Chapter I: Front Matter

Transcriber's Note:

Inconsistent hyphenation and spelling in the original document have
been preserved. Obvious typographical errors have been corrected.

Italic text is denoted by _underscores_.

THE BIRTH OF THE NATION

'Tis just three hundred years ago
We sailed through unknown Narrows
And landed on an unknown coast
Amid a flight of arrows.
We planted England's standard there,
And taught the Western savage.
In its defence we lightly held
His tomahawk and ravage.

And there, between two forest trees,
We raised our first rude altar;
Roofed by a storm-rent sail we read
Old England's Prayers and Psalter,
An echo in the strange, new land
Awoke to slumber never:
It caught old England's battle-word--
"God and my Right" forever!

THE BIRTH OF THE NATION

JAMESTOWN, 1607

BY
MRS. ROGER A. PRYOR

AUTHOR OF "THE MOTHER OF WASHINGTON AND HER TIMES," "REMINISCENCES
OF PEACE AND WAR"

ILLUSTRATIONS
BY WILLIAM DE LEFTWICH DODGE

New York
THE MACMILLAN COMPANY
LONDON: MACMILLAN & CO., Ltd.
1907

All rights reserved

COPYRIGHT, 1907,
BY THE MACMILLAN COMPANY.

Set up and electrotyped. Published March, 1907.

Norwood Press
J. S. Cushing & Co.--Berwick & Smith Co.
Norwood, Mass., U.S.A.

To
M. GORDON PRYOR RICE

IN TOKEN OF
HER MOTHER'S LOVE
AND ADMIRATION

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I PAGES

Jamestown Celebration. Legends of the Discovery of America. 1-7
Columbus. The Cabots. Pope Alexander VI. Amerigo Vespucci. The
Power of Spain. Queen Elizabeth's Patent. Sir Humphrey
Gilbert. Our Shores only sighted by the English before 1600

CHAPTER II

Sir Walter Raleigh. Expedition to Islands near North Carolina. 8-15
Glowing Reports. Failure of First Colony. Enmity of Indians.
Second Colony to Roanoke Island. Virginia Dare. Expedition for
Relief of Colony. Colonists had Disappeared. Fate never Known

CHAPTER III

Death of Queen Elizabeth. James I., Appearance and Character. 16-33
Corrupt Court. Poverty of Common People. Highway Robbers.
London Company undertakes Virginia Colony. The Necessities of
a Countess. Extravagance. Political, Religious, and Literary
Aspects of the Time. Royal Charter obtained for New Colony

CHAPTER IV

England's First Colony. Emigrants Subject to Commercial 34-44
Corporation, to Domestic Council, to Superior Council, to
Arbitrary Rule of King. The Three Ships. Christopher Newport.
Allowance for Each Man. Cargo of Ships. Sealed Orders. Robert
Hunt. Books Brought. Character of Colonists. Names of Most
Prominent. Captain John Smith. Motives of Adventurers.
Attitude toward Indians. Little Interest in England. Drayton's
Poem

CHAPTER V

Story of Voyage by Thomas Studley. George Percy. Dissensions 45-55
among Voyagers. Career of John Smith. Ships enter Chesapeake
Bay. A Virginia Welcome. Council as appointed by Sealed
Orders. Wingfield elected President, April 26, 1607. Indians.
Colonists land at Jamestown, May 13. Smith excluded from
Council. Appearance of Forest. Religious Service. First Night
in the New Land

CHAPTER VI

Appearance of New Country. Percy's Description. Flora. Fruits. 56-63
Fauna. Condition and Customs of Indians. Their Implements

CHAPTER VII

Religion of Powhatan's Tribe. Kiwassa. Okeus. Sacrifice of 64-84
Children. Conversion of Indians almost Impossible. Temple at
Uttamussac. Dress and Chants of Priests. Immortality. Fables
taught by Priests. Enmity of Powhatan to English. Suspected of
Massacre of Roanoke Colonies. Prophecies of Priests. No
Written Language of Indians. The Will of the King Law. Law of
Succession. Cruelty of Powhatan. Indian Habitations. No
Furniture. Fire. Light. Occupations and Games of Men. Work
done by Women and Children. Henry Spelman's Story. Indians'
Provision for the Future. Maidens and Young Braves. Music and
Dancing. Traits of Indian Women. Tenderness toward Children.
Powhatan's Unconquerable Hatred. Fate of Indian settled by
Massacre of 1622

CHAPTER VIII

Chief of Paspahegh Tribe welcomes Newport. His Appearance. His 85-95
Behaviour. Work of Colonists. Interviews with Indians.
Wochinchopunck. Indians' Skill in Archery. Expedition up the
River. Town of Powhatan. Percy's Description. Site of
Richmond. Cross Erected. Indians' Assault upon Jamestown. Fort
put in Fighting Order. John Smith under Suspicion. First Trial
by Jury. Smith Acquitted. Reconciliation through Hunt. Smith
admitted to Council. The Eucharist. Savages desire Peace.
Newport leaves for England

CHAPTER IX

The First Mail to England. Enthusiastic Praise of New Country. 96-115
Policy of Colonists to encourage Immigration. Sir Walter
Cope's Letters. Council discuss Abandonment of Colony. Zuñiga
and Newport. Council decides to send Colonists and Provisions.
Letters from Zuñiga to Philip III. of Spain. Letter from
Dudley Carleton. Affairs at the Colony. First Church. Illness.
Percy's Narrative. First Graves in Virginia. England's
Selfishness. John Smith's Narrative. Diverse Elements in
Colony. Character of Wingfield. Deposed, and Ratcliffe put in
his Place. Wingfield's Defence. Indians bring Food. No True
Friendship. Smith seizes Image of Okeus. Savages ransom it
with Provisions. Game of Southern Virginia. Smith takes the
Helm. Log Cabins and Church Built

CHAPTER X

Winter of Unusual Severity. Starvation Threatened. Idleness 116-132
and Waste. Corn procured from Indians. Plans made and
Abandoned. Newport Long Overdue. John Smith explores the
Chickahominy. Important Voyage. Spends a Month with the
Powhatans. Description of Region. Murder of Two of Smith's Men
by Indians. Smith's Adventures. Captured by the Savages. March
to Powhatan. Incident told by William Symondes. Smith's Life
in Danger. Opechancanough tempts Him. Message sent Jamestown.
Indian Orgies. Banquets for Prisoner. Conducted to Powhatan's
Residence on York River

CHAPTER XI

Werowocomoco. Powhatan's Absolute Power. His Cruelty. Indian 133-155
Cookery. Bathing. Worship. Powhatan's Wives and Children. His
Affection for his Children. Pocahontas. The Dress of Indian
Women. The Mirror in the Woods. Smith received by Powhatan.
Powhatan's Costume. A Feast. Pocahontas saves Smith. He is
assigned to her Service. Powhatan asks the Cause of the Coming
of the English. Smith's Reply. Flatters Powhatan. Powhatan's
Attempt to terrify Smith. Professes Friendship. The Truth of
the Pocahontas Incident Discussed. Her Kindness to the English

CHAPTER XII

Indians conduct Smith to Jamestown. His Enemies There. He is 156-176
sentenced to be Hanged. Newport arrives and releases Smith and
Wingfield. Smith sends Gifts to Powhatan. The Character of the
New Colonists. "Newport's News." The King and Carr. Contrast
between Elizabeth and James. Newport's Visit to Powhatan. The
Feast. Finger-bowls and Napkins. Exchange of a Christian for a
Savage. Ill-advised Gifts to Powhatan. Newport Outwitted. A
Disaster from Fire. The Gold Fever. Wingfield and Archer
return to England. Twenty Swords for Twenty Turkeys

CHAPTER XIII

The Church Rebuilt. The Arrival of the _Ph[oe]nix_. Smith's 177-186
"True Relation of Virginia." Powhatan's Plot. Indian Thieves
Captured. Released at the Prayer of Pocahontas. Age of
Pocahontas. Her Visits to the Fort. Her Attire and "Wheels."
Chanco. A Comparison and a Contrast

CHAPTER XIV

Exploration. Greed of the London Company. Dread of Banishment 187-205
to Virginia. A Voyage of Adventure. Smith's Map of Virginia.
Golden Dreams Dispelled. Mutineers. Smith made President of
Virginia. A New Ship and an English Maid. Orders from England.
A Violent Quarrel. Foolish Gifts from James I. to Powhatan.
Indian Ceremonies. Nymphs. Diplomacy. The Coronation of
Powhatan. The Departure of Newport. Illicit Traffic. Flying
Squirrels. "A Rude Answer"

CHAPTER XV

Famine Threatened. "Gentlemen" and Hard Work. A Remedy for 206-227
Profanity. "Noblesse Oblige." Indian Summer. Soap and the
Plague. The First Marriage. A Fortunate Family. Powhatan
Hostile. Indians refuse Supplies. Smith secures Food. Heavy
Snow. The Colonists in Terror of Starvation. Smith's Daring
Plan. Powhatan's Cunning. A Friendly Chief. Smith's Interview
with Powhatan. The Long Harangues and an Apologia. Powhatan's
Scheme foiled by Pocahontas. A Savage Lear. Smith wrests
Supplies from Opechancanough. The Perfidy of Two Dutchmen. Ten
Colonists Drowned. Pocahontas again to the Rescue. Smith
returns to Jamestown

CHAPTER XVI

Smith's Enemies in England. A New Charter. Its Most 228-242
Significant Article. Limits of the Colony Defined. New Rulers
for Virginia. The Governor's Arbitrary Power. This Nation's
Real Founders. The King's Position. His Poverty. Interest of
the Clergy in Virginia. Strachey's Description. Zuñiga's
Anger. Nine Vessels sail to Virginia. John Rolfe and his First
Wife. A Hurricane and the Plague. Many of the New Settlers
Worthless and Profligate. The _Sea Venture_. Sir George
Somers. The Bermudas. The Scene of Shakespeare's "Tempest."
Andrew Marvel's Poem. Prayer, Marriage, and Birth. Ambergris.
New Ships Built

CHAPTER XVII

Smith Hard at Work. The Traitor Dutchmen. Wochinchopunck 243-271
captured and Escapes. Smith's Retaliation for Indian Outrage.
An Indian's Eloquence. Smith gains Influence over Indians.
Search for Raleigh's Lost Colony. Silk Grass. Smith's Energy.
Rats. Argall's News. Seven Vessels reach Jamestown. Ratcliffe
claims Authority. Resistance and Chaos. New Colonies Planted.
Smith buys Place near Present Site of Richmond. Mutineers.
Relations with Indian Emperor Closed. Career in Virginia
Ended. Percy made President _pro tem._ Character of Smith.
Visits and names New England and Boston. Extracts from
Writings. Diverse Opinions of Smith. Thomas Fuller's View.
Smith's Closing Years in London. His Poverty. Grave and
Epitaph in St. Sepulchre. Attitude toward Pocahontas. English
Unwilling to marry Indians. Indian Resentment. Smith's Offer
to subdue Indians after Massacre of 1622 Declined. America's
Debt of Gratitude to Smith

CHAPTER XVIII

Unruly Youths returned to England. Mischievous Letter from 272-293
Ratcliffe. Ratcliffe's Death. Percy's Administration.
"Beggar's Bush." Loss of Smith Disastrous. Indian Risings.
Disease. Famine. "The Starving Time." Coming of the
_Deliverance_ and the _Patience_. Condition of Jamestown. The
New Governor. Machumps and Namontack. All the Colonists embark
for England. Turned back by Lord Delaware. A New Order of
Things. The Church repaired and Adorned. Services Frequent.
Mortality of Early Settlers

CHAPTER XIX

Delaware's Wise Rule. A Nemesis for Traitors. Delaware's 294-313
return to England. Strachey's Manuscripts. Friendly Indians.
The Marriage of Pocahontas to Kocoun. Indian Marriage Customs.
The Costume of an Indian Princess. Human Sacrifices to Okeus.
Pocahontas held for Ransom. John Rolfe's Letter to Governor
Dale. The Baptism of Pocahontas. Her Marriage to John Rolfe.
"The Lady Rebekah"

CHAPTER XX

Governor Dale asks in Marriage Powhatan's Youngest Daughter. 314-321
Powhatan's Reception of the Messenger. The Alliance Politely
Declined. The Last Years of the Old Emperor. His Successor.
The Great Massacre. Jamestown saved by Chanco. The capture and
Death of Opechancanough

CHAPTER XXI

Pocahontas at Court. Smith writes the Queen of her Goodness to 322-331
the Colony. Her Dignified Deportment. King James's Jealousy.
Pocahontas reproaches John Smith. Her Death and Burial. Her
Son and his Descendants. John Randolph of Roanoke

CHAPTER XXII

The Patriots of Jamestown. Their Services as Founders of the 332-339
Freedom of America. Address of Hon. Roger A. Pryor. The Town
after Seat of Government was removed to Williamsburg. The Old
Graveyard. The Lone Cypress. The Gift of Jamestown, by Mr. and
Mrs. Barney, to the Association for the Preservation of
Virginia Antiquities. Gift of the Government to Women of the
Association. Restoration by Them. The Old Town Exhumed. Relics
found beneath the Mould of More than Two Centuries