The Declaracon of the People.
- For haveing upon specious pretences of publiqe works raised greate
unjust taxes upon the Comonality for the advancement of private favorites
and other sinister ends, but noe visible effects in any measure adequate,
For not haveing dureing this long time of his Gouvernement in any measure
advanced this hopefull Colony either by fortificacons Townes or Trade.
- For haveing abused and rendred contemptable the Magistrates of Justice,
by advanceing to places of Judicature, scandalous and Ignorant favorites.
- For haveing wronged his Majesties prerogative and interest, by assumeing
Monopoly of the Beaver trade, and for haveing in that unjust gaine betrayed
and sold his Majesties Country and the lives of his loyall subjects, to
the barbarous heathen.
- For haveing, protected, favoured, and Imboldned the Indians against
his Majesties loyall subjects, never contriveing, requireing, or appointing
any due or proper meanes of sattisfaction for theire many Invasions, robbories,
and murthers comitted upon us.
- For haveing when the Army of English, was just upon the track of those
Indians, who now in all places burne, spoyle, murther and when we might
with ease have distroyed them: who then were in open hostillity, for then
haveing expressly countermanded, and sent back our Army, by passing his
word for the peaceable demeanour of the said Indians, who imediately prosecuted
theire evill intentions, comitting horred murthers and robberies in all
places, being protected by the said ingagement and word past of him the
said Sir William Berkeley, haveing ruined and laid desolate a greate part
of his Majesties Country, and have now drawne themselves into such obscure
and remote places, and are by theire success soe imboldned and confirmed,
by theire confederacy soe strengthned that the cryes of blood are in all
places, and the terror, and constimation of the peOple soe greate, are
now become, not onely a difficult, but a very formidable enimy, who might
att first with ease have beene distroyed.
- And lately when upon the loud outcryes of blood the Assembly had with
all care raised and framed an Army for the preventing of further mischeife
and safeguard of this his Majesties Colony.
- For haveing with onely the privacy of some few favorites, without acquainting
the people, onely by the alteracon of a figure, forged a Comission, by
we know not what hand, not onely without, but even against the consent
of the people, for the raiseing and effecting civill warr and distruction,
which being happily and without blood shed prevented, for haveing the second
time attempted the same, thereby calling downe our forces from the defence
of the fronteeres and most weekely expoased places.
- For the prevencon of civill mischeife and ruin amongst ourselves, whilst
the barbarous enimy in all places did invade, murther and spoyle us, his
majesties most faithfull subjects.
Of this and the aforesaid Articles we accuse Sir William Berkeley as
guilty of each and every one of the same, and as one who hath traiterously
attempted, violated and Injured his Majesties interest here, by a loss
of a greate part of this his Colony and many of his faithfull loyall subjects,
by him betrayed and in a barbarous and shamefull manner expoased to the
Incursions and murther of the heathen, And we doe further declare these
the ensueing persons in this list, to have beene his wicked and pernicious
councellours Confederates, aiders, and assisters against the Comonality
in these our Civill comotions.
And we doe further demand that the said Sir William Berkeley with all
the persons in this list be forthwith delivered up or surrender themselves
within fower days after the notice hereof, Or otherwise we declare as followeth.
That in whatsoever place, howse, or ship, any of the said persons shall
reside, be hidd, or protected, we declaire the owners, Masters or Inhabitants
of the said places, to be confederates and trayters to the people and the
estates of them is alsoe of all the aforesaid persons to be confiscated,
and this we the Comons of Virginia doe declare, desiering a firme union
amongst our selves that we may joyntly and with one accord defend our selves
against the common Enimy, and lett not the faults of the guilty be the
reproach of the inocent, or the faults or crimes of the oppressours devide
and separate us who have suffered by theire oppressions.
These are therefore in his majesties name to command you forthwith to
seize the persons above mentioned as Trayters to the King and Country and
them to bring to Midle plantacon, and there to secure them untill further
order, and in case of opposition, if you want any further assistance you
are forthwith to demand itt in the name of the people in all the Counties
of Virginia.
Nathaniel Bacon
Generall by Consent of the people.
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