the complete writings-3-第59节
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ed for the press in 1861。 Before the proof was read； the type was accidentally broken up and the MS。 again mislaid。 Lost sight of for several years； it was recovered and a small number of copies of it were printed at London in 1872； edited by Mr。 James F。 Hunnewell。
Spelman's narration would be very important if we could trust it。 He appeared to have set down what he saw； and his story has a certain simplicity that gains for it some credit。 But he was a reckless boy； unaccustomed to weigh evidence； and quite likely to write as facts the rumors that he heard。 He took very readily to the ways of Indian life。 Some years after； Spelman returned to Virginia with the title of Captain； and in 1617 we find this reference to him in the 〃General Historie〃： 〃 Here； as at many other times； we are beholden to Capt。 Henry Spilman； an interpreter； a gentleman that lived long time in this country； and sometimes a prisoner among the Salvages； and done much good service though but badly rewarded。〃 Smith would probably not have left this on record had he been aware of the contents of the MS。 that Spelman had left for after…times。
Spelman begins his Relation； from which I shall quote substantially； without following the spelling or noting all the interlineations； with the reason for his emigration； which was； 〃being in displeasure of my friends； and desirous to see other countries。〃 After a brief account of the voyage and the joyful arrival at Jamestown； the Relation continues：
〃Having here unloaded our goods and bestowed some senight or fortnight in viewing the country； I was carried by Capt。 Smith； our President； to the Falls； to the little Powhatan； where； unknown to me； he sold me to him for a town called Powhatan； and； leaving me with him； the little Powhatan； he made known to Capt。 West how he had bought a town for them to dwell in。 Whereupon Capt。 West； growing angry because he had bestowed cost to begin a town in another place； Capt。 Smith desiring that Capt。 West would come and settle himself there； but Capt。 West； having bestowed cost to begin a town in another place； misliked it； and unkindness thereupon arising between them； Capt。 Smith at that time replied little； but afterward combined with Powhatan to kill Capt。 West； which plot took but small effect； for in the meantime Capt。 Smith was apprehended and sent aboard for England。〃
That this roving boy was 〃thrown in〃 as a makeweight in the trade for the town is not impossible； but that Smith combined with Powhatan to kill Captain West is doubtless West's perversion of the offer of the Indians to fight on Smith's side against him。
According to Spelman's Relation； he stayed only seven or eight days with the little Powhatan； when he got leave to go to Jamestown； being desirous to see the English and to fetch the small articles that belonged to him。 The Indian King agreed to wait for him at that place； but he stayed too long； and on his return the little Powhatan had departed； and Spelman went back to Jamestown。 Shortly after； the great Powhatan sent Thomas Savage with a present of venison to President Percy。 Savage was loath to return alone； and Spelman was appointed to go with him； which he did willingly； as victuals were scarce in camp。 He carried some copper and a hatchet； which he presented to Powhatan； and that Emperor treated him and his comrade very kindly； seating them at his own mess…table。 After some three weeks of this life； Powhatan sent this guileless youth down to decoy the English into his hands； promising to freight a ship with corn if they would visit him。 Spelman took the message and brought back the English reply； whereupon Powhatan laid the plot which resulted in the killing of Captain Ratcliffe and thirty…eight men； only two of his company escaping to Jamestown。 Spelman gives two versions of this incident。 During the massacre Spelman says that Powhatan sent him and Savage to a town some sixteen miles away。 Smith's 〃General Historie〃 says that on this occasion 〃Pocahuntas saved a boy named Henry Spilman that lived many years afterward； by her means； among the Patawomekes。〃 Spelman says not a word about Pocahuntas。 On the contrary； he describes the visit of the King of the Patawomekes to Powhatan； says that the King took a fancy to him； that he and Dutch Samuel； fearing for their lives； escaped from Powhatan's town； were pursued； that Samuel was killed； and that Spelman； after dodging about in the forest； found his way to the Potomac； where he lived with this good King Patomecke at a place called Pasptanzie for more than a year。 Here he seems to have passed his time agreeably； for although he had occasional fights with the squaws of Patomecke； the King was always his friend； and so much was he attached to the boy that he would not give him up to Captain Argall without some copper in exchange。
When Smith returned wounded to Jamestown； he was physically in no condition to face the situation。 With no medical attendance； his death was not improbable。 He had no strength to enforce discipline nor organize expeditions for supplies； besides； he was acting under a commission whose virtue had expired； and the mutinous spirits rebelled against his authority。 Ratcliffe； Archer； and the others who were awaiting trial conspired against him； and Smith says he would have been murdered in his bed if the murderer's heart had not failed him when he went to fire his pistol at the defenseless sick man。 However； Smith was forced to yield to circumstances。 No sooner had he given out that he would depart for England than they persuaded Mr。 Percy to stay and act as President； and all eyes were turned in expectation of favor upon the new commanders。 Smith being thus divested of authority； the most of the colony turned against him； many preferred charges； and began to collect testimony。 〃The ships were detained three weeks to get up proofs of his ill…conduct〃〃time and charges；〃 says Smith； dryly； 〃that might much better have been spent。〃
It must have enraged the doughty Captain； lying thus helpless； to see his enemies triumph； the most factious of the disturbers in the colony in charge of affairs； and become his accusers。 Even at this distance we can read the account with little patience； and should have none at all if the account were not edited by Smith himself。 His revenge was in his good fortune in setting his own story afloat in the current of history。 The first narrative of these events； published by Smith in his Oxford tract of 1612； was considerably remodeled and changed in his 〃General Historie〃 of 1624。 As we have said before； he had a progressive memory； and his opponents ought to be thankful that the pungent Captain did not live to work the story over a third time。
It is no doubt true； however； that but for the accident to our hero； he would have continued to rule till the arrival of Gates and Somers with the new commissions； as he himself says； 〃but had that unhappy blast not happened； he would quickly have qualified the heat of those humors and factions； had the ships but once left them and us to our fortunes； and have made that provision from among the salvages； as we neither feared Spaniard； Salvage； nor famine： nor would have left Virginia nor our lawful authority； but at as dear a price as we had bought it； and paid for it。〃
He doubtless would have fought it out against all comers； and who shall say that he does not merit the glowing eulogy on himself which he inserts in his General History？ 〃What shall I say but this； we left him； that in all his proceedings made justice his first guide； and experience his second； ever hating baseness； sloth； pride； and indignity； more than any dangers； that upon no danger would send them where he would not lead them himself； that would never see us want what he either had or could by any means get us； that would rather want than borrow； or starve than not pay； that loved action more than words； and hated falsehood and covetousness worse than death； whose adventures were our lives； and whose loss our deaths。〃
A handsomer thing never was said of another man than Smith could say of himself； but he believed it； as also did many of his comrades； we must suppose。 He suffered detraction enough； but he suffered also abundant eulogy both in verse and prose。 Among his eulogists； of course； is not the factious Captain Ratcliffe。 In the English Colonial State papers； edited by Mr。 Noel Sainsbury； is a note； dated Jamestown； October 4； 1609； from Captain 〃John Radclyffe comenly called；〃 to the Earl of Salisbury； which contains this remark upon Smith's departure after the arrival of the last supply： 〃They heard that all the Council were dead but Capt。 ＇John＇ Smith； President； who reigned sole Governor； and is now sent home to answer some misdemeanor。〃
Captain Archer also regards this matter in a different light from that in which Smith represents it。 In a letter from Jamestown； written in August； he says：
〃In as much as the President ＇Smith＇； to strengthen his authority； accorded with the variances and gave not any due respect to many worthy gentlemen that were in our ships； wherefore they generally； with my consent； chose Master West； my Lord De La Ware's brother； their Governor or President de
