hese rascals are none the less
mightily afraid of the general's valour and spirit, so they determine to
entice him from his camp under various specious pretexts, and then, once
he is completely in their power, to have him executed or assassinated.
With this object in view they send a friendly letter asking him to
attend the Council, to accept a regular commission, and to raise new
forces. On his way to the town Bacon is attacked by an ambush of
soldiers, whom he beats off with the help of one of his lieutenants,
Fearless, backed by Lieutenant Daring and a troop of his own men, who
capture Whimsey and Whiff, two very prominent justices, instigators of
the plot. He accordingly appears before the Council with a couple of
prisoners. The populace, who are all for their hero, realizing the
treachery, raise a riot, and throw the Councillors into a state of the
utmost confusion and alarm. They spur themselves to action, however, and
under the leadership of Colonel Wellman, Deputy Governor, proceed to
take the field against Bacon, who is declared an open and lawless rebel.
When he appears the soldiers, none the less, join themselves to their
hero, and as at the same moment news is brought that the Indians have
risen and are attacking the town, Bacon is induced to lead the troops
against the foe; and in a pitched battle Cavernio is slain. That night
whilst his army is revelling after their victory the Council and their
party with infamous treachery suddenly attack the camp. There are
further skirmishes with a remnant of the Indian fugitives, and in one of
these frays Bacon accidentally wounds Semernia, who is flying disguised
in man's attire. He recognizes her voice, and she sinks into his arms to
die. As he is weeping over her body Fearless rushes in with drawn sword
shouting that the day is all but lost. Bacon, his mistress dead, deeming
that his men are overcome by the attack from the town and that he will
himself be captured, takes poison which he carries concealed in the
pommel of his sword, whilst Daring and his soldiers are heard shouting
'Victory! Victory!' The hero, however, expires at the moment his men
have conquered, but the Council speedily come to terms, naming with a
commission Daring as General, whilst Colonel Wellman announces his
intention of weeding this body of rogues and cowards against the arrival
of the new Governor who is expected from England.

Daring, upon his commission, is wedded to the Widow Ranter, fi