ecause he had been in very many conflicts, and escaped
untouched from them all. He was also a very cunning fellow, and took
great pride in preserving and increasing this their superstition
concerning him, affecting everything that was odd and prodigious, to
work upon their admiration. For which purpose he would often dress
himself up with feathers after a fantastic manner, and by much use of
that ornament, obtained among the English the nickname of Jack of the
feather.

This Nemattanow coming to a private settlement of one Morgan, who had
several toys which he had a mind to, persuaded him to go to Pamunky to
dispose of them. He gave him hopes what mighty bargains he might meet
with there, and kindly offered him his assistance. At last Morgan
yielded to his persuasion; but was no more heard of; and it is believed,
that Nemattanow killed him by the way, and took away his treasure. For
within a few days this Nemattanow returned to the same house with
Morgan's cap upon his head; where he found two sturdy boys, who asked
for their master. He very frankly told them he was dead. But they,
knowing the cap again, suspected the villain had killed their master,
and would have had him before a justice of peace, but he refused to go,
and very insolently abused them. Whereupon they shot him down, and as
they were carrying him to the governor, he died.

As he was dying, he earnestly pressed the boys to promise him two
things. First, that they would not tell how he was killed; and,
secondly, that they would bury him among the English. So great was the
pride of this vain heathen, that he had no other thoughts at his death,
but the ambition of being esteemed after he was dead, as he had
endeavored to make them believe of him while he was alive, viz., that he
was invulnerable and immortal, though his increasing faintness convinced
himself of the falsity of both. He imagined, that being buried among the
English perhaps might conceal his death from his own nation, who might
think him translated to some happier country. Thus he pleased himself to
the last gasp with the boys' promises to carry on the delusion. This was
reckoned all the provocation given to that haughty and revengeful man
Oppechancanough, to act this bloody tragedy, and to take indefatigable
pains to engage in so horrid villainy all the kings and nations
bordering upon the English settlements, on the western shore of
Chesapeake.

Sec. 49. This gave the English a fair preten