AN INTERESTING DIALOGUE, IN 1676

BETWEEN BACON, "THE REBEL," AND JOHN GOODE OF “WHITBY'

In reading the article on "The First American Rebel," in the January number of the Magazine of American History, I was reminded of a document in my own possession which has not to my knowledge ever been printed, and which, indeed, I have not seen alluded to in any publication, save Doyle's English Colonies in America, vol. 1., p. 250.

This is a letter written to Sir William Berkeley by John Goode, a Virginia planter, which gives in dialogue form "the full substance of a discourse" between himself and Nathaniel Bacon, early in September, 1676, and which seems to indicate that Bacon was from the beginning of his career in Virginia a seditious personage, and that his rebellion was not the result of Berkeley's failure to support the colonists in their efforts to repel the incursions of the Indians, as Bacon's admirers have sometimes argued, but was premeditated.

John Goode and Bacon were near neighbors, "Whitby," Goode's plantation, being on the southern bank of the James about a mile below the Falls, which was then called its head, and in plain view from Bacon's plantation, which was in the midst of the present site of the city of Richmond.* Bacon was a young man, “not yet arrived to thirty years,” and was from all accounts impetuous, turbulent, and dissipated. He had been only a few months in the colony and "some did lay to his charge he having run out his patrimony in England, except what he brought to Virginia, and for that the most part to be exhausted, which together made him suspecting of casting an eye to search for retrievement in the troubled waters of popular discontent, wanting patience to wait the death of his opulent cousin, old Colonel Bacon, whose estate he expected to inherit."

Goode, on the other hand, was a man of nearly sixty, a veteran Royalist, who had left England during the rule of Cromwell, and who in all probability was one of the little army that, in 1652, under Lord Willoughby, resisted the invasion of Barbadoes by a Cromwellian army, and were the last of the adherents of King Charles to capitulate. From Barbadoes he came to Virginia before 1660, and had now for fifteen years been living upon this frontier plantation. He was, according to tradition, " an old, fox-hunting *Bacon had another plantation at Curles," a few miles further down the James. T. M. (Thomas Matthews.)

English squire," who brought to the new world the traditions and conservatism of his Cornish forefathers. Doyle characterizes him as "a leading colonist, apparently a man of moderate views, and a personal friend of Bacon." If Lawrence, "thoughtful Mr. Lawrence," and "the sober Scotch gentleman," Mr. Drummond, who were also advanced in years and in Bacon's confidence, had been equally prudent and sagacious in discriminating between a rebellion against Berkeley and a rebellion against the Crown, the impetuous young leader might have been spared his untimely death.

Goode was without doubt one of the little band of planters at the head of the James who rose to resist the invasion of the Indians in May, 1676, and placing Bacon at their head, marched into the wilderness.

Unterrified

by Berkeley's proclamations, he remained with Bacon until he began to talk of rebellion against the king's authority instead of simple Indian warfare. Goode was also one of the band of fifty-seven horsemen who fought the battle of Bloody Run; and probably one of the six hundred who marched with Bacon to Jamestown and obtained from the governor and council a commission for him as general and commander in chief against the Indians. He was with Bacon at Middle Plantation, and it was here that the conversation took place which is recorded in the Colonial Entry Book, vol. lxxi., pp. 232-240. My attention was first called to this by Dr. Edward Eggleston, who has been pursuing an exhaustive study of Bacon, the results of which it is hoped will soon be made public. Commenting upon Goode's letter, Dr. Eggleston writes:

"The paper is far from being a cringing one-it is indeed dignified, if one considers the reign of terror under which it was written."

It reads as follows-the "B" and "G" before each paragraph designating Bacon and Goode in the narrative of the dialogue, as presented by Goode to Governor Berkeley:

HOND SR.

In obedient submission to yo' honors comand directed to me by Capt. Wm. Bird I haue written the full substance of a discourse Nath: Bacon deceased proposd to me on or about the 2d day of Sept': last, both in ord'. and words as followeth.

B: There is a report S. Wm Berkeley hath sent to the King for 2000 Red Coates, and I doe beleive it may bee true, tell me your opinion, may not 500 Virginians beat them, wee having the same advantages against them, the Indians have agst us.

G: I rather conceive 500 Red Coates may either subject or ruine Virginia.

B: You talk strangely, are not wee acquainted with the Country, can lay Ambussadoes, and take Trees and putt them by, the use of their discipline, and are doubtlesse as good or better shott then they.

G: But they can accomplish what I have sayd without hazard or coming into such disadvantages, by taking opportunities of Landing where there shall bee noe opposition, firing our houses and Fences, destroying our Stocks, and preventing all Trade and supplyes to the Country.

B: There may bee such prevention that they shall not bee able to make any great Progresse in such mischeifes, and the Country or clime not agreeing wth. their Constitutions, great mortality will happen amongst them, in their Seasoning wch, will weare and weary them out.

G. You see S'. that in a manner all the principall Men in the Countrey, dislike yor. manner of proceedings, they, you may bee sure will joine with the Red Coates.

B: But there shall none of them bee.

G: S. you speake as though you design'd a total defection from Majestie, and our native country.

B: Why (smiling) haue not many Princes lost their Dominions soe. G: They haue been such people as haue been able to subsist without their Prince. The poverty of Virginia is such, that the Major part of the Inhabitants can scarce supply their wants from hand to mouth, and many there are besides can hardly shift, without Supply one yeare, and you may bee sure that this people which soe fondly follow you, when they come to feele the miserable wants of food and rayment, will bee in greater heate to leave you, then they were to come after you, besides here are many people in Virginia that receive considerable benefitts, comforts, and advantages by Parents, Friends and Correspondents in England, and many which expect Patrimonyes and Inheritances which they will by no meanes decline.

B: For supply I know nothing: the Country will be able to provide it selfe with all, in a little time, saue Ammunition and Iron, and I believe the King of France or States of Holland would either of them entertaine a Trade with us.

G: S. our King is a great Prince and his Amity is infinitely more valuable to them, then any advantage they can reape by Virginia, they will not therefore pvoke his displeasure by supporting his Rebells here; besides I conceive that yor, followers do not think themselves ingaged against the Kings Authority, but agst. the Indians.

B: But I think otherwise, and am confident of it, that it is the mind of this countrey, and of Mary Land, and Carolina also, to cast off their

Governor and the Governrs. of Carolina haue taken no notice of the People, nor the People of them, a long time: and the People are resolv'd to own their Governour noe further; And if wee cannot p'vaile by Armes to make our Conditions for Peace, or obtaine the Priviledge to elect our own Governour, we may retire to Roanoke, and here hee fell into a discourse of seating a Plantation in a great Island in the River, as a fitt place to retire to, for a Refuge.

G: S. The prosecuting what you haue discoursed will unavoidably produce utter ruine and destruction to the People and Countrey, & I dread the thoughts of putting my hand to the promoting a designe of such miserable consequence, therefore hope you will not expect from me.

B: I am glad I know your mind, but this proceeds from meere cowardlynesse.

G: And I desire you should know my mind, for I desire to harbour noe such thoughts, which I should feare to impart to any man.

B: Then what should a Gentleman engaged as I am, doe, yow doe as good as tell me, I must fly or hang for it.

G: I conceive a seasonable submission to the Authority yow haue your Comission from, acknowledging such Errors and Excesse, as are yett past, there may bee hope of remission. I perceived his cogitations were much on this discourse, hee nominated, Carolina, for the watch word.

Three dayes after I asked his leaue to goe home, hee sullenly Answered, you may goe, and since that time, I thank God, I never saw or heard from him. Here I most humbly begg yor Honours pardon for my breaches and neglects of duty, and that your Honour will favourably considr. in this particular, I neither knew any man amongst us, that had any meanes by which I might give intelligence to yo honor hereof, and the necessity thereof, I say by yor. honors, prudence, foresight, and Industry may bee pvented. So praying God to blesse and prosper all your councells and actions I conclude

Jan. ye 30th: 1676.

Yor. Honr's: dutifull servt.

JOHN GOODE.

[This paper is followed by "Bacon's Letter."]

Before the second month had elapsed Bacon was dead, and a number of his followers had been hanged by the governor, Berkeley.

A century later, in 1776, Colonel Robert Goode, of "Whitby," great

grandson of Bacon's adviser, was an active participant in a revolt which proved successful, as were also a dozen or more of his kinsmen, at least one of whom died in the struggle.

Two centuries later. in 1876, a visitor to "Whitby" would have found it disfigured by long rows of earthworks, a part of the great system surrounding the Confederate capital, which had grown up at the site of Bacon's plantation at the Falls. Inquiry would have revealed to him the fact that at least one hundred of the descendants of its first owner were resting in the graves of Confederate soldiers-the victims of a third revolt far more extensive than either of the others.

SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTE, WASHINGTON, D. C.

G BrownGoode,