University of Virginia Library

No. XVI.

Extracts from Ralphe Hamor.

EDITION PRINTED AT LONDON BY JOHN BEALE, FOR WILLIAM WESLEY; DWELLING
AT THE SIGNE OF THE SWANNE, IN PAUL'S CHURCHYARD, 1615.

[Mr. Hamor was a man of high standing in the Colony. His residence
was at Bermuda Hundred, a few miles only from Henricopolis, where Sir
Thomas Dale and the Rev. Alexander Whittaker lived. He appears to
have been intimate with them both and to have partaken of their pious
spirit. It is one evidence of the estimation in which he was held, that
the severest punishment ever inflicted in the Colony was on a man who
uttered slanderous words against Mr. Hamor. Mr. Hamor's work, from
which we take the following extracts, was obtained by Mr. Conway
Robinson, of Richmond, on a late visit to England, and presented to the
Historical Society of Virginia. It is the most reliable and authentic
work on the early history of Virginia.

His religious character, and that of the age, is seen in the following
introductory passage.]

Sure, young though in years and knowledge, I may be said to be, yet
let me remember, to thee perhaps much knowing Reader, what the wisest

man that ever writ or spake (excepting him that was both God and man)
hath said, that such who bring others unto righteousnesse, shal themselves
shine as the stars in the firmament. And doubtlesse I doe beleive even
amongst the rest of my Articles, when these poore Heathens shall be
brought to entertaine the honour of the name, and glory of the Gospell
of our blessed Saviour, when they shall testifie of the true and ever-living
God, and Jesus Christ to be their salvation, their knowledge so inlarged
and sanctified, that without him they confesse their eternal death: I do
believe I say (and how can it be otherwise?) that they shal breake out and
cry with the rapture of so inexplicable mercie: Blessed be the King and
Prince of England, and blessed be the English Nation, and blessed forever
be the most high God, possessor of Heaven and earth, that sent these
English as Angels to bring such glad tidings amongst us. These will be
doubtlesse the empaticke effects and exultation of this so Christian worke,
and may these nothing move! Alas let Sanballat, and Tobiah, Papests
and Plaiers, Ammonites and Horonites, the scumme and dregges of the
people, let them mocke at this holy Businesse, they that be filthie, let
them be filthie still, and let such swine wallow in the mire, but let not
the rod of the wicked fall upon the lot of the righteous nor let them
shrinke back, and call in their helpes from this so glorious enterprise,
which the Prophet Isaiah cals, the declaring of God to the left hand, but
let them that know the worke, rejoice and be glad in the happie successe
of it, proclaiming that it is the everlasting God that raigneth in England,
and unto the ends of the world.

[The following is the true and full account of the capture of Pocahontas
by Captain Argall.]

It chaunced Powhatans delight and darling, his daughter Pocahuntas,
(whose fame hath even bin spred in England by the title of Nonparella
of Virginia,) in her princely progresse, if I may so terme it, tooke some
pleasure (in the absence of Captaine Argall) to be among her friends at
Pataomecke (as it seemeth by the relation I had) imploied thither, as
shopkeepers to a Fare, to exchange some of her fathers commodities for
theirs, where residing some three months or longer, it fortuned upon
occasion either of promise or profit, Captaine Argall to arrive there, whom
Pocahuntas, desirous to renew her familiaritie with the English, and delighting
to see them, as unknowne, fearefull perhaps to be surprised, would
gladly visit, as she did, of whom no sooner had Captaine Argall intelligence,
but he delt with an old friend, and adopted brother of his, Japazeus, how and
by what means he might procure her captive, assuring him, that now or
never, was the time to pleasure him, if he intended indeede that love which
he had made profession of, that in ransome of hir he might redeeme some of
our English men and armes, now in the possession of her Father, promising
to use her withall faire, and gentle entreaty: Japazeus well assured that
his brother, as he promised would use her curteously promised his best

indevours and secresie to accomplish his desire, and thus wrought it,
making his wife an instrument (which sex have ever bin most powerfull
in beguiling inticements) to effect his plot which hee had thus laid, he agreed
that himselfe, his wife, and Pocahuntas, would accompanie his brother to
the water side, whether come, his wife should faine a great and longing
desire to goe aboorde, and see the shippe, which being there three or
four times, before she had never seen, and should be earnest with her
husband to permit her: he seemed angry with her, making as he pretended
so unnecessary a request, especially being without the company of
women, which deniall she taking unkindly, must faine to weepe (as who
knows not that women can command teares) whereupon her husband seeming
to pity those counterfeit teares, gave her leave to goe aboord, so that
it would please Pocahuntas to accompany her: now was the greatest labour
to win her, guilty perhaps of her fathers wrongs, though not knowne as
she supposed, to goe with her, yet by her earnest perswasions, she assented:
so forthwith aboorde they went, the best cheere that could be made was
seasonably provided, to supper they went, merry on all hands, especially
Japazeus and his wife, who to express their joy, would ere be treading
upō Capt. Argalls foot, as who should say tis don, she is your own.
Supper ended, Pocahuntas was lodged in the Gunner's roome, but Japazeus
and his wife desired to have some conference with their brother, which
was onely to acquaint him by what strategem, they had betraid his prisoner,
as I have already related: after which discourse to sleepe they went, Pocahuntas
nothing mistrusting this policy, who nevertheles being most possessed
with feare, and desire of returne, was first up, and hastened Japazeus
to be gon. Capt. Argall having secretly well rewarded him, with a
small copper kettle, and some other les valuable toies so highly by him
esteemed, that doubtlesse he would have betraid his owne father for them,
permitted both him and his wife to returne, but told him, that for divers
considerations, as for that his father had then eight of our English men,
many swords, peices and other tooles, which he had at severall times by
trecherous murdering our men, taken from them, which though of no use
to him, he would not redeliver, he would reserve Pocahuntas, whereat
she began to be exceeding pensive and discontented, yet ignorant of the
dealing of Japazeus, who in outward appearance was no les discontented,
that he should be the meanes of hir captivity, much adoe there was to perswade
her to be patient, which with extraordinary curteous usage, by little
and little was wrought in her, and so to Jamestowne she was brought, a
messenger to her father forthwith despatched to advertise him that his only
daughter was in the hands and possession of the English: ther to be
kept til such time as he would ransom her with our men, swords, peices
and other tools treacherously taken from us: the news was unwelcome,
and troublesom unto him, partly for the love he bare to his daughter, and
partly for the love he bare to our men his prisoners, of whom though with
us they were unapt for any imployment, he made great use: and those
swords, and peices of ours, (which though of no use to him) it delighted
him to view and look upon.

[The following is from the account of Sir Thomas Dale's visit to
Powhatan at his residence, when he took Pocahontas with him and informed
the king of the attachment between her and Mr. Rolfe, not long
before their marriage. Mr. Hamor was of the party, and then presented
Mr. Rolfe's letter to Thomas Dale, which we have published.]

Long before this time a gentleman of approved behaviour and honest
cariage, Maister John Rolfe, had bin in love with Pocahuntas and she
with him, which thing at the instant that we were in parlee with them,
myselfe made known to Sir Thomas Dale by a letter from him, whereby
he intreated his advise and furtherance in his love, if so it seemed fit to
him for the good of the Plantation, and Pocahuntas herselfe, acquainted
her brethren therewith: which resolution Sir Thomas Dale well approving,
was the onely cause, hee was so milde amongst them, who otherwise
would not have departed their river without other conditions.

The bruite of this pretended marriage came soon to Powhatans knowledge,
a thing acceptable to him, as appeared by his sudden consent
thereunto, who some ten daies after sent an old uncle of hirs, named
Opachisco, to give her as his deputy in the church, and two of his sonnes
to see the marriage solemnized, which was accordingly done about the
fift of April, and ever since we have had friendly commerce and trade,
not onely with Powhatan himselfe but also with his subjects round about
us; so as I now see no reason why the collonie should not thrive apace.

The Attempt of Sir Thomas Dale to get another Daughter of Powhatan,
as a Surer Pledge of Peace.

It pleased Sir Thomas Dale (myselfe being much desirous before my
retourne for England,) to visit Powhatan & his court, (because I would be
able to speak somwhat thereof by mine own knowledge) to imploy myselfe,
and an English boy for my Interpreter one Thomas Salvage (who
had lived three years with Powhatan, and speakes the language naturally,
one whom Powhatan much affecteth) upon a message unto him, which
was to deale with him, if by any meanes I might procure a daughter of
his, who (Pocahuntas being already in our possession) is generally reported
to be his delight, and darling, (and surely he esteemeth her as his owne
soule) for surer pledge of peace.