CCLXXII. John Martin. "The Manner Howe to Bringe the
Indians into Subiection."
December 15, 1622
Additional Manuscripts, 12496, fos. 459–460. (Caesar Papers.)
Document in British Museum, London.
List of Records, No. 384.
The manner howe to bringe in the Indians into subiection wthout makinge
an vtter exterpation of them together wth the reasons.
First By disablinge the mayne bodie of the Enemye from haueinge the
Sinnewes of all expedic̃ons. As namely by Corne and all manner of victualls
of anye worth.
This is to be acted two
manner of wayes. |
|
ffirst by keepeinge them from settinge Corne
at home and fishinge. |
Secondly by keepeinge them from their accus-
tomed tradinge for Corne. |
For The first it is p̱formed by haueinge some 200 Souldiers on foote, Conty-
nuallie harrowinge and burneinge all their Townes in wynter, and spoileinge
their weares. By this meanes or people seacurely may followe their worke.
And yet not to be negligent in keepeinge watch.
This first course
I assure myselfe
if they take it
w
thout the other,
will make a
tedious Warr.
For The seacond there must provided some 10 Shallopps, that in May,
June, Julye and August may scoure the Baye and keepe the Rivers yt are
belonginge to Opichankanoe.
|
By this ariseth two happie
endℯ |
ffirst the assured takeinge of great purchases
in skynnes and Prisoners. |
Seacondly in keepinge them from tradinge for
Corne on the Easterne shore and from ye
Southward from whence they haue fiue tymes
more then they sett them selues. |
This Course being taken they haue noe meanes, but must yield to obedi-
ence, or flye to borderinge Neighbors who neither will receiue them Nor
indeede are able, for they haue but groundℯ Cleared for their owne use.
At the North
west end of his
domynions the
Monecans are
their enymies,
On the Norther
most side the
Patomecks and
other nations are
their enemyes.
The keepinge of them from tradeinge
wth the Easterne shore p̳duceth two
worthie effectℯ to or exceedinge profitt |
|
ffirst or assurance of Corne att all
tymes. |
Seacondly the ventinge of much
Cloth. |
ffor the Certentye of Corne it is best knowne to my selfe for yt by sendinge
& discoueringe those places, ffirst I haue not onely reaped the benefitt,
but all the whole Collonye since; whoe had perished had it not bene dis-
couered before Sr George Yardley came in by my Aunchient Thomas
Savage & servantℯ, besides necessitie hath made those Savages more
industrious then any other Indians in or Baye, wch followeth to appeare
in this seacond p̳fitt.
My Aunchiant &
seruantℯ haue
seene in trade at
one tyme 40
greate Canowes
laden w
th these
com̄odities.
ffor the assured ventinge of
Cloth it followeth Consequently
two wayes. |
|
ffirst by Varringe them of trade for
skinns they haueinge none them selues. |
Seacondly by the necessite of haueinge
clothinge wch by vs shall & may be
tendered att all Convenyent tymes. |
Reasons why it is not fittinge vtterlye to make an exterpation of the
Sauages yett.
My reasons are grounded
two foulde. |
|
ffirst vppon holy writt and my owne experi-
ence. |
Seacondly other necessarie vses and p̳fitte
that maye retorne by the same. |
Holy writt sayeth That god would not yt the Children of Israell though
they were of farr greater numbrs, then wee are yet in many ages like to be,
and came into a Countrie where weare walled townes, not to vtterly dis-
troy the heathen, least the woodℯ and wilde beastℯ should ouer runn them
My owne observac̃on hath bene such as assureth me yt if the Indians
inhabitt not amongst vs vnder obedience And as they haue ever kept
downe ye woodℯ and slayne the wolues, beares, and other beastℯ, (wch are
in greate numbr) we shalbe more opressed in short tyme by their absence,
then in their liueing by vs both for or owne securitie as allso for or Cattle.
Seacondly when as by ye meanes before spoken of, they shalbe brought into
subiection and shalbe made to deliuer hostriges for theire obediance, there
is no doubt by gods grace but of the saueinge of many of their soules And
then beinge natiues are apter for worke then yet or English are, knowinge
howe to attayne greate quantitie of silke, hempe, and flax, and most
exquisite in the dressinge thereof ffor or vses fitt for guides vppon discou9ye
into other Countries adiacent to ours, fitt to rowe in Gallies & friggetts
and many other pregnant vses too tedious to sett downe.
They by experi-
ence willing and
able are to worke
in the heate of y
e
day w
ch o
r sexe
are not.
Nowe for avoydinge future
daynger in or Collonye that
may growe Two especiall ere-
vocable lawes are to be made
vppon seaueare penallties. |
|
ffirst yt none of what ranke soeuer doe euer
trinke or trade wth in the late prcinct of
Opichankanoe nor any borderinge neighbors
that ayded him in this last disaster. |
Seacondly for or owne people to sett & sowe
a sufficient proporc̃on of corne for their
owne vses, and yearely to lay vpp into a
granary a p̳porc̃on for wch if they haue noe
vse for them selues the next yeare then to
be sould and euery man to haue his dewe
payd him. |
My reason for the first is yt by this meanes the Savages shalbe frustrated
of all meanes of buyinge any manner of victualls, and clothinge, but what
they shall haue from vs for their labor and industrie As alsoe beinge dis-
abled from hireinge anye Auxiliaries if at any tyme they would rebell.
The infinate
trade they have
had in this 4 years
of securitie
enabled Opichan-
kanoe to hyer
many auxiliaries
w
ch in former
tymes I knowe
for want thereof
Pohatan was
neuer able to act
the like.
ffor the seacond howe benifitiall the settinge and sowinge of Corne and
layinge vpp thereof for store, will luculently appeare by their nowe en-
dureinge want being disturbed by theis Savages at this tyme, And likewise
other vnexpected accedentℯ may happen both by forrayne and domesticke
enymies hereafter.
Two Storehowses or Granaries to be erected and placed for this purpose
fittest for salftie, and then for Convenience wch I will leaue to demonstrate
to yor [honor] vntill you Come to the Mapp of the Countrie As alsoe a
neare passage to the Southward Riuer and where the most necessarie
places are for fortificac̃on against a forren Enemye.
Jhō Martin.
[Indorsed:] 15 Decẽb. 1622. The manner howe to bringe the Indians into
subiection.
