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To the right honorable the Lorde Percy My Lorde Flipbook PDF
To the right honorable the Lorde Percy My Lorde This Relacyon I have here sente your Lordshipp is for Towe respectts. Th
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To the right honorable the Lorde Percy My Lorde This Relacyon I have here sente your Lordshipp is for Towe respectts. The one to Sheowe howe mutche I honnor yow, and desyre to doe yow service. The other in Regard thatt many untrewthes concerneinge Theis p[ro]cedeings have bene formerly published, wherein The author hathe nott Spared to apropriate many desertts to him selfe w[hi]ch he never p[er]formed and stuffed his Relacyons w[i]th so many falseties and malicyous detractions nott onely of this p[ar]te and Tyme w[hi]ch I have selected to Treate of, Butt of former ocurrentts also: So thatt I coulde nott conteine my selfe butt expresse the Trewthe unto your Lordshipp concerninge Theis affayers. And all w[hi]ch I ayme att is to manyfeste my selfe in all my actyons bothe now and alwayes To be, Your Lordshipps humble and faithfull Servante. G. P. A Trewe Relacyon of the p[ro]cedeings and ocurrentes of Momente w[hi]ch have hapned in Virginia from the Tyme S[i]r Thomas Gates was Shippwrackte uppon the Bermudes An[n]o 1609 untill my dep[ar]ture owtt of the Cowntry w[hi]ch was in An[n]o D[omi]ni 1612 If we Trewly Consider the diversety of miseries mutenies and famishments w[hi]ch have attended upon discoveries and plantacyons in theis our moderne Tymes, we shall nott fynde our plantacyon in Virginia to have Suffered aloane. La doniere had his share thereof in Florida nextt neighbour unto Virginia where his sowldiers did fall into mutenies, and in the ende weare allmoste all Starved for wante of foode. The Spanyards plantacyon in the River of Plate and the streightes of Magelane Suffered also in so mutche thatt haveinge eaten upp all their horses to susteine themselves w[i]thal, Mutenies did aryse and growe amongste them, for the w[hi]ch the generall Diego Mendosa cawsed some of them to be executed, Extremety of hunger inforceinge others secrettly in
the night to Cutt downe Their deade fellowes from of the gallowes and to bury them in their hungry Bowelles. The plantacyon in Carthagena was also Lamentable thatt wante of wholesome foode wherew[i]th for to mainteyne Lyfe, weare inforced to eate Toades Snakes and sutche lyke venemous wormes sutche is the sharpnes of hunger. To this purpose many other examples mighte be recyted butt the Relacyon itt selfe beinge briefe I have noe intente to be Tedyous butt to delyver the Trewthe briefly and plainely the w[hi]ch I dowtt nott butt will rather Lyke then Loathe the Reader, nor doe I purpose to use any elloquentt style or phrase, The w[hi]ch indede in me is wanteinge, Butt to delyver thatt trewly w[hi]ch my selfe and many others have had bitter experyence of: Many other woes & miseries have hapned unto our Collonie in Virginia bothe before and since thatt Tyme w[hi]ch now I doe intende to Treate of, Haveinge selected this p[ar]te from the reste for towe Respectts, firste in regard I was moste frequente and acquaynted w[i]th theis p[ro]cedeings beinge moste parte of the tyme presydentt and governour, nextt in respectt the leaste p[ar]te hereof hathe nott bene formerly published. In the yere of our Lorde 1609 S[i]r Tho[mas] Gates and S[i]r George Somers acompanyed w[i]th dyvers gentlemen Sowldiers and seamen in nyne good Shippes did begine their voyage for Virginia the towe knightes beinge in the Admirall whereof Christopher Newport was Captayne and haveinge sayled w[i]th p[ro]sperous wyndes many Leauges, att Lenghte did fall upon the Bermudes where meteinge w[i]th a vyoelentt storme the Admirall wherein the towe knightes were inbarqued [“was” crossed out] Suffred wracke. neverthelesse hoyseinge outt their boate Safely Landed the 2 knightes and the Reste of thatt Company upon the Bermudes, of whome I will forbeare to Treate of further untill their arryvall in Virginia. The other 8 shippes shorttly after aryved in Virginia where the passengers beinge noe soener well Landed butt presenttly a discencyon did growe betwine them and Capt[eyn]e Smithe then presydentt butt after some debate all was quyeted and pacifyed. Yett Capt[eyn]e Smithe feareinge the worste and thatt the seamen and thatt factyon mighte growe too stronge and be a meanes to depose him of his govermentt So Jugled w[i]th them by the
way of feasteinges Expense of mutche powder and other unnecessary Tryumphes, Thatt mutche was Spente to noe other purpose butt to Insinewate w[i]th his Reconcyled enemyes and for his owne vayne glory for the w[hi]ch we all after Suffred And thatt w[hi]ch was intollerabe did geve leave unto the Seamen to Carry away whatt victewalls and other necessaryes they wolde doeinge the same more safly in Regard the Contentts thereof was in the Admirall w[hi]ch was Caste away. Nott Longe after Capt[eyn]e Smithe sentt Capt[eyne] Martin and my selfe w[i]th threskore people to goe for Nansemunde, Capt[eyn]e Martin’s Lefetenantt leadinge moste of the men overland and we towe w[i]th the Reste followed them by water, where being aryved we inquyred of the Indyans of our men butt they acordinge to their Subtelltyes wold nott acquaynte us therew[i]th. Whereupon I requested Capt[eyn]e Martin thatt I mightt goe a shoare to discover the trewthe to the w[hi]ch he wolde nott Condiscende. Neverthelesse the nighte beinge Stormy and wette, I wente on Lande w[i]th my Company where I fownde our men by goode fyers in saffety whereof I advertyzed Capt[eyn]e Martin the nextt morneinge who presently w[i]th his company did Come ashoare unto us. Where after some Consultacyon helde we sentte 2 messengers to the kinge of Nancemonde To Barter w[i]th him for an Island righte opposite [“upon”(?) crossed out] ageinste the mayne we weare uppon for Copp[er] hatches and other Comodeties. Butt our messengers stayeinge Longer then we expected we feared thatt w[hi]ch after hapned. So Capt[eyn]e Martin did apointe me w[i]th halfe of our men to take the Island p[er]force and beinge upon the waye we espyed a Canoe wherein we weare p[er]swaded our messengers to be, butt they p[er]ceaveinge us Retourned backe from whense they came and we never sett eye upon our messengers after, Butt understood from the Indyans themselves thatt they weare sacrifysed and thatt their Braynes weare Cutt and skraped outt of their heades w[i]th Mussell [“s” crossed out] shelles. beinge Landed and acquaynted w[i]th their trechery we Beate the Salvages outt of the Island burned their howses ransaked their Temples, Tooke downe the Corpes of their deade kings from of their Toambes, and Caryed away their pearles Copp[er] and braceletts wherew[i]th they doe decore their kings funeralles. In the meane Tyme the Salvages upon the mayne did fall into discencyon w[i]th Capt[eyn]e Martin who Seised the Kings sonne and [“one” inserted]
other Indyand and broughte them bownde unto the Island where I was, where a shipp Boye takeinge upp a Pistoll accidentyallie nott meaneinge any harme The pistoll suddenly fyered and shotte the salvage prisoner into the Breste. And thereupon whatt w[i]th his passyon and feare he broake the Cordes asunder wherew[i]th he was Tyed and did Swimme over unto the mayne, w[i]th his wownd bleedinge. And there beinge greate store of maize upon the mayne I cowncelled Captyne Martin to take possesyon thereof the w[hi]ch he Refused pretendinge thatt he wolde nott putt his men into hassard and danger. So haveinge seene Capt[eyn]e Martin well settled I Retourned w[i]th Capt[eyn]e Nellson to James Towne ageine acoringe to apoyntementte. Shorttly after Capt[eyn]e Smithe sente Capteyne Francis West w[i]th one hundrethe and fortye men upp to the falles w[i]th sixe monthes victewells to inhabitt there. Where beinge Reasonable well settled dyv[e]rs of his men stragled from their foarte, some of them Comeinge hoame wownded, others never retourned to bringe any Tydeings butt weare Cutt of and slayne by the Salvages. So thatt in small p[ro]cesse of Tyme Capt[eyn]e Smithe did take his jorney upp to the falles to understand how things weare there ordered, when presenttly after his comeinge thether, a greate devisyon did growe amongste them. Capt[eyn]e Smithe p[er]ceaveinge bothe his authorety and p[er]son neglected, incensed and animated the Salvages ageinste Capt[eyn]e West and his company, Reporteinge unto them thatt our men had noe more powder lefte them then wolde serve for one volley of shott. And so Capt[eyn]e Smithe Retourninge to James Towne ageine fownd to have too mutche powder aboutt him, The w[hi]ch beinge in his pockett where the sparke of a matche Lighted, very shreawdly burned him. And comeinge in thatt case to James towne Capt[eyn]e[s] Rattliefe, Archer, and Martin practysed ageinste him and deposed him of his govermentt Smithe beinge an ambityous unworthy and vayneglorious fellowe, attempteinge to take all mens authoreties from them. For bothe Ratliefe Archer and Martin beinge formerly of the Cowncell Smithe wolde Rule all and ingrose all authorety into his owne hands, althoughe indede there was noe other certeine apointed govermentt then S[i]r Tho[mas] Gates had comissyon for who was then in the Bermudes, onely a yerely presidenttshipp to governe by the advyse of the Cowncell. Butt Smithe aymeinge att a sovereigne Rule w[i]thoutt the assistance of the cowncell was justely depryved of all.
The place of govermentt beinge voyde the thre busy instrumentts in the plantacyon p[ro]fered the same unto me, the w[hi]ch att firste I refused in Regard of my sicknes. Butt by their importunetie p[ro]miseinge to undergoe the Chefeste offices and Burthen of govermentt for me untill I weare Recovered, att lenghte I accepted thereof and then was Smithe presenttly sentt for England. After I had bene presydentt some fowertene dayes I sentt Capt[eyn]e Rattliefe to pointe Comforte for to Buylde a foarte there. The w[hi]ch I did for towe Respects. The one for the plenty of the place for fisheinge The other for the Comodious discovery of any Shippeinge w[hi]ch sholde come uppon the Coaste. And for the honnor of your Lordshipps name and howse I named the same Algernowns Foarte. Nott Longe after Capt[eyn]e Martin whome I lefte att the Island did come to James towne pretendinge some occassions of busynes butt indede his owne Saffety moved him thereunto, feareinge to be Surprysed by the Indyans, who had [“m”(?) crossed out] made dyver[s] excursions ageinste him, so thatt haveinge lefte Lieftenantt Sicklemore to Camawnd in his absence, amongste whose company shorttly after did growe a dangerous mutenie in so mutche Thatt dyv[e]rs of his men to the number of seaventene did take away a Boate from him p[er]force and wente therein to Kekowhaton pretendinge they wolde trade there for victwelles Butt they were served acordinge to their desertts for nott any of them weare heard of after and in all lykelyhood weare Cutt of and slayne by the Salvages And w[i]thin fewe dayes after Lieftenantt Sickelmore and dyv[e]rs others weare fownd also slayne w[i]th their mowthes stopped full of Breade, beinge donn as itt seamethe in Contempte and skorne, thatt others mighte expectt the Lyke when they shold come to seeke for breade and reliefe amongste them. Baldivia a Spanishe generall beinge served somewhatt answerable hereunto in Chily in the Weste Indies who beinge Surprised by the Indyans inforced him to drincke upp a certeine quantety of melted gowlde useinge theis words unto him now glutt thy selfe w[i]th gowlde, Baldivia haveinge there sowghte for gowlde as Sickelmore did here for foode. And all the reste of Sickelmors Company w[hi]ch weare liveinge Retourned to us to James towne to feede upon the poore store we had lefte us.
Also w[i]thin a shorte Tyme after Capt[eyn]e Weste did [“did” crossed out] Come downe to us from the Falles haveinge loste eleaven men and a Boate at Arsetocke [?] besydes those men he loste att the Falles so our number at James towne increaseinge and our store decreaseinge for in Charety we cold nott deny them to participate w[i]th us. Whereupon I apointed Capt[eyn]e Tucker to Calculate and caste upp our store. The w[hi]ch att a poore alowanse of halfe a Cann of meale for a man a day, amownted unto thre monthes p[ro]vissyon. Yett Capt[eyn]e Tucker by his industry and Care caused the same to howlde outt fowere monthes. Butt haveinge noe expectacyon of Reliefe to Come in so shorte a Tyme I sentt Capteyne Ratliefe to Powhatan to p[ro]cure victewalls and corne by the way of comerce and trade the w[hi]ch the Subtell owlde foxe att firste made good semblanse of althoughe his intente was otherwayes onely wayteinge a fitteinge tyme for their destruction as after plainely appered. The w[hi]ch was p[ar]tly ocasyoned by Capt[eyn]e Ratliefes Creduletie for Haveinge Powhatans sonne and dowghter aboard his pinesse freely suffred them to dep[ar]te ageine on shoare, whome if he had deteyned mighte have bene a Sufficyentt pledge for his saffety. And after, nott kepeinge a p[ro]per and fitteinge Courte of guarde, butt Suffreinge his men by towe and thre and small numbers in a Company to straggle into the Salvages howses when the slye owlde kinge espyed a fitteinge Tyme Cutt them all of, onely Surprysed Capt[eyn]e Ratliefe alyve who he caused to be bownd unto a tree naked w[i]th a fyer before, and by woemen his fleshe was skraped from his bones w[i]th Mussell shelles and before his face throwne into the fyer. And so for wantt of Circumspection miserably p[er]ished. In the meane Tyme Capt[eyn]e William Phetiplace Remayned in the pinnesse w[i]th some fewe men and was dyv[e]rs tymes assawlted by the Indyans butt after dyv[e]rs Conflictts w[i]th them w[i]th the losse of some of his men hardly escaped, and att lenghte aryved att James Towne, onely w[i]th sixtene men the Remaynder of fifty Capt[eyn]e Ratliefe hathe Chardge of att his goeinge forthe And so he related unto us the Tragaedie of Capt[eyn]e Ratlife nott bringeinge any Reliefe w[i]th them either for them selves or us. Upon w[hi]ch defeate I sentt Capt[eyn]e James Davis to Algernowe foarte to Comawnd there in Capt[eyn]e Ratliefes place and Capt[eyn]e Weste I sentt To Potoamack w[i]th aboutt thirty sixe men to trade for maize and
grayne, where he in shorte tyme Loaded his pinesse Sufficyently yett used some harshe and Crewell dealinge by Cutteinge of towe of [“the” inserted] Salvages heads and other extremetyes. And Comeinge by Algernowns foarte Capteine Davis did Call unto them acquainteinge them w[i]th our greate wantts exhortinge them to make all the Spede they cowlde to Releve us upon w[hi]ch reporte Capt[eyn]e Weste by the p[er]swasion or rather by the inforcement of his company hoysed upp Sayles and shaped their Course directtly for England and lefte us in thatt extreme misery and wantte. Now all of us att James Towne beginneinge to feele the sharpe pricke of hunger w[hi]ch noe man trewly descrybe butt he w[hi]ch hathe Tasted the bitternesse thereof. A worlde of miseries ensewed as the Sequell will expresse unto yow, in so mutche thatt some to satisfye their hunger have Robbed the store for the w[hi]ch I Caused them to be executed. Then haveinge fedd upour horses and other beastes as longe as they Lasted, we weare gladd to make shifte w[i]th vermin as doggs Catts Ratts and myce all was fishe thatt Came to Nett to satisfye Crewell hunger, as to eate Bootes shoes or any other leather some Colde come by and those beinge Spente and devoured some weare inforced to searche the woodes and to feede upon Serpentts and snakes and to digge the earthe for wylde and unknowne Rootes, where many of our men weare Cutt of and slayne by the Salvages. And now famin beginneinge to Looke gastely and pale in every face, thatt notheinge was Spared to mainteyne Lyfe and to doe those things w[hi]ch seame incredible, as to digge upp deade corpes outt of graves and to eate them. And some have Licked upp the Bloode w[hi]ch hathe fallen from their weake fellowes. And amongste the reste this was moste lamentable. Thatt one of our Colline murdered his wyfe Ripped the Childe outt of her woambe and threwe itt into the River and after Chopped the Mother in pieces and sallted her for his foode, The same not beinge discovered before he had eaten p[ar]te thereof. For the w[hi]ch Crewell and unhumane factt I adjudged him to be executed the acknowledgm[en]t of the dede beinge inforced from him by torture haveinge hunge by the Thumbes w[i]th weightes att his feete a quarter of an howere before he wolde Confesse the same. Upon theis Calameties haveinge one boate and a Canoe Lefte us, our Boate did accidentyally breake Loose and did dryve fower myles downe the River before she was espyed. Whereupon Capt[eyn]e Martin apointeinge some to follow her the w[hi]ch beinge neglected and acquaynteinge me therew[i]th I
stepped outt of my howse w[i]th my Sworde drawne and what w[i]th my Threates and their feares happy was he Colde shipp himselfe into the Canoe firste And so our Boate thatt nighte was ageine Recovered Yett wanteinge more Boates for fisheinge and other nedfull ocassions Capt[eyn]e Daniell Tucker by his greate industry and paines buylded a Large Boate w[i]th his owne hands The w[hi]ch [“was” inserted] some helpe and a little Reliefe unto us and did kepe us from killeinge one of an other To eate. Many of our men this starveinge Tyme did Runn away unto the Salvages whome we never heard of after. By this Tyme beinge Reasonab[l]e well recovered of my Sicknes I did undertake a Jorney unto Algernowns foarte bothe to understand how things weare there ordered as also to have bene Revenged of the Salvages att Kekowhatan who had trecheously Slayne dyv[e]rs of our men. Our people I fownd in good case and well lykeinge haveinge concealed their plenty from us above att James Towne, Beinge so well stored thatt the Crabb fishes wherew[i]th they had fedd their hoggs wold have bene a greate relefe unto us and saved many of our Lyves. Butt their intente was for to have keptt some of the better sorte alyve and w[i]th their towe pinnesses to have Retourned for England nott Regardinge our miseries and wantts att all. Wherew[i]th I taxed Capt[eyn]e Davis and tolde him thatt I had a full intente to bringe halfe of our men from James Towne to be there Releved and after to Retourne them backe ageine and bringe the reste to bee Susteyned there also. And if all this wolde nott serve to save our mens Lyves I purposed to bringe them all unto Algernowns foarte Telleinge Capt[eyn]e Davis thatt another towne or foarte mighte be erected and Buylded butt mens lyves onse Loste colde never be recovered. Our miseries now beinge att the hygheste and intendinge as I formerly Related unto yow to Remove some of our men to Algernowns foarte the very nextt Tyde, we espyed towe pinnesses Comeinge into the Baye nott knoweinge as yett whatt they weare, butt kepinge a Courte of guard and watche all thatt nighte. The nextt morneinge we espyed a Boate Comeinge of from one of the pinnesses So standeinge upon our guard we haled them and understood thatt S[i]r Tho[mas] Gates and S[i]r George: Somers weare Come in these pinnesses w[hi]ch by their greate industry they had buylded in the Burmudes, w[i]th the remaynder of their wracktt shipp and other woode they fownde in the Cowntry. Upon w[hi]ch newes we Receved noe
small joye, Requesteinge them in the Boate to Come ashoare the w[hi]ch they refused, and Retourned aboard ageine for S[i]r Tho[mas] Gates haveinge noe knowledge of any foarte to be Builded there, was dowtfull whether we weare frends or noe butt beinge possesed of the trewthe he and S[i]r George Somers w[i]th dyvers others did Come ashoare at Algernownes foarte and the nextt Tyde wente upp to James Towne where they mighte Reade a lecture of miserie in our peoples faces and p[er]ceve the skarsety of victewalles and understande the mallice of the Salvages, who knoweinge our weaknes had dyv[e]rs Tymes assawlted us w[i]thoutt the foarte. Fyndeinge of fyve hundrethe men we had onely Lefte aboutt sixty, The reste beinge either sterved throwe famin or Cutt of by the salvages. And those w[hi]ch weare Liveinge weare so maugre and Leane thatt itt was Lamentable to behowlde them, for many throwe extreme hunger have Runne outt of their naked bedds beinge so Leane thatt they Looked lyke anotannes, Cryeinge owtt we are starved. We are starved. others goeinge to bedd as we imagined in healthe weare fownd deade the nextt morneinge and amongste the Reste one thinge hapned w[hi]ch was very Remarkable wherein god sheowd his juste Judgem[en]t. For one Hughe Pryse beinge pinched w[i]th extreme famin, In a furious distracted moode did Come openly into the markett place Blaspheameinge exclameinge and Cryeinge outt thatt there was noe god, alledgeinge thatt if there were a god he wolde nott Suffer his Creatures whome he had made and framed to indure those miseries and to p[er]ishe for wante of foode and Sustenance Butt itt appeared the same day thatt the Almighty was displeased w[i]th him, for goeinge thatt afternoene w[i]th a Butcher a Corpulentt fatt man into the woods to seke for some Reliefe, bothe of them weare slaine by the Salvages. And after beinge fownde gods Indignacyon was sheowed upon Pryses Corpes w[hi]ch was Rente in pieces w[i]th wolves or other wylde Beastes and his Bowles Torne outt of his boddy beinge a Leane spare man. And the fatt Butcher nott lyeinge above sixe yardes from him was fownd altogether untoutched onely by the salvages arrowes whereby he Receaved his deathe Theis miseries Considered itt was Resolved uppon By S[i]r Tho[mas] Gates and the whole Collonie w[i]th all Spede to Retourne for England. whereupon moste of our men weare sett to worke some to make pitche and Tar for Trimmeinge of our shoppes others to Bake breade and fewe or noene nott imployed in one occasyon or another. So thatt in a small Space of Tyme fowere pinnesses weare fitted and made Reddy all prepareinge to goe
aboarde. And if S[i]r Tho[mas] Gates had nott Laboured w[i]th our men they had sett the Towne on fyer, useinge theis or the lyke words unto them. My masters lett the towne Stande we knowe nott butt thatt as honeste men as our selves may come and inhabitt here. Then all of us enbarqueinge our selves, S[i]r Tho[mas] Gates in the Deliveranse w[i]th his company S[i]r George Somers in the patience my selfe in the discoverie and Capt[eyn]e Davis in the Virginia, all of us sayleinge downe the River w[i]th a full intente to have p[ro]ceded upon our voyadge for England, when Suddenlye we espyed a boate makeinge towards us. wherein we fownde to be Capt[eyn]e Bruster sentt from my Lorde La Ware, who was come unto us w[i]th many gentlemen of quallety and thre hundrethe men besydes greate store of victewles municyon and other p[ro]vissyon. Whereupon we all Retourned to James Towne ageine where my Lorde shorttly after Landed and sett all things in good order selecteinge a Cowncell and makeinge Capteines over fifty men apiece. Then S[i]r Tho[mas] Gates beinge desyreous for to be Revendged upon the Indyans att Kekowhatan did goe thither by water w[i]th a certeine number of men, and amongste the reste a Taborer w[i]th him. beinge Landed he cawsed the Taborer to play and dawnse thereby to allure the Indyans to come unto him the w[hi]ch prevayled. And then espyeinge a fitteinge oportunety fell in upon them putt fyve to the sworde wownded many others some of them beinge after fownde in the woods w[i]th sutche extreordinary Lardge and mortall wownds thatt itt seamed strange they cold flye so fur. The reste of the Salvages he putt to flighte. And so posseseinge himselfe of the Towne and the fertill grownd thereunto adjacentt haveinge well ordered all things he lefte his liefetenantt Earely to comawnd his company and then Retourned to James Towne ageine and Shorttly after did take his voyadge for England. My Lord generall aboutt this Tyme sentt Capt[ein]e Howldcrofte to buylde a foarte in the woods, neare unto Kekowhatan. The w[hi]ch beinge finished my Lord named the same Charles foarte in honnor of our kings ma[jes]tie thatt now is. Also my Lorde sentt S[i]r George Somers and Capt[eyn]e Argoll in towe shippes into the Bermudes to make p[ro]vissyon of hoggs and fishe for us. Sir George aryved there, where shorttly after he dyed, his men makeinge
good p[ro]fitt of amber griese and other comodeties Retourned for England. Butt Capt[eyn]e Argoll fayleinge of the place fell to the northward where he hapned upon some fishe the w[hi]ch haveinge Sallted and dryed Retourned therew[i]th to us to James Towne ageine. S[i]r Ferdinando Wayman aboutt this Tyme dyed whose deathe was mutche Lamented beinge bothe an honeste and valyantt gentleman. My Lord generall nott forgetteing oulde Powhatans Subtell Trecherie sentt a messenger unto him to demawnde Certeine armes and dyv[e]rs men w[hi]ch we supposed mighte be liveinge in his country Butt he Retourned noe other then prowde and Disdaynefull answers. Whereupon my Lord beinge mutche incensed Cawsed a comission to be drawne, wherein he apointed me Chiefe Comawnder over seaventie men and sentt me to take Revendge upon the Paspaheans and Chiconamians and so shippeinge my selfe and my Sowldiers in towe boates I dep[ar]ted from James Towne the 9th of August 1610 and the same nighte Landed w[i]thin thre myles of paspahas towne. Then draweinge my sowldiers into Battalio placeinge a Capteyne or Leftenante att every fyle, we marched towards the Towne haveinge an Indyan guyde w[i]th me named Kempes whome the p[ro]voste marshall ledd in a hande locke This Subtill salvage was Leadinge us outt of the Way the w[hi]ch I misdowteinge Bastinaded him w[i]th my Truncheon and threatned to Cutt of his heade whereupon the slave alltered his Cowrse and browghte us the righte way neare unto the towne So thatt then I comawnded every Leader to drawe away his fyle before me to besett the salvages howses thatt noene mighte escape, w[i]th a Chardge nott to geve the allarume untill I weare come upp unto them w[i]th the Cullers. Att my comeinge I apointed Capt[eyn]e William Weste to geve the allarume, the w[hi]ch he p[er]formed by shooteinge of a pistoll. And then we fell in upon them putt some fiftene or sixtene to the Sworde and almoste all the reste to flyghte. Whereupon I cawsed my drume to beate and drewe all my sowldiers to the Cullers, my Lieftenantt bringeinge w[i]th him the Quene and her Children and one Indyann prisoners for the w[hi]ch I taxed him becawse he had Spared them. his answer was, thatt haveinge them now in my Custodie I mighte doe w[i]th them whatt I pleased. Upon the same I cawsed the Indians heade to be Cutt of, and then disp[er]sed my fyles apointeinge my Sowldiers to burne their howses and to Cutt downe their
Corne groweing aboutt the Towne. And after we marched w[i]th the quene and her Children to our Boates ageine. Where beinge noe soener well shipped my sowldiers did begin to murmer becawse the quene and her Children weare spared. So upon the same a Cowncell beinge called itt was agreed upon to putt the children to deathe the w[hi]ch was effected by Throweinge them overboard and shoteinge owtt their Braynes in the water. Yett for all this Crewellty the Sowldiers weare nott well pleased and I had mutche to doe To save the quenes lyfe for thatt Tyme. Then sayleinge some towe myles downe the River I sentt Capt[eyn]e Davis ashoare w[i]th [“my sow-” erased] moste of my Sowldiers my selfe beinge wearyed before and for my owne p[ar]te butt an easie footeman Capt[eyn]e Davis att his landeinge was affronted by some Indyans who spared nott to send their arrowes amongste our men butt w[i]thin a shorte Tyme he putt them to flighte and landed w[i]thout further opposityon marcheinge aboutt fowrtene myles into the Cowntry Cutt downe their Corne burned their howses Temples and Idolles. and amongste the reste a Spacyous Temple Cleane and neattly keptt, a thinge strange and seldome sene amongste the Indyans in those p[ar]tes So haveinge p[er]formed all the spoyle he cowlde, Retourned aboarde to me ageine and then we sayled downe the River to James Towne. My Lord generall nott beinge well did lye a Shippboard. to whome we Rowed, he beinge joyfull of our safe Retourne yett seamed to be Discontente becawse the quene was Spared as Capteyne Davis towlde me, and thatt itt was my Lords pleasure thatt we sholde see her dispatched The way he thowghte beste to Burne her. To the firste I replyed thatt haveinge seene so mutche Blood shedd thatt day, now in my Cowld bloode I desyred to see noe more, and for to Burne her I did nott howlde itt fitteinge butt either by shott or Sworde to geve her a quicker dispatche. So Turninge my selfe from Capt[eyn]e Davis he did take the quene w[i]th towe sowldiers a shoare and in the woods putt her to the Sworde and althoughe Capt[eyn]e Davis towlde me itt was my Lords direction yett I ame p[er]swaded to the Contrary. Nott longe after our Retourne to James Towne [“was se-” erased] Capt[eyn]e Argoll was sentt w[i]th the lyke Comission ageinste the Wariscoyans. The salvages beinge warned by their neighbours harmes weare very vigilante and Carefull and all of them fledd and escaped. So thatt
Capt[eyn]e Argoll Cowlde have [no] other Revendge then by Cutteinge downe ther Corne burneinge their howses and Sutche lyke. The w[hi]ch beinge p[er]formed he Retourned to James Towne ageine. The Salvages still Contineweinge their mallice ageinste us sentt some as Spyes to our foarte who beinge apprehended my Lord Cawsed one to have his hande Cutt of, and so sentte unto his fellowes to geve them warneinge for attemptinge the lyke. Aboutt this Tyme there was a Conspiracy plotteinge amongste some of our men w[hi]ch wroughtt in Iron mynes, To Runn away w[i]th a barkque. The same beinge discovered my Lord for an example adjudged one of them by marshall lawe to be executed. The execution p[ro]veinge strange and seldome heard of I thowghtt nott to omit, for the p[ar]ty beinge throwen of the Lather whatt w[i]th the Swindge and weighte of his body the Roape did breake and he fell upon the grownde and in Regard of the accidentt my Lord p[ar]doned him althowghe itt nothinge avayled him haveinge Receved his deathe w[i]th the gerde of the Roape and extremety of the fall so thatt w[i]thin 2 dayes after he dyed. My Lord intendeinge to searche for mineralls and to make further p[roo]fe of the Iron mynes sentt dyv[e]rs men in a barkque upp to the falles and goeinge by Apoamatake [?] they weare Called ashoare by the Salvages and beinge to fill their Baricoes w[i]th water weare easely thereunto induced and after intysed by the Salvages upp to their howses pretendeinge to feaste them. butt our men forgetteinge their Subtellties lyke greedy fooles accepted thereof more esteameinge of a Little foode then their owne lyves and saffety for when the Indyans had them in their howses and fownd a fitteinge Tyme, when they Leaste dreaded any dawnger did fall upon them Slewe dyv[e]rs and wownded all the reste who w[i]thin towe dayes after also dyed onely [?] Dowse the Taborer who flyeinge to their boate was hardly pursewed. butt gayneinge the same he made a vertewe of necessety useinge the Rudder in steade of a Targett to kepe their arrowes outt of his body, and so skulleinge of by little and little gott outt of their Reache and freed himselfe. The Salvages be nott soe Simple as many Imagin who be not acquaynted w[i]th their Subtellties for they had nott forgotten how their Nicholls—Percy’s “Trewe Relacyon” neighbours att Kekowhatan were alured and defeated by S[i]r Tho[mas] Gates when he had the Same Taborer w[i]th him.
Presenttly after Capt[eyn]e Bruster was sentte upp to the falles w[i]th a Certeine number of men To attende there for my Lords Comeinge who purposed to p[ro]cede in the Searche of mineralles In his jorney he had dyv[e]rs encownters & skirmishes w[i]th the Indyans, att Lenthe aryveinge att the Falles, where my Lord did shorttly after Come unto him Leaveinge the Chardge and Comawnd of James Towne w[i]th me. Now my Lorde beinge att the Falles and winter Comeinge on, he Cawsed a foarte to be buylded there, bothe for their defence and shellter and named the same Lawares foarte Intendinge to have Reposed himselfe there all the winter and to have p[ro]ceded upon the discovery of mineralls the nextt Springe where for a Tyme we will Leave him and Retourne to our p[ro]cedeings att James Towne ageine. The govermentt whereof beinge lefte to me Paspahe w[i]th a small Troope of Indyans in sheowe did Come unto our Blockhowse thinkeinge by some pollecy either to have Surprysed the same or some of our men. The w[hi]ch Comeinge to my hearinge I presenttly sentt Capt[eyn]e Powell then my antyentt w[i]th a Certeine number of men to surprise Paspahe allyve if possible they cowlde for the same wolde have bene to good purpose if itt Cowld have bene effected. Whereupon our men draweinge neare unto him where he stoode upon the ende of a Banke, when presenttly Mr John Waller stepped unto him and Cawghtt howlde of him and gave the watche worde for the Reste to Come to assiste him The w[hi]ch the Salvages p[er]ceveinge dyv[e]rs of them appeared w[hi]ch before weare nott seene, sendeinge their arrowes frely amongste our men. The w[hi]ch Capt[eyn]e Powell seeinge did apprehend thatt their was small hope to bringe in Paspahe alyve for he Strugled maynely. Whereupon he Thruste him [“twyse” inserted] throwghe the boddy w[i]th his Sworde and for all thatt the stowte Indyan Lived and was Caryed away upon Rafters by the Salvages. And liefetenantt Puttocke encowntringe w[i]th one of the Salvages hande to fiste grapled w[i]th him and stabbed him to deathe w[i]th his ponnyard. My Lord generall all this Tyme Remayneinge att the Falles where nether sicknes nor skarsety was wanteinge had dyv[e]rs encownters w[i]th the Indyans some of his men beinge slayne amonge the Reste his Kinsman Capt[eyn]e William Weste and Capteine Bruster narrowly escaped.
And now my Lorde groweinge very Sicke he was inforced to allter his former determinacyon and to retourne to James towne ageine where his Sicknes nothinge abated butt rather increased So thatt for the Recovery of his healthe he did Take his voyadge for the bathe att Mevis in the Weste Indies. Butt the wyndes nott favoreinge them they weare inforced to shape their Cowrse directtly for England, my Lorde haveinge lefte and apointed me deputy governour in his absence, To execute marshall lawe or any other power and authorety as absolute as himselfe. After my Lords dep[ar]ture the Indyans did fall to their wonted practyses ageine, Comeinge one eaveninge Late, and Called att our blocke howse. The w[hi]ch when I understood I presently sentt to Lieftenantt Puttocke who Comawnded there thatt he sholde by noe meanes Stur owtt of the Blocke howse, butt to kepe an excedinge Carefull guarde and watche, and to strenghten him I sentt him more men to double his guard ageine expresly geveinge him Chardge thatt he shold nott goe outt of the blockhowse upon any Tearmes whattsoever p[ro]misseinge him thatt the nextt morneinge I wolde send him a Convenyentt number of men to discover whatt they weare and of whatt strenght w[hi]ch had soe Called them Butt Liefetenantt Puttocke beinge Called ageine early the nextt morneinge, before our watche was dischardged in the foarte, Contrary to my Comawnde and moste unadvysedly did goe outt of the Blockehowse w[i]th the small number of men he had Sheowinge more vallour then witt, more fury then Judgementt. And some fewe Indyans beinge in Sheowe he followed them w[i]thoutt apprehensyon of thatt w[hi]ch ensewed. For the Salvages still Retyreinge he followed them untill they broughte him into their ambuskado, where beinge fyve or sixe hundrethe of Salvages lett flye their arrowes as thicke as hayle amongste our handfull of men and defeated and Cutt them all of in a moment The arrowes w[hi]ch they had shott beinge so many in Number thatt the grownd theraboutts was allmoste Covered w[i]th them. Upon w[hi]ch defeate the Salvages did so aclamate Showte and hallowe in Tryumphe of their gayned victory thatt the Ecchoe thereof made bothe the ayere and woods to Ringe. The w[hi]ch filleinge our eares in the Foarte presenttly w[i]th all spede I sentt lieftenantt Abbott w[i]th fifty men to assiste Puttocke nott knoweinge derecttly whatt had befallen them althoughe we feared thatt w[hi]ch had alereddy hapned. Neverthelesse Lieften[ant]t
Abbott encowntred w[i]th the salvages,They then Changeinge their noate Cryeinge Paspahe. Paspahe. Thereby importeinge as mutche as thatt they had Revendged his wrongs. Att lenghtt Abbott putt the Indyans to flight Recouered the deade bodyes of our men whome he broughte to our foarte where they weare Buryed. Upon this disaster I sentt a messenger unto Algernowns foarte Supposeinge my Lorde, Laware had bene noe further on his voydge to have informed him hereof butt the messenger Loste his Labour my Lord beinge before dep[ar]ted In shorte Tyme after Capt[eyn]e Addames did come into our Bay in a shipped called the blessinge w[i]th freshe Supply bothe of men and victewells geveinge us notice thatt S[i]r Tho[mas] Dale was to come shorttly after w[i]th a greater supply the w[hi]ch p[ro]ved Trewe for w[i]thin towe monthes after he aryved in Virginia and browghtt w[i]th him thre hundrethe men besydes greatt store of armour, municyon victewalls and other p[ro]vissyon. And beinge Landed he ordeyned newe Lawes sett downe good articles w[hi]ch weare well observed. All our men beinge setto worcke some to plante some to sowe Corne and others to buyld boates and howses moste men inployed in one thinge or an other all things in Tyme beinge well settled and ordered S[i]r Thomas Dale made preperacyon and wentt ageinste the Nancemondies w[i]th a hundrethe men in armour where he had dyv[e]rs encownters and skirmishes w[i]th the Salvages bothe by Lande and water, dyv[e]rs of his company beinge wownded. Amongste the Reste Capt[eyn]e Francis Weste was shott into the Thyghe and Capteine Martin into the arme. S[i]r Tho[mas] Dale himselfe narrowly eskapeinge for an arrow lightt juste upon the edge or Brimme of his heade piece The w[hi]ch if itt had fallen a thowghtt Lower mightt have shott him into the Braynes and indangered his Lyfe. In theis Conflictts many Indyans beinge also slayne and wownded, and nott beinge acquainted nor acustomed to encownter w[i]th men in armour mutche wondered thereatt especyally thatt they did nott see any of our men fall as they had donne in other Conflictts. Whereupon they did fall into their exorcismes Conjuracyons and Charmes throweinge fyer upp into the skyes Runneinge up and downe w[i]th Rattles and makeinge many dyabolicall gestures w[i]th Many nigramantcke Spelles and incantacions Imagein[in]ge thereby to cawse Raine to fall from the Clowdes to extinguishe and putt outt our mens matches and to wett and Spoyle their powder. Butt nether the dievell whome they adore nor all their Sorceries did any thinge avayle them for our men Cutt downe their Corne
Burned their howses and besydes those w[hi]ch they had slayne broughtt some of them prissoners to our foarte. S[i]r Tho[mas] Dale makeinge more invasyons & excursions upon the Salvages had many Conflictts w[i]th them and one thinge amongste the reste was very remarkable The w[hi]ch may be Supposed to have bene ocasyoned by the salvages Sorceries and Charmes, for [?] S[i]r Thomas Dale w[i]th some of the better sorte sitteinge in an Indyans howse a fantasy possesed them, thatt they imagined the Salvages were sett upon them eache man Takeinge one an other for an Indyan and so did fall pell mell one upon an other beateinge one an other Downe and breakeinge one of an others heades, thatt mutche mischiefe mighte have bene donn butt thatt itt pleased god the fantasy was taken away whereby they had bene deluded and every man understood his errour. Aboutt this tyme a Spanishe Caravell aryved upon the Coaste and did Come into the Bay w[i]thowtt comaund Of Shotte. Thre principall of the Spanyards comeinge a shoare in their Boate nott furr of Algernowns foarte. The w[hi]ch Capt[eyn]e Davis espyeinge layd in ambushe for them they nott knoweinge of any foarte to be theare and so Surprysed them the chefeste of them beinge one Diego Malinos a comawnder of some foarte or houlde in the Weste Indies the other Antonio Pereos his companyon. The thirde a pylott who wentt under the name and habbitt of a Spanyard butt was after fownde and discovered to be Inglishe man his name beinge Limbrecke haveinge lived many yeres amongste the Spanyards and Reputed to be a goode Pylott After the surpryseinge of theis thre the boate wherein they did Come putt from the shoare the men [“que-” crossed out] therein being questyoned pretended to seke for one of the Kinge of Spaynes shippes loaden w[i]th municyon bownd for the Weste Indies Requesteinge Capt[eyn]e Davis to lett them have a pylott to bringe their shipp into the harbour the w[hi]ch was grawnted Butt haveinge the pylott noe soener aboard hoysed upp their Sayles and Caryed the pylott quyte away w[i]th them. Leaveinge the thre w[hi]ch weare Surprysed in his steade behynd them who weare thereupon broughtt to James Towne and sentt as prissoners aboard severall Shippes. And shorttly after S[i]r Tho[mas] Dale sentt my selfe Capt[eyn]e Newport and Mr Stracy secretary to the Collonie to examin them and so acuseinge them to have Come for Spyes they utterly denyed the same, butt still urgeinge them therew[i]th Anto[nio] Pereos answered thatt
we had noe Cawse att all to feare any thinge this yere butt whatt mightt happen the nextt he coulde nott tell and as itt after appeared their intente was as eavell as we imagined, for the Spannishe ambassadour shorttly after gayned a Comissyon from the Kings Ma[jes]tie Kinge James Thatt we sholde send the princypall Diego Malinos into England the w[hi]ch w[i]th all spede was effected Capt[eyn]e Martin beinge his conductt. Don Diego stayed nott longe in England, Butt was sentt hoame where he was made generall of sixe tall Shippes in all lykeliehoode and as we weare after Certenly informed sett outt of purpose to Supplantt us. Butt haveinge bene att Sea aboutt a monthe a mutenie did growe amongste them in so mutche thatt one of Diegoes company stabbed him to Deathe whereupon their Course was alltered and their former determinacyon Ceased. Antonio Pereos he dyed before in Virginia. and S[i]r Tho[mas] Dale att his goeinge for England did take our hispanyolated Inglisheman Limbrecke w[i]th him, and acordinge to some pryvate Comissyon when he did Come w[i]thin sighte of the Inglishe Shoare he cawsed him to be hanged upp att the yardes arme as afterwards itt was trewly reported. Before S[i]r Tho[mas] Dales dep[ar]ture Capt[eyn]e Davis att Algernowns foarte espyed nyne shippes upon the coaste Supposeinge them to be Spanishe. And sendeinge notice thereof to S[i]r Tho[mas] Dale he presenttly sentt Capt[eyn]e Bruster and Lieftenantt Abbott w[i]th forty men to discover whatt they weare and they nott Retourneinge acordinge to S[i]r Thomas expectacyon he feared thatt they weare either Surprysed or defeated. Whereupon he drewe all his forces into forme and order reddy for encownter Calleinge a Cowncell to Resolve whether itt weare beste to mete w[i]th them aboard our shippes or for to maynteine the foarte. My opinyon I delyvered to S[i]r Tho[mas] Dale and the Reste, Thatt is was dowttfull whether our men wolde stande unto itt ashoare and abyde the Brunte, butt a shippboard of necessety they muste for there was noe runneinge away. So makeinge preperacyon to goe aboard. Capt[eyne] Bruster and Lieftenantt Abbott retourned and broughte us certeine newes thatt itt was S[i]r Tho[mas] Gates flete who was come now to be governour And [?] aryved there thatt eave[n]inge w[i]th a freshe Supply bothe of men and p[ro]vissyon haveinge unladen the shippes & [“other” crossed out] ordered other necessary ocassyons S[i]r Tho[mas] Gates apointed S[i]r Tho[mas] Dale then marshall of the collonie as itt was agreed upon in England to passe upp into the Cowntry neare unto the Falles w[i]th aboutt towe hundrethe men
to inhabitt there Capt[eyn]e Bruster Leadeinge moste of his men overland and himselfe and a small company goeinge by water Capteyne Bruster in his martche was dyv[e]rs tymes assawlted and encowntered by the salvages beinge sentt from Powhatan haveinge for their Leader one Munetute Comonly called amongste us Jacke of the feathers By Reason thatt he used to come into the felde all Covered over w[i]th feathers and Swans wings fastened unto his showlders as thowghe he meante to flye. Capt[eyne] Bruster comeinge to the place apointed where S[i]r Tho[mas] Dale did also mete w[i]th him. And after dyv[e]rs encownter and skirmishes w[i]th the Salvages gayned a convenyentt place for fortificatyon where presenttly they did begin to buylde a foarte and S[i]r Tho[mas] Dale named the same Henericus foarte in honnor of prinse Henry. The Salvages weare nott Idle all this Tyme butt hindred their designes as muche as they colde shoteinge arrowes into the foarte wherew[i]th dyv[e]rs of our men weare wownded & others indangered and some haveinge inploymentt w[i]thoutt The foarte did Come shorte hoame and weare slayne by the Salvages. S[i]r Tho[mas] Dale haveinge allmoste finished the foarte and settled a plantacyon in thatt p[ar]te, dyv[e]rs of his men beinge Idell and nott willeinge to take paynes did Runne away unto the Indyans many of them beinge taken ageine S[i]r Thomas in a moste severe mannor cawsed to be executed. Some he apointed to be hanged some burned some to be broken upon wheles others to be Staked and some to be shott to deathe all theis extreme and crewell tortures he used and inflicted upon them To terrefy the reste for attempteinge the Lyke, And some w[hi]ch Robbed the store he cawsed them to be bownd faste unto Trees and so sterved them to deathe So leaveinge S[i]r Thomas busely inployed in finisheinge the Foarte and settleinge their habitacyons lett us Retourne to James Towne ageine where our governour S[i]r Tho[mas] Gates was resydentt. Onely by the waye Toutche a little att Algernownes foarte the w[hi]ch was accidentially burned downe to the grownd exceptt Capt[eyn]e Davis howse and the store howse, whereupon Capt[eyn]e Davis feareinge to Receve some displeasure and to be Removed from thense the same beinge the moste plentifulleste place for food, he used sutche expedityon In the Rebuyldeinge of the same ageine thatt itt is allmoste incredible.
Dyv[e]rs Indyans used to come to our foarte att James Towne bringeinge victewalls w[i]th them Butt indede did Rather come as Spyes then any good affectyon they did beare unto us. Some of them S[i]r Tho[mas] Gates Cawsed to be apprehended and executed for a Terrour to the Reste to cawse them to desiste from their Subtell practyses. Thus haveinge Related unto your Lordshipp the Trewe p[ro]cedeings in Virginia from S[i]r Tho[mas] Gates Shippwracke upon the Bermudes untill my dep[ar]ture outt of the Cowntry w[hi]ch was the 22th Aprell 1612, The w[hi]ch day I sett sayle in a shipp named the Tryall and haveinge by computacyon sayled aboutt 200 leauges w[i]th a Reasonable good wynde and fayere weather, upon a Sudden a greate storme did aryse In so mutche thatt the misson maste did Springe w[i]th the vyolence of the wyndes and lyeinge in the greate Cabbin where the misson stoode I was thereby muche indawngered and in perrill of my Lyfe, for the same w[i]th greate force did grate upon my Cabbin and narrowly missed me and a barrell full w[i]th bere Beinge [“in” inserted] the Cabbin the misson Strucke the same to pieces thatt all the bere did Runne abowtt the Cabbin. The Storme Ceaseinge and our misson amended we Recovered flores Corves [“nott” crossed out] and St Michells nott towcheing att any of theis Islands, Butt shaped our Course Northewarde, where falleinge becallmed our dawnger was greater then the former for feare of famin and wante of foode haveinge butt a poore small quantetie of freshe water and thatt was so stencheous thatt onely washeinge my hands therew[i]th I cold nott endure the sentt thereof. Our greateste store of foode was pease, and those weare so Corrupted mowldie Rotten and worme eaten thatt there was noe Substance lefte in them butt beinge stirred wolde Crumbell into Duste, so thatt for wante of foode [“we” inserted] weare lyke to p[er]ishe. Butt god lookeinge mercyfully upon us when we leaste expected to see our native Cowntry ageine, we happely mett w[i]th a shipp of London bownde for newe fownd lande one Baker beinge master thereof who Releved us w[i]th Befe fishe Breade bere and Tobaco w[hi]ch greattly comforted us and saved our lyves for itt was above Thirty dayes after before we made lande W[hi]ch was Ireland So after a longe and dangereous voyage we did fall w[i]th the Lande and putt into Crooke Haven, where we Remayned some fowretene dayes, in w[hi]ch Tyme we Refreshed our selves and Revicteweled our ship, and then sett sayle ageine and w[i]thin eightt dayes after aryved in England and
anchored in Dover Roade where we did mete w[i]th S[i]r Samuell Argall bownde for newe England To displante the Frenche collonie there. The w[hi]ch as I after hearde he valliantly p[er]formed. Butt how juste the Cawse was I refer the same to a Judityous Censure. So stayeinge some fewe dayes att Dover to acompany S[i]r Samuell I toake poaste horse and from thense Roade to London. Finis