In August 1610, when Powatan (Pocahontas’s father)
sent back “prowde and Distainefull answers” to the English at Jamestown,
Captain George Percy and seventy men were dispatched to teach the Indians some
manners. Percy’s “True Relation” tells the story, as he was sent to
. . . take Revendge upon the Paspaheans and Chiconamians and so
shippeinge my selfe and my Sowldiers in towe boates I departed from James Towne
the 9th of August 1610 and the same nighte Landed within thre myles of paspahas
towne. Then draweinge my sowldiers into Battalio placeinge a Capteyne or
Leftenante att every fyle, we marched towards the Towne haveinge an Indyan
guyde with me named Kempes whome the provoste marshall ledd in a hande locke
This Subtill salvage was Leadinge us outt of the Way the which I misdowteinge
Bastinaded him with my Truncheon and threatened to Cutt of his heade whereupon
the slave alltered his Cowrse and browghte us the righte way neare unto the
towne. . . . And then we fell in upon them putt some fiftene or sixtene to
the Sworde and almoste all the reste to flyghte. Whereupon I cawsed my drume to
beate and drewe all my sowldiers to the Cullers, my Lieftenantt bringeinge with
him the Quene and her Children and one Indyann prisoner for the which I taxed
him becawse he had Spared them. his answer was, thatt haveinge them now in my
Custodie I mighte doe with them whatt I pleased. Upon the same I cawsed the
Indians heade to be Cutt off . . . .
Terror and
beheadings: what century are we in?
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