dians of Chickahomony, a formidable and free people. They were governed by an affembly of their elders, or wife men, who alfo bore the character of Priests. They hated Powhatan, as a tyrant, and were always jealous of his defign to fubject them. They had taken advantage of the diffention between him and the English, to affert their liberty; but on his reconciliation, they apprehended that he might make use of the friendship of the Colony, to reduce them under his yoke. To prevent this, they fent a deputation to Sir Thomas Dale, to excufe their former ill conduct, and submit themfelves to the English government. Sir Thomas was pleased with the offer, and on a day appointed went with Capt. Argal and fifty men to their village, where a peace was concluded on the following conditions. 1. That they fhould forever be called [Toffenteffas] New Englishmen, and be true fubjects of King James and his deputies. 2. That they should neither kill nor detain any of the English nor their ftray cattle, but bring them home. 3. That they fhould always be ready to furnish the English with three hundred men, against the Spaniards or any other enemy. 4. That 4. That they fhould not enter any of the English fettlements without previously sending in word that they were New English men. 5. That every bow-man at harvest should bring into the store two measures [2 bushels] of corn, as a tribute, for which he should receive a hatchet. 6. That the eight elders or chiefs should fee all this performed, or receive punishment themselves; and that for their fidelity, each one should receive a red coat, a copper chain, and a picture of King James, and should be accounted his nobleman. Though this tranfaction paffed whilft Sir Thomas Gates was at the head of the gov ernment, and residing within the Colony, yet nothing is faid of his affenting to it, or giving any orders about it. Dale appears to have been the most active and enterprizing man; and on Gates's return to England in the fpring of 1614, the chief command devolved on him. The experience of five years had now convinced all thinking men, among the English, that the Colony would never thrive, whilft their lands were held in common, and the the people were maintained out of the public ftores. In fuch a cafe there is no spur to exertion; the induftrious perfon and the drone fare alike, and the former has no inducement to work for the latter. The time prescribed in the King's inftructions for their trading in a common stock, and bringing all the fruits of their labour into a common ftore, was expired. An alteration was then contemplated, but the first measure adopted did not much mend the matter. Three acres only were allotted to each man, as a farm, on which he was to work eleven months for. the store, and one month for himself; and to receive his proportion out of the common ftock. Those who were employed on Sir. Thomas Dale's plantation, had better terms. One month's labour only was required, and they were exempted from all farther fervice i and for this exemption, they paid a yearly tribute of three barrels and a half of corn to the public store. These farms were not held by a tenure of common foccage, which carries with it freedom and property; but merely by tenancy at will, which produces dependance. It is however obferved that A barrel of corn was four bufhels, this + Chalmers, 34. this fmall encouragement gave fome present content, and the fear of coming to want gradually disappeared. * About two years after, (1616) a method of granting lands in freeholds, and in lots of fifty acres, was introduced into Virginia. This quantity was allowed to each person who came to refide, or brought others to refide there. The defign of it was to encourage immigration. Befide this, there were twò other methods of granting lands. One was a grant of merit. When any perfon had conferred a benefit, or done a service to the Colony, it was requited by a grant of land which could not exceed two thoufand acres. The other was called the adventure of the purfe. Every perfon who paid twelve guineas into the Company's treafury was entitled to one hundred acres.† gave After fome time, this liberty of taking grants was abused; partly by the ignorance and knavery of furveyors, who often draughts of lands without ever actually surveying them; but defcribing them by natural boundaries, and allowing large measure and partly by the indulgence of courts, in a lavish ; lavish admittance of claims. ter of a fhip came into court, When a maf and made oath The that he had imported himself, with so many feamen and paffengers, an order was iffued granting him as many rights of fifty acres ; and the clerk had a fee for each right. feamen at another court would make oath, that they had adventured themselves fo many times into the country, and would obtain an order for as many rights, toties quoties. The planter who bought the imported fervants, would do the fame, and procure an order for as many times fifty acres. Thefe grants, after being described by the furveyors, in the above vague and careless manner, were fold at a small price; and, whoever was able to purchase any confiderable number of them, became entitled to a vast quantity of land. By fuch means, the original intention of alloting a small freehold to each immigrant was fruftrated; for the adventurers themselves, who remained on the fpot, had the leaft fhare of the benefit; and the fettlement of the country in convenient districts was precluded.* Land fpeculators became poffeffed of immenfe tracts, too large for cultivation; and * MS. anonymous account of Virginia, written 1697, page 18. |