Bacon's Rebellion

Plantations and cutt of many of the Familyes of the English
etc.

      The Comand of which charge was by Bacon comitted to
one Carver a valient, Stout seaman and Gyles Bland (both
since executed) onely Mr. Bacon Putting more confidence in
Carver had chiefly intrusted Carver on this designe by a
Private Comission w’ch Bland knew not of but supposed they
had both equal Power.

      Things thus agitated Bacon reassumes his first designes of
marching out against the Indians, Imprisoning some before
hee went out, others hee had of a long continuance in hold,
who in the beginning thought and try’d to divert his designes;
othersome hee Subtly brought over to his Side and such whose
liberty (if left behind) hee jealously suspected might raise any
party ag’t him in his absence, hee tooke along with him.

      Bacon goes up again to the Falls of James River, where hee
bestirs himself lustily in order to a speedy march against the
Indians, in prosecution of his first pretentions w’ch were ag’t
the Occannechees and Susquahannocks. From the Falls of
James River hee marcheth over to the Freshes of Yorke¹ to
pursue the Pamunkey Indians, whose propinquity and neigh-
bourhood to the English and courses among them, was a Pre-
tended reason to render the Rebells Suspicious of them, as
being acquainted and knowing both of the manners, customes,
and nature of our People, and the Strength, Situation and
advantages of the country, and soe capable of doing of hurt
and damage to the English, although it was well knowne to
the whole country that the Queene of Pamunkey and her
People had nere at any time betray’d or injuryed the English.
But among the Vulgar it matters not whether they be Friends
or Foes Soe they be Indians. Bacon being here mett with all
the Northern Forces from Potomack, Rappahanock and those
Parts under the comand of Col. Brent,² they joyne together
and marching to the highest Plantations seated upon Yorke
River, were there detained by a day or two’s Raine, and for

      ¹The parts of York River above tide-water.

     ² Giles Brent, a cousin of George Brent of Woodstock, was of Retirement
plantation in Stafford County. He was the son of Giles Brent of Maryland
and the “empress” of the Piscattoway Indians and he claimed the title to his
mother’s crown and sceptre. He received a captain’s commission from Bacon,