Before Delaware and Faldoe reached Virginia, the Third
Supply arrived with the information of the impending change of
officers. A mutinous spirit now arose among the soldiers of Captain
West, who were stationed near the Falls of the Powhatan. They threw
off the authority of Smith, the President of the Colony at that
time, on the ground that the commission of Delaware had superseded
his right to the command. This rebellious impulse revealed itself
most strikingly in their announcement that no one would be
permitted to pass into the country west of the Falls, which they
thought to be very rich in gold.[1]
The thirst for the precious metals shown by the common soldiers was shared by Delaware on his arrival. To such an extent was the Colony during a part at least of his
- ↑ The words “rebellious” and “mutinous” are used because, until Delaware arrived and presented his commission, Smith’s authority as President was paramount. Works of Capt. John Smith, p. 482.
Mowhemincke, the furthest, Massinnacock, distant one from another fourteen miles, of whose goodness there is no doubt since the sparre only taken no further then two or three foote into the earth affourdes mettall worth the labour. And concerning a silver myne, not far from the same place, an Helvetian, one William Henrick Faldoe, . . . made earnest suit unto our treasourer and his Majestie’s Counsaile resident for Virginia, with whom he contracted and ent’red into condicons for one yeare and a halfe for the full performance of this worke.” Strachey’s Historie of Travaile into Virginia, p. 131. See, also, Works of Capt. John Smith, p. 487. Strachey mentions that he had seen a map of the English “seat” in Virginia drawn by a Portuguese, on which the “two silver mynes were pricked downe,” p. 132. Whitaker, in his Good Newes from Virginia, states that three days’ journey from a point twelve miles west of the Falls in the Powhatan, a “stonie hill covered all over with a perfect and most rich silver oare” was found in the course of the first exploration of the country. “Our men that went to discover those parts had but two iron pickaxes with them, and those so ill-tempered that the points of them turned againe and bowed at every stroke, so that we could not search the entrails of ye place, yet some triall was made of that oare with good successe and argument of much hope.” Brown’s Genesis of the United States, p. 584.
