Bacon's Rebellion

wives brest: By which meanes though they (in there owne parsons) might escape without wounds; yet it might be the lamentable fate of there better halfe to drop by gunshott, or other ways be wounded to death.

      Whether it was these Considerations, or som others, I do
not know, that kep their swords in there scabards: But this
is manifest, That Bacon knit more knotts by his owne head in
one day, then all the hands in Towne was able to untye
in a wholl weeke: While these Ladyes white Aprons became of
grater force to keepe the beseiged from salleing out then his
works (a pittifull trench) had strength to repell the weakest
shot, that should have bin sent into his Legure, had he not
made use of this invention.

       For it is to be noted that rite in his frunt, where he was to
lodge his Men, the Governour had planted 3 grate Guns, for
to play poynt blank upon his Men, as they were at worke, at
about 100 or a 150 paces distance; and then againe, on his
right hand, all most close aborde the shore, lay the ships,
with ther broade sides, to thunder upon him if he should offer
to make an onslaute: this being the onely place, by land, for
him to make his entrey, into the Towne: But for your better
satisfaction, or rather those who you may show this Naritive
to, who have never bin upon the place, take this short descrip-
tion.

      The place, on which the Towne is built, is a perfict Penin-
sulla, or tract of Land, all most wholly incompast with Water.
Haveing on the Sowth side the River (Formerly Powhetan,
now called James River) 8 miles brode, Incompast on the
North, from the east point, with a deep Creeke, rangeing in
a cemicircle, to the west, with in 10 paces of the River; and
there, by a smalle Istmos, tacked to the Continent. This
Iseland (for so it is denominate) hath for Longitud (east and
west) nere upo 2 miles, and for Lattitude about halfe so much,
beareing in the wholl compass about 5 miles, litle more or
less. It is low-ground, full of Marches and Swomps, which
makes the Aire, especially in the Sumer, insalubritious and
unhelty: It is not at all replenish’d with springs of fresh water,
and that which they have in ther Wells, brackish, ill sented,
penurious, and not gratefull to the stumack; which render
the place improper to indure the commencement of a seige.