Upon the first arrival of Captain Amidas and Captain Barlow in Wingandacoa, now Virginia, they were accosted by Granganimeo (the King’s Brother of that Countrey) who, attended with a Train of forty or fifty Men, came in a very civil manner to Treat about a Commerce of Trade and Traffique, which immediately began between them, and several Barters were made: Granganimeo, who was very just of his word, and always kept his promis’d Day of meeting, fancying most a Pewter Dish, gave twenty Deer-skins for it, and boring a Hole therein, hung it about his Neck for a Breast-plate; afterwards he, with his whole Company, and his Wife and Children, frequently and familiarly did eat and drink aboard the English Ships, the King himself call’d Wingina, lying sick at his chief Town, six days Journy off, of a dangerous Wound which he had receiv’d from a neighboring King his mortal Enemy. Some of the English going to Land upon the Isle of Roanoack, were met by Granganimeo’s Wife, who, her Husband being absent, commanded her Servants some to draw their Boat ashore, some to carry them on their Backs to Land, others to carry their Oars into the House for fear of stealing; and having caus’d a great Fire to be made to warm them, and to dry those that had been wet in their Voiage, she afterwards entertain’d them with a plentiful Feast or Banquet after that Country fashion; and when they took alarm at the coming of two or three of her Men with Bows and Arrows, she caus’d the Bows to be broken, and the Men to be beaten out of the House, besides several other demonstrations of extraordinary civility; and when not withstanding all this they could not be perswaded to Lodg any where but in their Boat, she us’d all means imaginable to make them quit their Jealousy, and accept of a Lodging in the House.
In the Year 1585. a Company that went over with Sir Richard Greenvil, burnt the Town of Aquascogoc, for a Silver Cup that was stoln by some of the Indians, took Prisoner Menatonon, King of Chawonoc, who gave Relation of a King about three days Journy off, who possess’d an Island rich in Pearl, which was taken in a deep Water that inviron’d it. Going towards the Countrey of the Mangoacks (among whom in the Province of Chaunis Temaotan, they heard of a Mine of strange Copper call’d Wassador, with Skiko, the King of Chawonock’s Son, and Manteo, a faithful Salvage, for their Guide) they were treacherously dealt with by Wingina, alias Pemissapan (for so, his Brother Granganimeo being lately dead, he had alter’d his Name) who endeavor’d to stir up a Confederacy of the Chawonocks, Moratocks, and Mangoacks against them; yet by the urgent perswasions of Ensenore his Father, the truest Friend the English had, after the death of Granganimeo, and seeing them safe return’d from their Journey, wherein he thought they had all perish’d, and especially upon Menatonon’s sending Messengers to them with Pearl, and Okisco King of Weopomeock, to yield himself Vassal to the Queen of England, his Hatred was somewhat cool’d; but Ensenore deceasing soon after, he return’d to his old treacherous Practices again, and in the end, while he was contriving Mischief against the Planters, he himself was shot, taken Prisoner, and beheaded.
After the Company left upon Virginia by Sir Richard Greenvil, (for he himself was return’d) tir’d out with hunger, hardship, and the many extremities they were at last reduc’d to, had deserted the Place, and obtain’d passage for England, through the civility of Sir Francis Drake, pitying their distress, fifty Men more were Landed upon Roanoack-Isle, by the same Person, who how they were surpris’d and destroy’d by the Natives, was discover’d at large to the Supply that was sent over in the Year 1587. by Mr. White.
A small Party under Captain Smith going down the River to Keconghean, were very fiercely assaulted by sixty or seventy Indians, but their Musquet-shot did such Execution amongst them, that they fled into the Woods and left behind them the Image of their God, which had been carry’d before them as their Standard, and not long after sent one of their Queiongcasocks to offer Peace, and to redeem their Okee; which Smith granting, on condition six onely of them would come unarm’d and load his Boat with Provisions; and promising more over to become their Friend, and furnish them with Beads, Copper, and Hatchets: They accepted the Condition, and brought him Venison, Turkies, wild Fowl, Bread, and what else they had, Singing and Dancing in sign of Friendship till they departed.
In his next Voyage for the discovery of the Head of Chickamahania River, he was, through the neglect of his Sea-men who were sent to watch the Booty, taken Prisoner; in which condition he was kept a whole Month: then being releas’d, he got Provisions for the People in James-Town; which had they not timely receiv’d, they had all abandon’d the Place, and return’d to England.
King Powhatan.
James-Town burnt.
While Affairs stood thus in a mean condition, Captain Newport arriving there with a Ship and sixty Men to strengthen the Plantations, he went to Weromocomoco, where King Powhatan kept his Court, and found him sitting on a Bed of Mats, and an Embroider’d Leather Cushion, Cloth’d in Deer-skins; at his Feet sat a young Maiden, and on each side of the House twenty Concubines; his Head and Shoulders painted red, and a Chain of white Beads about his Neck. Newport to oblige him, gave him an English Youth; for which he receiv’d Powhatans Friend Mamontak; with whom returning, he found a sad accident, for the Fire had not onely burnt the Houses of the new Planters, but also the Pallisado’s about James-Town, made for a Defence against the Enemies Assaults, and most of their Store; which was so much the worse, because it hapned in the Winter, and indeed had prov’d very fatal, had not a Ship, which was suppos’d to be lost, happily arriv’d there with a considerable quantity of Provisions.
Smith’s Voyage.
His remarkable Exploits.