The State of Virginia, 1676

From the "The State of Virginia," 1676 [reprinted in Virginia Magazine of History and Biography. 20:4 (1912). 354-357].

Virginia is at this time under the greatest of Distractions, yāt it hath felt since the yeare 1622, when the Indians in one Night Murthered soe many, that they left not 500 alive in ye whole Collony. At this time the Indians seeme to have conspired, as the other have done neare New England. And ye present danger of this place is the greater, because of their Discontents among themselves, which are grown to soe great a Height, for the defence of ye Country against the Indians, a Body of about 500 are in Armes, without the Commission of the Governor (who denyed one to them) setting forth a Declaration of their Dangers and their Grievances; and taking no Notice of the Proclamation sent from the Governor to forbid and suppress them. They are hedded and Ledd by persons of quality there, which was wanting to them in 1674 when they were suppressed by a Proclamation, and ye advice of some discreet persons that had then an Influence upon them: which is now much otherwise; for they are at this time conducted by Mr. Nathaniel Bacon, lately sworne one of ye Councell, and many other Gentlemen of good Condition; soe that it may be fearād that the Enemie will make a great advantage of these Disorders of Government, which already want the Reverence that should enable it to protect itself and the publike. . . . [Mr. Bacon and his supporters] complaine that the great Taxes are Imposed upon them every yeare, by the Poll, whereby ye poorer sort are in the hardest Condition, who having nothing but their labour to maintaine themselves, wives and children, pay as deeply to ye publike, as Hee that hath 20000 Acres. One principall occasion of these levyes is said to be the often meeting of ye Assemblys and ye very great allowances to them that serve in it as members of it, every Burgess being allowed 150 pounds of Tobacco a day from the time they goe from home, besides allowances for their Man and Horse, for which they commonly charge ye County with 100 pound of Tobacco more whereby the charge of every Country amount to 500 pound of Tobacco dayly for their 2 Burgesses. Though many of the Counties are soe small, that they have not above 500 titheables in them, and some not soe many. And as a greater weight to this Burthen, they farther Complaine that their Burgesses do give to ye Governor and others great guifts, wāch are also Levied by the Poll: Besides what is Laid upon ye people by ye Assembly by the name of ye publike Levy. And ye Justice of ye Peace for each County (by some sort of Authority they pretend to) Laid an Arbitrary Taxe, wāch commonly exceeds the Publike Levy. For which causes (as it is said before) ye people began to Mutinie in 1674. . . . Some Sober men heere are of opinion that his Maātie may easily doe things, wāch will certainly tend to ye quiet and satisfaction of his people, by a few Concessions and Directions. . . .

By inlarging their Liberty, in declareing that all such as are born there shall bee free borne Subjects of England to all intents and purposes. . . .

That ye Tax of 2s upon every Hoggshead of Tobacco, bee closely applied to publike charges, it being supposed sufficient to discharge also the wages of the Assembly men, and other necessary expenses of the Government, the Laws expressly provideing & appointing that after the Governor is paid his Sallary, the remaining part is to bee Employed to other uses of ye Publicke, and noe allowance is given by that Law, that any part of it shall appeare that ye Necessary charge of the Governmāt shall exceed the Tax of 2s p Hoggshead, That then it bee Levyed by a Land Tax, wāch seemes to bee the most equall Imposition and will generally take off the Complaints of the People. Although perhapps some of the richest sort will not like it, who hold greater proportions of Land then they actually plant, who may then (by an Expedient very beneficial to the Country) lay downe part of their Land to bee taken up by such as will Employ it. By which means the Country will be better inhabited, and the Kings Customes increased. And the people living nearer together, will be better enabled in their Defence agāst their Common Enimy the Indians. Such Considerations as these, are amongst many sober men heere, and may perhapps be worth the Considering by such as have the care of his Ma'āies Interests in England.

The State of Virginia. R. June 1676