Old Virginia and her neighbours

88 OLD VIRGINIA AND IIER NEIGHBOURS.says tlie chronicle, " and neither were their husbandsvoid o£ amazement at this subtle invention."^career.The incident is an ugly spot in that briefOne would gladly disbelieve the story, butour contemporary authority for it seems unimpeachable,and is friendly withal to Bacon.The speech made by the young commander tohis men at Green Spring before the final assaultBacon's ^^ ^ good Specimen of his eloquencespeech. « Gentlemen and Fellow Soldiers, how Iam transported with gladness to find you thusunanimous, bold and daring, brave and gallant.You have the victory before the fight, the conquestbefore the battle. . . . Your hardiness willinvite all the country along as we march to comein and second you. . . . The ignoring of theiractions cannot but so much reflect upon theirspirit, as they will have no courage left to fightyou. I know you have the prayers and wellwishes of all the people in Virginia, while theothers are loaded with their curses. Come on,my hearts of gold ; he that dies in the field lies" ^in the bed of honour !The governor's motley force was indeed nomatch for these determined men. In the desultoryfighting that ensued about Jamestown he wasbadly defeated and at last fled again to Accomac.^One of these ladies is said to have been the wife of the elderNathaniel Bacon !2 " A True Narrative of the Rise, Progresse, and Cessation ofthe Late Rebellion in Virginia, most humbly and impartiallyreported by his Majestyes Commissioners appointed to enquireinto the Affairs of the said Colony," [Winder Papers, VirginiaState Library], reprinted in Virginia Magazine^ iv. 117-154.