Bacon's Rebellion

116          NARRATIVES OF THE INSURRECTIONS      [1676

Bacon attending at Towne for a Comission (w’ch the Gov-
ernor is said to have promised him) and being delayed or putt
off, was secretly whispered to by some of his Friends that
those delayes would endanger his Life, and that if speedily he
endeavour’d not to prevent it, there was a conspiracy to mur-
der him on such a night; upon w’ch hee privately leaves the
Towne. Now whether this was onely a rais’d rumor of Bacon’s,
or a reall truth wee cannot determine, but being rais’d after
Bacon was gone we suppose it false.

      Hee no sooner was come to the upper Parts of James River,
but the impatient people run to him to ask how affairs Stood,
exclaiming still more and more against the Indians, and de-
s ired to know if he had yet a comission, and understanding he
had or could not obtaine any, they began to sett up their
throats in one comon kry of othes and curses and cry’d out
aloud that they would either have a comission for Bacon that
they might serve under his conduct or else they would pull
downe the Towne or doe worse to some if they had it not, and if
Bacon would goe but with them they would gett him a com-
mission. Thus the Raging Tumult came downe to Towne
(Sitting the assembly) and Bacon at the head of them, having
entred the Towne, hee Seises and secures the Principal Places
and avenues, setts Sentinells and sends forth scouts, so that
noe Place could bee more Securely guarded.

      Having soe done, hee drawes up all his men in armes against
the State house where the Governour counsell and Burgesses
were then assembled and Sitting, and sends in to the Assembly
to know if now they would grant him a commission, which Sr.
Wm. Berkeley utterly refused, and rising from his chair of
judicature came downe to Bacon, and told him to his Face
and before all his men that hee was a Rebell and a Traytor etc.
and should have noe commission, and uncovering his naked
Bosome before him, required that some of his men might shoot
him, before ever he would be drawne to signe or consent to a
commission for such a Rebell as Bacon, “Noe” (said the Gov-
ernor) “lett us first try and end the difference singly between ourselves,” and offer’d to measure swords with him; all the
answer Bacon gave the Governor was, “Sir, I came not, nor
intend to hurt a haire of your honor’s head, and for your sword
your Honor may please to putt it up, it shall rust in the scab-