is, free and common soccage, and have
their immediate dependence on the crown.
Sec. 112. When this storm, occasioned by Bacon, was blown over, and all
things quiet again, Sir William Berkeley called an assembly, for
settling the affairs of the country, and for making reparation to such
as had been oppressed. After which a regiment of soldiers arrived from
England, which were sent to suppress the insurrection; but they, coming
after the business was over, had no occasion to exercise their courage.
However, they were kept on foot there about three years after, and in
the Lord Colepepper's time, paid off and disbanded.
Sec. 113. The confusion occasioned by the civil war, and the advantage the
Indians made of it in butchering the English upon all their frontiers,
caused such a desolation, and put the country so far back, that to the
year 1704 they had seated very little beyond the boundaries that were
then inhabited. At that time Jamestown was again burnt down to the
ground by Richard Laurence, one of Bacon's captains, who, when his own
men, that abhorred such barbarity, refused to obey his command, he
himself became the executioner, and fired the houses with his own
hands. This unhappy town did never after arrive to the perfection it
then had: and now it is almost deserted by removing in Governor
Nicholson's time the assembly and general court from thence to
Williamsburg, an inland place about seven miles from it.
Sec. 114. With the regiment above mentioned arrived commissioners, to
enquire into the occasion and authors of this rebellion; and Sir William
Berkeley came to England: where from the time of his arrival, his
sickness obliged him to keep his chamber till he died; so that he had no
opportunity of kissing the king's hand. But his majesty declared himself
well satisfied with his conduct in Virginia, and was very kind to him
during his sickness, often enquiring after his health, and commanding
him not to hazard it by too early an endeavor to come to court.
Sec. 115. Upon Sir William Berkeley's voyage to England, Herbert Jeffreys,
Esq., was appointed governor. He made formal articles of peace with the
Indians, and held an assembly at Middle Plantation, wherein they settled
and allowed a free trade with the Indians; but restrained it to certain
marts, to which the Indians should bring their commodities: and this
also to be under such certain rules as were by that assembly directed.
But this method was not agree
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