the complete writings-3-第33章
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dered that every meal of fish or flesh should excuse the allowance of porridge。 Mr。 Wingfield goes on to say： 〃Nor was the common store of oyle； vinegar； sack； and aquavite all spent； saving two gallons of each： the sack reserved for the Communion table； the rest for such extremities as might fall upon us； which the President had only made known to Captain Gosnold； of which course he liked well。 The vessels wear； therefore； boonged upp。 When Mr。 Gosnold was dead； the President did acquaint the rest of the Council with the said remnant； but； Lord； how they then longed for to supp up that little remnant： for they had now emptied all their own bottles； and all other that they could smell out。〃
Shortly after this the Council again importuned the President for some better allowance for themselves and for the sick。 He protested his impartiality； showed them that if the portions were distributed according to their request the colony would soon starve； he still offered to deliver what they pleased on their warrants； but would not himself take the responsibility of distributing all the stores； and when he divined the reason of their impatience he besought them to bestow the presidency among themselves； and he would be content to obey as a private。 Meantime the Indians were bringing in supplies of corn and meat； the men were so improved in health that thirty were able to work； and provision for three weeks' bread was laid up。
Nevertheless； says Mr。 Wingfield； the Council had fully plotted to depose him。 Of the original seven there remained； besides Mr。 Wingfield； only three in the Council。 Newport was in England； Gosnold was dead； and Kendall deposed。 Mr。 Wingfield charged that the threeRatcliffe； Smith； and Martinforsook the instructions of his Majesty； and set up a Triumvirate。 At any rate； Wingfield was forcibly deposed from the Council on the 10th of September。 If the object had been merely to depose him； there was an easier way； for Wingfield was ready to resign。 But it appears； by subsequent proceedings； that they wished to fasten upon him the charge of embezzlement； the responsibility of the sufferings of the colony； and to mulct him in fines。 He was arrested； and confined on the pinnace。 Mr。 Ratcliffe was made President。
On the 11th of September Mr。 Wingfield was brought before the Council sitting as a court； and heard the charges against him。 They were； as Mr。 Wingfield says； mostly frivolous trifles。 According to his report they were these：
First； Mister President ＇Radcliffe＇ said that I had denied him a penny whitle； a chicken； a spoonful of beer； and served him with foul corn； and with that pulled some grain out of a bag； showing it to the company。
Then starts up Mr。 Smith and said that I had told him plainly how he lied； and that I said； though we were equal here； yet if we were in England； he ＇I＇ would think scorn his man should be my companion。
Mr。 Martin followed with： 〃 He reported that I do slack the service in the colony； and do nothing but tend my pot； spit； and oven； but he hath starved my son； and denied him a spoonful of beer。 I have friends in England shall be revenged on him； if ever he come in London。〃
Voluminous charges were read against Mr。 Wingfield by Mr。 Archer； who had been made by the Council； Recorder of Virginia； the author； according to Wingfield； of three several mutinies； as 〃always hatching of some mutiny in my time。〃
Mr。 Percy sent him word in his prison that witnesses were hired to testify against him by bribes of cakes and by threats。 If Mr。 Percy； who was a volunteer in this expedition； and a man of high character； did send this information； it shows that he sympathized with him； and this is an important piece of testimony to his good character。
Wingfield saw no way of escape from the malice of his accusers； whose purpose he suspected was to fine him fivefold for all the supplies whose disposition he could not account for in writing： but he was finally allowed to appeal to the King for mercy； and recommitted to the pinnace。 In regard to the charge of embezzlement； Mr。 Wingfield admitted that it was impossible to render a full account： he had no bill of items from the Cape Merchant when he received the stores； he had used the stores for trade and gifts with the Indians； Captain Newport had done the same in his expedition； without giving any memorandum。 Yet he averred that he never expended the value of these penny whittles ＇small pocket…knives＇ to his private use。
There was a mutinous and riotous spirit on shore； and the Council professed to think Wingfield's life was in danger。 He says： 〃In all these disorders was Mr。 Archer a ringleader。〃 Meantime the Indians continued to bring in supplies； and the Council traded up and down the river for corn； and for this energy Mr。 Wingfield gives credit to 〃Mr。 Smith especially；〃 〃 which relieved the colony well。〃 To the report that was brought him that he was charged with starving the colony； he replies with some natural heat and a little show of petulance； that may be taken as an evidence of weakness； as well as of sincerity； and exhibiting the undignified nature of all this squabbling：
〃I did alwaises give every man his allowance faithfully； both of corne； oyle； aquivite； etc。； as was by the counsell proportioned： neyther was it bettered after my tyme； untill； towards th' end of March； a bisket was allowed to every working man for his breakfast； by means of the provision brought us by Captn。 Newport： as will appeare hereafter。 It is further said； I did much banquit and ryot。 I never had but one squirrel roasted； whereof I gave part to Mr。 Ratcliffe then sick： yet was that squirrel given me。 I did never heate a flesh pott but when the comon pott was so used likewise。 Yet how often Mr。 President's and the Counsellors' spitts have night and daye bene endaungered to break their backes…so； laden with swanns； geese； ducks； etc。！ how many times their flesh potts have swelled； many hungrie eies did behold； to their great longing： and what great theeves and theeving thear hath been in the comon stoare since my tyme； I doubt not but is already made knowne to his Majesty's Councell for Virginia。〃
Poor Wingfield was not left at ease in his confinement。 On the 17th he was brought ashore to answer the charge of Jehu ＇John？＇ Robinson that he had with Robinson and others intended to run away with the pinnace to Newfoundland； and the charge by Mr。 Smith that he had accused Smith of intending mutiny。 To the first accuser the jury awarded one hundred pounds； and to the other two hundred pounds damages； for slander。 〃Seeing their law so speedy and cheap；〃 Mr。 Wingfield thought he would try to recover a copper kettle he had lent Mr。 Crofts； worth half its weight in gold。 But Crofts swore that Wingfield had given it to him； and he lost his kettle： 〃I told Mr。 President I had not known the like law； and prayed they would be more sparing of law till we had more witt or wealthe。〃 Another day they obtained from Wingfield the key to his coffers； and took all his accounts； note…books； and 〃owne proper goods；〃 which he could never recover。 Thus was I made good prize on all sides。〃
During one of Smith's absences on the river President Ratcliffe did beat James Read； the blacksmith。 Wingfield says the Council were continually beating the men for their own pleasure。 Read struck back。
For this he was condemned to be hanged； but 〃before he turned of the lather；〃 he desired to speak privately with the President； and thereupon accused Mr。 Kendallwho had been released from the pinnace when Wingfield was sent aboardof mutiny。 Read escaped。 Kendall was convicted of mutiny and shot to death。 In arrest of judgment he objected that the President had no authority to pronounce judgment because his name was Sicklemore and not Ratcliffe。 This was true； and Mr。 Martin pronounced the sentence。 In his 〃True Relation；〃 Smith agrees with this statement of the death of Kendall； and says that he was tried by a jury。 It illustrates the general looseness of the 〃General Historie；〃 written and compiled many years afterwards； that this transaction there appears as follows： 〃Wingfield and Kendall being in disgrace； seeing all things at random in the absence of Smith； the company's dislike of their President's weakness； and their small love to Martin's never…mending sickness； strengthened themselves with the sailors and other confederates to regain their power； control； and authority； or at least such meanes aboard the pinnace （being fitted to sail as Smith had appointed for trade） to alter her course and to goe for England。 Smiith unexpectedly returning had the plot discovered to him； much trouble he had to prevent it； till with store of sakre and musket…shot he forced them to stay or sink in the river； which action cost the life of Captain Kendall。〃
In a following sentence he says： 〃The President ＇Ratcliffe＇ and Captain Archer not long after intended also to have abandoned the country； which project also was curbed and suppressed by Smith。〃 Smith was always suppressing attempts at flight； according to his own story； unconfirmed by any other writers。 He had before accused President Wingfield of a design to escape in the pinnace。
Communications were evidently exchanged with Mr。 Wingfield on the pinnace； and the President was evidently ill at ease about him。 One day he was summoned ashore； but declined to go； and requested an interview with ten gentlemen。 To those who came off to him he said that he had determined to go to England to make known the weakness of the colony； that he could not live under the laws and usurpations of the Triumvirate； however； if the President and Mr。 Archer would go； he was willing to stay and take his fortune with the colony； or he would contribute one hundred pounds towards taking the colony home。 〃They did like none of my proffers； but made divers shott at uss in the pynnasse。〃 Thereupon he went ashore and had a conference。
On the 10th of December Captain Smith departed on his famous expedition up the Chickahominy； during which the alleged Pocahontas episode occurred。 Mr。 Wingfield's condensed account of this journey and captivity we shall refer to hereafter。 In Smith's absence President Ratcliffe； contrary to his oath； swore Mr。 Archer one of the Council； and Archer was no sooner settled in authority than he sought to take Smith's life。 The enmity of this man must be regarded as a long credit mark to Smith。 Archer had him indicted upon a chapter in Leviticus （they all wore a garb of piety） for the death of two men who were killed by the Indians on his expedition。 〃He had had his trials the same daie of his retourne；〃 says Wingfield； 〃and I believe his hanging the same； or the next daie； so speedy is our law there。 But it pleased God to send Captain Newport unto us the same evening； to our unspeakable comfort； whose arrivall saved Mr。 Smyth's leif and mine； because he took me out of the pynnasse； and gave me leave to lyve in the towne。 Also by his comyng was prevented a parliament； which the newe counsailor； Mr。 Recorder； intended thear to summon。〃
Captain Newport's arrival was indeed opportune。 He was the only one of the Council whose character and authority seem to have been generally respected； t
