de Mont English Colony, because she tried by force to intrude there Admiral against the privileges granted to the Virginia Company, but that nevertheless said ship had been restored at the request of the French Ambassador. And His Majesty wishing to give the Ambassador every possible satisfaction has ordered Captain Argoll to give his reasons for this arrest whenever the Ambassador shall desire, and that . Tucker, his Lieutenant, shall do likewise on his return. To the eighth complaint it is answered the Marquise de Marquise Guercheville has no reason to complain, or expect any cheville. reparation, seeing that her ship forcibly entered the territory of said colony (of Virginia) to settle and traffic without permission to the prejudice of treaties and good intelligence between the two Kings (88). de Guer and French to settle in Virginia. A supplication of certain Walloons and French who Walloons were desirous to go into Virginia was in July 1621 addressed to Lord Ambassador Carleton who enclosed it to Secretary Sir George Calvert (114-16). The fifty or sixty families consisted of nearly 300, all of the reformed religion, among whom were men of all trades and occupations. They wished to live in "a town or in a corporation by themselves," and to have the grant of a territory of eight English miles all round with certain rights and privileges. The signatures and calling of each are appended in the form of a round robin (in the first volume of this Calendar). The King referred this proposal to the Virginia Company, and their answer was sent to Carleton by the Secretary of State (116 1.). The papers in this addenda make this transaction more complete. Sir William Berkeley, whose commission is dated in August 1641 (193), remained Governor of Virginia upwards of 35 years. His letter of recall is dated 5th November 1676. In regard of his age and infirmities which make him less able to undergo the great burthen and fatigue of Sir William Berkeley, 35 years Governor of letter of recall. business in Virginia, especially at this time when evildisposed persons have much increased the difficulties and troubles of his employment there, the King is pleased to give him permission to retire and repair to England to give account of the present commotions of the Colony (1109). The King's In the warrant to the Attorney-General to draw a commission for Sir Henry Chicheley to be Deputy Governor during Berkeley's retirement, the King graciously expresses his sense of Berkeley's long faithful and successful services to himself and his Royal father, and says, that though willing to give him leave to retire for his ease and the recovery of his strength, yet he will not take from him the title and dignity of Governor (1032). According to a long document of 12 closely written pages, presumably written in May 1676, with the title "Complaint from Heaven with "a hue and cry and a petition out of Virginia and Mary"land to King Charles II. and his Parliament," Governor Berkeley had" altered by marrying a young wife from his wonted good" (937). What authority there is for this statement cannot be ascertained, as there is no signature and the handwriting seems to be feigned as is the case with so many anonymous communications. About the same time a petition of "your poor distressed subjects in the upper parts of James River" was addressed to Governor Sir William Berkeley (921). In it they complain that the Indians have most barbarously and inhumanly taken and murdered several of their brethren and put them to most cruel torture by burying them alive; that they are in daily danger of losing their lives and are afraid of going about their domestic affairs, and they request that officers may be chosen to lead this party now ready to take arms in defence of their lives and estates. It is not the petitioners' desire to put the country to any charge, but they implore the Governor's speedy answer as the Indians rebellion. daily approach nearer to their habitations. There is Bacon's evidence that this petition was presented to the Governor, but it was ignored by Berkeley, and most probably led to Bacon's rebellion. Soon after the outbreak, William Sherwood wrote to Secretary Sir Joseph Williamson that a great number of indigent and disaffected persons, stirred up by Nathaniel Bacon, junr., of but little experience, and but of two years' continuance in the Colony, who thinking himself wiser than the law, raised forces by "beat of drum to obstruct the proceedings of the Assembly to the terror of His Majesty's good subjects 66 66 "the rabble giving out they will have their own laws, demanding the militia to be settled in them with such "like rebellious practises." This country, says Sherwood, has had 34 years' experience of the valour, conduct, and justice of their Governor, whose declaration will inform more fully of their condition (939, 939 1.). 66 The papers now calendared furnish a very full account of this rebellion, and supply details of interest not before accessible to the historical student. Take, for instance, the journal of the ship "Young Prince," Robert Morris, Commander, which contains almost a daily record of the progress of events, and the names of the principal persons concerned, with other details not to be found elsewhere, during the time she was in the King's service in James. River," from 19th September 1676 to 29th January 1677, when "the country being reduced we went about our own business as per the Governor's proclamations" (1035). The Secretary of the Colony, Philip Ludwell, as well as William Sherwood, sent to Secretary Sir Joseph Williamson very full accounts" of the distressed condition of this poor country, both from the Indians and the rebellious mutiny, which has come to that prodigious height that " indeed I think no story (wrote Ludwell), either ancient 66 66 66 or modern, can outdo, blood only excepted" (964-5). "Bacon's letter," his appeal to the people of Accomack, his declaration signed "Nath. Bacon, General by the consent of the people," and his manifesto, contain in his own words the justification of his conduct (941, 969, 1010, 1031); while "the Virginians' plea for opposing the Indians "without the Governor's order humbly offered as the test "of their utmost intentions to clear and vindicate them "from all misapprehensions of disloyalty and disobedience," and "the humble appeal of the volunteers to all wellminded and charitable people" (909) must not be overlooked (962). The news of Bacon's rebellion does not seem to have been known to the British Government until quite three months after the first outbreak. Secretary Sir Joseph Williamson received Ludwell's relation of it on 3rd September 1676 (964), and another month elapsed before the King issued an Order in Council directing the Master General of the Ordnance to cause certain stores, as per estimate, to be forthwith provided and transported to Virginia (1047-8). Commissions were then signed for the officers of the five companies of foot in His Majesty's regiment of guards to be employed in the expedition, in which the names are given (1055). We have also the names of the officers and soldiers going on board the men-of-war to Virginia, a total of 1094 on board eight ships (1091-2), soon after increased to 1,130 men when the provision to be made for them was "approved by His Majesty last night" 5th November (1114). Two colours for each of the five companies of the King's foot guards were to be prepared by the Master of the King's Great Wardrobe, the designs The King's for each being described in the warrant (1112). The King issued, on 27th October, a proclamation for suppressing "a rebellion lately raised within the plantation of Virginia," declaring all such as have taken arms under Bacon guilty Proclamation for suppressing it. Bacon's of high treason, and offering a reward of 3001. sterling Reward for for the apprehension of Bacon (1087). But Bacon had appredied of a bloody flux the day before the date of this hension. proclamation. His death. General rising of the Indians. Now the rising of the Indians, the immediate cause of the rebellion in Virginia, was by no means confined to that Colony; it spread northwards, and was devastating and threatening to destroy all the English plantations in America. "The hand of God has been heavy on the land, more especially upon the town of Boston," writes one in May 1676 (928). Plymouth, Deauxborough, and Bridgewater are great part destroyed, and Captain Bradford and his son both slain. Mr. Russell, the magistrate and country treasurer, is dead; and few families in town or country but have some dead or sick. Sickness is among the enemy, and some report small-pox which is very fatal to them. The year before, in June 1675, Benjamin Batten of Boston sent Sir Thomas Allen, at the Navy Office, a graphic account of events which preceded the general insurrection (614). It seems that Philip, the Indian Sagamore Account of of those parts," of a subtle mutinous temper," had retired with 600 armed men to a place difficult of access, because of a thick swamp and rocks, a promontory called Mounthope, in sight of Rhode Island and 40 miles from Boston. He had quarrelled with those of Plymouth for pretended trespasses on his lands, but Boston mediated. Afterwards, he and two of his chief men were tried for murder, Philip "was cleared but the chief men were executed, at which " he was enraged." Batten gives an account of the daily occurrences from June 21st to July 6th. The Indians offered to join battle, but we dared not venture till more help came from Boston; plenipotentiaries attempted to mediate, but Philip would not speak with them; they met in their journey the bodies of Englishmen without heads, the Insurrection. |