Chapter 24

CONCLUSION.

So live, that when thy summons comes to join The innumerable caravan, that moves To that mysterious realm, where each shall take His chamber in the silent halls of death, Thou go not, like the quarry-slave at night, Scourged to his dungeon; but, sustained and soothed By an unfaltering trust, approach thy grave, Like one who wraps the drapery of his couch About him, and lies down to pleasant dreams. --BRYANT.

That strange ship _Despair_ still lingered before the headquarters of the governor, much to his annoyance. In February, 1677, when the ships and soldiers came from England, they brought a full and free pardon for Robert Stevens and Ester Goffe.

"What power hath that strange old wizard that he leads kings as it were by the nose?" asked the governor.

"'Fore God, I know not, governor," put in Hugh Price. "I would rather all the rebels in Bacon's army should have escaped than this one."

As Robert was about to depart from the vessel to repair his father's estates, near Jamestown, Sir Albert took him aside and said:

"Money you will find in abundance for your estate. Henceforth, take no part in the quarrels of your country. Hot-blooded politicians bring on these quarrels, and they leave the common people to fight their battles. The care of your sister, she who is to be your wife, and your unfortunate mother will engage all your time."

"But Mr. Price, what shall I do with him?"

"Harm him not."

"He will harm me, I trow."

"No, not with the king's favor on you; he dare not."

Robert promised to heed all the excellent advice of Sir Albert, and he set forth with his slaves and a full purse to repair the ruined estates on the James River. He met many old friends to whom he was kind. They asked him many questions regarding his mysterious benefactor; but Robert assured them that he was as much a mystery to him as to them.

Hugh Price and his associate, Giles Peram, were nonplussed, puzzled and intimidated by the strong, vigorous, and at the same time mysterious arm which had suddenly been raised to protect him whom they hated.

"It is extraordinary! It is very extraordinary!" declared Peram, clearing his throat and strutting over the floor.

"Where is your wife?"

"On board the ship _Despair_."

"Bring her home. Why do you not send and bring her home? The trouble is over, and we have put down the rebellion."

"I will."

After the arrival of the commission and soldiers from England, the hanging went on at a brisk pace, and Mrs. Price had lived like one stupefied on board the _Despair_, not daring to go ashore. She seldom spoke, and never save when addressed. She acted so strangely, that her daughter feared she was losing her mind. All day long she would sit with her sad eyes on the floor, and she had not smiled since she came aboard.

When the messenger came from the shore, with the command from Hugh Price for her to come to the home he had provided, she started like a guilty person detected in crime. Turning her great, sad eyes on the man who had been their protector in their hour of peril, she asked:

"Shall I go?"

"The place of a good wife is with her husband," he answered.

Then Rebecca, appealing to him, asked:

"Must I obey Hugh Price?"

"Is he your father?"

"No."

"You are of age?"

"I am."

"Then choose with whom you will live, Hugh Price, or with your brother on the James River."

"I will live with my brother."

Mrs. Price cast her eyes on the river filled with floating ice and, shuddering, said:

"The water is so dark and cold, and the boat is so frail."

"Shall I take you in mine?" asked Sir Albert.

"Will you?"

"If you desire it."

The boat was lowered, and Mrs. Price was tenderly assisted into it. Then he climbed down into the stern, seized the rudder, and gave the command to his four sturdy oarsmen:

"Pull ashore."

It was a bleak, cold, wintry day. The wind swept down the ice-filled river. From the deck, closely muffled in wraps and robes, Rebecca saw her mother and Sir Albert depart for the snow-clad shore. Her eyes were blinded with tears, for she knew how unhappy her mother was. As she watched the boat gliding forward amid the floating blocks of ice, she was occasionally alarmed at the Deeming narrow escapes it made.

The current was very swift, for the tide was running out, and tons of ice were all about the boat; but a skilful hand was at the helm, and the little boat darted hither and thither, from point to point, safely through the waters. Once she was quite sure it would be crushed between two small icebergs; but it glided swiftly out of danger.

The nearer they approached the shore, the denser became the ice pack, and the danger accordingly increased. At almost every moment, Rebecca uttered an exclamation of fear lest the boat should be crushed.

Just as she thought all danger was over, and when they were within a short distance of shore, a heavy cake of ice, which had been sucked under by the current, suddenly burst upward with such fury as to crush the boat. The shrieks of the unfortunate occupants filled the air for a single second, then all sank below the cold waves.

Two heads rose to the surface a second later, and those on the ship as well as those on shore recognized them as Sir Albert St. Croix and Mrs. Price. Holding the screaming woman in one arm, Sir Albert nobly struck out for shore, and no doubt would have reached it, for he was a bold swimmer, had not a large cake of ice borne them down to a watery grave.

When they were found, three days later, they were closely locked in each other's arms. Robert Stevens came from Jamestown, and he and his sister had the body of their mother buried at the old churchyard in the ruins of Jamestown. Sir Albert was also, by order of his captain, buried at the same place.

All winter long, Captain Small of the _Despair_ remained in the York River; but at early spring he came to the James River and, summoning both Robert and Rebecca aboard his vessel, informed them that his dead master had, by a will, left them a vast fortune in money, jewels and lands, in both America and England.

"He also gave you the ship _Despair_," concluded the captain.

"This is very strange." said Robert. "I can scarcely believe it."

Captain Small, however, had the will to prove it.

"Now what will you do with the ship?" the captain asked.

"What do you advise? We know nothing of such matters."

"She would make an excellent merchantman, and I would be willing to rent her of you and give you one half the profits."

"No, no, captain; take her, and give us one fourth."

Captain Small was delighted with his new employer's liberality, and the name _Despair_ was changed to _Hope_. The vessel soon became famous as a merchantman all over the world. Her honest master, Captain Small, became wealthy, at the same time increasing the wealth of the owners.

Robert and Ester Goffe were married one year after the death of Mrs. Price. Hugh Price never molested Robert, but gave himself up to dissipation and was killed in a drunken brawl two years after his wife's death. Giles Peram continued to make himself a nuisance about the home of Robert Stevens and to annoy his sister, until the indignant brother horsewhipped him and drove him from the premises. Shortly after Giles was seized with fever of which he died.

Rebecca went with her brother and his wife to Massachusetts on a visit and, while there, met a young Englishman of good family, whom she married within a year and took up her abode in New England, while Robert returned to Virginia to pass his days in the land of his nativity, the wealthiest and one of the most respected in the colony.

One evening, five years after the removal of Berkeley, a stranger rode to Robert's plantation. His face was bronzed and his frame hardened by exposure and hardships; but his eye had the flash of an eagle's. It was dusk when he reached Robert's plantation, and he took the planter aside and asked:

"Do you not know me?"

"No."

"Lawrence," the stranger whispered.

"What! Mr. Lawrence?"

"Whist! do not breathe it too loud. I am proscribed, and though Berkeley is gone, Culpepper, his successor, is no friend of mine. All believe me dead, so I am to the world; but I have something to tell you of yourself and your parents that will interest you."

Then Mr. Lawrence told Robert a sad story which brought tears to his eyes before it was finished.

"I have come at the risk of my life from Carolinia to tell you this, my friend. I promised never to reveal it while he lived; but, now that both are gone, it were best that you know."

Robert tried to prevail on him to remain; but he would not, and, mounting his horse, he galloped away into the darkness. Stevens never saw or heard of the "thoughtful Mr. Lawrence" again.

A few days later a man, passing the old graveyard at Jamestown, observed that the body of Sir Albert St. Croix had been removed and placed by the side of the woman whom he died to save. A month later, on a head-stone, appeared the following strange inscription:

"_Father and mother sleep here_."

Before closing this volume, it will be necessary to revert once more to the tyrant whose misrule of Virginia had brought about Bacon's Rebellion. At last, the assembly had to beg Berkeley to desist, which he did with reluctance. A writer of the period said, "I believe the governor would have hanged half the country if they had let him alone." He was finally induced to consent that all the rebels should be pardoned except about fifty leaders--Bacon at the head of them; but these chief leaders were attainted of treason, and their estates were confiscated. First to suffer was the small property of the unfortunate Drummond; but here Berkeley found the hidden rock on which his bark wrecked, for this roused the voice of the banished Sarah Drummond, and her cry from the wilderness of Virginia went across the broad Atlantic and reached the throne of England. She had friends in high places in the Old World, and she was restored, and Berkeley was censured for what he had done.

All laws made by Bacon were repealed by proclamation, and the royalists triumphed; but Governor Berkeley was ill at ease. The Virginians hated him for his merciless vengeance on their people, and a rumor reached his ears that he was no better liked in England. The very king whom he had served turned against him, and, worn down by sickness and a troubled spirit, he sailed for England. All Virginia rejoiced at his departure, and salutes were fired and bonfires blazed, and all nature seemed to rejoice in the blessed hope that the reign of tyranny was ended forever.

Ye End.

HISTORICAL INDEX.

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Address of the Massachusetts Legislature to King Charles II Albemarle has Stevens appointed governor Alderman, slayer of King Philip Andros, Major Edward, commissioned to receive the surrender of New York Andros and Captain Ball at Saybrook Angel of deliverance Arlington and Culpepper grants denounced by Bacon Arrival of the first English troops in Virginia Assembly begs Berkeley to desist in hanging rebels Attack on the swamp fort Austin, Anna, the fanatical Quaker Bacon, Nathaniel Bacon's "Quarter Branch" Bacon's threat Bacon sends a messenger to Jamestown for his commission Bacon defeats the Indians Bacon arrested Bacon's confession Bacon's flight Bacon rousing his friends Bacon marching on Jamestown Bacon captures Jamestown Bacon and Berkeley meet Bacon commissioned by Berkeley Bacon hangs Berkeley's spy Bacon urged to depose Berkeley Bacon's Indian campaign Bacon again rallying his hosts Bacon uses the wives of royalists as shields Bacon repulses the attack of Berkeley's longshoremen Bacon besieges Jamestown Bacon enters Jamestown Bacon burns Jamestown Bacon marches to meet the foe on the Potomac Bacon ill Bacon's death a mystery Bacon rebels attainted of treason Bacon's laws repealed Baconites deserting Ingram Battle between Claybourne and Calvert on the Potomac Battle of the Severn, March 25, 1654 Battle of Brookfield Battle of Bloody Run Bennett, Richard, succeeds Berkeley Berkeley, Sir William, Governor of Virginia Berkeley, Sir William, character of Berkeley's proclamation against Puritan pastors Berkeley invites Charles II. to come to Virginia Berkeley, deposed by roundheads in 1650, retires to Greenspring Manor Berkeley restored in 1660 by Charles II. Berkeley's opinion of free schools and printing Berkeley informs home government that all trouble with the Indians is happily over Berkeley's excuse for refusing Bacon's commission Berkeley denounces Bacon as a rebel Berkeley pardons Bacon Berkeley preparing to resist Bacon Berkeley and Bacon meet Berkeley revokes Bacon's commission and denounces him a rebel Berkeley in possession of Jamestown Berkeley demands surrender of Jamestown Berkeley's attack on Bacon's works Berkeley's tyranny at York Berkeley's departure from Virginia Berkeley's territory conveyed to the Duke of York Bland, execution of Brent reported advancing Buckingham succeeds Clarendon Burning of Jamestown Calvert, Sir George, at Jamestown, 1630 Calvert, Governor of Maryland Carolinia, William Hawley, governor of Carolinia settled by New Englanders Carolinia constitution Carteret, New Jersey conveyed to Carteret enters New Jersey with a hoe on his shoulder Carteret, Governor of New Jersey, deposed Census of New England in 1675 Charles I. beheaded in 1649 Charles II. declared king of England in 1660 Charles II. pursuing the judges of his father Charles II., character of Charles II. profligate and careless Charles II.'s opinion of Sir William Berkeley Cheeseman, trial of Cheeseman's death Cheeseman, Mrs., before Berkeley Church and his men surrounded at Punkateeset Clarendon in exile Claybourne, William, the great rebel, at Kent Island Clove, Anthony, governor of reconquered New Amsterdam Coddington's, William, commission for governing islands within limits of Rhode Island charter Commissioners sent to demand Massachusetts charter Connecticut obtains a new charter under Winthrop Connecticut after the restoration Connecticut under Winthrop procures another constitution Cromwell, Oliver, rules England as Protector Cromwell, Oliver, dies in 1658 and names his son Richard as his successor Culpepper, Lord, and Arlington receive from Charles II. grant of all Virginia for thirty-one years Curles, Bacon's home Death of Nathaniel Bacon De Vries robbed by the Indians De Vries chosen president of popular assembly Dixwell, John, one of the executioners of Charles I Drummond, William, appointed Governor of Carolinia in 1666 Drummond brings North Carolinia into notice of the world Drummond before Berkeley Drummond, execution of Drummond, Sarah, banished with her children Drummond's, Sarah, appeal reaches the throne Dutch capture New York Dyer, Mary, execution of Effect of the restoration on Virginia Elizabethtown, New Jersey, founded by Carteret Elliott, John, missionary among Indians Emigrants to Carolinia Emigrants to New Jersey from New England English government in a state of chaos after the death of Cromwell Endicott, John, Governor of Massachusetts Execution of Robinson and Stevenson Farlow, Captain, hung by Berkeley Fisher, Mary, in Massachusetts Forebodings of war Gathering of Virginians at Curles Goffe and the fencing-master Goffe, William, one of the judges who tried and condemned Charles I Goffe and Whalley hiding from the king's men Gorges recovers his claim Greene, Roger, guide into Carolinia wilderness Greenspring Manor, Berkeley's country residence Grievances of Virginians Hadley attacked by the Indians Hansford, Colonel, prepares to resist Berkeley Hansford abandons Jamestown Hansford hung Harvey, Sir John, Governor of Virginia in 1629 Harvey, Sir John, deposed by Wert Hawley, Governor of Carolinia Heath, Sir Robert, receives patent to lands south of Virginia Hollanders attack Indians at Hoboken Indian war of 1644 Indians in New Amsterdam driven to New Jersey Indian advancement in education Indians' lands taken from them Ingram chosen in place of Bacon Ingram's surrender James, Duke of York, has all New Netherland granted to him by his brother Charles II Jamestown besieged by Bacon Jamestown captured by Bacon Jamestown destroyed by Bacon and has never been rebuilt Judges who tried and condemned Charles I Kieft, Governor of New Netherland, demands the murderer of the wheelwright Kieft sends an expedition against the Indians Kieft recalled, perishes on his way to Holland King Philip aims a blow at Hadley, Hatfield and Northampton King's men, character of Lancaster attacked by Indians Lawrence escapes into the wilds of North Carolinia Law against Quakers repealed in 1661 Laws made by Bacon repealed _Longtail_, Claybourne's trading ship Lovelace appointed Governor of New York Massachusetts controls the New England confederacy Massachusetts' charter threatened Massachusetts after the restoration Massachusetts not punished for her defiance Massasoit, death of, 1661 Matapoiset, attack on Meeting between Carteret and Nicolls Middle Plantation oath Money first coined hi North America (in Massachusetts), 1652 Muddy Brook, fight at Narragansetts, Philip among Navigation act, one of Virginia's grievances New Amsterdam granted a government like the free cities of Holland New Amsterdam conquered by the English and changed to New York New England confederation New England, growth of New England colonies slandered New Haven colony New Jersey, how effected by change New Jersey charter New Jersey's encouragement to emigrants New Jersey falls into the hands of the Dutch New York not represented in Parliament New York attacked by the Dutch New York re-captured by the Dutch and re-christened New Amsterdam Nicolls, Col. Richard, arrives at Now Amsterdam Nicolls succeeded by Lovelace in 1667 as the governor of New York Nipmucks, Philip among North Carolinia's first legislature in 1666 Nutten (now Governor's Island), Indians agree to go to Old Dominion, how Virginia derived the name of Oliverian plot Opechancanough captured when almost one hundred years old and assassinated Orange changed to Albany Parliament orders a fleet to Virginia in 1650 Pavonia, the territory of Pauw Philip's, King, opposition to war Philip, King, weeps on hearing that white man's blood has been shed Philip, King, among the Nipmucks Philip, King, pursued Philip, King, death of Pokanokets rejected Christianity Popular assembly, the first at New Amsterdam Population of Virginia Printz, governor of Swedes in Delaware Puritans of New England Quakers persecuted in Massachusetts Quitrents demanded of people in New Jersey Raritans of New Jersey persecuted by the Dutch Rhode Island granted a new charter in 1644 Rhode Island granted another charter in 1663 Rising, John, on the Delaware Roundheads conquer Virginia in 1653 Rowlandson, Mrs., narrative of attack on her house Royalists, triumph of Sassaman, John, Christian Indian who betrayed the plans of Philip Savage sent to Mount Hope South Kingston, Indians at Stuyvesant, Peter, sent as governor to New Amsterdam Stuyvesant forms treaty with New England Stuyvesant and the Swedes on the Delaware Stuyvesant recaptures Fort Cassimer Stuyvesant's answer to the English demand to surrender Stuyvesant consents to surrender New Amsterdam Stuyvesant goes to Holland Stuyvesant returns to New York Sudbury, attack on Suffrage confined to freeholders, under Charles II Swansey, beginning of King Philip's war on Swedes on the Delaware, trouble with Swen, Schute, captures Fort Cassimer and names it Fort Trinity Van Dyck kills an Indian squaw in his peach orchard Van Dyck killed by Indians in retaliation Vane, Sir Henry, a victim of the restoration Vane, Sir Henry, executed Virginia divided into eight shires Virginia restored to monarchy Virginia threatened with civil war Virginia, home ruled Virginia's defence, 1675 Washington, Major John, kills Indians while bringing a flag of truce Whalley, one of Cromwell's generals Wheelwright murdered by Indians Wilford, Captain, hung by Berkeley Windsor, Indian attack on Winthrop and Governor Stuyvesant Winthrop, John, and Charles II.

CHRONOLOGY.

* * * * *

PERIOD VI.--AGE OF TYRANNY.

A.D. 1643 TO A.D. 1680.

1644. SECOND INDIAN MASSACRE in Virginia; 800 whites killed,--April 18.

1645. CLAIBORNE'S REBELLION in Maryland; Gov. Calvert fled to Virginia.

1649. CHARLES I., King of Great Britain, beheaded,--Jan. 30.

1650. FIRST SETTLEMENT in North Carolina, on the Chowan River, near Edenton.

1653. OLIVER CROMWELL appointed Lord Protector of Great Britain,--Dec. 16.

1655. RELIGIOUS WAR in Maryland between Protestants and Catholics; New Sweden conquered by the Dutch.

1656. QUAKERS came to Massachusetts; cruel treatment by Puritans.

1660. MONARCHY restored in Great Britain; Charles II. king,--May 29. NAVIGATION ACTS passed restricting colonial trade.

1663. CLARENDON GRANT to Lord Clarendon and others,--March 24. (This grant extended from 30° to 36° lat., and from ocean to ocean.) CHARTER OF RHODE ISLAND, giving religious liberties, granted,--July 8.

1664. NEW NETHERLANDS granted to the Duke of York and Albany,--March 12.

NEW JERSEY granted to Berkeley and Carteret,--June 24.

STUYVESANT surrenders New Amsterdam (New York City).

FORT ORANGE, N. Y., named Albany,--Sept. 24.

ELIZABETH, N. J., settled by emigrants from Long Island.

1665. CONNECTICUT AND NEW HAVEN united under the name of Connecticut,--May.

SECOND CHARTER of Carolina; boundary extended to 29° lat.,--June 30.

CLARENDON COLONY, near Wilmington, N. C., permanently settled.

1670. DETROIT, MICH., settled by the French. CARTERET COLONY settled on Ashley River, near Charleston, S. C.

1671. MARQUETTE established the Mission of St. Ignatius, at Michilimackinac.

1673. VIRGINIA granted to Culpepper and Islington. MARQUETTE AND JOLIETTE explored the Mississippi River to the Arkansas.

1674. MARQUETTE founded a Missionary Station at Chicago, 111.

1675. MARQUETTE founded a mission at Kaskaskia, Ill. KING PHILIP'S WAR in New England began.

1676. BACON'S REBELLION against Berkeley in Virginia, one hundred years before independence. QUINQUEPARTITE DEED formed in East and West Jersey--west to the Quakers and east to Carteret. Dividing line from Little Egg Harbor to lat. 41° 41' on the northernmost branch of the Delaware River.