Edward Waterhouse, "Declaration," 1622

A DECLARATION of the state of the Colony and Affaires in VIRGINIA. With a Relation of the barbarous Massacre in the time of peace and League, treacherously executed upon the English by the Infidels, 22 March last....

[T]hat all men may see the unpartiall ingenuity of this Discourse, we freely confesse, that the Countrey is not so good, as the Natives are bad, whose barbarous Savagenesse needs more cultivation then the ground it selfe, being more overspread with incivilitie and treachery, then with Bryers.  For the land being tilled and used well by us, deceived not our expectation, but rather exceeded it farre, being so thankfull as to returne an hundred for one.  But the Savages though never Nation used so kindly upon so small desert, have in stead of that Harvest which our paines merited, returned nothing but Bryers and thornes, pricking even to death many of their Benefactors....

[Last Novermber, 1621] the Country [was] settled in a peace (as all men there thought) sure and unviolable, not onely because it was solemnly ratified and sworne, and at the request of the Native King stamped in Brasse, and fixed to one of the Oakes of note, but as being advantagious to both parts; to the Savages as the weaker, under which they were safely sheltered and defended; to us, as being the easiest way to pursue and advance our projects of buildings, plantings, and effecting the conversion by peaceable and fayre meanes. And such was the conceit of firme peace and amitie, as there was seldome or never a sword worne, and a Peece [piece: firearm] seldomer, except for a Deere or Fowle. By which assurance of securitie, the Plantations of particular Adventurers and Planters were placed scatterlingly and straglingly as a choyce veyne of rich ground invited them, and the further from neighbors held the better. The houses generally set open to the Savages, who were alwaies friendly entertained at the tables of the English, and commonly lodged in their bed-chambers. The old planters (as they thought now come to reape the benefit of their long travels) placed with wonderfull content upon their private dividents, and the planting of particular Hundreds and Colonies pursued with all hopefull alacrity, all our projects.. in a faire way, and their familiarity with the Natives, seeming to open a faire gate for their conversion to Christianity.

The Country being in this estate, an occasion was ministred of sending to Opachankano the King of these Savages, about the middle of March last, what time the Messenger returned backe with these words from him, That he held the peace concluded so firme, as the Skie should sooner fall than it dissolve: yea, such was the treacherous dissimulation of that people who then contrived our destruction, that even two days before the Massacre, some of our men were guided thorow the woods by them in safety....

[O]n the Friday morning (the fatal day) of the 22 of March, as also in the evening, as in other dayes before, they came unarmed into our houses, without Bowes or arrowes, or other weapons, with Deere, Turkies, Fish, Furres, and other provisions to sell, and trucke with us, for glasses, beades, and other trifles: yea in some places, sate downe at Breakfast with our people at their tables, whom immediately with their owne tooles and weapons, eyther laid downe, or standing in their houses, they basely and barbarously murthered, not sparing eyther age or sexe, man woman or childe; so sodaine in their cruell execution, that few or none discerned the weapon or blow that brought them to destruction. In which manner they also slew many of our people then at their severall workes and husbandries in the fields, and without their houses, some in planting Corne and Tobacco, some in gardening, some in making Bricke, building, sawing, and other kindes of husbandry, they well knowing in what places and quarters each of our men were, in regard of their daily familiarity, and resort to us for trading and other negotiations, which the more willingly was by us continued and cherished for the desire we had of effecting that great master-peece of workes, their conversion. And by this means that fatall Friday morning, there fell under the bloudy and barbarous hands of that perfidious and inhumane people, contrary to all lawes of God and men, of Nature and Nations, three hundred forty seven men, women, and children, most by their owne weapons; and not being content with taking away life alone their fell after againe upon the dead, making as well as they could, a fresh murder, defacing, dragging and mangling the dead carkasses into many pieces, and carrying some of their parts away in derision, with base and brutish triumph....

[T]his must needs bee for the good of the Plantation after, and the losse of this blood to make the body more healthfull, as by these reason may be manifest.

First, Because betraying of innocency never rests unpunished....

Secondly, Because our hands which before were tied with gentlenesse and faire usage, are now set at liberty by the treacherous violence of the Savages, not untying the Knot, but cutting it: So that we, who hitherto have had possession of no more ground than their waste, and our purchase at valuable consideration to their owne contentment, gained; may now by right of Warre, and law of Nations, invade their Country, and destroy them who sought to destroy us: whereby wee shall enjoy their cultivated places, turning the laborious Mattocke into the victorious Sword (wherein there is more both ease, benefit, and glory) and possessing the fruits of others labours. Now the cleared grounds in all their villages (which are situate in in the fruitfullest places of the land) shall be inhabited by us, whereas heretofore the grubbing of woods was the greatest labour.

Thirdly, Because those commodities which the Indians enjoyed as much or rather more than we, shall now also be entirely possessed by us. The Deere and other beasts will be in safety, and infinitly increase, which heretofore not onely in the generall huntings of the King (whereat foure or five hundred Deere were usually slaine) but by each particular Indian were destroied at all times of the yeare, without any difference of Male, Damme, or Young. The like may be said of our owne Swine and Goats, whereof they have used to kill eight in tenn more than the English have done. There will be also a great increase of wild Turkies, and other waighty Fowle, for the Indians never put difference of destroying the Hen, but kill them whether in season or not, whether in breeding time, or sitting on their egges, or having new hatched, it is all one to them: whereby, as also by the orderly using of their fishing Weares, no knowne Country in the world will so plentifully abound in victuall.

Fourthly, Because the way of conquering them is much more easie then of civilizing them by faire meanes, for they are a rude, barbarous, and naked people, scattered in small companies, which are helps to Victorie, but hinderances to Civilitie: Besides that, a conquest may be of many, and at once; but civility is in particular, and slow, the effect of long time, and great industry. Moreover, victorie of them may bee gained many waies; by force, by surprize, by famine in burning their Corne, by destroying and burning their Corne, by destroying and burning their Boats, Canoes, and Houses, by breaking their fishing Weares, by assailing them in their huntings, whereby they get the greatest part of their sustenance in Winter, by pursuing and chasing them with out horses, and blood-Hounds to draw after them, and Mastives to teare them, which take this naked, tanned, deformed Savages, for no other then wild beasts, and are so fierce and fell upon them, that they feare them worse then their old Devill which they worship, supposing them to be a new and worse kinde of Devils then their owne. By these and sundry other wayes, as by driving them (when they flye) upon their enemies, who are round about them, and by animating and abetting their enemies against them, may their ruin or subjection be soone effected....

Fiftly, Because the Indians, who before were used as friends, may now most justly be compelled to servitude and drudgery, and supply the room of men that labour, whereby even the meanest of the Plantation may imploy themselves more entirely in their arts and Occupations, which are more generous, whilest Savages performe their inferiour workes of digging in mynes, and the like....

Sixtly, This will for ever hereafter make us more [cautelous] and circumspect, as never to bee deceived more by any other treacheries, but will serve for a great instruction to all posteritie there, to teach them that Trust is the mother of Deceipt, and... make them know that kindnesses are misspent upon rude natures, so long as they continue rude; as also, that Savages and Pagans are above all other for matter of Justice ever to be suspected. Thus upon this Anvile shall wee now beate out to our selves an armour of proofe, which shall for ever after defend us from barbarous Incursions, and from greater dangers that otherwise might happen....

To conclude then, seeing that Virginia is most abundantly fruitfull, and that this Massacre must rather be beneficiall to the Plantation than impaire it, let all men take courage, and put to their helping hands, since now the time is most seasonable and advantagious for reaping of those benefits which the Plantation hath long promised: and for their owne good let them doe it speedily, that so by taking the prioritie of time, they may have also the prioritie of place, in choosing the best Seats of the Country, which now by vanquishing of the Indians, is like to offer a more ample and faire choice of fruitfull habitations, then hitherto our gentlenesse and faire comportment to the Savages could attaine unto. Wherein no doubt but all the favour that may be, shall be shewed to Adventurers and Planters.

CITATION:  Susan Myra Kingsbury, ed., The Records of the Virginia Company of London, vol. 3 (Washington DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1906-1935), 541-64.  Available online at: http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/collections/jefferson_papers/vc03.html.