Owing to the turmoil of those times, we have no reliable account of the great massacre in Virginia in 1644, but five hundred people fell victims to the ferocity of the Indians, who raged up and down the James for two days. Many were carried into captivity, while cabins, crops, farming implements, and all manner of property were destroyed. The fleetest of foot escaped in some instances, and made haste to Jamestown, which flew to arms. All who were able to handle a weapon were called, and every twentieth man was placed under the immediate command of Governor Berkeley, who hurried his preparations for marching into the Indian country, every soldier as resolute as he to destroy those who were making such awful havoc among the plantations. Berkeley, afterwards known as the tyrannical Governor of Virginia, was a young man at that time, and a good military officer. When he led his body of picked horsemen against the Indians, he resolved to keep up the warfare until he captured the leader himself. He pushed the pursuit with all vigor and finally ran Opecancanough down, and made him prisoner. Like the Roman conquerors, he brought him as a token of his triumph to his capital, but it is to be said to the credit of Berkeley that he treated his royal captive with the respect due to his fame and prowess. He placed him in proper quarters, and set a guard about the building to keep back those who might wish to gaze upon the distinguished prisoner. The condition of Opecancanough at this time was pitiful. He was barely able to raise an arm or a foot, and became so feeble that when he wished to make use of his eyes, some one had to lift the lids for him. Still he kept to a striking degree his kingly dignity. Hearing confusion one day about his prison, he had his eyes opened for him, and noticed a number of persons peering into the room. He sent for Governor Berkeley and said, reproachfully, "Had it been my fortune to make _you_ prisoner, I would not have exposed you as a show to my people." The Governor gave strict orders to save the captive from all annoyance. Struck by the vitality of the chief, he thought of sending him to England, not only as proof of the prowess of the ruler of Virginia, but as evidence of the good qualities of the climate, which many visitors had said was bad.