George Bancroft, History of the United States from the Discovery of the American Continent, Vol. 2, 17th edition.

[220] the acts of the assembly furnish the highest

Chap. XIV.} 1676.

historical evidence, and must be taken as paramount authority on the purposes of ‘the Grand Rebellion in Virginia.’

The late expenditures of public money had not

June 5-24.

been accounted for.¹ High debates arose on the wrongs of the indigent, who were oppressed by taxes alike unequal and exorbitant.² The monopoly of the Indian trade was suspended.³ A compromise with the insurgents was effected; on the one hand, Bacon acknowledged his error in acting without a commission,⁴ and the assemblies of disaffected persons were censured as acts of mutiny and rebellion;⁵ on the other hand, Bacon was appointed commander-in-chief,⁶ to the universal satisfaction of the people, who made the town ring with their joyous acclamations, and hailed ‘the darling of their hopes’ as the appointed defender of Virginia.⁷ The church aristocracy was broken up by limiting the term of office of the vestrymen to three years, and giving the election of them to the freemen of each parish.⁸ The elective franchise was restored to the freemen whom the previous assembly had disfranchised; and, as ‘false returns of sheriffs had endangered the peace,’ the purity of elections was guarded by wholesome penalties.⁹ The arbitrary annual assessments, hitherto made by county magistrates, irresponsible to the people, were prohibited; the Virginians insisted on the exclusive right of taxing themselves, and made provision for the county levy,—it was a radical measure, which independent