Spelman's narration would be very important if we could trust it.He appeared to have set down what he saw, and his story has a certain simplicity that gains for it some credit.But he was a reckless boy, unaccustomed to weigh evidence, and quite likely to write as facts the rumors that he heard.He took very readily to the ways of Indian life.Some years after, Spelman returned to Virginia with the title of Captain, and in 1617 we find this reference to him in the "General Historie": " Here, as at many other times, we are beholden to Capt.
Henry Spilman, an interpreter, a gentleman that lived long time in this country, and sometimes a prisoner among the Salvages, and done much good service though but badly rewarded." Smith would probably not have left this on record had he been aware of the contents of the MS.that Spelman had left for after-times.
Spelman begins his Relation, from which I shall quote substantially, without following the spelling or noting all the interlineations, with the reason for his emigration, which was, "being in displeasure of my friends, and desirous to see other countries." After a brief account of the voyage and the joyful arrival at Jamestown, the Relation continues:
"Having here unloaded our goods and bestowed some senight or fortnight in viewing the country, I was carried by Capt.Smith, our President, to the Falls, to the little Powhatan, where, unknown to me, he sold me to him for a town called Powhatan; and, leaving me with him, the little Powhatan, he made known to Capt.West how he had bought a town for them to dwell in.Whereupon Capt.West, growing angry because he had bestowed cost to begin a town in another place, Capt.Smith desiring that Capt.West would come and settle himself there, but Capt.West, having bestowed cost to begin a town in another place, misliked it, and unkindness thereupon arising between them, Capt.Smith at that time replied little, but afterward combined with Powhatan to kill Capt.West, which plot took but small effect, for in the meantime Capt.Smith was apprehended and sent aboard for England."That this roving boy was "thrown in" as a makeweight in the trade for the town is not impossible; but that Smith combined with Powhatan to kill Captain West is doubtless West's perversion of the offer of the Indians to fight on Smith's side against him.
According to Spelman's Relation, he stayed only seven or eight days with the little Powhatan, when he got leave to go to Jamestown, being desirous to see the English and to fetch the small articles that belonged to him.The Indian King agreed to wait for him at that place, but he stayed too long, and on his return the little Powhatan had departed, and Spelman went back to Jamestown.Shortly after, the great Powhatan sent Thomas Savage with a present of venison to President Percy.Savage was loath to return alone, and Spelman was appointed to go with him, which he did willingly, as victuals were scarce in camp.He carried some copper and a hatchet, which he presented to Powhatan, and that Emperor treated him and his comrade very kindly, seating them at his own mess-table.After some three weeks of this life, Powhatan sent this guileless youth down to decoy the English into his hands, promising to freight a ship with corn if they would visit him.Spelman took the message and brought back the English reply, whereupon Powhatan laid the plot which resulted in the killing of Captain Ratcliffe and thirty-eight men, only two of his company escaping to Jamestown.Spelman gives two versions of this incident.During the massacre Spelman says that Powhatan sent him and Savage to a town some sixteen miles away.Smith's "General Historie" says that on this occasion "Pocahuntas saved a boy named Henry Spilman that lived many years afterward, by her means, among the Patawomekes." Spelman says not a word about Pocahuntas.On the contrary, he describes the visit of the King of the Patawomekes to Powhatan; says that the King took a fancy to him; that he and Dutch Samuel, fearing for their lives, escaped from Powhatan's town; were pursued; that Samuel was killed, and that Spelman, after dodging about in the forest, found his way to the Potomac, where he lived with this good King Patomecke at a place called Pasptanzie for more than a year.Here he seems to have passed his time agreeably, for although he had occasional fights with the squaws of Patomecke, the King was always his friend, and so much was he attached to the boy that he would not give him up to Captain Argall without some copper in exchange.