21. GOVERNOR HARVEY DEPOSED

VIRGINIANS were quick to develop the will to manage their own affairs. Such was shown at Jamestown when, in 1635, John Harvey, the Royal Governor, was deposed temporarily. Because of his oppressive and tyrannical administration he had won the ill will of the burgesses and councilors who forced him to return to England to face charges lodged against him. Even though the King reappointed him for a time, this deposition is witness that the spirit of independence and initiative was at work in the colony. Samual Mathews, a leader of the opposition against Harvey, wrote an account of this affair.

I have made bold to present you with divers passages concerning our late governor by the hands of my worthy friend Sir John Zouch. But such was the miserable condition wee lived in that it dayly gives just occasion of new complaints which I doe hereby presume to acquaint you withall, which I beseech you to creditt as they are true in every particular. Sir, you may please to take notice that . . . Sir John Harvie . . . [had detained] Letters to his Majestie and Lords and others concerning a contract, . . . They had heard him in open court revile all the councell and tell them they were to give their attendance as assistants onely to advise with him, which if liked of should pass, otherwise the power lay in himselfe to dispose of all matters as his Majesties substitute. Next that he had reduced the colony to a great straight by complying with the Marylanders . . . Sir, these and infinite number of perticular mens injuries, were the grounds of their greife and the occasion of the Petition and Letter that they exhibited to the councell for some speedy redress of these evills which would otherwise ruine the Colony.

The next meeting [of the Council] in a most sterne manner he demanded the reason that wee conceived of the countreye's Petition against him. Mr. Menefee made answer, the chiefest cause was the detayning of the Letters to his Majestie and the Lords. Then he rising in a great rage sayd to Mr. Menefee; and do you say soe? He replied, yes: presently the governor in a fury went and striking him on the shoulder as hard as I can imagine he could said, I arrest you of suspicion of Treason to his Majestie. Then Captain Utie being neare said, and wee the like to you sir. Whereupon I seeing him in a rage, tooke him in my armes and said: Sir, there is no harm intended against you save only to acquaint you with the grievances of the Inhabitants and to that end I desire you to sitt downe in youre chayre . . .

A LETTER WRITTEN BY SAMUAL MATHEWS.
MAY 25, 1635.

Harvey, himself, has described his deposition.

That upon pretence of this petition thus by themselves contrived, they caused an Assembly of the Countrey to be called, who mett at James Towne, upon the seaventh day of May last, and there and in severall other places they made Proclamation that if any man could say ought against Sir John Harvey he should be heard. And the said councellors then chose Mr. John West for Governor, who thereupon tooke the place and title of Governor upon him, and gave orders and directions as Governor.

DECLARATION OF SIR JOHN HARVEY.

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