Bacon's Rebellion

men, do there utmost for to cut of the wholl Collony. There-
fore they did thinke that it would be a thing inconsistant
with reason, if that they, in this desperate conjunture of time,
should go and ingage themselves one against another; from the
result of which proseedings, nothing could be expected but
ruing and destruction unto both, to the one and the other
party, since that it might reasonably be conceved, that while
they should be exposeing there brests against one anothers wepons, the barberous and common enimy (who would make
his disadvantages [sic] by our disadvantages) should be upon
there backs to knock out there brains. But if it should so
hapen (as they did hope it would never so hapen) that the
Generall after the Indian war was finished, should attempt any
thing against his Hon’rs person or Goverment, that then they
would rise up in arms, with a joynt consent, for the prisarva-
tion of both.

      Since the Governour could obtaine no more, he was, at
present, to rest himselfe contented with this, while those who
had advised him to these undertakeings, was not a litle dis-
satisfide to finde the event not to answer there expectations.
But he at present, seeing there was no more to be don, since
he wanted a power to have that don, which was esteemed the
maine of the affaires, now in hand to be don, namely, the gaine-
ing of the Gloster men, to do what he would have don, he
thought it not amiss to do what he had a power to do, and that
was once more to proclame Bacon a Tratour, which was per-
formed in all publick places of meetings in these parts. The
noyse of which proclameation, after that it had past the ad-
mireation of all that were not aquainted with the reasons
that moved his honor to do what he had now don, soone
reached the Generall eares, not yet stopt up from lisning to
apparent dangers.

      This strange and unexpected news put him, and som with
him, shrodely¹ to there trumps, beleveing that a few such
deales, or shuffles (call them which you please) might quickly
ring the cards, and game too, out of his hand. He perceved
that he was falne (like the corne betwene the stones) so that
if he did not looke the better about him, he might chance to
be ground to powder. He knew that to have a certaine enimy

      ¹Shrewdly.