Sir Thomas Grantham Letter to a Leader of Bacon’s Rebellion

Letter from Sir Thomas Grantham to Richard Lawrence, one of the Virginia Rebels[1]

“That nothing but a speedy repentance could free him, and his friends, and the country from inevitable ruin: Which the governor was very willing to prevent, by extending to them his mercy, as far as it was consistent with his honour and safety.  And that his commission was so far from being expir’d, that the King was extending his power, and sending him more large instructions.  That as for himself, and the rest of his commanders, they durst not disobey the Governor’s commands, lest they should incur the high displeasure of his Majesty at their return; who would also doubtless be very much incens’d at the loss of his customs, by their impoverishing the country; and the merchants also, by the loss of their trade, would unanimously solicit the punishment of all those, who were the turbulent promoters of it.

Your very loving friend,

(As far as my Allegiance to my King, and my Duty to my Governor will permit,)

Tho. Grantham.”

Grantham’s address to the principal Ringleaders at Portopatank

“What, Gentlemen, are you going to your ruin headlong?  Are you quite bereft of all sense of duty, and self-preservation?  Have neither the staple laws of nature, nor those fundamental rules of your country, any influence upon you; that your obstancy thus blinds you?  Have you not yet heard what numerous forces are coming from England, to suppress your tumultuous proceedings?  And that without an immediate submission, your fate will be inevitable, and your safety entirely shipwreck’d?  Hearken therefore to the tenders of peace, before it is too late: Consult, like men of sense, your own felicity and quietly lay down your own felicity; and quietly lay down your Arms; left by persisting in this open hostility, you force them at last to be sheath’d in your own bowels.”[2]