An Americans account.

I have chosen a first-hand account from Captain Anthony Chester and other passengers who participated in the expedition, to Jamestown in 1620.

They first detail their voyage and contact with two Spanish ships but then explain a massacre by the Indians to the new English settlers.

I choose this extract as i found it interesting as we are too believe that the Americans created an almost 'holocaust' to the native Americans, however this details their fear of attack. This could mean either the Native Americans were just as bad as the new settlers in causing conflict, or that the English had been disrupting their way of life and initiated a retaliation from the Natives, and then tried to portray them badly.

'At the time of this massacre a party of Indians embarked in four boats for
Jamestown, with the intention of attacking and murdering the English in this
town.'

From their use of words such as 'massacre', 'attacking' and 'murdering' we do feel sympathy for the English as we perceive them to be the victims in this conflict. It also sounds that they may have been or just felt outnumbered by the Indians, due to the expression of 'party' of Indians. However earlier in the account it explains that Mr.Thorpe had been trying to convert them into being Christians. This can lead us to believe that as they tried to change their way of life, and have already taken over some of their land, that they would of actually deserved a 'massacre' to some respects.

It also says that many of the Indians were in 'employment' to the new settlers, however it is unclear on whether this was forced or if they willingly wanted to.

'When the boats bearing the savages hove in sight, but as soon as we opened fire
upon them with our muskets they retreated in a cowardly manner.'

This quote was interesting and very contradictory towards the English. Again they call the Indians 'savages' so that they can be seen as victims and they are seen as almost not human. However earlier they account they were scared by them - so they where then the cowards as they didn't make a plan or fight back and just scared away - but as soon as they arrive they begin shooting at them, even though there is not indication that the Indians were attacking them. The English seem more cowardly as the Indians weaponry wasn't as powerful, but at this time they may not now what the Indians want and rather than talking they decide killing them is a better solution.

'When the occurrence of this massacre became known in the mother country, the
English were ordered to take revenge by destroying with fire and sword
everything of the Indians.'

This last quote again is quite amusing, i find it interesting that they were 'ordered' to destroy and presumably kill the Indians for revenge. However by researching into this further Jamestown was not attacked due to an early warning of what had happened in the colony of Virginia. The Indians are said to have torched the houses of many Englishmen in Virginia and killed half the population, although by the English doing exactly the same to the Indians seems weak and cowardly.