he grew in narrowness as he grew in years。 Berkeley could in these later
times write home； though with some exaggeration： 〃I thank God there are no
free schools nor printing； and I hope we shall not have these hundred
years； for learning has brought disobedience into the world and printing
has divulged them； and libels against the best governments！ God keep us
from both！〃 But that was the soured zealot for absolutismWilliam Berkeley
the man was fond enough of books and himself had written plays。
The spirit of the time was reactionary in Virginia as it was reactionary in
England。 Harsh servant and slave laws were passed。 A prison was to be
erected in each county； provision was made for pillory and stocks and
duckingstool； the Quakers were to be proceeded against； the Baptists who
refused to bring children to baptism were to suffer。 Then at last in 1670
came restriction of the franchise：
〃Act III。 ELECTION OF BURGESSES BY WHOM。 WHEREAS the usuall way of chuseing
burgesses by the votes of all persons who having served their tyme are
freemen of this country who haveing little interest in the country doe
oftener make tumults at the election to the disturbance of his Majestie's
peace； than by their discretions in their votes provide for the
conservation thereof； by makeing choyce of persons fitly qualifyed for the
discharge of soe greate a trust； And whereas the lawes of England grant a
voyce in such election only to such as by their estates real or personall
have interest enough to tye them to the endeavour of the publique good； IT
IS HEREBY ENACTED； that none but freeholders and housekeepers who only are
answerable to the publique for the levies shall hereafter have a voice in
the election of any burgesses in this country。〃
*Hening's 〃Statutes〃； vol。 II； p。 280。
Three years later another woe befell the colony。 That same Charles IIto
whom in misfortune Virginia had so adhered that for her loyalty she had
received the name of the Old Dominionnow granted 〃all that entire tract；
territory； region； and dominion of land and water commonly called Virginia；
together with the territory of Accomack；〃 to Lord Culpeper and the Earl of
Arlington。 For thirty…one years they were to hold it； paying to the King
the slight annual rent of forty shillings。 They were not to disturb the
colonists in any guaranteed right of life or land or goods； but for the
rest they might farm Virginia。 The country cried out in anger。 The Assembly
hurried commissioners on board a ship in port and sent them to England to
besiege the ear of the King。
Distress and discontent increased； with good reason； among the mass of the
Virginians。 The King in England； his councilors； and； Parliament； played an
unfatherly role； while in Virginia economic hardships pressed ever harder and
the administration became more and more oppressive。 By 1676 the gunpowder of
popular indignation was laid right and left； awaiting the match。
CHAPTER XII。 NATHANIEL BACON
To add to the uncertainty of life in Virginia； Indian troubles flared up
again。 In and around the main settlements the white man was safe enough
from savage attack。 But it was not so on the edge of the English world；
where the white hue ran thin； where small clusters of folk and even single
families built cabins of logs and made lonely clearings in the wilderness。
Not far from where now rises Washington the Susquehannocks had taken
possession of an old fort。 These Indians； once in league with the Iroquois
but now quarreling violently with that confederacy； had been defeated and
were in a mood of undiscriminating bitterness and vengeance。 They began to
waylay and butcher white men and women and children。 In selfprotection
Maryland and Virginia organized in common an expedition against the Indian
stronghold。 In the deep woods beyond the Potomac； red men and white came to
a parley。 The Susquehannocks sent envoys。 There was wrong on both sides。 A
dispute arose。 The white men； waxing angry； slew the envoysan evil deed
which their own color in Maryland and in Virginia reprehended and
repudiated。 But the harm was done。 From the Potomac to the James Indians
listened to Indian eloquence； reciting the evils that from the first the
white man had brought。 Then the red man； in increasing numbers； fell upon
the outlying settlements of the pioneers。
In Virginia there soon arose a popular clamor for effective action。 Call
out the militia of every county！ March against the Indians！ Act！ But the
Governor was old； of an ill temper now； and most suspicious of popular
gatherings for any purpose whatsoever。 He temporized； delayed； refused all
appeals until the Assembly should meet。
Dislike of Berkeley and his ways and a growing sense of injury and
oppression began to quiver hard in the Virginian frame。 The King was no
longer popular； nor Sir William Berkeley； nor were the most of the Council；
nor many of the burgesses of that Long Assembly。 There arose a loud demand
for a new election and for changes in public policy。
Where a part of Richmond now stands； there stretched at that time a tract
of fields and hills and a clear winding creek； held by a young planter
named Nathaniel Bacon； an Englishman of that family which produced 〃the
wisest； greatest； meanest of mankind。〃 The planter himself lived farther
down the river。 But he had at this place an overseer and some indentured
laborers。 This Nathaniel Bacon was a newcomer in Virginiayoung man who
had been entered in Gray's Inn； who had traveled； who was rumored to have
run through much of his own estate。 He had a cousin； also named Nathaniel
Bacon； who had come fifteen years earlier to Virginia 〃a very rich； politic
man and childless；〃 and whose representations had perhaps drawn the younger
Bacon to Virginia。 At any rate he was here； and at the age of twenty…eight
the owner of much land and the possessor of a seat in the Council。 But；
though he sat in the Council； he was hardly of the mind of the Governor and
those who supported him。
It was in the spring of 1676 that there began a series of Indian attacks
directed against the plantations and the outlying cabins of the region
above the Falls of the Far West。 Among the victims were men of Bacon's
plantation； for his overseer and several of his servants were slain。 The
news of this massacre of his men set their young master afire。 Even a less
hideous tale might have done it； for he was of a bold and ardent nature。
Riding up the forest tracks； a company of planters from the threatened
neighborhood gathered together。 〃Let us make a troop and take fire and
sword among them！〃 There lacked a commander。 〃Mr。 Bacon； you command！〃 Very
good； and Mr。 Bacon； who is a born orator； made a speech dealing with the
〃grievances of the times。〃 Very good indeed； but still there lacked the
Governor's commission。 〃Send a swift messenger to Jamestown for it！〃
The messenger went and returned。 No commission。 Mr。 Bacon had made an
unpleasant impression upon Sir William Berkeley。 This young man； the
Governor said； was 〃popularly inclined〃had 〃a constitution not consistent
with〃 all that Berkeley stood for。 Bacon and his neighbors listened with
bent brows to their envoy's report。 Murmurs began and deepened。 〃Shall we
stand idly here considering formalities； while the redskins murder？〃
Commission or no commission； they would march； and in the end； march they
dida considerable troopto the up…river country； with the tall； young；
eloquent man at their head。
News reached the Governor at Jamestown that they were marching。 In a
tight…lipped rage he issued a proclamation and sent it after them。 They and
their leader were acting illegally； usurping military powers that belonged
elsewhere！ Let them disband； disperse to their dwellings； or beware action
of the rightful powers！ Troubled in mind； some disbanded and dispersed； but
threescore at least would by no means do so。 Nor would the young man 〃of
precipitate disposition〃 who headed the troop。 He rode on into the forest
after the Indians； and the others followed him。 Here were the Falls of the
Far West； and here on a hill the Indians had a 〃fort。〃 This the Virginia
planters attacked。 The hills above the James echoed to the sound of the
small； desperate fray。 In the end the red men were routed。 Some were slain；
some were taken prisoner； others escaped into the deep woods stretching
westward。
In the meantime another force of horsemen had been gathered。 It was headed
by Berkeley and was addressed to the pursuit and apprehension of Nathaniel
Bacon； who had thus defied authority。 But before Berkeley could move far；
fire broke out around him。 The grievances of the people were many and just；
and not without a family resemblance to those that precipitated the
Revolution a hundred years later。 Not Bacon alone； but many others who were
in despair of any good under their present masters were ready for heroic
measures。 Berkeley found himself ringed about by a genuine popular revolt。
He therefore lacked the time now to pursue Nathaniel Bacon； but spurred
back to Jamestown there to deal as best he might with dangerous affairs。 At
Jamestown； willy…nilly； the old Governor was forced to promise reforms。 The
Long Assembly should be dissolved and a new Assembly； more conformable to
the wishes of the people； should come into being ready to consider all
their troubles。 So writs went out； and there presently followed a hot and
turbulent election； in which that 〃restricted franchise〃 of the Long
Assembly was often defied and in part set aside。 Men without property
presented themselves； gave their voices； and were counted。 Bacon； who had
by now achieved an immense popularity； was chosen burgess for Henricus County。
In the June weather Bacon sailed down to Jamestown； with a number of those
who had backed him in that assumption of power to raise troops and go
against the Indians。 When he came to Jamestown it was to find the high
sheriff waiting for him by the Governor's orders。 He was put under arrest。
Hot discussion followed。 But the people were for the moment in the
ascendent； and Bacon should not be sacrificed。 A compromise was reached。
Bacon was technically guilty of 〃unlawful； mutinous and rebelliou