In the early annals of Virginia, Werowocomoco is second only to Jamestown in historical and romantic interest; as Jamestown was the seat of the English settlers, so Werowocomoco was the favorite residence of the Indian monarch Powhatan. It was here that, when Smith was about to meet his fate, "An angel knelt in woman's form And breathed a prayer for him." It was here that Powhatan was crowned by the conceited Newport; here that supplies for the colony were frequently procured; here that occurred so many interviews and rencontres between the red men and the whites. Here, two centuries and a half ago, dwelt the famous old Powhatan, tall, erect, stern, apparently beardless, his hair a little frosted with gray. Here he beheld, with barbarous satisfaction, the scalps of his enemies recently massacred, suspended on a line between two trees, and waving in the breeze; here he listened to recitals of hunting and blood, and in the red glare of the council-fire planned schemes of perfidy and revenge; here he sate and smoked, sometimes observing Pocahontas at play, sometimes watching the fleet canoe coming in from the Pamaunkee. Werowocomoco was a befitting seat of the great chief, overlooking the bay, with its bold, picturesque, wood-crowned banks, and in view of the wide majestic flood of the river, empurpled by transient cloud-shadows, or tinged with the rosy splendor of a summer sunset. FOOTNOTES: [57:A] Stith, 65. [58:A] Stith, 67. [58:B] Smith, i. 147. [60:A] Smith, i. 191. [61:A] Stith, 82; Smith, 200. [62:A] Smith, i. 193. CHAPTER V. 1608-1609. Smith visits Pamaunkee--Seizes Opechancanough--Goes back to Werowocomoco--Procures Supplies--Returns to Jamestown--Smith's Rencontre with Chief of Paspahegh--Fort built--"The Old Stone House"--Colonists dispersed to procure Subsistence-- Tuckahoe-root--Smith's Discipline--New Charter--Lord Delaware appointed Governor--Fleet dispatched for Virginia--Sea-Venture; cast away on Island of Bermuda--Seven Vessels reach Virginia-- Disorders that ensued--Smith's Efforts to quell them--He Embarks for England--His Character, Life, and Writings. SMITH and his party had no sooner set sail from Werowocomoco, up the river, than Powhatan returned, and dispatched two of the Dutchmen to Jamestown. The two emissaries, by false pretences and the assistance of some of the colonists, who confederated with them, succeeded in procuring a supply of arms and ammunition, which were conveyed to Powhatan by some of his people who were at hand for that purpose. In the mean time the other Dutchman, who had been retained by Powhatan as a hostage, provided him with three hundred stone tomahawks. Edward Boynton and Thomas Savage, discovering the treachery, attempted to make their escape back to Jamestown, but were apprehended and taken back, and expected every moment to be put to death.