Bacon's Rebellion

sound, Fires his carbyne, dismounts, surveys the Ground and
orders a French worke to be cast up.

      All this night is spent in falling of Trees, Cutting of Bushes
and throwing up Earth, that by the help of the moone light
they had made their French before day, although they had
but two axee and 2 spades in all to performe this work with.

      About day-break next morning six of Bacons Soldiers ran
up to the Pallasadees of the Towne and fired briskly upon the
Guard, retreating Safely without any damage at first (as is
reported) the Governor gave Comand that not a Gun should
be fir’d ag’t Bacon or his party upon paine of death, pretend-
ing to be loath to spill bloode and much more to be Beginner
of it, Supposing the Rebells would hardly be soe audacious as
to fire a gun against him, But that Bacon would rather have
sent to him and sought his Reconciliation soe that some way
or other might have bin found out for the Preventing of a
Warr, to which the Governour is said to have shewne some
Inclination upon the account of the service Bacon had per-
formed (as he heard) against the Indian Enemy, and that he
had brought severall Indian Prisoners along with him, and
especially for that there were severall Ignorant People which
were deluded and drawne into Bacon’s Party and thought of
noe other designe than the Indian Warr onely, and so knew
not what they did.

      But Bacon (pretending distrust of the Governor) was soe
farr from all thought of a Treaty that hee animates his men
against it, telling them that hee knew that party to be as Per-
fidious as cowardly, and that there was noe trust to be reposed
in such, who thinke it noe Treachery by any wayes to Sup-
presse them, and for his tendernesse of Shedding Blood which
the Governor pretends, and preventing a warr, sayes Bacon,
“There are some here that know it to be no longer since than
last weeke that hee himself comanded to be Fired against us
by Boats which the Governor sent up and downe to places
where the country’s Provisions were kept for mainteinance of
the Indian Warr, to fetch them away to support a warr amongst
ourselves, and wounded some of us (which was done by Sorrell)
which were against the designe of converting these stores to
soe contrary a use and intention of what they were raised for
by the People.” Bacon moving downe towards the Towne