GEORGE WASHINGTON PARKE CUSTIS
195
Powhatan. And their guns?
Matacoran. They have weighty guns in their boats, such as ten of the strongest of our warriors could not lift.
Powhatan. I like not their guns.
Matacoran. They say these great pieces are brought to give salvos of welcome at thy coronation, such as is due at the coronation of a king.
Powhatan. Well, be it so, introduce the strangers to my greatness.
(Flourish of trumpets. Soldiers marching. Drums and trumpets. Banner of Smith borne by Rolfe. Smith, uncovered, bearing a scroll. Percy bearing a coronet. West, the mantle. Soldiers.)
Powhatan. English, ye are welcome to the dominions of Powhatan—welcome.
Smith. Great King, I will display, and read my credentials, which are under the sign manual of my sovereign, and the great seal of England. (Reads.) "To the high and mighty Powhatan, sovereign of Pawmunkee. These. We, James, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King; Defender of the faith; greet thee well, and by these presents we do command our trusty and well beloved cavalier and captain, Smith, that he do invest thee with a crown, which we have sent as a token of our love; and to acknowledge thee by right and title as holding the realm of Virginia in vassalage of us, and our heirs, forever. And we do further command our right trusty and well-beloved cousin, Percy of Northumberland, that he do invest thee with the scarlet mantle as a badge of thy royalty, to be worn as such by thee, and thine heirs, forever. Sign manual and great seal of England."
(Smith and Percy, bearing coronet and mantle, invest Powhatan with them.)
Smith. In the name of the most puissant James, I crown thee King.
(Flourish.)
Percy. And I thus invest thee with the mantle of royalty. Hail to the King.
(Flourish.)
Smith. God save the great Powhatan, King of Pawmunkee.
(Flourish.)
(Flourish of drums and trumpets. Cannon fired without—at the firing the Indians exhibit great terror. Powhatan leaves his throne. Smith re-seats him.)
Smith. Our shew of gratulation hath alarm'd your highness; it is now over, dismiss thy terrors. These ceremonies were commanded by my royal Master, as due to the coronation of so great a King as thou. I pray your highness, that ye will be pleas'd to visit us at James' Town and inspect the presents.
Powhatan. If your king has sent me presents, I also am a king; this is my land, you must come to me, not I to you. Yet, Captain Smith, many do inform me that your coming hither is to invade my people, and possess my country. We fear your arms, now lay them aside, for they are useless in times of peace.
Smith. Great King, thou art falsely inform'd; we came not only to be friendly with thee, but to aid thee with our arms in thy wars with the Monecans.
Powhatan. It suiteth not with my greatness to have foreign aid in my wars, Captain Smith; I am old, and have seen the death of my people for three generations. I know the difference between peace and war better than any one in my country. I am old, and soon must die. This tale, that thou art come to destroy my country with thy arms, troubleth me, and affrighteth my people. What can ye gain by war, when we can fly to the woods, whereby ye must perish for want of food. Think ye that Powhatan is so simple as not to know that it is better to eat good meat, laugh, and receive presents from you, than to live in the woods, eat acorns, and be hunted by you, that if a twig break every one cryeth, there Cometh Captain Smith! thus ending my miserable life, and leaving my pleasures to you. Be assur'd of our love, and come not with guns and swords, as if to invade your foes.
Smith. King!—our arms are a part of our apparel; had we intended to do you a harm, what has there been to prevent us? View kindly as friends those who would be terrible to thee as foes.
Powhatan. Well, Captain Smith, ye are a great Werowance;[1] we will be kind to thee, and accept thy presents. But come, my favourite daughter hath entertainment for thee in a dance. Come, the dance, I say, the dance.
(Smith, Percy, Rolfe, and West are placed on stools in the centre of the stage. Suddenly come dancing in from each side Indian girls with
- ↑ Ruler.
