第 21 节
作者:疯狂热线      更新:2021-12-07 09:33      字数:9322
  he grew in narrowness as he grew in years。 Berkeley could in these later
  times write home; though with some exaggeration: 〃I thank God there are no
  free schools nor printing; and I hope we shall not have these hundred
  years; for learning has brought disobedience into the world and printing
  has divulged them; and libels against the best governments! God keep us
  from both!〃 But that was the soured zealot for absolutismWilliam Berkeley
  the man was fond enough of books and himself had written plays。
  The spirit of the time was reactionary in Virginia as it was reactionary in
  England。 Harsh servant and slave laws were passed。 A prison was to be
  erected in each county; provision was made for pillory and stocks and
  duckingstool; the Quakers were to be proceeded against; the Baptists who
  refused to bring children to baptism were to suffer。 Then at last in 1670
  came restriction of the franchise:
  〃Act III。 ELECTION OF BURGESSES BY WHOM。 WHEREAS the usuall way of chuseing
  burgesses by the votes of all persons who having served their tyme are
  freemen of this country who haveing little interest in the country doe
  oftener make tumults at the election to the disturbance of his Majestie's
  peace; than by their discretions in their votes provide for the
  conservation thereof; by makeing choyce of persons fitly qualifyed for the
  discharge of soe greate a trust; And whereas the lawes of England grant a
  voyce in such election only to such as by their estates real or personall
  have interest enough to tye them to the endeavour of the publique good; IT
  IS HEREBY ENACTED; that none but freeholders and housekeepers who only are
  answerable to the publique for the levies shall hereafter have a voice in
  the election of any burgesses in this country。〃
  *Hening's 〃Statutes〃; vol。 II; p。 280。
  Three years later another woe befell the colony。 That same Charles IIto
  whom in misfortune Virginia had so adhered that for her loyalty she had
  received the name of the Old Dominionnow granted 〃all that entire tract;
  territory; region; and dominion of land and water commonly called Virginia;
  together with the territory of Accomack;〃 to Lord Culpeper and the Earl of
  Arlington。 For thirty…one years they were to hold it; paying to the King
  the slight annual rent of forty shillings。 They were not to disturb the
  colonists in any guaranteed right of life or land or goods; but for the
  rest they might farm Virginia。 The country cried out in anger。 The Assembly
  hurried commissioners on board a ship in port and sent them to England to
  besiege the ear of the King。
  Distress and discontent increased; with good reason; among the mass of the
  Virginians。 The King in England; his councilors; and; Parliament; played an
  unfatherly role; while in Virginia economic hardships pressed ever harder and
  the administration became more and more oppressive。 By 1676 the gunpowder of
  popular indignation was laid right and left; awaiting the match。
  CHAPTER XII。 NATHANIEL BACON
  To add to the uncertainty of life in Virginia; Indian troubles flared up
  again。 In and around the main settlements the white man was safe enough
  from savage attack。 But it was not so on the edge of the English world;
  where the white hue ran thin; where small clusters of folk and even single
  families built cabins of logs and made lonely clearings in the wilderness。
  Not far from where now rises Washington the Susquehannocks had taken
  possession of an old fort。 These Indians; once in league with the Iroquois
  but now quarreling violently with that confederacy; had been defeated and
  were in a mood of undiscriminating bitterness and vengeance。 They began to
  waylay and butcher white men and women and children。 In selfprotection
  Maryland and Virginia organized in common an expedition against the Indian
  stronghold。 In the deep woods beyond the Potomac; red men and white came to
  a parley。 The Susquehannocks sent envoys。 There was wrong on both sides。 A
  dispute arose。 The white men; waxing angry; slew the envoysan evil deed
  which their own color in Maryland and in Virginia reprehended and
  repudiated。 But the harm was done。 From the Potomac to the James Indians
  listened to Indian eloquence; reciting the evils that from the first the
  white man had brought。 Then the red man; in increasing numbers; fell upon
  the outlying settlements of the pioneers。
  In Virginia there soon arose a popular clamor for effective action。 Call
  out the militia of every county! March against the Indians! Act! But the
  Governor was old; of an ill temper now; and most suspicious of popular
  gatherings for any purpose whatsoever。 He temporized; delayed; refused all
  appeals until the Assembly should meet。
  Dislike of Berkeley and his ways and a growing sense of injury and
  oppression began to quiver hard in the Virginian frame。 The King was no
  longer popular; nor Sir William Berkeley; nor were the most of the Council;
  nor many of the burgesses of that Long Assembly。 There arose a loud demand
  for a new election and for changes in public policy。
  Where a part of Richmond now stands; there stretched at that time a tract
  of fields and hills and a clear winding creek; held by a young planter
  named Nathaniel Bacon; an Englishman of that family which produced 〃the
  wisest; greatest; meanest of mankind。〃 The planter himself lived farther
  down the river。 But he had at this place an overseer and some indentured
  laborers。 This Nathaniel Bacon was a newcomer in Virginiayoung man who
  had been entered in Gray's Inn; who had traveled; who was rumored to have
  run through much of his own estate。 He had a cousin; also named Nathaniel
  Bacon; who had come fifteen years earlier to Virginia 〃a very rich; politic
  man and childless;〃 and whose representations had perhaps drawn the younger
  Bacon to Virginia。 At any rate he was here; and at the age of twenty…eight
  the owner of much land and the possessor of a seat in the Council。 But;
  though he sat in the Council; he was hardly of the mind of the Governor and
  those who supported him。
  It was in the spring of 1676 that there began a series of Indian attacks
  directed against the plantations and the outlying cabins of the region
  above the Falls of the Far West。 Among the victims were men of Bacon's
  plantation; for his overseer and several of his servants were slain。 The
  news of this massacre of his men set their young master afire。 Even a less
  hideous tale might have done it; for he was of a bold and ardent nature。
  Riding up the forest tracks; a company of planters from the threatened
  neighborhood gathered together。 〃Let us make a troop and take fire and
  sword among them!〃 There lacked a commander。 〃Mr。 Bacon; you command!〃 Very
  good; and Mr。 Bacon; who is a born orator; made a speech dealing with the
  〃grievances of the times。〃 Very good indeed; but still there lacked the
  Governor's commission。 〃Send a swift messenger to Jamestown for it!〃
  The messenger went and returned。 No commission。 Mr。 Bacon had made an
  unpleasant impression upon Sir William Berkeley。 This young man; the
  Governor said; was 〃popularly inclined〃had 〃a constitution not consistent
  with〃 all that Berkeley stood for。 Bacon and his neighbors listened with
  bent brows to their envoy's report。 Murmurs began and deepened。 〃Shall we
  stand idly here considering formalities; while the redskins murder?〃
  Commission or no commission; they would march; and in the end; march they
  dida considerable troopto the up…river country; with the tall; young;
  eloquent man at their head。
  News reached the Governor at Jamestown that they were marching。 In a
  tight…lipped rage he issued a proclamation and sent it after them。 They and
  their leader were acting illegally; usurping military powers that belonged
  elsewhere! Let them disband; disperse to their dwellings; or beware action
  of the rightful powers! Troubled in mind; some disbanded and dispersed; but
  threescore at least would by no means do so。 Nor would the young man 〃of
  precipitate disposition〃 who headed the troop。 He rode on into the forest
  after the Indians; and the others followed him。 Here were the Falls of the
  Far West; and here on a hill the Indians had a 〃fort。〃 This the Virginia
  planters attacked。 The hills above the James echoed to the sound of the
  small; desperate fray。 In the end the red men were routed。 Some were slain;
  some were taken prisoner; others escaped into the deep woods stretching
  westward。
  In the meantime another force of horsemen had been gathered。 It was headed
  by Berkeley and was addressed to the pursuit and apprehension of Nathaniel
  Bacon; who had thus defied authority。 But before Berkeley could move far;
  fire broke out around him。 The grievances of the people were many and just;
  and not without a family resemblance to those that precipitated the
  Revolution a hundred years later。 Not Bacon alone; but many others who were
  in despair of any good under their present masters were ready for heroic
  measures。 Berkeley found himself ringed about by a genuine popular revolt。
  He therefore lacked the time now to pursue Nathaniel Bacon; but spurred
  back to Jamestown there to deal as best he might with dangerous affairs。 At
  Jamestown; willy…nilly; the old Governor was forced to promise reforms。 The