Bacon was technically guilty of 〃unlawful； mutinous and rebellious
practises。〃 If； on his knees before Governor； Council； and Burgesses； he
would acknowledge as much and promise henceforth to be his Majesty's
obedient servant； he and those implicated with him should be pardoned。 He
himself might be readmitted to the Council； and all in Virginia should be
as it had been。 He should even have the commission he had acted without to
go and fight against the Indians。
Bacon thereupon made his submission upon his knees； promising that
henceforth he would 〃demean himself dutifully； faithfully； and peaceably。〃
Formally forgiven； he was restored to his place in the Virginia Council。 An
eyewitness reports that presently he saw 〃Mr。 Bacon on his quondam seat
with the Governor and Council； which seemed a marvellous indulgence to one
whom he had so lately proscribed as a rebel。〃 The Assembly of 1676 was of a
different temper and opinion from that of the Long Assembly。 It was an
insurgent body； composed to a large degree of mere freemen and small
planters； with a few of the richer； more influential sort who nevertheless
queried that old divine right of rule。 Berkeley thought that he had good
reason to doubt this Assembly's intentions； once it gave itself rein。 He
directs it therefore to confine its attention to Indian troubles。 It did；
indeed； legislate on Indian affairs by passing an elaborate act for the
prosecution of the war。 An army of a thousand white men was to be raised。
Bacon was to be commander…in…chief。 All manner of precautions were to be
taken。 But this matter disposed of； the Assembly thereupon turned to 〃the
redressing several grievances the country was then labouring under； and
motions were made for inspecting the public revenues； the collectors'
accounts；〃 and so forth。 The Governor thundered； friends of the old order
obstructed； but the Assembly went on its way； reforming here and reforming
there。 It even went so far as to repeal the preceding Assembly's
legislation regarding the franchise。 All white males who are freemen were
now privileged to vote； 〃together with the freeholders and housekeepers。〃
A certain member wanted some detail of procedure retained because it was
customary。 〃Tis true it has been customary；〃 answered another； 〃but if we
have any bad customs amongst us； we are come here to mend 'em！〃
〃Whereupon；〃 says the contemporary narrator； 〃the house was set in a
laughter。〃 But after so considerable an amount of mending there threatened
a standstill。 What was to come next？ Could men go furtheras they had gone
further in England not so many years ago？ Reform had come to an apparent
impasse。 While it thus hesitated； the old party gained in life。
Bacon； now petitioning for his promised commission against the Indians；
seems to have reached the conclusion that the Governor might promise but
meant not to perform； and not only so； but that in Jamestown his very life
was in danger。 He had 〃intimation that the Governor's generosity in
pardoning him and restoring him to his place in the Council were no other
than previous wheedles to amuse him。〃
In Jamestown lived one whom a chronicler paints for us as 〃thoughtful Mr。
Lawrence。〃 This gentleman was an Oxford scholar； noted for 〃wit； learning；
and sobriety 。 。 。 nicely honest； affable； and without blemish in his
conversation and dealings。〃 Thus friends declared； though foes said of him
quite other things。 At any rate； having emigrated to Virginia and married
there； he had presently acquired； because of a lawsuit over land in which
he held himself to be unjustly and shabbily treated through influences of
the Governor； an inveterate prejudice against that ruler。 He calls him in
short 〃an old； treacherous villain。〃 Lawrence and his wife； not being rich；
kept a tavern at Jamestown； and there Bacon lodged； probably having been
thrown with Lawrence before this。 Persons are found who hold that Lawrence
was the brain； Bacon the arm； of the discontent in Virginia。 There was also
Mr。 William Drummond； who will be met with in the account of Carolina。 He
was a 〃sober Scotch gentleman of good repute〃but no more than Lawrence on
good terms with the Governor of Virginia。
On a morning in June； when the Assembly met； it was observed that Nathaniel
Bacon was not in his place in the Councilnor was he to be found in the
building； nor even in Jamestown itself； though Berkeley had Lawrence's inn
searched for him。 He had left the town…gone up the river in his sloop to
his plantation at Curles Neck 〃to visit his wife； who； as she informed him；
was indisposed。〃 In truth it appears that Bacon had gone for the purpose of
gathering together some six hundred up…river men。 Or perhaps they
themselves had come together and； needing a leader； had turned naturally to
the man who was under the frown of an unpopular Governor and all the
Governor's supporters in Virginia。 At any rate Bacon was presently seen at
the head of no inconsiderable army for a colony of less than fifty thousand
souls。 Those with him were only up…river men； but he must have known that
he could gather besides from every part of the country。 Given some initial
success； he might even set all Virginia ablaze。 Down the river he marched；
he and his six hundred； and in the summer heat entered Jamestown and drew
up before the Capitol。 The space in front of this building was packed with
the Jamestown folk and with the six hundred。 Bacon； a guard behind him；
advanced to the central door； to find William Berkeley standing there
shaking with rage。 The old royalist has courage。 He tears open his silken
vest and fine shirt and faces the young man who； though trained in the law
of the realm； is now filling that law with a hundred wounds。 He raises a
passionate voice。 〃Here！ Shoot me！ 'Fore God； a fair marka fair mark！
Shoot！〃
Bacon will not shoot him； but will have that promised commission to go
against the Indians。 Those behind him lift and shake their guns。 〃We will
have it！ We will have it！〃 Governor and Council retire to consider the
demand。 If Berkeley is passionate and at times violent； so is Bacon in his
own way； for an eye…witness has to say that 〃he displayed outrageous
postures of his head； arms； body and legs； often tossing his hand from his
sword to his hat；〃 and that outside the door he had cried： 〃Damn my blood！
I'll kill Governor； Council； Assembly and all； and then I'll sheathe my
sword in my own heart's blood！〃 He is no dour； determined； unwordy
revolutionist like the Scotch Drummond； nor still and subtle like 〃the
thoughtful Mr。 Lawrence。〃 He is young and hot； a man of oratory and outward
acts。 Yet is he a patriot and intelligent upon broad public needs。 When
presently he makes a speech to the excited Assembly； it has for
subject…matter 〃preserving our lives from the Indians； inspecting the
public revenues； the exorbitant taxes； and redressing the grievances and
calamities of that deplorable country。〃 It has quite the ring of young
men's speeches in British colonies a century later！
The Governor and his party gave in perforce。 Bacon got his commission and
an Act of Indemnity for all chance political offenses。 General and
Commander…in…chief against the Indiansso was he styled。 Moreover； the
Burgesses； with an alarmed thought toward England； drew up an explanatory
memorial for Charles II's perusal。 This paper journeyed forth upon the
first ship to sail； but it had for traveling companion a letter secretly
sent from the Governor to the King。 The two communications were painted in
opposite colors。 〃I have；〃 says Berkeley； 〃for above thirty years governed
the most flourishing country the sun ever shone over； but am now
encompassed with rebellion like waters。〃
CHAPTER XIII。 REBELLION AND CHANGE
Bacon with an increased army now rode out once more against the Indians。 He
made a rendezvous on the upper Yorkthe old Pamunkeyand to this center
he gathered horsemen until there may have been with him not far from a
thousand mounted men。 From here he sent detachments against the red men's
villages in all the upper troubled country； and afar into the sunset woods
where the pioneer's cabin had not yet been builded。 He acted with vigor。
The Indians could not stand against his horsemen and concerted measures；
and back they fell before the white men； westward again； or； if they stayed
in the ever dwindling villages； they gave hostages and oaths of peace。
Quiet seemed to descend once more upon the border。
But； if the frontier seemed peaceful； Virginia behind the border was a
bubbling cauldron。 Bacon had now become a hero of the people； a Siegfried
capable of slaying the dragon。 Nor were Lawrence and Drummond idle； nor
others of their way of thinking。 The Indian troubles might soon be settled；
but why not go further； marching against other troubles； more subtle and
long…continuing； and threatening all the future？
In the midst of this speculation and promise of change； the Governor；
feeling the storm； dissolved the Assembly； proclaimed Bacon and his
adherents rebels and traitors； and made a desperate attempt to raise an
army for use against the new…fangledness of the time。 This last he could
not do。 Private interest led many planters to side with him； and there was
a fair amount of passionate conviction matching his own； that his Majesty
the King and the forces of law and order were being withstood； and without
just cause。 But the mass of the people cried out to his speeches； 〃Bacon！
Bacon！〃 As the popular leader had been warned from Jamestown by news of
personal danger； so in his turn Berkeley seems to have believed that his
own liberty was threatened。 With suddenness he departed the place； boarded
a sloop； and was 〃wafted over Chesapeake Bay thirty miles to Accomac。〃。 The
news of the Governor's flight； producing both alarm in one party and
enthusiasm in the other； tended to precipitate the crisis。 Though the
Indian trouble might by now be called adjusted； Bacon； far up the York； did
not disband his men。 He turned and with them marched down country； not to
Jamestown； but to a hamlet called Middle Plantation； where later was to
grow the town of Williamsburg。 Here he camped； and here took counsel with
Lawren