The Arrivall of the Phoenix; her returne; and
other Accidents.
The rebuilding James Towne. {MN-1}
Sixtie appointed to discover the Monacans. {MN-2}
The authoritie now consisting in Captaine Martin, and the still sickly President, the sale of the Stores commodities maintained his estate, as an inheritable revenew. {MN-1} The spring approaching, and the Ship departing, Mr. Scrivener and Captaine Smith devided betwixt them the rebuilding James towne; the repairing our Pallizadoes; the cutting downe trees; preparing our fields; planting our corne, and to rebuild our Church, and recover our Store house. All men thus busie at their severall labours, Master Nelson arrived with his lost Phoenix; lost (I say) for that we all deemed him lost. Landing safely all his men, (so well he had mannaged his ill hap,) causing the Indian Isles to feede his company, that his victuall to that we had gotten, as is said before, was neare after our allowance sufficient for halfe a yeare. He had not any thing but he freely imparted it, which honest dealing (being a Marriner) caused us admire him: we would not have wished more then he did for us. Now to relade this ship with some good tydings, the President (not holding it stood with the dignitie of his place to leave the Fort) gave order to Captaine Smith to discover and search the commodities of the Monacans Countrey beyond the Falls. {MN-2} Sixtie able men was allotted them, the which within six dayes, Smith had so well trained to their armes and orders, that they little feared with whom they should incounter: yet so unseasonable was the time, and so opposit was Captaine Martin to any thing, but onely to fraught this ship also with his phantasticall gold, as Captaine Smith rather desired to relade her with Cedar, (which was a present dispatch) then either with durt, or the hopes and reports of an uncertaine discovery, which he would performe when they had lesse charge and more leisure.
But, The God of Heav'n, He eas'ly can [III. 54.] Immortalize a mortall man, With glory and with fame. The same God, ev'n as eas'ly may Afflict a mortall man, I say, With sorrow and with shame.
Whilst the conclusion was a resolving, this hapned.
An ill example to sell swords to Salvages.
The Presidents weaknesse. {MN-1}
Smiths attempt to suppresse the Salvages insolences. {MN-2}
Powhatans excuse. {MN-3}
Powhatan (to expresse his love to Newport) when he departed, presented him with twentie Turkies, conditionally to returne him twentie swords, which immediately was sent him; now after his departure he presented Captaine Smith with the like luggage, but not finding his humor obeyed in not sending such weapons as he desired, he caused his people with twentie devices to obtaine them. At last by ambuscadoes at our very Ports they would take them perforce, surprise us at worke, or any way; which was so long permitted, they became so insolent there was no rule; the command from England was so strait not to offend them, {MN-1} as our authoritie-bearers (keeping their houses) would rather be any thing then peace-breakers. This charitable humor prevailed, till well it chanced they medled with Captaine Smith, {MN-2} who without farther deliberation gave them such an incounter, as some he so hunted up and downe the Isle, some he so terrified with whipping, beating, and imprisonment, as for revenge they surprised two of our forraging disorderly souldiers, and having assembled their forces, boldly threatned at our Ports to force Smith to redeliver seven Salvages, which for their villanies he detained prisoners, or we were all but dead men. But to try their furies he sallied out amongst them, and in lesse then an houre, he so hampred their insolencies, they brought them his two men, desiring peace without any further composition for their prisoners. Those he examined, and caused them all beleeve, by severall vollies of shot one of their companions was shot to death, because they would not confesse their intents and plotters of those villanies. And thus they all agreed in one point, they were directed onely by Powhatan to obtaine him our weapons, to cut our owne throats, with the manner where, how, and when, which we plainly found most true and apparant: {MN-3} yet he sent his messengers, and his dearest daughter Pocahontas with presents to excuse him of the injuries done by some rash untoward Captaines his subjects, desiring their liberties for this time, with the assurance of his love for ever. After Smith had given the prisoners what correction he thought fit, used them well a day or two after, & then delivered them Pocahontas, for whose sake onely he fayned to have saved their lives, and gave them libertie. The patient Councell that nothing would move to warre with the Salvages, would gladly have wrangled with Captaine Smith for his crueltie, yet none was slaine to any mans knowledge, but it brought them in such feare and obedience, as his very name would sufficiently affright them; where before, wee had sometime peace and warre twice in a day, and very seldome a weeke, but we had some trecherous villany or other.
A ship fraught with Cedar.
The fraught of this Ship being concluded to be Cedar, by the diligence of the Master, and Captaine Smith, she was quickly reladed: Master Scrivener was neither idle nor slow to follow all things at the Fort; the Ship being ready to set sayle, Captaine Martin being alwayes very sickly, and unserviceable, and desirous to injoy the credit of his supposed Art of finding the golden Mine, was most willingly admitted to returne for England. For
He hath not fill'd his lapp, That still doth hold it oap.
From the writings of Thomas Studley, and Anas Todkill.
1608.
Sir Thomas Smith Treasurer.
Their Names that were landed in this Supply. [III. 55.]
Mathew Scrivener appointed to be one of the Councell.
Gent.
Michaell Phittiplace. | Doctor Russell. |
William Phittiplace. | Jeffrey Abbot. |
Ralph Morton. | Edward Gurgana. |
Richard Wyffing. | Richard Worley. |
John Taverner. | Timothy Leeds. |
William Cantrell. | Richard Killingbeck. |
Robert Barnes. | William Spence. |
Richard Fetherstone. | Richard Prodger. |
George Hill. | Richard Pots. |
George Pretty. | Richard Mullinax. |
Nathaniell Causy. | William Bayley. |
Peter Pory. | Francis Perkins. |
Robert Cutler. | John Harper. |
Michaell Sicklemore. | George Forest. |
William Bentley. | John Nichols. |
Thomas Coe. | William Grivell. |
Labourers.
Raymond Goodison. | Nicholas Ven. |
William Simons. | Francis Perkins. |
John Spearman. | Richard Gradon. |
Richard Bristow. | Rawland Nelstrop. |
William Perce. | Richard Savage. |
James Watkins. | Thomas Savage. |
John Bouth. | Richard Milmer. |
Christopher Rods. | William May. |
Richard Burket. | Vere. |
James Burre. | Michaell. |
Bishop Wiles. | |
Taylers.
Thomas Hope. | William Yong. |
William Ward. | William Beckwith. |
John Powell. | Larence Towtales. |
Apothecaries.
Thomas Field. | John Harford. |
Danl: Stallings, Jeweller. | Richard Belfield, a Goldsmith. |
Will: Dawson, a refiner. | Post Ginnat, a Chirurg. |
Abram Ransack, a refiner. | John Lewes, a Cooper. |
Wil: Johnson, a Goldsmith. | Robert Cotton, a Tobacco pipe-maker. |
|
Peter Keffer, a gunsmith. | Richard Dole, a Blacksmith. |
Rob: Alberton, a perfumer. | |
And divers others to the number of 120.