THE CROWNING OF POWHATAN
Very nearly the first thing which my master did after having been
made President of the Council, was to obey the orders of the London
Company, by going with Captain Newport to Powhatan's village in
order to crown him like a king.
This was not at all to the pleasure of the savage, who failed of
understanding what my master and Captain Newport meant, when they
wanted him to kneel down so they might put the crown upon his
head. If all the stories which I have heard regarding the matter
are true, they must have had quite a scrimmage before succeeding
in getting him into what they believed was a proper position to
receive the gifts of the London Company.
Our people, so Master Hunt told me, were obliged to take him by
the shoulders and force him to his knees, after which they clapped
the crown on his head, and threw the red robe around his shoulders
in a mighty hurry lest he show fight and overcome them.
It was some time before Captain Smith could make him understand
that it was a great honor which was being done him, but when he did
get it through his head, he took off his old moccasins and brought
from the hut his raccoon skin coat, with orders that my master and
Captain Newport send them all to King James in London, as a present
from the great Powhatan of Virginia.
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