Richard of Jamestown : a Story of the Virginia Colony

by James Otis

  Produced by Martin Robb

  RICHARD OF JAMESTOWN

  by James Otis

  FOREWORD

  The purpose of this series of stories is to show the children, and eventhose who have already taken up the study of history, the home lifeof the colonists with whom they meet in their books. To this end everyeffort has been made to avoid anything savoring of romance, and to dealonly with facts, so far as that is possible, while describing the dailylife of those people who conquered the wilderness whether for consciencesake or for gain.

  That the stories may appeal more directly to the children, they are toldfrom the viewpoint of a child, and purport to have been related by achild. Should any criticism be made regarding the seeming neglect tomention important historical facts, the answer would be that these booksare not sent out as histories--although it is believed that they willawaken a desire to learn more of the building of the nation--and onlysuch incidents as would be particularly noted by a child are used.

  Surely it is entertaining as well as instructive for young people toread of the toil and privations in the homes of those who came into anew world to build up a country for themselves, and such homely factsare not to be found in the real histories of our land.

  JAMES OTIS.

  WHO I AM

  Yes, my name is Richard Mutton. Sounds rather queer, doesn't it? Thelads in London town used to vex me sorely by calling, "Baa, baa, blacksheep," whenever I passed them, and yet he who will may find the nameRichard Mutton written in the list of those who were sent to Virginia,in the new world, by the London Company, on the nineteenth day ofDecember, in the year of Our Lord, 1606.

  Whosoever may chance to read what I am here setting down, will, perhaps,ask how it happened that a lad only ten years of age was allowed to sailfor that new world in company with such a band of adventurous men asheaded the enterprise.

  Therefore it is that I must tell a certain portion of the story of mylife, for the better understanding of how I came to be in this fair,wild, savage beset land of Virginia.

  Yet I was not the only boy who sailed in the Susan Constant, as you maysee by turning to the list of names, which is under the care, even tothis day, of the London Company, for there you will find writtenin clerkly hand the names Samuel Collier, Nathaniel Peacock, JamesBrumfield, and Richard Mutton. Nathaniel Peacock has declared more thanonce that my name comes last in the company at the very end of all,because I was not a full grown mutton; but only large enough to becalled a sheep's tail, and therefore should be hung on behind, as isshown by the list.

  The reason of my being in this country of Virginia at so young an age,is directly concerned with that brave soldier and wondrous adventurer,Captain John Smith, of whom I make no doubt the people in this newworld, when the land has been covered with towns and villages, will cometo know right well, for of a truth he is a wonderful man. In the sixthmonth of Grace, 1606, I Was living as best I might in that great cityof London, which is as much a wilderness of houses, as this country isa wilderness of trees. My father was a soldier of fortune, which meansthat he stood ready to do battle in behalf of whatsoever nation hebelieved was in the right, or, perhaps, on the side of those people whowould pay him the most money for risking his life.

  He had fought with the Dutch soldiers under command of one CaptainMiles Standish, an Englishman of renown among men of arms, and had beenkilled. My mother died less than a week before the news was brought thatmy father had been shot to death. Not then fully understanding how greata disaster it is to a young lad when he loses father or mother, and howyet more sad is his lot when he has lost both parents, I made shift tolive as best I might with a sore heart; but yet not so sore as if I hadknown the full extent of the misfortune which had overtaken me.

  At first it was an easy matter for me to get food at the home ofthis lad, or of that, among my acquaintances, sleeping wherever nightovertook me; but, finally, when mayhap three months had gone by, mywelcome was worn threadbare, and I was told by more than one, that ahulking lad of ten years should have more pride than to beg his way fromdoor to door.

  It is with shame I here set down the fact, that many weeks passed beforeI came to understand, in ever so slight a degree, what a milksop I mustbe, thus eating the bread of idleness when I should have won the right,by labor, to a livelihood in this world.

  This last thought had just begun to take root in my heart when NathanielPeacock, whose mother had been a good friend of mine during a certaintime after I was made an orphan, and I, heard that a remarkably bravesoldier was in the city of London, making ready to go into the newworld, with the intent to build there a town for the king.

  CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH COMES TO LONDON

  This man was no other than Captain John Smith, who, although at thistime not above six and twenty years of age, had already served in theFrench, in the Dutch, and in the Transylvanian armies, where he had metand overcome many dangers.

  He had been robbed and beaten and thrown into the sea because of notbelieving in the religion of the men who attacked him; he had been aslave among the Turks; he had fought, one after another, three of thebravest in the Turkish army, and had cut off the head of each in turn.

  Can it be wondered at that Nathaniel Peacock and I were filled tooverflowing with admiration for this wonderful soldier, or that wedesired above all things to see him?

  We loitered about the streets of London town from daylight until nighthad come again, hoping to feast our eyes upon this same John Smith, whowas to us one of the wonders of the world, because in so short a time hehad made his name as a soldier famous in all countries, and yet we sawhim not.

  We had searched London town over and over for mayhap a full month, doingnothing else save hunt for the man whose life had been so filled withadventure, and each time we returned home, Mistress Peacock reproachedme with being an idle good for nothing, and Nathaniel but little better.

  I believe it was her harsh words which caused to spring up in my hearta desire to venture into the new world, where it was said gold could befound in abundance, and even the smallest lad might pick up whatsoeverof wealth he desired, if so be his heart was strong enough to brave thejourney across the great ocean.

  The more I thought of what could be found in that land, which was calledVirginia, the stronger grew my desire, until the time came when it was afixed purpose in my mind, and not until then did I breathe to Nathaniela word of that which had been growing within me.

  He took fire straightway I spoke of what it might be possible for uslads to do, and declared that whether his mother were willing or no, hewould brave all the dangers of that terrible journey overseas, if so bewe found an opportunity. To him it seemed a simple matter that, havingonce found a ship which was to sail for the far off land, we might hideourselves within her, having gathered sufficient of food to keep usalive during the journey. But how this last might be done, his plans hadnot been made.

  Lest I should set down too many words, and therefore bring upon myselfthe charge of being one who can work with his tongue better than withhis hands, I will pass over all that which Nathaniel and I did duringthe long time we roamed the streets, in the hope of coming face to facewith Captain Smith.

  It is enough if I set it down at once that we finally succeeded in ourpurpose, having come upon him one certain morning on Cheapside, whenthere was a fight on among some apprentices, and the way so blockedthat neither he nor any other could pass through the street, untilthe quarrelsome fellows were done playing upon each other's heads withsticks and stones.

  It seemed much as if fortune had at last consented to smile upon us, forwe were standing directly in front of t
he great man.

  I know not how it chanced that I, a lad whose apparel was far from beingeither cleanly or whole, should have dared to raise my voice in speechwith one who was said to have talked even with a king. Yet so I did,coming without many words to that matter which had been growing thesemany days in my mind, and mayhap it was the very suddenness of the wordsthat caught his fancy.

  "Nathaniel Peacock and I are minded to go with you into that new world,Captain John Smith, if so be you permit us," I said, "and there we willserve you with honesty and industry."

  There was a smile come upon his face as I spoke, and he looked down uponNathaniel and me, who were wedged among that throng which watched theapprentices quarrel, until we were like to be squeezed flat, and said inwhat I took to be a friendly tone:

  "So, my master, you would journey into Virginia with the hope of makingyourself rich, and you not out from under your mother's apron as yet?"

  "I have no mother to wear an apron, Captain Smith, nor father to say Imay go there or shall come here; but yet would serve you as keenly asmight any man, save mayhap my strength, which will increase, be not sogreat as would be found in those older."

  Whether this valiant soldier was pleased with my words, or if in goodtruth boys were needed in the enterprise, I cannot say; but certain itis he spoke me fairly, writing down upon a piece of paper, which he torefrom his tablets, the name of the street in which he had lodgings, andasking, as he handed it to me, if I could read.

  Now it was that I gave silent thanks, because of what had seemed to mea hardship when my mother forced me to spend so many hours each day inlearning to use a quill, until I was able to write a clerkly hand.

  It seemed to please this great soldier that I could do what few of thelads in that day had been taught to master, and, without further ado, hesaid to me boldly:

  "You shall journey into Virginia with me, an' it please you, lad. Whatis more, I will take upon myself the charge of outfitting you, and timeshall tell whether you have enough of manliness in you to repay me thecost."

  Then it was that Nathaniel raised his voice; but the captain gave himno satisfaction, declaring it was the duty of a true lad to stand by hismother, and that he would lend his aid to none who had a home, and in itthose who cared for him.

  I could have talked with this brave soldier until the night had come,and would never have wearied of asking concerning what might be found inthat new world of Virginia; but it so chanced that when the business wasthus far advanced, the apprentices were done with striving to breakeach other's heads, and Captain Smith, bidding me come to his house nextmorning, went his way.

  THE PLANS OF THE LONDON COMPANY

  Then it was that Nathaniel declared he also would go on the voyage toVirginia, whether it pleased Captain Smith or no, and I, who should haveset my face against his running away from home, spoke no word to opposehim, because it would please me to have him as comrade.

  After this I went more than once to the house where Captain Smithlodged, and learned very much concerning what it was proposed to dotoward building a town in the new world.

  Both Nathaniel and I had believed it was the king who counted to sendall these people overseas; but I learned from my new master that acompany of London merchants was in charge of the enterprise, thesemerchants believing much profit might come to them in the way of gettinggold.

  The whole business was to be under the control of Captain BartholomewGosnold, who, it was said, had already made one voyage to the new world,and had brought back word that it was a goodly place in which to settleand to build up towns. The one chosen to act as admiral of the fleet,for there were to be three ships instead of one, as I had fancied, wasCaptain Christopher Newport, a man who had no little fame as a seaman.

  In due time, as the preparations for the voyage were being forwarded,I was sent by my master into lodgings at Blackwall, just below Londontown, for the fleet lay nearby, and because it was understood by thosein charge of the adventure that I was in Captain Smith's service, nohindrance was made to my going on board the vessels.

  THE VESSELS OF THE FLEET

  These were three in number, as I have already said: the Constant, a shipof near to one hundred tons in size; the Goodspeed, of forty tons, andthe Discovery, which was a pinnace of only twenty tons.

  And now, lest some who read what I have set down may not be acquaintedwith the words used by seamen, let me explain that the measurement ofa vessel by tons, means that she will fill so much space in the water.Now, in measuring a vessel, a ton is reckoned as forty cubic feet ofspace, therefore when I say the Susan Constant was one hundred tonsin size, it is the same as if I had set down that she would carry fourthousand cubic feet of cargo.

  That he who reads may know what I mean by a pinnace, as differing froma ship, I can best make it plain by saying that such a craft is an openboat, wherein may be used sails or oars, and, as in the case of theDiscovery, may have a deck over a certain portion of her length. Thatour pinnace was a vessel able to withstand such waves as would be metwith in the ocean, can be believed when you remember that she was onehalf the size of the Goodspeed, which we counted a ship.

  HOW I EARNED MY PASSAGE

  Captain Smith, my master, found plenty of work for me during the weeksbefore the fleet sailed. He had many matters to be set down in writing,and because of my mother's care in teaching me to use the quill, I wasable, or so it seemed to me, to be of no little aid to him in those busydays, when it was as if he must do two or three things at the same timein order to bring his business to an end. I learned during that time tocare very dearly for this valiant soldier, who could, when the fit wason him, be as tender and kind as a girl, and again, when he was crossed,as stern a man as one might find in all London town.

  Because of my labors, and it pleased me greatly that I could do somewhattoward forwarding the adventure, I had no time in which to search formy friend, Nathaniel Peacock, although I did not cease to hope that hewould try to find me.

  I had parted with him in the city, and he knew right well where I wasgoing; yet, so far as I could learn, he had never come to Blackwall.

  I had no doubt but that I could find him in the city, and it was in mymind, at the first opportunity, to seek him out, if for no other reasonthan that we might part as comrades should, for he had been a truefriend to me when my heart was sore; but from the moment the sailorsbegan to put the cargo on board the Susan Constant and the Goodspeed,I had no chance to wander around Blackwall, let alone journeying toLondon.

  Then came the twentieth of December, when we were to set sail, and greatwas the rejoicing among the people, who believed that we would soonbuild up a city in the new world, which would be of great wealth andadvantage to those in England.

  I heard it said, although I myself was not on shore to see whatwas done, that in all the churches prayers were made for our safejourneying, and there was much marching to and fro of soldiers, as ifsome great merrymaking were afoot.

  The shore was lined with people; booths were set up where showmendisplayed for pay many curious things, and food and sweetmeats were onsale here and there, for so large a throng stood in need of refreshmentas well as amusement.

  It was a wondrous spectacle to see all these people nearby on the shore,knowing they had come for no other purpose than to look at us, andI took no little pride to myself because of being numbered among theadventurers, even vainly fancying that many wondered what part a boycould have in such an undertaking.

  Then we set sail, I watching in vain for a glimpse of Nathaniel Peacockas the ships got under way. Finally, sadly disappointed, and with thesickness of home already in my heart, I went into the forward part ofthe ship, where was my sleeping place, thinking that very shortly weshould be tossing and tumbling on the mighty waves of the ocean.

  In this I was mistaken, for the wind was contrary to our purpose, andwe lay in the Downs near six weeks, while Master Hunt, the preacher, whohad joined the company that he might labor for the good of our souls;lay so nigh unto deat
h in the cabin of the Susan Constant, that Ilistened during all the waking hours of the night, fearing to hear thetolling of the ship's bell, which would tell that he had gone from amongthe living.

  It was on the second night, after we were come to anchor in the Downsawaiting a favorable wind, that I, having fallen asleep while wishingNathaniel Peacock might have been with us, was awakened by the pressureof a cold hand upon my cheek. I was near to crying aloud with fear,for the first thought that came was that Master Hunt had gone from thisworld, and was summoning me; but before the cry could escape my lips, Iheard the whispered words: "It is me, Nate Peacock!"

  It can well be guessed that I was sitting bolt upright in the narrowbed, which sailors call a bunk, by the time this had been said, and inthe gloom of the seamen's living place I saw a head close to mine.

  Not until I had passed my hands over the face could I believe itwas indeed my comrade, and it goes without saying that straightwayI insisted on knowing how he came there, when he should have been inLondon town.

  I cannot set the story down as Nathaniel Peacock told it to me on thatnight, because his words were many; but the tale ran much like this:

  NATHANIEL'S STORY

  When Captain John Smith had promised on Cheapside that I should be oneof the company of adventurers, because of such labor as it might bepossible for me to perform, and had refused to listen to my comrade,Nathaniel, without acquainting me with the fact, had made up his mindthat he also would go into the new world of Virginia.

  Fearing lest I would believe it my duty to tell Captain Smith of hispurpose, he kept far from me, doing whatsoever he might in London townto earn as much as would provide him with food during a certain time.