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XIX. SIR FRANCIS WYAT.

WHEN Sir George Yeardley re

quefted a difmiffion from the burden of government, the Earl of Southampton recommended to the Company Sir Francis Wyat, as his fucceffor. He was a young gentleman of a good family, in Ireland,* who, on account of his education, fortune. and integrity, was every way equal to the place, and was accordingly chofen.†

He received from the Company a fet of inftructions, which were intended to be a permanent directory for the Governor and Council of the Colony. In thefe it was recommended to them, to provide for the fervice of God, according to the form and difcipline of the Church of England; to adminifter juftice according to the laws of England; to protect the natives, and cultivate peace with them; to educate their children; and to endeavour their civilization and conversion; to encourage industry; to fupprefs gaming, intemperance, and excess in apparel; to give no offence to any other

* Stith, 187. + Hazard, Vol. I. 237.

prince,

Stith, 195

prince, State, or people; to harbour no pirates; to build fortifications; to cultivate corn, wine, and filk; to fearch for minerals, dyes, guns, and medicinal drugs; and to "draw off the people from the exceffive planting of tobacco.'

Immediately on Wyat's arrival, (October, 1621) he sent a special meffage to Opitchapan and Opechancanough, by Mr. George Thorpe, a gentleman of note in the Colony, and a great friend to the Indians, to confirm the former treaties of peace and friendship. They both expreffed great fatisfaction at the arrival of the new Governor; and Mr. Thorpe imagined that he could perceive an uncommon degree of religious fenfibility in Opechancanough, That artful chief so far imposed on the credulity of this good gentleman, as to perfuade him that he acknowl"edged his own religion to be wrong; that he defired to be inftructed in the Chriftian doctrine, and that he wished for a more friendly and familiar intercourse with the English. He alfo confirmed a former promife of fending a guide to fhew them fome mines above the falls. But all thefe pretences ferved only to conceal a defign which

he

he had long meditated, to destroy the whole English Colony.

The peace which had fubfifted fince the marriage of Pocahontas had lulled the English into fecurity, and disposed them to extend their plantations along the banks of the rivers, as far as the Potowmack,* in fituations too remote from each other. Their houses were open and free to the natives, who became acquainted with their manner of living, their hours of eating, of labour and repose, the use of their arms and tools, and frequently borrowed their boats, for the convenience of fishing and fowling, and to pafs the rivers. This familiarity was pleafing to the English, as it indicated a spirit of moderation, which had been always recom mended, by the Company in England, to the planters; and, as it afforded a favourable fymptom of the civilization and converfion of the natives; but by them, or their leaders, it was defigned to conceal the moft fanguinary intentions.

In the fpring of the next year, (1622) an opportunity offered, to throw off the mask of friendship, and kindle their fecret enmity into a blaze. Among the natives who frequent

*Beverley, 39.

ly

77

ly vifited the English, was a tall, handfome, young chief, renowned for courage and fuccefs in war, and exceffively fond of finery in drefs. His Indian name was Nematanow; but by the English he was called, Jack of the Feather. Coming to the ftore of one Morgan, he there viewed feveral toys and ornaments, which were very agreeable to the Indian tafte; and perfuaded Morgan to carry them to Pamunky, where he affured him of an advantageous traffic. Morgan consented to go with him; but was murdered by the way.

In a few days, Nematanow came again to the store, with Morgan's cap on his head; and being interrogated by two ftout lads, who attended there, what was become of their master, he answered that he was dead. The boys feized him, and endeavoured to carry him before a magiftrate; but his violent resistance, and the infolence of his language, fo provoked them, that they fhot him. The wound proved mortal; and when dying, he earnestly requested of the boys, that the manner of his death might be concealed from his countrymen, and that he might be privately buried among the English.

As

As foon as this tranfaction was known, Opechancanough demanded fatisfaction; but being answered that the retaliation was juft, he formed a plan for a general maffacre of the English, and appointed Friday, the twenty-fecond day of March, for its execution; but he diffembled his refentment to the last moment. Parties of Indians were diftributed through the Colony, to attack every plantation, at the fame hour of the day, when the men fhould be abroad and at work. On the evening before, and on the morning of that fatal day, the Indians came as usual to the houfes of the English, bringing game and fifh to fell, and fat down with them to breakfaft. So general was the combination, and fo deep the plot, that about one hour before noon, they fell on the people in the fields and houses; and, with their own tools and weapons, killed, indifcriminately, perfons of all fexes and characters; inhumanly mangling their dead bodies, and triumphing over them, with all the expreffions of frantic joy.

ages,

Where any refiftance was made, it was generally fuccefsful. Several houfes were defended, and fome few of the affailants flain. One

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