Virginia's Deploured Condition . . .

Holton's summary

Bacon tried to sail to Jamestown to force his way into the statehouse. But people loyal to the government pursued and caught him.

Now everyone hoped Bacon's Rebellion had ended, so Berkeley pardoned Bacon.

Bacon criticized the government for wasting the taxpayers' money by enlisting 1,000 soldiers to attack the Indians. He said the Indians should be attacked by volunteers, whom he would lead.

Bacon returned to Jamestown with 520 soldiers.

He demanded

The original

Mr. Bacon resolved to force his admittance amongst the Burgesses and thereupon came in his sloope, with fifty armed men, and in the night with his guards, privately getts into Towne, where he associated with [William] Drummond (that perfidious scott) and [Richard] Lawrence (that Athisticall and scandalous person) who informed him of what had passed att Towne, by breake of day he returneing on board his sloope was discovered, and an Allarum in the towne, and imediately severall small Boates were well manned to take him, who persued him to Sandy point, where the Shipps ridd, by whome he was fyred att, and perticulerly by Capt. Gardner in the ship Adam and Eve, who had the Governors order to that purpose, and soe Mr. Bacon was forced to come to Anchor, and he and his men were taken, brought to Towne by Capt. Gardner and Capt. Hubert Farrell.

Now great hopes was, that those intestine troubles would be ended, and noe obstruction in carrying on the Indian Warr. The Burgesses the next Morning mett, and that all private animosities and grudges might be laid aside, upon Mr. Bacons submission, on his knees in open Court, and faithfull promises of future good behaviour, he was pardoned, and he and his souldiers discharged.

The Assembly proceeded in forming an Army of 1,000 Men, to be imediately raised, and sent out against the Indians. But Mr. Bacon goes home, harbouring private discontent, and studying revenge for his late confinement, sends to the factious, discontented people of New Kent, and those parts, [saying:]

• that severall affronts were offered to him in his confinement, for his vindicateing them,
• that the Assembly were bringing a great charg by raiseing more forces, and
• that insteed of reduceing the 500 men now in pay, they had ordered a thousand souldiers to be raised,
• [and] that the only way for carrying on the Warr would be by Volunteeres, of which he would be Generall.

Soe that (as bad actions are useually attended with worse) he getts the discontented rabble togeather, and with them resolved to putt himselfe, once more on the stage, and on the 20^th day of June he entred James Towne, with 400 foot, and 120 horse, sett guards att the state howse, kept the Governor, Councell and Burgesses prisoners, and would suffer none to pass in or out of Towne, and haveing drawne up all his forces to the very doore and windows of the state howse, he demanded a

Commission to be Generall of all the forces that should be raised dureing the Indian Warr, he and all his souldiers crying out Noe Levies, Noe Levies

• to be made general
• no taxes

The Burgesses wanted to tell Bacon's followers about all the good laws they had passed, but Bacon wouldn't let them.

To prevent violence, Berkeley finally agreed to give Bacon a commission saying whatever Bacon wanted it to say.

Bacon imprisoned several men, insulted Berkeley, and got several men barred from government jobs.

Berkeley agreed to rescind his earlier request to the king for help suppressing Bacon's Rebellion.

The Assembly acquainted him they had taken all possible care for carrying on the Indian Warr at the easiest charge that could be, that they had redressed all theire Complaints, and desiered that for sattisfaction of the people, what they had done might be publickly read, Mr. Bacon answered there should be noe Laws read there, that he would not admitt of any delays, that he came for a Comission, and would imediately have itt, thereupon sending his souldiers into the State howse, where the Governor Councell and Burgesses were sitting and thretning them with fyer and sword iff itt was not granted, his souldiers mounting their Guns ready to fyer.

Soe that for fear all would be in a flame, the Councell and Burgesses joyned in a request to the Governor to grant Mr. Bacon such a Comission as he would have, the Governor declared he would rather lose his life than consent to the granting such unreasonable things as he demanded. But for prevention of that ruin, which was then threatened upon their second request, order was given for such a Comission as Mr. Bacon would have himselfe, and according to his own dictates. The next morning the (forced) Comission was delivered to him, and the Assembly judged he was fully answered, and soe were in hopes they should without restraint proceed in dispatch of the publick affaires.

[But] now Mr. Bacon haveing a Comission, shews himselfe in his [colors], and hangs out his flagg of defiance (that is) Imprisoning severall loyall Gentlemen and his rabble used reproachfull words of the Governor (not calling to mind the eminent services he hath done, not onely in takeing prisoner the great Indian Emperour Opechauckenough, makeing tributary all the Neighbouring Indians, without the loss of any English blood, and maineteyning peace for many yeares amongst them) Mr. Bacon alsoe with his guard forceably entred amongst the Burgesses, and demanded that severall persons who had beene active in obeying the Governors comands, should be made uncapable of beareing any publick office.

And for that he was informed the Governor had lately supplicated his Majesty for aid to suppress the tumulto's, itt should be contradicted by the grand Assembly and Letters writt to the King's Majesty in favour of his proceedeings.

While Bacon and his men dominated Jamestown, Indians killed 8 people nearby.

These thretnings and compulsions being upon them, the Assembly granted what ever he demanded, soe that itt was imagined he and his souldiers would martch out of Towne, yett they continued drinking and domineereing, the fronteere Countys being left with very little force, and the next day came the sad news that the Indians had that morning killed Eight people within thirty Myles of towne, in the familys of some of them that were with Mr. Bacon, yett they hastened not away, but the next day haveing forced an Act of Indemnity, and the Assembly being at the Burgesses request disolved, Mr. Bacon after fower days stay, marched out of Towne....

[SOURCE: Massachusetts Historical Society, Proceedings, 4th Ser., IX (187I), 170-I72.]