University of Virginia Library

THE BOLD INSURGENT.

1. CHAPTER I.

—Bacon's Eulogy.

Scene in the Tap-Room.

In the reign of Charles, the Second of England, Sir William Berkley
was Governor of Virginia, then a pet province of royalty, and receiving
more of the sunshine of kingly favor than any other of the
American plantations. It was settled principally by cavaliers of this
prince's ill-fated father's court, and a party, who, to escape the retributive
vengeance of Cromwell, sought here an asylum from the politcal
tempest that laid waste their fair island. Here took refuge many
of the first Charles' personal friends and most devoted adherents; and
with but few exceptions, all of these transferred their royalty and affection
from the father to the son. After the restoration, they would
have willingly returned from their exile, and were making preparations
to do so, when the second Charles, desirous of giving consideration
to the province through the presence there of wealth and family,
courteously signified that it was his royal wish that they should
remain there, and by their presence and influence, countenance the
infant colony, which, on their departure, would languish and die.
The expression of the royal desire was to them a command; and Virginial
became permanently the home of some of the best descended
cavaliers of Great Britain, whose descendants, in this day, have parted
not with the high tone of gallantry and chivalrous bearing which
characterized the gentleman of the court of the unfortunate Charles.
The presence of so large a number of good families, who instead of
coming to acquire wealth, brought it with them with all its refinements,
combined with the peculiar favor the colony received from the parent
country, contributed to place Virginia far before its sister colonies in
luxuries which the latter only finally arrived to the enjoyment of, after

years of patient and laborious toil. This peculiarity was apparent,
and distinctly marked as early as the period of our story; and a century
and a half has scarcely diminished the claim of the `Old Dominion'
to this distinctive feature.

The colonists were composed principally of planters, gentlemen of
estate, King's officers, military men, with the persons composing the
council and court of Sir William Berkley. Mechanics, there were
few or none, as all manufactured articles were imported from the
mother country, from a hat down to a shoe, and oftentimes, also, the
entire frames of dwelling houses and public edifices. Poor white laborers
were also rare, as all work was done by slaves. Loafers were
not known then. It was emphatically a colony of gentlemen! Their
estates extended on both sides of James River, many a league, and
along both shores of the Chesapeake. Jamestown was the seat of
colonial government, the residence of Sir William Berkley; and the
centre of all provincial events. Here the governor held his court;
here met the assembly, and here were the head-quarters of the troops.

This town, at the period of our story, in 1675, extended along a
rambling street that run parallel with James, then called Powhattan
River, for about three quarters of a mile, and faced the south. The
place on which it was built, was a peninsula formed by a creek, that,
approaching within a few rods of James River, above the town, turned
with a broad sweep, off suddenly to the left, quite encompassing
the town, and emptied itself into the river two miles below it. The
neck that joined the peninsula thus formed, to the main land, was but
ten paces in breadth, and across it run the only road that led from the
town to the interior. Besides the state-house, which was an imposing
brick structure, with a portico and gallery, the governor's residence,
just out of the village, and a church with a lower tower, there
was no other public building in town, unless the hostel of Katrine
Larence be thus designated. Katrine had been the prettiest maiden,
the loveliest bride, and the handsomest widow in the whole plantation.
At the time this story opens, she had remained in widowhood twelve
years, the whilst mistress and hostess of the most notable public
house in Virginia; `the resorte,' says the historian, `of all the gentry
and best quality of the colony whom business and cencours to the
governor brought to town from all parts.'

One stormy night, several of her guests were congregated in the
tap-room, the chief window of which looked towards the council hall
of the state-house. It was the night before the meeting of the provincial

assembly, and the inn was filled with the members that represented
different parts of the colony, and, as the custom then was,
most of them were gathered in the tap-room after supper, previous
to retiring for the night. The company was divided or separated into
four or five groups. Around the fire, (for the night, though a late
one, was damp and chilly, and a fire comfortable,) was drawn a knot
of the members, discussing the anticipated affairs of the morrow, on
the opening of the assembly. They were mostly dressed in the broad
skirted coats, flapped waistcoats, breeches and knee-buckles, with the
queued and powdered hair of the period. In the middle of the floor,
seated around a table, was a group of town's people, from their dress
and conversation, evidently merchants and ship-masters, talking of
gains, of winds, and of foreign lands. In a corner of the apartment
were several seamen, riotously drinking and singing over oft replenished
cups of gin or claret, while in the opposite corner, as if seeking
to shun observation, were two swarthy and painted Indians, with
bundles of furs at their feet, bargaining in low guttural tones with a
little fat, shrewd `leader' of the town, who displayed, in his hands, gay
beads, brass rings, and other tempting trinkets, as the price of their
beaver-skins. On one side of the long, low apartment, was a semicircular
pulpit, well guarded by an oaken lattice, and communicating
with a window in the rear, with an inner room. This was the `bar'
or `tap' of the inn, and its presiding deity none other than Katrine
herself, who was leaning over its counter, and talking with a tall
handsome man, not above thirty years of age, who, while listening to
her with courteous attention, was marking all that passed among the
several groups in the tap-room. This man was finely formed, and
wore a costume half that of a hunter, and half military, which exceedingly
became him, while it set off to advantage the firm proportions
of his well built frame. His whole air, his subdued and calm
manner, as well as the richness of some parts of his dress, showed
him to be a man of birth and bearing. His eye was grey and large,
and clear like an eagle's, while his mouth wore that firm expression
that indicated courage, daring, and a high and fierce spirit. His complexion
was florid, his forehead partly shaded by a low Virginia palm
hat, was broad and smooth; while the strength of his noble, but
stern brows was relieved by clustering locks of light brown hair that
escaped from his hat, and rested upon his temples. A light, elegant
mustache graced his upper lip, and a peaked, well trimmed beard descended
to his breast. He wore a straight sword at his side, and in
his belt was stuck a pistol, and a long two-edged hunting-knife. His
smile was pleasant, and the few low words he from time to time returned
for the courteous flow of gossip with which Katrine entertained
him, seemed, from her frequent laughs, not only to give her great
pleasure, but to be sufficiently well-timed—notwithstanding he was
all the while more intent in listening to the conversation of those
about the fire-place, than to her.

`Come, Colonel,' she said at length, seeing that he thought less of
her words than he seemed to; `leave the tap-room, and go back into
the little parlor, where thy supper is laid. There is wine and warm
welcome for thee there.'

`Such welcome were a thing not lightly to be turned from, Katrine,'
he said, but I pray thee let me listen a-while to these cavaliers. Their
discourse hath especial interest for me.'

`It is nothing but dry assembly talk; I hear it from morning 'till
night, until I wish there was no such thing as politics in the world.'

`Were there no politics, dame, thou would'st scarce have so
crowded a hotel as thou hast this night,' answered the cavalier.

`That is true; but we need not listen to them.'

`Go, Katrine, I will presently follow thee, and do justice to thy
board.'

Thus speaking, he quitted the easy, lounging posture he had hitherto
assumed, as he leaned with his ear towards the hostess, and moved,
as if with careless purpose, towards the fire-place, yet not so near as
to attract observation by the act.

`These painted pagans that so infest our borders with fire and
death in their train, must be exterminated,' said one of the older gentlemen
of the group, continuing the conversation, and striking his
gold-headed staff upon the hearth, to enforce, by its emphasis, his
energetic words.

`They have, a second time, come within thirty miles of Jamestown,
and the light of their war-fires has illuminated the horizon of our
very capital,' said another. `Why Sir William does not send out
troops to protect the frontier, and punish these savages, is better
known to himself than it is to me.'

`Sir William Berkley, our excellent governor, hath too much wisdom
to shoot bullets through beaver-skins,' sqeaked a low, chuckling
voice, in a distant part of the room.

Every one looked in the direction from which it proceeded, and discovered

in the speaker the squat trader, who was bargaining with the
friendly Indians.

`What mean you, sirrah?' demanded one of the members, with indignation.

`We all know that Sir William loves the ring of gold and silver as
well as a Jew,' said the little man with a boldness singularly contrasting
with his small voice and diminutive appearance, `and while he
can buy beaver-skins for a blue bead each, and sell them to his factors
at a dollar, he will not, by going to war with our red friends, put
an end to profitable gains.'

`By Saint George! there spoke a true word if the devil had given
it speech! cried the second speaker with animation.

`And herein,' said the first, `lieth, I do verily believe, the secret of
the whole matter. The trader hath got the thumb end.'

`Shall we suffer this thing to be, gentlemen,' said a bold, slashing
cavalier, with a red face, and altogether a dissipated air, who made
one of the group; `shall our lives be put in the balance against the
governor's cupidity. It is but three hours since the rumor came flying
in, that seventeen men have been slain within fifty miles of us,
since Saturday night. Sir William must learn that freemen's lives
are not to be measured with beaver-tails.'

`Tut, tut, Larence, man!' said one of the party, laughing; `you
speak treason that will bring you to a hempen neck-cloth'

`If it be treason, then have I also a hand in it,' said the young
cavalier, who had been listening to their conversation with deep attention.
He strode towards the fire-place as he spoke, and the exclamation,
`Colonel Bacon!' from every one present, showed that he
was no stranger to them, though their manner evinced surprise, both
at his presence and language. `Yes, gentlemen,' he continued, after
exchanging brief and courteous salulations with them, `if Major
Larence had spoken treason, then is every true and honest man in
this dominion a traitor! Sir William Berkley looks more to his own
interest than to the colony's, and hath some deeper purpose in his
forhearance towards the savages who have been so long suffered to
lay waste our borders, than appears,—unless this trader hath hit upon
the truth.'

`This is bold language, Colonel Bacon,' said one of the gentlemen,
`to deliver in the hearing of a member of Sir William Berkley's
council.'

`Sir William Berkley himself, shall hear a plainer speech than

even this, Mr. Oglethrope. I have come to Jamestown to-night to
ask his Excellency a commission, that I may levy men and go against
these Indian robbers.'

`This is a bold procedure, sir,' said the old counsellor, with surprise.

`The times require bold steps,' was the reply of the young man.

`If the Governor refuse to commission you?' asked one of the
gentlemen, all of whom had now risen from their seats and were
gathered around the young Virginia cavalier, actuated by various feelings,
as hostility or friendship to Sir William Berkley influenced their
views of this proposed step.

`I will in that case, on my own responsibility, raise a party of men
who have got too much of the Briton in them to be slaves to any
man's will, and go forth against them myself.'

`What greater cause have you than other men to take up arms,
that you must do this even if you have to do it as a rebel?' asked the
counsellor.

`Love for my ill governed country, lest it be ruined by the misconduct
of those in power. Besides,' he added, in a low, deep tone of
vengeance, `did not all you know my cousin and more than brother,
Enery Warwick?'

`The noblest spirit in the province,' was the unanimous reply.

`Well, sir, he died yesterday,' continued Bacon, calmly.

`Dead?—how came it?'

`By the murderous tomahawk of the savage chief Cineca!' was
the low, deep, and almost terrific reply.

`This must be looked to,' said the counsellor after a moment's silent
surprise.

`It shall be looked to, or Sir William Berkley's head shall answer
it,' responded Bacon sternly; and strode from the apartment, leaving
ing them full of wonder and apprehension of they knew not what impending
evil.

2. CHAPTER II.
Scene in the Library.

Sir William Berkley was seated in his library, the closely drawn
window curtains of which could not shut out the vivid lightning of
the storm that raged without, while occasional peals of thunder shook
his dwelling to its foundation. `Greene Spring,' the seat of Sir
William, was a handsome villa, constructed after the old fashioned
Virginia style, with a broad hall running through the centre, spacious
wings, and a light colonade or gallery, quite encompassing it. A
wide lawn, dotted with oaks separated it from James River, near which
about a third of a mile from the town it stood.—Here Sir William
Berkley lived, in the style of a wealthy country gentleman, as well
as Governor, though his hospitality was limited by a certain care for
money, characteristic of him, that better became a King's factor, than a
King's Governor, or his own high birth. He was a lover of mammon,
and made his office rather the instrument for the acquisition of wealth,
than for the weal and prosperity of the colony. Aside from this failing,
he was a well-bred gentleman, courteous, polite and affable—for
these are qualities that cost nothing, and most avaricious men are
lavish enough of them so long as their purse strings are not invaded.
One great source of his wealth was trading with the Indians, which
his station enabled him to do to advantage, and to make a monopoly
of the traffic. For two years past, the Indians had been exceedingly
troublesome, and were constantly perpetrating atrocious murders
along the frontier, on the plea, sufficiently well grounded, that the
government was indebted to them for former services in war, in which
several of their warriors had been sacrificed, and for which their
widows had received no remuneration. Numerous petitions had been
made to Sir William Berkley from the planters along the borders,
either to satisfy the claim or send troops to protect them. Their applications
were disregarded, and the savages became bolder, and at
length so dangerous and formidable, that all the inhabitants of the
region, open to their inroads, fled from their homes to the towns,

leading them with their cattle and harvests, a prey to their enemies.
This was the crisis of affairs at the present time. But Governor
Berkley was too wise, (to quote the language of the trader,) `to shoot
a bullet through a beaver skin,'—and so long as the Indians would
send in their furs, he was indifferent how many of his colony were
carried off and massacred.

There were two persons in the library with Sir William. One of
them was a rough, weather-beaten sea captain; who stood twirling his
tarpaulin near the table where the Governor sat in ruff, velvet, and
powdered wig. The other, who stood opposite the sailor, was an Indian
chief of the highest rank, judging from the war-eagle's feather,
that graced the coronet of scarlet plumes he wore.

`How many skins, Cineca, have you brought down in your canoes,
said you?' asked the Governor, who was in the attitude of writing,
with a gold pencil in his fingers.

`Five canoes—thousand skins in each canoe,' answered the Indian,
in good English.

`And what am I to give you for them?'

`One keg powder, one keg whiskey, twelve guns and one hundred
pounds lead, with pipes and tobacco for five warriors.'

`This will never do, Chief! 'tis too much, too much, Cineca!'

`Brother get the skins very cheap,' answered the Indian.

`Too much—too much,' repeated Sir William, `I will give you but
ten guns, and fifty pounds of lead, with pipes and tobacco for thyself.'

`Cineca must have what he said,' replied the Indian firmly.

`You are growing too sharp, Cineca. Two years ago I bought
twice as many of you at a fifth of the price.'

`Cineca was a child then—he is now a man—brother will pay.'

`Well, be it so—but see that you use not these guns against my
people,' said Sir William with a smile. `I hear sad accounts from
your warriors. Set them to catching beavers, and they will have but
little time to molest our borderers. I shall have to send troops
against you, and then there will be an end of your thriving beaver
trade.'

`Warriors love better to hunt men than beaver. If we fight, we no
hunt: a scalp is worth a hundred beaver skins,' answered the savage
Chief with a kindling eye.

`Go to, Chief! Let me hear no more of these murders on the
frontier! To-morrow, deliver your skins to my factor and you shall
receive your pay. Now Captain,' he said turning to the sailor after

the Indian left the apartment, `I must have these skins packed and
aboard by Thursday night, which will complete the tale of your rich
freight, and you can sail on Friday morning.'

`On Friday, Sir William?'

`Surely— why do you show such consternation?'

`It is an unlucky day, William. I would not put to sea on Friday,
if I expected to have luck on the passage.'

`You are a fool. Then drive work, and sail Thursday night; they
shall not lay a day for man's superstition. The market by last accounts
was high, and I would dispatch. If the voyage end prosperously,
'twill make me eight thousand pounds richer than at its beginning.—Well,
Edward, what now?' he demanded of a servant who
entered.

`A gentleman desires to see your Excellency.'

`His name? He must have business pressing to venture abroad in
in this storm.'

`He gave none—but that he was a Virginian.'

`This smacks! These haughty Virginians, I verily believe, do
look upon themselves as better men than born Britons. Bid him
come in. More complaints of the Indians, I'll warrant me. You
may go, Captain, and see that the rising sun of Friday shines on your
canvas ten leagues a-sea!'

The Captain took his leave as the servant ushered in the new visitant.

`Ha, Colonel Bacon! you are welcome!—Come upon the old
subject, I doubt not,' said the Governor petulantly.

`If your Excellency by this phraseology means the subject of our
border grievances, permit me to say it is a new subject. Would to
God we could say it was an old one! But each day's deeds seem to
keep it fresh, and I have hither come from my plantation to see if by
your aid this grievance may not be abated, and so made old to those
who would hereafter speak of it.'

`There is no cause for this array of petitions with which I am
hourly beseiged. What bloody deeds the Indians have committed,
they have been provoked to by men who would push their possessions
into their hunting grounds.'

`I am not here, your Excellency, to discuss a question which you
have handled in all its bearings. I am here to pray you to give us
present aid, that our homes may not be made desolate.'

`I have but few household troops, and our militia have little relish

for fighting with savages. I question if I could raise five hundred
men in all the counties to carry on war with these barbarians.'

`I do not ask you to raise a single man, Sir William. If you will
commission me to raise what men I may, and leave me to carry on
this barbaric war, you shall hear no more of petitions,' said Bacon,
with animation.

`Commission you, Nathaniel Bacon?' repeated the Governer starting
with surprise.

`I said so, your Excellency,' said Bacon quietly.

`Never, by Heaven! You would soon be general-in-chief, and
face God! I should have to look out for my own safety and authority.
No, no! I had enough of your fiery ambitions spirit when you were
ast year, a member of the Assembly. You were then like to have
o'ertopped all other gentlemen! By the round head of Noll Cromwell
but this is a singular proposition for you to make to me, sir.'

`Will you commission me, Sir William?' asked Bacon, when he
had ended, unmoved by his violent language.

`Commission you! if you want a commission, go to the devil for
it!'

The young Virginian struck his sword hilt, as if he would have unsheathed
it at this insulting retort, but recollecting himself, said calmly:

`Nay, I will not draw my sword save for my country, you have both
refused to give me men and to commission me. Now mark, sir! Commission
or no commission I do from this hour give myself to this
service.'

Thus speaking, he left the library, and the house of the Governor
and returned to the inn, where ordering his horse, he galloped off,
dark and stormy as it was, and departed from the town.

3. CHAPTER III.
Scene in the Assembly.

Not a week elapsed after the interview between these two gentlemen,
ere the rumor reached Jamestown that Colonel Bacon had put
himself at the head of one hundred mounted men, mostly of estate,
and marched against the Indians, over whom he had gained a most signal

victory, The Assembly was in session at the time, with the Governor
presiding, and the report was received by this body with incredulity.
But a few hours afterwards it was confirmed by a special
messenger to the Governor, who was none other than the Cineca himself,
who with his life had barely escaped from the slaughter of his
warriors. The matter was instantly laid before the Assembly, which
was composed nearly equally of those who approved this course of
Bacon, and those who sided with the Governer in condemning it. The
latter faction, instead of appeasing Sir William's anger, devised means
to increase it, by framing specious pretences, which they grounded on
the audacity of Bacon's conduct, and the hold he had already got upon
the popular affection. Indeed, many of these gentlemen on their
own part, began to have Bacon's suddenly displayed merits in distrust,
and to look upon him as a rival that would endanger their own personal
consideration.

Though he was a very young man, they saw plainly that he was
master of those talents which win popular favor and confidence, to
which he united great wisdom and discretion. `By which embellshments,'
says a contemporary, `they thought if hee should bee suffered
to continue at the head of a growing army, they, instead of being
seniors, might become juniors, while their younger brother, (Col. Bacon,)
through the nimbleness of his witt, might steale away that blessing
which they accounted their own birthright; and also Sir William
thought this rash proceeding of Bacon, if it it did not undoe himselfe
by his failing in the enterprize, might chance to undoe him in the
affections of the people; which to prevent, he thought it conducible
to his intress and establishment, to proclaim him a rebell.”

Accordingly, before the Assembly adjourned for that day, Nathaniel
Bacon was proclaimed a rebel, and forces were raised to reduce
him to his duty. Scarcely had the proclamation been published, ere
intelligence reached Jamestown that Bacon's force had increased to
seven hundred men, that his army had constituted him General, that
a second victory over the Indians had brought them to terms of peace
for the time, and thus ended the war. This news was received with
demonstrations of joy by the people generally, but filled the Governer
and the enemies of Bacon with jealous alarm. Sir William Berkley
believed, or affected to believe, that his next step would be to march
against himself, and he immediately called upon his `Train Band,'
and all true men of the province, to arm in defence of their country
against so dangerous an insurgent. Such intentions, however,

as the Governor saw fit to attribute to the young leader, had never
entered Colonel Bacon's mind. His only object in taking up arms
was to free his country from a ruthless foe, which growing confident
in the supineness and inaction of the government, threatened to inundate
the whole land with blood.

`He was a man of quality and merit, brave and eloquent, and became
much endeared to the people, not so much for what he had done,
as for what they expected he would doe to deserve their devotion,' says
an old writer of that day; `while with no common zeale they sent
up their reiterated prayers, first to himselfe, and next to Heaven, that
he may become their guardian angele to protect them against the Indians,
now that the governer cared not whether they were slain or
noe.' Thus in a few days had this young man ingratiated himself
into the affections of the people, and become indeed, should he see fit
to use his power, a formidable rival to the jealous Governor.

Bacon having dispersed the Indians, returned to his own country
and dismissed his forces, with orders to be ready to obey his call at
any moment. He here learned with scornful indignation that the
Governor had proclaimed him both a rebel and traitor. The country
had recently chosen a burgess for the Assembly, who, from some accidental
circumstance, was detained from joining his colleagues up
to the time of General Bacon's return; and it was necessary that a
substitute should he appointed, and the young insurgent chief was
unanimously chosen to fill the station. He gladly accepted the nomination,
for he wished once more, now that he had done good service
against the common enemy, to see Sir William Berkley, and be commissioned
by him, as well as to have the proclamation that had outlawed
him, revoked. He therefore, immediately on being elected
burgess, embarked in a sloop with thirty of his friends and adherents,
and sailed down James river, (on the banks of which, near the head
waters, his plantation was situated,) towards the provincial capital.
It was night when he arrived and anchored off the town. The Assembly
were yet sitting, by the light of their lamps which shone through
the windows of the State house, pencilling long lines of light upon
the limpid stream. Trusting to the privileges of his official character
as an elected burgess, and without reflecting that as an outlaw his
election was illegal, the young chief determined to go on shore at
once and take his seat in the Assembly. He jumped into a boat, and
attended only by Major Larence and another friend, pulled to the land.
The night was clear and starry, and the town they were approaching,

seemed to sleep, all was so still. Lights burning here and there in a
chamber window, and the occasional howl of a dog from the dark mass
of houses, alone gave signs that they were near the congregrated
abodes of men. As they touched the shore where a few water oaks
bent over the stream, they heard the distant sound of the drum and
fife, and then followed the varied roll of the tatoo, rising and falling
on the wind, telling that them the town was garrisoned and alert.

`Berkley has taken care of himself,' said Major Larence, after listening
an instant to the martial sounds. `You had best follow his
example.'

`I fear nothing for myself. Return to the sloop, and let me go
alone to the council chamber. Nay, it is best that I should do so. If
I bring friends along with me, it will look like suspicion.'

After a few words of expostulation on the part of Major Larance,
he consented to remain where he was by the boat, that he might be
ready to succor his friend if his frank confidence should bring him
into peril.

When Col. Bacon reached the state house, he was surprised to see
a guard of soldiers drawn up around it. Without hesitation he advanced
to the entrance of the hall, and demanded admittance into the
Assembly.

`It were as much as my commission is worth, sir, to admit you,'
said the captain, recognizing him in evident alarm, `are you alone?'

`Alone!'

`Then pass—but I would rather, for your own safety, sir, you should
retire,' he said in a low tone.

`What have I to fear, captain?'

`The Governor's jealousy, and the rival enmity of your colleagues!'

`I will meet it. Let me pass in!'

The guard stood aside, and the bold young leader opened the door,
and strode into the hall of the Assembly. Without stopping, he walked
quite up to the forum, just in front of which was the chair for the
burgess of his county, and without a word, and in the face of the
whole body, quietly took his seat. The surprise his appearance and
conduct excited, having a little subsided, the Governer was the first to
speak.

`How is this, sir traitor! we are bearded in our very Assembly!
What doest thou here, arch rebel?'

`Represent my constituents,' answered Bacon firmly, and with a
smile of proud contempt on his fine dark face. He then rose and laid

upon the table his credentials, which the Governor examined with the closest
scrutiny.

`These are in form, sir, but they do not apply to a traitor. No banned
man is eligible to any office of dignity or trust. Gentlemen, this outlaw,
Nathaniel Bacon, hath had the audacity to permit himself to be chosen
burgess of his county, after proclamation of treason against him, and now
demands his seat with as honest a front, as if he were a true man. Will
you receive him among your number?'

`Ay, ay—no, no!' for several moments filled the hall from conflicting
voices, when the Governor, to put an end to it, cried out—

`Ho, sergeant! command Captain Wilfred to march in a file of men and
take his prisoner.'

`Ha, this treachery!' exclaimed Bacon, halt drawing his sword,

`Treachery!' repeated Sir William, with a smile of triumph, `Seize the
traitor!' he cried, the soldiers entered, and marched up the hall to the spot
where he stood.

`I will not resist your Excellency,' said Bacon, giving up his sword to
the captain of the guard, `lest it should look like guilt. I yield myself
your prisoner, and leave the adjudgment of my case to my country.'

The Assembly broke up in confusion, and Bacon was led to the prison,
where, before midnight, the Governor sent his thirty friends to join him,
putting them in irons, having by stratagem captured the sloop as it lay off
the town, on learning that it was the vessel that had brought Bacon down
the river.

4. CHAPTER VI.
The Trial for Treason.

The next day Bacon and his adherents were brought ironed into the
presence of the Governor and council, who constituted a tribunal for the
trial of the offence with which he was charged. The state house was filled
with people, and the excitement was so great throughout the town, not only
among the citizens, but the members of the assembly and strangers, that
the governor was forced to place a strong guard in and about the council
chamber. His soldiers, however, had caught the enthusiasm which the
young insurgent's brilliant actions had created in the minds of all, and were
as likely to go over to Bacon's party, as adhere to the Governor. Sir William
Berkley was penetrating enough to see this; and policy dictated to
him a mild course, lest by severity he should rouse the indignation of the
people and thwart his own ends.

After the usual preliminaries in cases of trial for treason were gone
through, Colonel Bacon abruptly rose and thus spoke in his defence:

`I stand here, gentlemen, manacled like a condemned felon, charged
with high treason! I ask whether as a man wholly devoted to his king and
country, who has adventured his life and his honor too, to punish enemies
in arms against his king and country, be a traitor? I ask if a man who

never plotted, contrived, or endeavored the destruction, detriment, or wrong
of any of His Majesty's subjects, their lives, fortunes or estates, deserves
the name of rebel and traitor? If this be treachery, then am I a traitor!
If this be rebellion, then am I rebel! But 'till patriotism be proven to be
treason, devotion to the king, disloyalty, and love of country rebellion, I
stand before God an honest man and a faithful subject! Behold my conduct
in the affair for which I am here in chains. Behold that of my brave
soldiers! I call upon the whole country to witness against me or them, if
they can! There are some men in authority, who, from weakness of intellect,
cannot distinguish between patriotism and rebellion; or, who have
such vicious natures themselves, that they can see no good in others!

`I have not sought wealth by trickery! I have not sought honor by
sycophancy! I have not been blinded by the glitter of gold! I have not
been a sponge to suck up the public treasure! The colony has become a
mart, and rulers, forgetting their station, have become pedlars and brokers!
What arts have been promoted in the colony? what sciences, what schools
of learning or manufactories have been established and nourished in authority!
Barter and trade, pounds and pennies are the God here worshipped.

Such being the universal degeneracy it becomes those men who had remained
honest, to look after the country's good. I justify my campaign against the
Indians. It is true I have incurred the displeasure of Sir William Berkley,
by declaring war against his friends, and, doubtless, beaver-skins will be
less abundant in town, for a time. It is well known to all who hear me,
that I have done Sir William great wrong, and am viewed in his eyes rather
as a robber who hath taken from his purse, than as a traitor, false to his
allegiance. But a traitor is easily said—while to prove a man a robber for
slaying a few scores of savages, who have long infested the frontier, were
a more difficult thing. We all know his Excellency's friendship for his
tanny friends, and that to our disgrace and shame, he hath, in this very
court, refused to admit a Virginian's oath against an Indian, when that Indian's
bare word was accepted against a Virginian. I do but mention these
things, my friends, to refresh your memories. I would also hint to Sir
William, who listens with commendable patience, that it is not in his power
to dispose of his favorite beaver trade to his own profit, it being a monopoly
of the crown. But this he must settle with his Majesty. The powder,
shot, and fire-arms he hath given to the Indians, contrary to the laws of
the colony, hath made him a buyer and seller of the blood of his own
brethren and countrymen—this he must settle with his own conscience.
But, gentlemen, I have done! I have but reviewed the Governor's course
in contrast with my own. You will see who best deserves to be call—'

`What?' demanded the Governor, fiercely.

`Traitor!' continued Bacon, in a firm tone.

`Seize and drag him to execution.'

`Sir Governor, you have no power to do this thing,' said Bacon, fearlessly;
`I appeal to the King and parliament, where justice and wisdom yet
dwell, and where mine and the people's cause will be impartially heard
and wisely adjudged.'

This speech of the insurgent leader had an electric effect upon the audience
of people, and he had no sooner ended, than shouts of applause, mingled
with epithets of opprobrium against the Governor, filled the hall, and
were re-echoed from the green without. Sir William Berkley was the
while burning with indignant mortification, for the words and ironical manner
of his prisoner, had cut him sorely. He would at once have him led
forth and shot, but that he feared the multitude, whose temper was not to

profit, it being a monopoly of the crown. But this he must settle
with his Majesty. The powder, shot, and fire arms he hath given to
the Indians, contrary to the laws of the colony, hath made him a bnyer
and seller of the blood of his own brethren and countrymen—this he
must settle with his own conscience. But, gentlemen, I have done!
I have but reviewed the governor's course in contrast with my own.
You will see who best deserves to be called—'

`What?' demanded the Governor, fiercely.

`Traitor!' continued Bacon in a firm tone.

`Seize and drag him to execution.'

`Sir Governor, you have no powerr to do this thing,' said Bacon,
fearlessly; `I appeal to the King and parliament, where justice and
wisdom yet dwell, and where mine and the people's cause will be impartially
heard and wisely adjudged.'

This speech of the insurgent leader had an electric effect upon the
anduence of people, and he had no sooner ended than shouts of applause,
mingled with epithets of opprobrium against the Governor,
filled the hall, and were re-echoed from the green without. Sir William
Berkley was the while burning with indignant mortification, for
the words and ironical manner of his prisoner, had cut him sorely.—
He would at once have had him led forth and shot, but that he feared
the multitude, whose temper was not to be trifled with. He also feared
the result of the appeal to the King, and trembled to have the gangrene
of his own character lain open to the assembled parliament by
so sharp a knife as the tongue of the young insurgent leader. After
consulting a few moments with his counsel on the bench, he turned
ty the prisoner, and said in a tone of assumed blandness—

`Nathaniel Bacon, I do graciously forgive your harsh language of
myself, and by the advice of my counsel, offer you pardon for your
offences, on condition of your waiting patiently until I can raise forces
for your command. I also acquit from, and pardon all misdemeanors
of your friends now at the bar, restoring you, furthermore,
and confirming to you your seat in the assembly.'

Bacon fixed his penetrating glance upon the Governor while he was
speaking, and smiled as if he understood the motive that influenced
his conduct, which he was satisfied was fear of losing his popularity
with the colonists, and so of being recalled from his polite governorship.

`I promise,' answered Bacon, `if the commission you promise be
given to me in fourteen days. Your red friends on the borders, Sir
William, are by no means wholly quieted, and the men you propose
to raise may soon be wanted in the field.'

`You shall have the commission, Colonel Bacon, and I trust, hence-forward,
all differences between us will end.'

Thus spoke the wily Governor, who, by commissioning Bacon under
himself, in the regular colonial forces of his own levying, hoped to
destroy that extraordinary popularity, which, as an independent leader
of a chivalrous volunteer army, he was so rapidly acquiring. By

this master-stroke he felt confident he should effectually destroy the
rival power that threatened his own ruin. It was done at a great
sacrifice of every personal feeling—for the deepest enmity rankled in his
breast against him. He then rose, and taking Colonel Bacon by the
hand, (after first ordering his manacles to be unlocked,) and placed him in
his seat among the members of the assembly. The multitude, blinded by
this unexpected termination of the scene, sent up a shout as loud as that
which had before burst from them. Sir William Berkley, courteously
smiling and this testimony of their approbation, then dismissed the court,
and putting his arm in that of Colonel Bacon, left the hall followed by his
council and the members of the assembly.

5. CHAPTER V.
OCCUPATION OF THE TOWN BY INSURGENTS.

The news of the arrest of Bacon and his adherents had flown like wildfire
from Jamestown to the interior, and before night, a hundred of his
friends, mounted and armed, were in the town, who finding him restored
to favor, and his adherents to liberty, returned home satisfied, and with better
feelings towards the Governer. Sir William Berkley took advantage of
this favorable state of the public mind, and seeing all was once more quiet,
issued private warrants to take him again, he having gone to his plantation.
At the same time he sent to levy the militia of one of the connties which,
situated on the opposite side of the bay, had not inoculated with Bacon's
`treason,' and would, doubtless, readily obey his orders, so that, holding the
balance of power in his own hands, he might withstand any attempts of
Bacon's adherents to rescue him, (should he arrest him,) or avert the course
of his vengeance.

Bacon, however, was far from being a dupe, to the Governer's duplicity.
He anticipated these very steps, and had no sooner reached his own country
than he dispatched secret orders to his captains and other officers, to be in
readiness for action. At the end of the fourteenth day, he sent a messenger
to Jamestown for his commission. Sir William Berkley replied it
was ready for him, and the troops already levied, and would be in Jamestown
the third day thereafter, to the number of one thousand men.

`There shall be a thousand men there before them, you little suspect, Sir
William,' said Bacon with a smile, when the messenger returned him this
answer, for he had heard of the private warrant, and now determined to
act.

The same evening he was riding towards Jamestown with nine hundred
mounted men at his back. The Governor had rumor of his approach, and
in great alarm sent to the well-disposed districts, on both sides of the James
river, for forces to defend the town, upon which he was now assured Bacon
determined to make an attack.

Expresses came hourly of the army's approach, and at two o'clock the
ensuing day, the insurgents, (now for the first time, really such,) entered the
town without being withstood, and formed a body upon the green. `Not
a fflight shot ffrom the end of State House, of horse and ffoot, as regular
drawn up in battel array as veteran troopers, and possessing themselves

forthwith of all avenues, disarming all the towne, and coming thither both
in boats, and by the land.'

In half an hour after this, the drum beat for the Assembly to meet, and
soon after, the rebel chief came with a file of fusileers, to the outer porch of
the council chamber, when the Governor and council went forth to meet
him. The scene that followed, is best described in the words of an
eye-witness, who was a member of the assembly, and a partizan to the Governor.

`We saw from the windowe, the Governor open his breast when he saw
Bacon advancing upon him with such hostile bearings. The rebell captain
walked between his two files of soldiers, with a fierce aspect and haughtier
front, and seemingly in great ire and displeasure at the Governor. We did
momently fear he would bid his men fall upon Sir William, and those with
him, and we of the assembly expected the same immediate fate. I step'd
down to the out-door, and among the crowd, found the seamen of my plantation
sloop, who, in great fear, prayed me not to stir from them. I then
saw the Governor, who was looking very pale, for he had not two hundred
soldiers in the town to stick by him, walk towards his private apartment;
a coits' cast distant from the other end of the state house, the gentlemen of
the council following him. After him walked Colonel Bacon, commanding
his soldiers cock their pieces if any would escape, striking his hand on his
sword menacingly. The fusileers with their fusils cocked, presented them
at a window of the assembly chamber, filled with faces of the members,
and repeated in savage voices. `We will have it! we will have it!'

`What will you have?' asked one from the window.

`The commission!' answered they.

`You shall have it! you shall have it!' repeated the gentlemen, three or
four times, shaking his white handherchief out of the windowe.

At these words they unbent the locks of their fusils, and stood still until
Bacon coming back, (for he had entered the private room with the Governor,)
the followed to the main body.

`In this hubbub, a servant of mine got so nigh as to hear the Governor's
words, when he opened his breast, and also what Mr. Bacon said. Said
the Gov'nor—

`Here! shoot me! 'fore God, fair mark! shoot!' After rehearsing the
same without any other words, whereto Mr. Bacon replied:

`No—may it please yo'r excellence—we will not hurt a hair of yo'r head,
nor any other gentlemen present. We come for a commission to save our
lives and estates from the Indians. This you promised, and have deceived
me, and, moreover, have tried to have me arrested, meanwhile, that you
might get me into your hands. We want you to fulfil your promise, and
we do assure you we will have the commission before we goe,'

`And afterwards I heard it was said, Bacon ordered his fusileers, when
they were aiming at the windows full of faces, that if he should draw his
sword, they were on sight, of it, to fire and slay us, gazing out of the window,
saying, `I'll put to death, Gov'nor, council, assemblie and all, but that
I'll have the commission!' So near was the massacre of us all that very
minit, he had drawn his sword before the pacific handkercher was shaken
out of the windowe!'

The insurgent leader, on quitting the private apartment of the Governor,
where he had left him with his council, entered the assembly alone, leaving
his guard at the entrance, and haughtily demanded a commission to be
then and there given him. The speaker remained silent, when one of Bacon's
friends rose up and said with courtesy:

`We would most willingly do this, Colonel Bacon, but you must be aware

that to grant it, is not in our province or power, nor in any other, save the
King's vicegerent, our Governor.'

At length the Govornor and council came in, and promised that if he
would withdraw his troops, he should, the next day, receive a commission
as general of the forces which he now illegally commanded. To this, after
some discussion, he consented, desiring, if possible to avert bloodshed, by
bringing his troops in collosion with Governers Gloster's militia, which
would arrive the next day—his object being to obtain peaceibly, if he could,
forcibly if he must, legal authority to raise men in defence of the frontier.
Through all his conduct, he had shown a degree of moderation that proved
that he was actuated only by love for his country, and that, so far, he had
little deserved the stigma which was attached to his name.

6. CHAPTER VI.
CONCLUSION.

The next day Bacon, he, having withdrawn his army a league from the
town, despatched a messenger to receive the commission of general that
had been promised to him. During the absence of this individual, rumor
came that the Indians, taking advantage of the intestine civil broils between
the Governor's and Bacon's factions, had penetrated within forty
miles of the capital, with a large force, burning and slaying wherever they
came. He immediately placed his men in order of march, and on horseback,
surrounded by his chief officers, waited the return of his messenger.
He at length appeared, and said that he was commanded by the Governor
to say that the commission could be given only to Colonel Bacon in person,
and that if he delayed longer than the third day thereafter, to come and receive
it, it would be clearly taken for granted that he did not truly desire it,
and only had demanded it to cover his own rebellious designs.

This reply fired Bacon with indignation; but he knew too well the character
of the Governor to be surprised at it. His first impulse was to march
into the town, and chastise the Governor who had sent such a message,
and the assembly that had ratified it. But his love for his country over-came
his personal feelings, and without hesitation, he gave the command
to march forthwith against the Indians.

He had been on his march but a few hours, when the Governor's troops,
to the number of twelve hundred men, arrived in the town, and encamped
on the green so lately occupied by the insurgent forces. He immediately
ordered them to be in readiness to pursue Bacon, whom he now a second
time proclaimed a rebel, and on pain of forfeiture of estate and imprisonment,
aid him in suppressing the rebellion.

At this time arose a murmur of dissatisfaction among the troops, already
favoring Bacon's proceedings; and answering that they came `to fight Indians,
and not Virginians,' they re-embarked in three boats and vessels, and
to a man returned across the bay their homes.

council of war, fairly tried him, and proved that he had thrice gone between
his enemy and Jamestown, on private service for the Governor. The
proof was clear; yet Bacon, unwilling to shed the first blood in the quarrel,
declared openly to him, in the hearing of the whole line, `that if one man
in the army would speak a word to save him, he should not suffer death.'
No one interceded for him, and he was shot. This clemency of the insurgent
leader greatly increased his popularity, and added numbers, hitherto
neutral, to the force he commanded.

Sir William Berkley, on hearing of Bacon's approach, tried to gather a
force to withstand him.

But the popularity of the opposite cause was greater than that of the
loyal party, and he could not muster more than three hundred men to
stand by him in the defence—a third of whom were members of the Assembly,
and private gentlemen personally disaffected towards Bacon.

With these, however, the Governor determined to make resistance, and
threw up a breast-work across the narrow peninsula, which joined the
town to the main land. This he protected by four pieces of cannon planted
a hundred rods in the rear; and taking up his position with more resolution
and courage than it was supposed his bartering and avaricious spirit
had left in him, he waited the advance of the insurgents.

The same afternoon, Bacon arrived in sight of the works, and taking a
close view of them, did not see fit to attack the position, but went to work
and threw up an embankment beyond musket shot and twice the height of
the barrier, so that in the morning the Governor found that his position
was commanded by that of his enemy. He elevated his cannon, and was
about to open a fire upon his work, when to his surprise, he saw several
ladies appear upon the rebel's ramparts, whose husbands were with him
in his own party. This produced surprise and consternation on his side,
and the firing was instantly withheld. As they stood uncertain how to act,
they found their own defences suddenly and in d moment carried, while
they, for fear of slaying the ladies on the ramparts, were unable to return a
single shot. This singular step on the part of the insurgent leader was
taken doubtless to prevent unnecessary blood-shed, in which he was partially
successful. The Governor finding his works carried and the enemy
in the town, resisted them a few minutes, and then, with the loss of several
men, precipitately fled to his vessels, and crossing the bay left the town in
the hands of the rebels.

The quarrel had now taken the aspect of a civil war, and Bacon felt that
he had gone too far to retract. He now resolved to take the government
into his own hands, send out a true representation of the whole affair to
His Majesty, and throw himself upon the king's clemency. He was herein
a rebel, but not a traitor. To any other man than Sir William Berkley,
appointed by the king, he was ready to resign his authority and yield up
his power. To him he determined never again to pay allegiance.

Up to this period, the impartial historian will perhaps justify the conduct
of Nathaneil Bacon. He was now, however, under the excitement of
conquests, about to commit an act, but for which his name might have
come down to us as that of a patriot leader of the loftiest virtue and courage.
It is difficult to tell why Colonel Bacon should have burned Jamestown.
That he thought its destruction necessary to his safety, is probable.
But whatever may have been his motive for this flagrant act, it stands recorded
against him as a crime of the deepest dye, and is the main point on
which hangs his reputation as a lawless rebel. Before night, the whole
fair `towne' was in a heap of ashes—church and state house, hotel and private
dwelling—not a roof remained to tell where in the morning stood the
capital!

The next day he marched out of the town, and prepared to take up a
strong position not far above on James River, having some unknown design
in contemplation, when he was suddenly seized with illness while on
horseback, and died three days afterwards—it is said from the effects of
poison rubbed upon his saddle by the Indian Cineca.

This event at once put an end to the rebellion, which bid fair, measured
by the awakening ambition of its head, to separate Virginia from Great
Britain. Those gentlemen who could save themselves by flight instantly
did so. Many of the insurgent officers, among whom was Major Larence,
were taken and executed, and numerous estates were confiscated.

It was a season of triumph as well as profit to Sir William Berkley, who
soon made himself opulent on the rebel's spoils. He soon after went to
England, it was rumored by command of the king, leaving Colonel Jeffries
in his place as governor of the province. It is well known that Charles,
hearing of his arrival in London, said of him, with the characteristic freedom
with which he was wont te speak of his public officers:

`That old fool has hanged more men in that naked country than I have
done for the murder of my father!'

The Governor, hearing of this, became so mortified with grief and vexation,
that he died soon after, without seeing His Majesty, his vast property
escheating to the crown.

Thus terminated the famous `Bacon's rebelion, and the lives of the principal
actors therein.' If the private documents from which the facts in this
brief outline are taken, speak the truth, the name of Colonel Bacon will be
rescued from the infamy which has adhered to it, for a century and a half:
the stigma of corruption, cruelty and treachery, will be fixed on the administration
by which he was condemned; and one more case will be added to
those which prove that insurrections proceed oftener from the misconduct of
those in power, than from the factious and turbulent temper of the people.