There was in the council at this time one Colonel Nathaniel Bacon, a near relative of Nathaniel Bacon, Jr., who was not yet thirty years of age. The elder Bacon was a wealthy politic old man, childless, and intending to make his namesake and cousin his heir. It was by the pressing solicitations of this old gentleman, as was believed, that young Bacon was reluctantly prevailed upon to repeat at the bar of the house the recantation written by the old gentleman. It was he also, as was supposed, who gave timely warning to the young Bacon to fly for his life. Three or four days after his first arrest, many country people, from the heads of the rivers, appeared in Jamestown; but finding him restored to his place in the council, and his companions at liberty, they returned home satisfied. But in a short time the governor, seeing all quiet, issued secret warrants to seize him again, intending probably to raise the militia, and thus prevent a rescue. FOOTNOTES: [283:A] T. M.'s Account of Bacon's Rebellion, in Force's Hist. Tracts, i. [284:A] Herring, i. 515, and ii. 14. [284:B] Va. Hist. Reg., i. 167. [284:C] For the following details, see T. M.'s Account; Hening, ii. 841, 543; Beverley, B. i. 65; Keith's Hist. of Va., 156; Breviarie and Conclusion, Burk, ii. 250; Account of Bacon's Rebellion, in Va. Gazette, 1766, and Bacon's Proceedings, in Force's Hist. Tracts, i. [285:A] Chalmers' Annals, 332, 335, 348; The Fall of the Susquehannocks, by S. F. Streeter, in Hist. Mag., i. 65. [285:B] Burk, ii. 144; Account of our Late Troubles in Virginia, written in 1676, by Mrs. Ann Cotton, of Queen's Creek, 3 in Force's Hist. Tracts, i. This curious narrative was published from the original MS. in the _Richmond Enquirer_ of September 12th, 1804. T. M.'s Account was republished in the same paper. [286:A] Narrative of the Indian and Civil Wars in Va., in the years 1675 and 1676, 1, in Force's Hist. Tracts, i. This account is evidently in the main, if not altogether, by the same hand with the letter bearing the signature of Mrs. Ann Cotton. Several passages are identical. [286:B] Account of Bacon's Rebellion, in Va. Gazette, 1766. [287:A] In Hist. of Va., ii. 164. [288:A] Burk, ii. 247 [289:A] Breviarie and Conclusion, Burk, ii. 251. [290:A] Hening, ii. 543. CHAPTER XXXV. 1676. Bacon, with an armed Force, enters Jamestown--Extorts a Commission from the Governor--Proceedings of Assembly--Bacon marches against the Pamunkies--Berkley summons Gloucester Militia--Bacon countermarches upon the Governor--He escapes to Accomac--Bacon encamps at Middle Plantation--Calls a Convention--Oath prescribed--Sarah Drummond--Giles Bland seizes an armed Vessel and sails for Accomac--His Capture-- Berkley returns to Jamestown--Bacon exterminates the Indians.