Royal Description of Nathaniel Bacon, ca. 1676

From "A True Narrative of the Rise, Progresse, and Cessation of the Late Rebellion in Virginia, Most Humbly and Impartially Reported by His Majestyes Commissioners Appointed to Enquire into the Affaires of the Said Colony," ca. 1676 [reprinted in Virginia Magazine of History and Biography 4:2 (1896). 122].

From the report of the commissioners:

Hee was a person whose erratique fortune had carryed and shewne him many Forraigne Parts, and of no obscure Family. Upon his coming into Virginia hee was made one of the Councill, the reason of that advancement (all on a suddain) being best known to the Governour, which honor made him the more considerable in the eye of the Vulgar, and gave some advantage to his pernicious designes. Hee was said to be about four or five and thirty yeares of age, indifferent tall but slender, blackhairâd and of an ominous, pensive, melancholly Aspect, of a pestilent & prevalent Logical discourse tending to atheisme in most companyes, not given to much talke, or to make suddain replyes, of a most imperious and dangerous hidden Pride of heart, despising the wisest of his neighbors for their Ignorance, and very ambitious and arrogant. But all these things lay hidd in him till after hee was a councillor and until he became powerful & popular.