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demand。 If Berkeley is passionate and at times violent； so is Bacon in his
own way； for an eye…witness has to say that 〃he displayed outrageous
postures of his head； arms； body and legs； often tossing his hand from his
sword to his hat；〃 and that outside the door he had cried： 〃Damn my blood！
I'll kill Governor； Council； Assembly and all； and then I'll sheathe my
sword in my own heart's blood！〃 He is no dour； determined； unwordy
revolutionist like the Scotch Drummond； nor still and subtle like 〃the
thoughtful Mr。 Lawrence。〃 He is young and hot； a man of oratory and outward
acts。 Yet is he a patriot and intelligent upon broad public needs。 When
presently he makes a speech to the excited Assembly； it has for
subject…matter 〃preserving our lives from the Indians； inspecting the
public revenues； the exorbitant taxes； and redressing the grievances and
calamities of that deplorable country。〃 It has quite the ring of young
men's speeches in British colonies a century later！
The Governor and his party gave in perforce。 Bacon got his commission and
an Act of Indemnity for all chance political offenses。 General and
Commander…in…chief against the Indiansso was he styled。 Moreover； the
Burgesses； with an alarmed thought toward England； drew up an explanatory
memorial for Charles II's perusal。 This paper journeyed forth upon the
first ship to sail； but it had for traveling companion a letter secretly
sent from the Governor to the King。 The two communications were painted in
opposite colors。 〃I have；〃 says Berkeley； 〃for above thirty years governed
the most flourishing country the sun ever shone over； but am now
encompassed with rebellion like waters。〃
CHAPTER XIII。 REBELLION AND CHANGE
Bacon with an increased army now rode out once more against the Indians。 He
made a rendezvous on the upper Yorkthe old Pamunkeyand to this center
he gathered horsemen until there may have been with him not far from a
thousand mounted men。 From here he sent detachments against the red men's
villages in all the upper troubled country； and afar into the sunset woods
where the pioneer's cabin had not yet been builded。 He acted with vigor。
The Indians could not stand against his horsemen and concerted measures；
and back they fell before the white men； westward again； or； if they stayed
in the ever dwindling villages； they gave hostages and oaths of peace。
Quiet seemed to descend once more upon the border。
But； if the frontier seemed peaceful； Virginia behind the border was a
bubbling cauldron。 Bacon had now become a hero of the people； a Siegfried
capable of slaying the dragon。 Nor were Lawrence and Drummond idle； nor
others of their way of thinking。 The Indian troubles might soon be settled；
but why not go further； marching against other troubles； more subtle and
long…continuing； and threatening all the future？
In the midst of this speculation and promise of change； the Governor；
feeling the storm； dissolved the Assembly； proclaimed Bacon and his
adherents rebels and traitors； and made a desperate attempt to raise an
army for use against the new…fangledness of the time。 This last he could
not do。 Private interest led many planters to side with him； and there was
a fair amount of passionate conviction matching his own； that his Majesty
the King and the forces of law and order were being withstood； and without
just cause。 But the mass of the people cried out to his speeches； 〃Bacon！
Bacon！〃 As the popular leader had been warned from Jamestown by news of
personal danger； so in his turn Berkeley seems to have believed that his
own liberty was threatened。 With suddenness he departed the place； boarded
a sloop； and was 〃wafted over Chesapeake Bay thirty miles to Accomac。〃。 The
news of the Governor's flight； producing both alarm in one party and
enthusiasm in the other； tended to precipitate the crisis。 Though the
Indian trouble might by now be called adjusted； Bacon； far up the York； did
not disband his men。 He turned and with them marched down country； not to
Jamestown； but to a hamlet called Middle Plantation； where later was to
grow the town of Williamsburg。 Here he camped； and here took counsel with
Lawrence and Drummond and others； and here addressed； with a curious； lofty
eloquence； the throng that began to gather。 Hence； too； he issued a
〃Declaration；〃 recounting the misdeeds of those lately in power； protesting
against the terms rebel and traitor as applied to himself and his
followers； who are only in arms to protect his Majesty's demesne and
subjects； and calling on those who are well disposed to reform to join him
at Middle Plantation； there to consider the state of the country which had
been brought into a bad way by 〃Sir William's doting and irregular actings。〃
Upon his proclamation many did come to Middle Plantation； great planters
and small； men just freed from indentured service； holders of no land and
little land and much land； men of all grades of weight and consideration
and all degrees of revolutionary will； from Drummond…with a reported
speech； 〃I am in overshoes； I will be in overboots！〃 and a wife Sarah who
snapped a stick in two with the cry； 〃I care no more for the power of
England than for this broken straw！〃to those who would be revolutionary
as long as； and only when； it seemed safe to be so。
How much of revolution； despite that speech about his Majesty's demesne and
subjects； was in Bacon's mind； or in Richard Lawrence's mind and William
Drummond's mind； or in the mind of their staunchest supporters； may hardly
now be resolved。 Perhaps as much as was in the mind of Patrick Henry；
Thomas Jefferson； and George Mason a century later。
The Governor was in Accomac； breathing fire and slaughter； though as yet
without brand or sword with which to put his ardent desires into execution。
But he and the constituted order were not without friends and supporters。
He had； as his opponents saw； a umber of 〃wicked and pernicious
counsellors； aides and assistants against the commonalty in these our cruel
commotions。〃 Moreoverand a great moreover is that！it was everywhere
bruited that he had sent to England； to the King； 〃for two thousand Red
Coates。〃 Perhaps the Kingperhaps England…will take his view； and； not
consulting the good of Virginia； send the Red Coats！ What then？
Bacon； as a measure of opposition； proposed 〃a test or ecognition；〃 to be
signed by those here at Middle Plantation who earnestly do wish the good of
Virginia。 It was a bold test！ Not only should they covenant to give no aid
to the whilom Governor against this new general and army； but if ships
should bring the Red Coats they were to withstand them。 There is little
wonder that 〃this bugbear did marvellously startle〃 that body of Virginia
horsemen； those progressive gentlemen planters； and others。 Yet in the end；
after violent contentions； the assembly at Middle Plantation drew up and
signed a remarkable paper； the 〃Oath at Middle Plantation。〃 Historically；
it is linked on the one hand with that 〃thrusting out of his government〃 of
Sir John Harvey in Charles I's time； and on the other with Virginian
proceedings a hundred years later under the third George。 If his Majesty
h