University of Virginia Library

This CANTO gives you a Narration
Of Col'nel Bacon's Provocation;
And shews, in what rebellious Manner
He ventur'd to display his Banner.

I sing those dire Baconian Wars,
Which, like the Oliverian Jars,
Long since broke out in Smoke and Fire,
'Twixt testy Knight, and waspish 'Squire:
The First of which, (as Authors tell)
Govern'd VIRGINIA very well,
'Till little Nat, presumptuous Hector,
(Aspiring, like the Lord Protector)
O're the Atlantick Ocean came,
And put the People in a Flame;
Set Folks together by the Ears,
Who liv'd in Friendship many Years,
And in a Snare drew headstrong Rabble,
Who too much listen'd to his Babble.

BUT e'er the Plot grew ripe for Action,
That was begun by Bacon's Faction,
Fame led the Van with hot Alarms,
Of Ab-origines in Arms,
Who far and near did then resort,
In Haste to Susquehanna Fort,
Hell bent on Thoughts of Massacree.
(Inspir'd by their accurs'd Okee)
Combining in their Hellish Anger,
To cut off ev'ry Marylander.
Thus Devils, in the Shape of Men,
Secur'd themselves in moated Den,
Which oft the Planters try'd to take,
But still in vain Attempts did make.

THE Indians making such Resistance,
Caus'd English Foe to seek Assistance,
Who thought it fit, without Delay,
To sound their Neighbours down the Bay;
And try how Gov'nor Berkley stood
Affected to the Common Good;
(Praying VIRGINIA to stand
In Time of Need by MARYLAND;)
Who, out of Christian Compassion
To Neighb'ring Friends of his own Nation,
Sent Washington, (with Vet'ran Forces,
Arm'd at all Points with Leaden Doses,
And double Rounds of Cannon Powder,
To make their Pop-Guns sound the louder
For MARYLAND, to aid poor Brethren,
That were attack'd by barb'rous Heathen
With whom a sharp Dispute began,
Wherein was kill'd both Horse and Man;
Some Pris'ners were, some Cripples made,
By Indian Scouts in Ambuscade;
(Who ne'er in vain at Friend or Foe,
A Trigger draw, or bend their Bow,
As able Archers, and as good,
As Little John and Robin Hood)
Others were left on Foot to trudge it,
(With Carbine slung, like Tinkers Budget)
That to the Combat did advance, Sir,
Mounted on Skeletonian Prancer,
Whose down-cast Looks seem'd to foretell
Their certain Fate, in Battle fell:
Whilst many were to Slaughter led
By Salvages, on Horse-flesh fed,
Which from the English Camp, in Fight,
They carry'd off, or stole by Night,
To satisfy the greedy Maws
Of such as scarce cou'd stir their Jaws,
But lay as if they had been dead,
Stretch'd out on Honour's Truckle-Bed,
Almost with Hunger famished.

THUS the beleaguer'd in their Hive,
By Carrion were preserv'd alive,
'Till glutted with such Trojan Diet,
And willing to depart in Quiet,
Six Captains (famous in Report)
To sue for Peace rush from the Fort;
Whom the Besiegers, with small Pains,
To Pluto sent, without their Brains:
Which treach'rous Act (by all Relations
Against the Law of Arms and Nations)
Provok'd the Infidels with Ire
And Indignation to retire.

SO in the Night they left their Cell,
(Resemblance of a future Hell)
And to their Subterfuges went,
On bloody Vengeance fully bent,
Leaving the English (struck with Wonder)
Their empty Citadel to plunder;
Who pelted at the Dæmons Nest,
With Courage not to be express'd;
Whilst the Delinquents, in their Flight,
In Morpheus' Arms slew Ten out-right
Of the Besiegers, whom they found
Extended on the Mossy Ground;
And to compleat their furious Anger,
(With Tomahawke instead of Hanger)
They made the Number up Threescore,
Leaving them welt'ring in their Gore,
Whose harmless Lives (like bloody Hounds)
They had let out by mortal Wounds.

THEN, to extenuate the Act,
(Which wilful Murder was, in Fact)
They to VIRGINIA's Chief complain,
“Their Heroes by the English slain,
“Were Messengers of Peace sent out,
“To put a Period to the Rout;
“So should have been to Council led,
“And not (like Dogs) knock'd on the Head
“By Centinels, to them inferior,
“Altho' in Number much superior;
“Wherefore they ask for Satisfaction
“For Damages sustain'd in Action:
“And further, they desir'd to know
“Why Berkley was so much their Foe,
“As to assist the MARYLANDERS,
“With valiant Soldiers and Commanders;
“Which brought their Indian warlike Nation
“To Poverty and Tribulation?
“Telling how Popps and Squaws lay dead,
“(Like rotten Sheep) for want of Bread:
“That in Revenge, they thought it fit,
“That Ten for One should pay for it:
“That if he wou'd the Peace renew,
“He must Compassion to them shew;
“Recall forthwith his Sons of Thunder.
“Who prov'd their Courage to a Wonder,
“By making Salvages knock under:
“Or else, resolv'd they were each Man,
“To fight it out, kill as kill can.

THIS free Remonstrance of their Case,
Rebellion carry'd in its Face;
And was rejected, with Derision,
By Persons of the best Condition,
Whose Int'rest lean'd the other Way;
Such as, for Honour or for Pay,
Made Sword and Pistol their Vocation,
And held it an Abomination,
And base Dishonour to their Station,
On any Terms t'accept a Peace
From Infidels; that, like wild Geese,
Beyond the Western Mountains roam,
And rarely can be found at Home.

THIS rais'd the Indians mortal Rage,
Which nought but Death of Foes could 'swage,
Who to their Aid (to share the Spoil,
And bear a Bobb in Martial Toil)
The neighb'ring Salvages soon call,
And draw to Battle great and small,
That to the English Tribute paid;
On whom they fresh Incursions made,
And oft did use their Scalping Trade.

GREAT was the Slaughter, great the Cries,
(Throughout the English Colonies)
Of Murders, Rapines, Conflagrations,
Committed by outrag'ous Nations;
Like antient Picts of monstrous Size,
And Aspect frightful to the Eyes:
Tho' false, and Cowards in their Natures,
Yet terrible and fierce as Satyrs;
As many found it to their Cost,
Who dearest Friends, and Substance lost;
With plenteous Crops, and Herds and Flocks,
Being forc'd to fly to Woods and Rocks;
Wand'ring like Pilgrims, Lord knows whither,
Expos'd to Wind and stormy Weather;
This raging Calenture to shun,
Or by the Heathen be undone.

THUS was VIRGINIA's prospr'ous State
Disturb'd at first, by adverse Fate;
With Indian Wars, and various Rumors,
Which ended with intestine Tumors;
That Minds, to dire Rebellion bent,
Rais'd to disturb the Government;
Beyond Will's Power to prevent.

FOR Fortune, that is ever fickle,
And always has some Rods in Pickle,
To plague the Governour much more
Than she had done some Years before,
Rais'd civil Discords in the People,
Who, chatt'ring like Jack-daws in Steeple,
Against Sir William; chose this Bacon
Their Champion; whom at first I spake on;
A Man respected by the Mob,
As a fit Fool to do their Jobb;
Who, Sword in Hand, would rescue Cattle,
And give the Indians bloody Battle;
That had from MAR'LAND taken Flight,
Dreading with Bonnett blew to fight,
Who well they knew (as Scotch Highlander)
Was hot, as fiery Salamander.

WRAPT in their little God of Strife,
Who was (to draw him to the Life)
From Head to Foot scarce Nine-pin high,
Nor half so thick as Magogg's Thigh,
The Male-contents with one Consent,
Brave Nat with Praises compliment;
Then to Sir William recommend him,
As qualified, would he send him
With Force their Gen'ralissimo,
'Gainst their Ocanackeean Foe:
But Will, that better knew than they,
The Indian Game he had to play,
Would not on any Motives yield,
To let Nat govern in the Field;
And in Derision bid them nim'ly
“Go smoak their Bacon in the Chimney.

NOW as these Matters were debating,
(At Council-board scarce worth relating)
News came, that much disturb'd Nat's Quiet,
Of an unlawful Indian Riot,
Committed by a Generation
Of Vipers, rifling his Plantation;
Who, not content the same to plunder,
Had Overseer cut in sunder.

WHEREFORE, at this unhappy Season,
Without consulting first his Reason,
(Like unadvised Polititian)
He readily accepts Commission,
From furious Mobb, who give their Hand,
By him in greatest Streights to stand.

THUS, great as Noll, as Quixot stout,
At Head of Planters he rid out,
The Woods of Salvages to clear,
Pursu'd by Berkley in the Rear;
Who (being obliged by his Station)
Had sally'd forth from Midd Plantation,
With Life-Guard, resolutely bent
Impending Mischiefs to prevent;
Make Lilliputian Cavilero,
(As great in Thought as Spanish Hero)
On bended Hams Peccavi cry;
Or Bacon hang on Gibbet high,
For daring contumaciously,
To levy War on Enemy,
Without the general Assent
Of Governour and Parliament;
Who of the Publick Good to treat,
Were then at James-Town call'd to meet.

WHITHER, disbanding Voluntier
Sir William went t'advise w'his Peers;
Oblig'd the Wild-Goose Chase to quit,
Not knowing how the Way to hit;
That Nat had in his Rambles took,
When he Domestick Cares forsook;
And rashly follow'd empty Fame,
But gain'd a Traytor's odious Name,
And Blots, whose vile Characteristicks,
You'll plainly see i'th following Tristicks.
An Order's made Traytor to seize on,
For Bacon (not without good Reason,
Was judg'd, as tainted with High-treason:
So that by Berkley's Proclamation,
He got a pitchlike Defamation
Sticking to him and's Generation,”
As in the Sequel of the Story
Appears; eclipsing Bacon's Glory.

WHO, after he had put to Flight
The Ab-origenes in Fight,
Retir'd with great Precipitation
To visit Country Habitation;
Where presently, in County Squabble,
He was elected by the Rabble,
To serve as Burgess, tho' unfit
In House of Burgesses to sit;
As having been (e're in Disgrace)
By Will advanc'd to higher Place,
Who Bacon raised, (from a Shote)
In Upper House to give his Vote.

HOWEVER, Nat (resolv'd to see
If there he might admitted be)
With Forty Men and Mack'rel Gale
For the Metropolis set sail:
When dropping Anchor, 'twas their Fate;
To be made Prisoners of State;
And then by Gard'ner forc'd on Board,
Whose Ship before the Town was moar'd:
Whither in Spight of all Denial,
The Rebels were convey'd for Trial,
By Order of the higher Powers,
(Huzza'd by Mobb from Oaken Bowers)
Where instantly they were acquitted;
And Bacon once again admitted,
At Council Board to take his Post,
By Berkley, Ruler of the Roast;
Who also promis'd (tho' not hearty)
To make him Gen'ral of a Party;
Intended by the Government,
Against the Indians to be sent.

BUT, Promises are scarce worth minding,
And (as Civilians say) not binding,
Grounded on mental Reservation;
Or made without Consideration,
As Nat experienc'd to his Cost,
When he (by adverse Fortune cross'd)
Imaginary Honours lost.

FOR, when the Rabble were withdrawn,
And promis'd Day had pass'd it's Dawn,
For putting Bacon in Commission,
Will, like a crafty Polititian,
Refus'd to sign the Instrument,
Drawn up in Form, for that Intent;
Under Pretence, that Col'nel Bacon
Had other private Measures taken.

NAT (thus deluded) thought it best,
To let his hot Resentment rest;
And patiently pretend t'endure,
What (whilst in Town) he could not cure,
With Hopes he should a Method find,
To pay Sir William in his Kind;
Which soon came int' his frantick Brain,
Nor did the Project prove in vain.

FOR, as the Council sat at Table,
(You may believe me, 'tis no Fable)
A Letter was to Bacon brought,
With melancholly Tidings fraught;
Importing, that his loving Wife
Lay ready to depart this Life:
As Nat inform'd the Governour;
Desiring Leave (unlucky Cur)
To visit his betrothed Spouse,
Who ne'er had broke her nuptial Vows:
To which his Excellence reply'd,
The Motion could not be deny'd:
So, since he made such Moan for's Dear,
The Gov'nor bid him, go and see her;
Against th' Advice of faithful Friends,
Who guess'd at Bacon's wicked Ends:
For knowing well the Tricks of Nat,
They in the Letter smelt a Rat;
Which (when too late to be detected)
Was found (as rightly was suspected)
To come from Party disaffected;
That, loving Bacon very heart'ly,
Had manag'd Matters very smartly;
Informing Nat, “That Mob was ready,
“And in their Resolutions steady,
“That when he'd give the Sign to rise,
“They'd cut all Bacon's Enemies,
“As small as Meat is minc'd for Pies,
“In Case Will would not, with Submission,
“Put Bacon in a blank Commission:
This said the Letter: Now let's see
How Berkley's blind Credulity,
By the Impostor was rewarded,
As it in Story stands recorded.

NAT having play'd this cunning Trick,
Instead of visiting the Sick,
Before black Messenger rid Post,
(As if the De'el had drove) to th' Host;
To head a factious, stubborn Crew,
(As e're o're Seas for Refuge flew)
Of Servants, Slaves, and Overseers,
At least Five Hundred Mutineers;
That to insult the Government,
(By Bacon's Preincouragement)
At Nat's Approach began to bluster,
And Hurley-burley soon did muster,
Like Tumble-T---ds got in a Cluster.

WITH these new listed Sons of Plunder,
Nat enter'd Town, to Berkley's Wonder;
Who, when required to make good
His Promise, like a Statue stood:
Nat threatening to give no Quarter,
But burn poor Will like Smithfield Martyr;
Swearing, that if he lost his Aim,
He'd put the City in a Flame.

AT this the House, thro' Fear, divide,
And Berkley's take, or Bacon's Side;
In whose Behalf (to save the Hive)
'Twas carried in th' Affirmative,
“That Nat should General be sent,
“Intestine Quarrels to prevent;”
Who, with his new created Power,
(Extorted in an evil Hour
By Force of Arms) rid from his Dwelling,
Like Oliver, a Colonelling.

FIRST then, he settles Ways and Means,
For proper Posture of Defence;
Then fits his Troops, then makes Drums rattle
For March, to give the Indians Battle.

NOW b'ing advanc'd to Out-plantations
Searching for Foes of Indian Nations;
News comes of Berkley's Preparations:
Which puts the Rebels to their Trumps,
And makes them look in doleful Dumps,
Like Withrington, upon his Stumps.

HOWE'ER the Bully re-advances,
To Midd-Plantation, since by Francis,
Call'd Williamsburg; makes Replication,
To Berkley's second Proclamation:
Then by each other, One and All,
The Rebels swear to stand or fall;
And sign the League, which you may see,
Drawn up at large, in Beverley:
Which put Sir William in a Fright,
Who with his Friends took hasty Flight,
Across the Bay to Accomack;
But thence was quickly hurry'd back,
In Time t'oppose this grand Rebellion:
That's all, this CANTO is to tell y' on.