpeack slew Master How and were at the driving our men from Raonoack he thought no longer to deferre the revenge Wherefore about midnight with Captaine Stafford and twentie-foure men whereof Manteo was one for our guide
there villanies would hire vs we should not tell it to their kings or countrymen who would also repunish them and yet returne them to Iames towne to content the President for a testimony of their loues Master Sicklemore well returned from Chawwonoke but found little hope and lesse certaintie of them were left by Sir Walter Raleigh The riuer he saw was not great the people few the countrey most over growne with pynes where there did grow here and there straglingly Pemminaw we call silke grasse But by the riuer the ground was good and exceeding furtill Master Nathanael powell and Anas Todkill were also by the Quiyoughquohanocks conducted to the Mangoags to search them there but nothing could they learne but they were all dead This honest proper good promise keeping king of all the rest did euer best affect vs and though to his false Gods he was very zealous yet he would confesse our God as much exceeded his as our Gunns did his Bow and Arrowes often sending our President may presents to pray to his God for raine or his corne would perish for his Gods were angry Three dayes iorney they conducted them through the woodâ— into a high country towards the Sâ—â—thwest â—here they saw here and there a little câ—rne fiâ—â—d by some little spring or smal brooke but no riuer they could see the peâ—â—le in all reâ—pects like the rest except there language they liue most vpon rootes fruites and wilde beastâ— and trade with them towards the sea and the fatter countryes for dryed fish and corne for skâ—ns All this time to recouer the Dutch-men and one Bentley another fugitiue we imployed one Williâ—m Volday a Zwitzar by birth with Pardons promises to regaine them Little we then suspected this double villaine of any villany who plainly taught vs in the most trust was the greatest treason for this wicked hypocrite by the seeming hate he bore to the lewd conditions of his cursed country men hauing this oportunity by his imployment to regaine them conuayed them euery thing they desired to eâ—fect their proiects to distroy the Colony With much deuotion they expected the Spaniard to whom they intended good seruice or any other that would but carry them from vs. But to begin with the â—â—rst oportunity thâ—â— seâ—ing necessitie thus inforced vs to disperse our selues importuned Powhatan to lend them but his forces and they would not onely distroy our Hoggs fire our towne and betray our Pinnace but bring to his seruice and subiection the most of our company With this plot they had acquainted many Discontents and many were agreed to their Deuilish practise But one Thomas Douse and Thomas Mallard whose christian hearts relented at such an vnchristian act voluntarily reuealed it to Captaine Smith who caused them to conceale it perswading â—ouse and Mallard to proceed in their confedracie onely to bring the irreclamable Dutch men and the inconstant Salvages in such a maner amongst such Ambuscado's as he had prepared that not many of theÌ„ should returne from our Peninsula But this brute coÌ„ming to the â—ares of the impatieÌ„t multitude they so importuned the President to cut off those Dutch men as amongst many that offred to cut their throats befâ—re the face of PowhataÌ„ the first was LieutenaÌ„t Percy and Mr. Iohn Cuderington two Gentlemen of as bold resolute spirits as could possibly be fouÌ„d But the PresideÌ„t had occasioÌ„ of other imploiment for them gaue gaue way to Master Wyffin and Sarieant Ieffrey Abbot to goe and stab them or shoot them But the Dutch men made such excuses accusing Velday whom they supposed had reuealed their proiect as Abbot would not yet Wyffing would perceiuing it but deceit The King vnderstanding of this their imployment sent presently his messengers to Captaine Smith to signifie it was not his fault to detaine them nor hinder his men from executing his command nor did he nor would he mantaine them or any to occasion his displeâ—sure But whilst this businesse was in hand Arriued one Captaine Argall and Master Thomas Sedan sent by Master Cornelius to truck with the Colony and fish for Sturgeon with a ship well furnished with wine and much other good provision Though it was not sent vs our necessities was such as inforced vs to take it He brought vs newes of a great supply and preparation for the Lord La Woore with letters that much taxed our President for his heard dealing with the Salvages and not returning the shippes fraughted Notwithstanding we kept this ship tell the fleere arriued True it is Argall lost his voyage but we renictualled him and sent him for England with a true relation of the causes of our defailments and how imposible it was to returne that wealth they expected or obserue there instructions to indure the Salvages insolencies or doe any thing to any purpose except they would send vs men and meanes that could produce that they so much desired otherwises all they did was lost and could not but come to confusion The villany of Volday we still dissembled Adam vpon his pardon came home but Samuell still stayed with Powhahan to heare further of their estates by this supply Now all their plots Simth so well vnderstood they were his best advantages to secure vs from any trechery could be done by them or the Salvages which with facility he could revenge when he would because all those countryes more feared him then Powhatan and hee had such parties with all his bordering neighbours and many of the rest for loue or feare would haue done any thing he would haue them vpon any commotion though these fugitiues had done all they could to perswade Powhatan King Iames would kill Smith for vsing him and his people so vnkindly By this you may see for all those crosses trecheries and dissentions how hee wrestled and overcame without bloudshed all that happened also what good was done how few dyed what food the Countrey naturally affoordeth what small cause there is men should starue or be murthered by the Salvages that haue discretion to mannage them with courage and industrie The two first yeares though by his adventures he had oft brought the Salvages to a tractable trade yet you see how the envious authoritie ever crossed him and frustrated his best endevours But it wrought in him that experience and estimation amongst the Salvages as otherwise it had bin impossible he had ever effected that he did Notwithstanding the many miserable yet generous and worthy adventures he had oft and long endured in the wide world yet in this case he was againe to learne his Lecture by experience Which with thus much adoe having obtained it was his ill chance to end when he had but onely learned how to begin And though he left those vnknowne difficulties made easie and familiar to his vnlawfull successors who onely by liuing in Iames Towne presumed to know more then all the world could direct them Now though they had
in the fleet thus they liued till one of them was found to be an Englishman and had been the Spaniards Pilot for England in 88. and hauing here induced some male-contents to beleeue his proiects to run away with a small barke which was apprehended some executed and he expecting but the Hangmans curtesie directly confessed that two or three Spanish ships was at Sea purposely to discouer the estate of the Colony but their Commission was not to be opened till they arriued in the Bay so that of any thing more he was vtterly ignorant One of the Spaniards at last dyed the othâ—r was sent for England but this reprieued till Sir Thomas Dale hanged him at Sea in his voyage homeward the Eâ—glish Pilot they carried for Spaine whom after a long time imprisonment with much â—â—te was returned for England Whilst those things were effecting Sir Thomas Dalâ— hauing setled to his thinking all things in good order made choice of one Master George Yearly to be Depuâ—y-Gouernour in his absence and so returned for England accompanied with Poâ—ahontas the Kings Daughter and Master Râ—lfe her husband and arriued at Plimmoth the 12. of Iune 1616. The gouernment left to Captaine Yearly NOw a little to commentary vpon all these proceedings let me leaue but this as a caueat by the way if the alteration of gouernment hath subuerted great Empires how dangerous is it then in the infancy of a common-weale The multiplicity of Gouernors is a great damage to any State but vncertaine daily changes are burdensome because their entertainments are chargeable and many will make hay whilst the sunne doth shine how euer it shall fare with the generality This deare bought Land with so much bloud and cost hath onely made some few rich and all the rest losers But it was intended at the first the first vndertakers should be first preferred and rewarded and the first aduenturers satisfied and they of all the rest are the most neglected and those that neuer aduentured a groat neuer see the Country nor euer did any seruice for it imploied in their places adorned with their deferrs and inriched with their ruines and when they aâ—e led fat then in commeth others so leane as they were who through their omnipotency doe as much Thus what one Officer doth another vndoth only ayming at their owne ends thinking all the world derides his dignity cannot 〈◊〉 is Coffeâ—s being in authority with any thing Euery man hath his minde free but he can neuer be a true member to that estate that to enrich himselfe beggers all the Countrie Which bad course there are many yet in this noble plantation whose true honour and worth as much scornes it as the others loues it for the Nobilitie and Gentrie there is scarce any of them expects any thing buâ— the prosperitie of the action and there are some Merchants and others I am confidently perswaded doe take more care and paines nay and at their continualâ— great charge than they could be hired to for the loue of money so honestly regarding the generall good of this great worke they would hold it worse than sacrilege to wrong it but a shilling or extort vpon the common souldier a penny But to the purpose and to follow the Historie Mr. George Yearly now inuested Deputie Gouernour by Sr. Thomas Dale applied himselfe for the most part in planting Tobacco as the most present commoditie they could deuise for a present gaine so that euery man betooke himselfe to the best place he could for the purpose now though Sir Thomas Dale had caused such an abundance of corne to be planted that euery man had sufficient yet the supplies were sent vs came so vnfurnished as quickly eased vs of our superfluitie To relieue their necessities he sent to the Chickahamanias for the tribute Corne Sir Thomâ—s Dale and Captaine Argall had conditioned for with them But such a bad answer they returned him that hee drew together one hundred of his best shot with whom he went to Chickâ—hamania the people in some places vsed him indifferently but in most places with much scorne and contempt telling him he was but Sir Thomas Dâ—les man and they had payed his Master according to condition but to giue any to him they had no such order neither would they obey him as they had done his Master after he had told them his authoritie and that he had the same power to enforce them that Dale had they dared him to come on shore to fight presuming more of his not daring than their owne valours Yearly seeing their insolencies made no great difficultie to goe on shore at Ozinies and they as little to incounter him but marching from thence towards Mamanahunt they put themselues in the same order they see vs lead by their Captaine Kissanacomen Gouernour of Ozinies so marched close along by vs each as threatning other who should first begin But that night we quartered against Mamanahunt and they passed the Riuer The next day we followed them there are few places in Virginia had then more plaine ground together nor more plentie of Corne which although it was but newly gathered yet they had hid it in the woods where we could not finde it a good time we spent thus in arguing the cause the Saluages without feare standing in troupes amongst vs seeming as if their countenances had beene sufficient to dant vs what other practises they had I know not but to preuent the worst our Captaine caused vs all to make ready and vpon the word to let flie among them where he appointed others also he commanded to seize on them they could for prisoners all which being done according to our direction the Captaine gaue the word and wee presently discharged where twelue lay some dead the rest for life sprawling on the ground twelue more we â—â—oke prisoners two whereof were brothers two of their eight Elders the one tooke by Sergeant Boothe the other by Robert a Polonian Neere one hundred bushels of Corne we had for their ransomes which was promised the Souldiers for a reward but it was not performed now Opechankanough had agreed with our Captaine for the subiecting of those people that neither hee nor Powhatan could euer bring to their obedience and that he should make no peace with them without his aduice in our returne by Ozinies with our prisoners wee met Opechankanough who with much adoe fained with what paines hee had pâ—ocured their peace the which to requite they called him the King of Ozinâ—s and brought him from all parts many presents of Beads Copper and such trash as they had here as at many other times wee were beholding to Captaine Henry Spilman our Interpreter a Gentleman had liued long time in this Countrie and sometimes a prisoner among the Saluages and done much good seruice though but badly rewarded From hence we marcht towards Iames towne we had three Boats loaded with Corne and other luggage the one
Deere and Hogges and thence to Rickahake betwixt Cissapeack and Nansamund where they now are seated vnder the command of Itoyatin and so I returned to Iames Towne where I found the gouernment rendred to Sir Francis Wyat. In February also he trauelled to the South Riuer Chawonock some sixtie miles ouer land which he found to be a very fruitfull and pleasant Country yeelding two haruests in a yeare and found much of the Silke grasse formerly spoken of was kindly vsed by the people and so returned Captaine Each sent to build a Fort to secure the Countrey IT was no small content to all the Aduenturers to heare of the safe ariuall of all those ships and companies which was thought sufficient to haue made a Plantation of themselues and againe to second them was sent Captaine Each in the Abigale a ship of three or foure hundred tunnes who hath vndertaken to make a Block-house amongst the Oyster banks that shall secure the Riuer The furnishing him with Instruments cost three hundred pounds but the whole charge and the ships returne will be neere two thousand pounds In her went Captaine Barwicke with fiue and twentie men for the building ships and Boats and not other waies to be imploied and also a selected number to build the Eâ—st Indie Schoole but as yet from Virginia little returnes but priuate mens Tobacco and faire promises of plentie of Iron Silke Wine and many other good and rich commodities besides the speedy conuersion of the Saluages that at first were much discouraged from liuing amongst them when they were debarred the vse of their peeces therefore it was disputed as a matter of State whether such as would liue amongst them should vse them or not as a bait to allure them or at least such as should bee called to the knowledge of Christ. But because it was a great trouble for all causes to be brought to Iames Towne for a triall Courts were appointed in conuenient places to releeue them but as they can make no Lawes in Virginia till they be ratified here so theâ— thinke it but reason none should bee inacted here without their consents because they onely feele them and must liue vnder them Still they complaine for want of Corne but what must be had by Trade and how vnwilling any Officer when he leaueth his place is to make good his number of men to his Successor but many of them during their times to help themselues vndoes the Company for the seruants you allow them or such as they hire they plant on their priuate Lands not vpon that belongeth to their office which crop alwaies exceeds yours besides those which are your tenants to halfes are forced to row them vp and downe whereby both you and they lose more then halfe Nor are those officers the ablest or best deseruing but make their experience vpon the companies cost and your land lies vnmanured to any purpose and will yeeld as little profit to your next new officers The massacre vpon the two and twentieth of March. THe Prologue to this Tragedy is supposed was occasioned by Nemattanow otherwise called Iack of the Feather because hee commonly was most strangely adorned with them and for his courage and policy was accounted amongst the Saluages their chiefe Captaine and immortall from any hurt could bee done him by the English This Captaine comming to one Morgans house knowing he had many commodities that hee desired perswaded Morgan to goe with him to Pamauke to trucke but the Saluage murdered him by the way and after two or three daies returned againe to Morgans house where he found two youths his Seruants who asked for their Master Iack replied directly he was dead the Boyes suspecting as it was by seeing him weare his Cap would haue had him to Master Thorp But Iack so moued their patience they shot him so he fell to the ground put him in a Boat to haue him before the Gouernor then seuen or eight miles from them But by the way Iack finding the pangs of death vpon him desired of the Boyes two things the one was that they would not make it knowne hee was slaine with a bullet the other to bury him amongst the English At the losse of this Saluage Opechankanough much grieued and repined with great threats of reuenge but the English returned him such terrible answers that he cunningly dissembled his intent with the greatest signes he could of loue and peace yet within foureteene daies after he acted what followeth Sir Francis Wyat at his arriuall was aduertised he found the Countrey setled in such a firme peace as most men there thought sure and vnuiolable not onely in regard of their promises but of a necessitie The poore weake Saluages being euery way bettered by vs and safely sheltred and defended whereby wee might freely follow our businesse and such was the conceit of this conceited peace as that there was seldome or neuer a sword and seldomer a peece except for a Deere or Fowle by which assurances the most plantations were placed straglingly and scatteringly as a choice veine of rich ground inuited them and further from neighbours the better Their houses generally open to the Saluages who were alwaies friendly fed at their tables and lodged in their bed-chambers which made the way plaine to effect their intents and the conuersion of the Saluages as they supposed Hauing occasion to send to Opechankanough about the middle of March hee vsed the Messenger well and told him he held the peace so firme the sky should fall or he dissolued it yet such was the treachery of those people when they had contriued our destruction euen but two daies before the massacre they guided our men with much kindnesse thorow the woods and one Browne that liued among them to learne the language they sent home to his Master yea they borrowed our Boats to transport themselues ouer the Riuer to consult on the deuillish murder that insued and of our vtter extirpation which God of his mercy by the meanes of one of themselues conuerted to Christianitie preuented and as well on the Friday morning that fatall day being the two and twentieth of March as also in the euening before as at other times they came vnarmed into our houses with Deere Turkies Fish Fruits and other prouisions to sell vs yea in some places sat downe at breakfast with our people whom immediatly with their owne tooles they slew most barbarously not sparing either age or sex man woman or childe so sudden in their execution that few or none discerned the weapon or blow that brought them to destruction In which manner also they slew many of our people at seuerall works in the fields well knowing in what places and quarters each of our men were in regard of their familiaritie with vs for the effecting that great master-peece of worke their conuersion and by this meanes fell that fatall morning vnder the bloudy and barbarous hands of that perfidious and
the most part at their departure was burnt ruined and destroyed by the Saluages Only Master Gookins at Nuports-newes would not obey the Commanders command in that though hee had scarce fiue and thirty of all sorts with him yet he thought himselfe sufficient against what could happen and so did to his great credit and the content of his Aduenturers Master Samuel Iorden gathered together but a few of the straglers about him at Beggers-bush where he fortified and liued in despight of the enemy Nay Mistrisse Proctor a proper ciuill modâ—st 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 themselues as the Saluages did when they were gone in whose despight they had kept it and what they had a moneth or three weekes after the Massacre 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 all those remainders might presently haue beene reduced into fifties or hundreds in places most conuenient with what they had hauing such strong houses as they reported they had which with small labour might haue beene made inuincible Castles against all the Saluages in the Land and then presently raised a company as a running Armie to torment the Barbarous and secure the rest and so haue had all that Country betwixt the Riuers of Powhatan and Pamavuke to range and sustaine them especially all the territories of Kecoughtan Chiskact and Paspahege from Ozenies to that branch of Pamavuke comming from Youghtanund which strait of land is not past 4. or 5. miles to haue made a peninsula much bigger then the Summer Iles inuironed wiâ—h the broadest parts of those two maine Riuers which for plenty of such things as Virgnia affords is not to be exceeded and were it well manured more then sufficient for ten thousand men This were it well vnderstood cannot but be thought beâ—ter then â—o bring fiue or six hundred to lodge and liue on that which before would not well receiue and maintaine a hundred planting little or nothing but spend that they haue vpon hopes out of England one euill begetting another till the disease is past cure Therefore it is impossible but such courses must produce most fearefull miseries and extreme extremities if it proue otherwise I should be exceeding glad I confesse I am somewhat too bold to censure other mens actions being not present but they haue done as much of me yea many here in England that were neuer there 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 Prouerbe doth allow losers leaue to speake and Du Bart as saith Euen as the wind the angry Ocean moues Waue hunteth Waue and Billow Billow shoues So doe all Nations iustell each the other And so one people doe pursue another And scarce a secâ—nd hath the first vnhoused Before a third him thence againe haue roused AMongst the multitude of these seuerall Relations it appeares Captaine Nuse seeing many of the difficulties to ensue caused as much Corne to be planted as he could at Elizabeths city though some destroyed that they had set fearing it would serue the Saluages for Ambuscadoes trusting to releefe by trade or from England which hath euer beene one cause of our miseries for from England wee haue not had much and for trading euery one hath not Ships Shalops Interpreters men and prouisions to performe it and those that haue vse them onely for their owne priuate gâ—ine not the publike good so that our beginning this yeere doth cause many to distrust the euent of the next Here wee will leaue 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 the publike good he freely imparted to all gratis but most bountifully to the poore and let vs speake a little of Captaine Croshaw amongst the midst of those broiles in the Riuer of Patawomâ—ke Being in a small Barke called the Elizabeth vnder the command of Captaine Spilman at Cekacawone a Saluage stole aboord them and told them of the Massacre and that Opechancanough had plotted with his King and Country to betray them also which they refused but them of Wighcocomoco at the mouth of the riuer had vndertaken it vpon this Spilman went thither but the Saluages seeing his men so vigilant and well armed they suspected themselues discouered 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 intended 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 and Moyaons his mortall enemies Of this oportunity Croshaw was glad as well to satisfie his owne desire in some other purpose he had as to keepe the King as an opposite to Opechancanough and adhere him vnto vs 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 vnderstand of such a supposed impossible losse as that so many should fall by the hands of men so contemptible and yet hauing such warnings especially by the death of Nemattanow whom the Saluages did thinke was shot-free as he had perswaded them hauing so long eâ—caped so many dangers without any hurt But now to leape out of this labyrinth of melancholy all this did not so discourage the noble aduenturers nor diuers others still to vndertake new seuerall Plantations but that diuers ships were dispatched away for their supplies and assistance thought sufficient Yet Captaine Smith did intreat and moue them to put in practise his old offer seeing now it was time to vse 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 The proiect and offer of Captaine Iohn Smith to the Right Honourable and Right Worshipfull Company Virginia IF you please I may be transported with a hundred Souldiers and thirty Sailers by the next Michaelmas with victuall munition and such necessary prouision by Gods assistance we would endeuour to inforce the Saluages to leaue their Country or bring them in that feare and subiection that euery man
then one hundred ships of other proportions and eight or ten thousand people Now if you please to compare what hath beene spent sent discouered and done this fifteene yeares by that we did in the three first yeares and euery Gouernor that hath beene there since giue you but such an account as this you may easily finde what hath beene the cause of those disasters in Virginia Then came in Captaine Argall and Master Sedan in a ship of Master Cornelius to fish for Sturgion who had such good prouision we contracted with them for it whereby we were better furnished then euer Not long after came in seuen ships with about three hundred people but rather to supplant vs then supply vs their Admirall with their authoritie being cast away in the Bermudas very angry they were we had made no better prouision for them Seuen or eight weekes we withstood the invndations of these disorderly humors till I was neere blowne to death with Gun-powder which occasioned me to returne for England In the yeare 1609 about Michaelmas I left the Countrey as is formerly related with three ships seuen Boats Commodities to trade haruest newly gathered eight weeks prouision of Corne and Meale about fiue hundred persons three hundred Muskets shot powder and match with armes for more men then we had The Saluages their language and habitation well knowne to two hundred expert Souldiers Nets for fishing tooles of all sorts apparell to supply their wants six Mares and a Horse fiue or six hundred Swine many more Powltry what was brought or bred but victuall there remained Hauing spent some fiue yeares and more then fiue hundred pounds in procuring the Letters Patents and setting forward and neere as much more about New England c. Thus these nineteene yeares I haue here and there not spared any thing according to my abilitie nor the best aduice I could to perswade how those strange miracles of misery might haue beene preuented which lamentable experience plainly taught me of necessity must insue but few would beleeue me till now too deerely they haue paid for it Wherefore hitherto I haue rather left all then vndertake impossibilities or any more such costly taskes at such chargeable rates for in neither of those two Countries haue I one foot of Land nor the very house I builded nor the ground I digged with my owne hands nor euer any content or satisfaction at all and though I see ordinarily those two Countries shared before me by them that neither haue them nor knowes them but by my descriptions Yet that doth not so much trouble me as to heare and see those contentions and diuisions which will hazard if not ruine the prosperitie of Virginia if present remedy bee not found as they haue hindred many hundreds who would haue beene there ere now and makes them yet that are willing to stand in a demurre For the Books and Maps I haue made I will thanke him that will shew me so much for so little recompence and beare with their errors till I haue done better For the materials in them I cannot deny but am ready to affirme them both there and here vpon such grounds as I haue propounded which is to haue but fifteene hundred men to subdue againe the Saluages fortifie the Countrey discouer that yet vnknowne and both defend feed their Colony which I most humbly refer to his Maiesties most iudiciall iudgement and the most honourable Lords of his Priuy Councell you his trusty and well-beloued Commissioners and the Honourable company of Planters and well-willers to Virginia New-England and Sommer-Ilands Out of these Obseruations it pleased his Maiesties Commissioners for the reformation of Virginia to desire my answer to these seuen Questions Quest. 1. WHat conceiue you is the cause the Plantation hath prospered no better since you left it in so good a forwardnesse Answ. Idlenesse and carelesnesse brought all I did in three yeeres in six moneths to nothing and of fiue hundred I left scarce threescore remained and had Sir Thomas Gates not got from the Bermudas I thinke they had beene all dead before they could be supplied Quest. 2. What conceiue you should be the cause though the Country be good there comes nothing but Tobacco Answ. The oft altering of Gouernours it seemes causes euery man make vse of his time and because Corne was stinted at two shillings six pence the bushell and Tobacco at three shillings the pound and they value a mans labour a yeere worth fifty or threescore pound but in Corne not worth ten pound presuming Tobacco will furnish them with all things now make a mans labour in Corne worth threescore pound and in Tobacco but ten pound a man then shall they haue Corne sufficient to entertaine all commers and keepe their people in health to doe any thing but till then there will be little or nothing to any purpose Quest. 3. What conceiue you to haue beene the cause of the Massacre and had the Saluages had the vse of any peeces in your time or when or by whom they were taught Answ. The cause of the Massacre was the want of marshall discipline and because they would haue all the English had by destroying those they found so carelesly secure that they were not prouided to defend themselues against any enemy being so dispersed as they were In my time though Captaine Nuport furnished them with swords by truck and many fugitiues did the like and some Peeces they got accidentally yet I got the most of them againe and it was death to him that should shew a Saluage the vse of a Peece Since I vnderstand they became so good shot they were imployed for Fowlers and Huntsmen by the English Quest. 4. What charge thinke you would haue setled the gouernment both for defence and planting when you left it Answ. Twenty thousand pound would haue hyred good labourers and mechanicall men and haue furnished them with cattle and all necessaries and 100. of them would haue done more then a thousand of those that went though the Lord Laware Sir Ferdinando Waynman Sir Thomas Gates and Sir Thomas Dale were perswaded to the contrary but when they had tried they confessed their error Quest. 5. What conceiue you would be the remedy and the charge Answ. The remedy is to send Souldiers and all sorts of labourers and necessaries for them that they may be there by next Michaelmas the which to doe well will stand you in fiue thousand pound but if his Maiesty would please to lend two of his Ships to transport them lesse would serue besides the benefit of his grace to the action would encourage all men Quest. 6. What thinke you are the defects of the gouernment both here and there Answ. The multiplicity of opinions here and Officers there makes such delaies by questions and formalitie that as much time is spent in complement as in action besides some are so desirous to imploy their ships hauing six pounds for euery