ge the government with Sir Thomas Dale.

A little before the departure of Sir Thomas Gates many of the ancient
planters (by the instigation of Sir Thomas Dale), uppon the promise of
an absolute freedome after three yeares more to be expired (havinge most
of them already served the Collonye six or seaven yeares in that
generall slavery) were yet contented to worke in the buildinge of
Charles Citty and Hundred, with very little allowance of clothinge and
victuall, and that only for the first yeare, being promised one moneth
in the yeare, and one daye in the weeke from Maye daye till harvest, to
gett our maintenance out of the earth without any further helpe; which
promise of Sir Thos. Dale was not performed, for out of that small time
which was allowed for our maintenance we were abridged of nere halfe,
soe that out of our daily taskes we were forced to redeeme time wherin
to labour for our sustenance, therby miserably to purchase our freedome.
Yet so fell it out that our State (by God's mercy) was afterwardes more
happie then others who continued longer in the aforementioned slaverye;
in which time we built such houses as before and in them lived with
continual repairs, and buildinge new where the old failed, untill the
massacre.

For matter of fortification in all this time, were only foure peeces of
ordinance mounted for our defence against the natives. Soone after we
weare seated at Charles Hundred, Sir Thomas Dales resolved of a journey
to Pamonkey River, there to make with the Salvadges either a firme
league of friendship or a present warre; they percieving his intent
inclined rather for peace (more for feare then love) which was then
concluded betwixt them. That donne we retorned to our habitations, where
great want and scarcitye, oppressed us, that continuinge and
increasinge, (our first harvest not yet being ripe) caused in many an
intended mutinye, which beinge, by God's mercy, discovered, the prime
actors were duly examined and convicted, wherof sixe beinge adjudged and
condemned were executed.

After this, arrived for supply a small ship called the John and Francis,
with about twenty persons and little or noe provisions for them. The
next ship, called the Tresorer, arived heere with the number of twenty
persons and as little provisions as the former, in which ship after many
other designes were effected by Sir Thos. Dale, as makinge spoile of the
Keschiacks[II] and Wariscoyacks, impaling some necks of Lande,