Bacon's Rebellion

they were compeld (tis posible) to goe a litle about, yet they
never thought; much of there labour, so long as they were not
debar’d from doing of Mischeife; which was not in the power
of these forts to prevent: For if that the English did, at any
time, know that there was more ways in to the wood then one,
to kill Deare, the Indians found more then a thousand out of
the wood, to kill Men, and not com neare the danger of the forts neather.

      The small good that was by most expected, and now by
[them expe]rienc’d from these useless fabricks (or castells, if
a. . . . . . a marvellous discontent amongst the people. . . . . .
the charge would be grate, and the benifitt. . . . . . arise out
of these wolfe-pi. . . . . . came every day losers; and. . . . . . Banke, if it do not inc. . . . . . to cast about for so. . . . . . lost.
It vext t[he hearts of many that they should] be compeld to
worke all the day, (nay all the yeare), for to reward those
Mole-catchers at the forts, (no body knew for what,) and at
night could not finde a place of safety to lie downe in, to rest
there wery bones, for feare they should be shatter’d all to
peices by the Indians; upon which consideration they thought
it best to petition the downe fall of these useless (and like to
be) chargeable fabricks, from whose continuance they could
neather expect proffitt nor safety.

       But for the effecting of this buisness, they found them
selves under a very grate disadvantage. For though it may
be more easier to cast downe, then irect, well cemented struc-
turs, yet the rule doth not hould in all cases. For it is to be
understood that these Forts were contrived, eather by the
sole command of the Governour, or other ways by the advice
of those whose judgments, in this affaire, he approved off;
eather of which was now, they being don, his owne emediate
act, as they were don in his name; which to have undon, at
the simple request of the people, had bin, in efect, to have un-
don that Repute he all ways held, in the peoples judgment,
for a wise Man; and better that they should suffer som small
inconvenencies, then that he should be counted less diserning
then those, who, till now, were counted more then halfe blinde.

      Besides, how should he satisfie his honour with the under-
takers of the worke? If the peoples petition should be granted,
they must be disapointed, which would have bin litle less then