him as a rebel. Therefore
they kept to their arms, and instead of proceeding against the Indians
they marched back to Jamestown, directing their fury against such of
their friends and countrymen as should dare to oppose them.

Sec. 105. The governor seeing this, fled over the bay to Accomac, whither
he hoped the infection of Bacon's conspiracy had not reached. But
there, instead of that people's receiving him with open arms, in
remembrance of the former services he had done them, they began to make
terms with him for redress of their grievances, and for the ease and
liberty of trade against the acts of parliament. Thus Sir William, who
had been almost the idol of the people, was, by reason of their calamity
and jealousy, abandoned by all, except some few, who went over to him
from the western shore in sloops and boats, among which one Major Robert
Beverley was the most active and successful commander; so that it was
sometime before he could make head against Bacon, but left him to range
through the country at discretion.

Sec. 106. General Bacon at first held a convention, of such of the chief
gentlemen of the country as would come to him, especially of those about
Middle Plantation, who were near at hand. At this convention they made a
declaration to justify his unlawful proceedings, and obliged people to
take an oath of obedience to him as their general. Then, by their
advice, on pretence of the governor's abdication, he called an assembly,
by writs signed by himself and four others of the council.

The oath was word for word as follows:

"Whereas the country hath raised an army against our common enemy
the Indians, and the same under the command of General Bacon,
being upon the point to march forth against the said common enemy,
hath been diverted and necessitated to move to the suppressing of
forces, by evil disposed persons raised against the said General
Bacon, purposely to foment and stir up civil war among us, to the
ruin of this his majesty's country. And whereas it is notoriously
manifest, that Sir William Berkeley, knight, governor of the
country, assisted, counselled and abetted by those evil disposed
persons aforesaid, hath not only commanded, fomented and stirred
up the people to the said civil war, but failing therein, hath
withdrawn himself, to the great astonishment of the people, and
the unsettlement of the country. And whereas the said army,
raised by the country for th