the estate of the Colonie of
Virginia, with a refutation of such scandalous reports as haue tended to
the disgrace of so worthy an enterprise. Published by aduise and
direction of the Councell of Virginia. London, 1610." The writer of
which, after referring to the slanders which had been circulated in
regard to Sir Thos. Smith's government, and especially of the story of
the wife-eater, says, "Sir Thomas Gates thus relateth the tragedie," and
then follows a long passage to the effect that "one of the companie
mortally hated his wife," and having killed her and secreted her body
after cutting it into peices; when it was found out he said she died and
he had hid her to satiafie his hunger, and had fed daily upon her, but
upon searching his house they found a large quantity of provisions.--See
Force's tracts, Vol. III. The writers of the "Brief Declaration," and
the "True Declaration," must have seen this statement published ten or
twelve years before they wrote, and it is a little remarkable that they
should have persisted in repeating a story which was far from being well
authentitcated, especially as the true statement did not need this
addition to increase the odium incurred by the mismanagement of Sir
Thos. Smith, the evidences of which are herein set forth.

Stith reports the stories of the Indian "that had been slain and buried"
being taken up and eaten, and "so did several others, one another that
died," and also that of the man who "killed his wife and powdered her
up, and eat the greater portion before it was discovered;" and adds, for
many years after it was "remembered by the name of the _starving time_,"
p. 116-117. For many particulars nowhere else given, see Neill's
History, pp. 407-411.

STATE PAPER OFFICE. }
COLONIAL. }
_Volume 3, No. 21, I._ }

A BREIFE DECLARATION _of the Plantation of Virginia duringe the
first Twelve Yeares, when Sir Thomas Smith was Governor of the
Companie, & downe to this present tyme. By the Ancient Planters
nowe remaining alive in Virginia._

Wheras in the beginninge of Sir Thomas Smith's twelve yeares government,
it was published in printe throughout the Kingdome of Englande that a
Plantation should be settled in Virginia for the glorie of God in the
propogation of the Gospell of Christ, the conversion of the Savages, to
the honour of his Majesty, by the enlargeinge of his territories and
future enrichinge of his kingdome, for whic