The DuPont Company of Roamington, Delaware, makers of better things for better living
through chemistry, presents the Cavalcade of America, starring Basil Rothbone and Richard
Green. Tonight's DuPont play, The Torch Bearer, stars Richard Green as Nathaniel Bacon and
Basil Rothbone as Richard Lawrence. My name is Richard Lawrence. One hundred years before
your liberties were born, in the year of our Lord 1676, I fought to gain those same liberties.
I fought, I lost. Most of you have never heard my name. I return now to do justice to the
memory of a friend, my leader in that early struggle, and one who is also too much forgotten.
His name, Nathaniel Bacon, is his state, gentleman and soldier, his tragedy, to be born a century
too soon. I would have you see him first as I first saw him. Young, handsome, learned,
wealthy in his own right, happy in a new marriage, newly arrived in a new world, in Virginia.
I tell you, Master Lawrence, you people cannot know your great good fortune here. I know
my own fortune. It does not please me. And you have lived here in Virginia? Ten years.
Ten years too long. Ah, you've forgotten how things are at home. Indeed you. I tell you
this, to come fresh from Europe into such a, such a wild paradise, why, it's like quitting
a dark and sick room for a walk in the sun. And you, ma'am? Yes, sir. Do you share your
husband's enthusiasm for our Virginian Eden? I share all Nathaniel's enthusiasm, sir. These
are indeed fortunate young people, Lawrence. They have a new horizon for a wedding gift.
And in you, Colonel Bacon, they have a most influential friend at court. Naturally, Lawrence,
being Nathaniel's cousin, I shall help him in every way possible at Jamestown. Naturally,
most naturally. Oh, I shall spend very little time in Jamestown, my friend, the wilderness
for me. Indeed? Oh, yes. As we came upriver today, I watched these Virginians at work
in their fields, yeoman farmers working their own land for their own use and profit. And
then I, I thought of the life these same people had escaped at home. The hopelessness, the
corruption, the dead weight of old custom and abuse. Why, man, there's a, a sense of
freedom in the very air. There's much in the air here in Virginia, my friend, including
a most murderously vile sort of fever and- And treason as well, Master Lawrence. Not
as yet, Colonel. Not as yet. You speak in middles, gentlemen. As for me, I know I shall
love Virginia as I love Nathaniel. Thank you, my dear. And you must not think us quite entirely
innocent, Master Lawrence. We expect the hardships that go with all adventure. And there will
be human eagerness too, no doubt, even here. Yes, even here. As Sir Francis Bacon, a famous
kinsman of ours, once wrote, there is no excellent beauty that hath not some strangeness in the
proportion. Nathaniel! What was that? Nathaniel, what was it? A sound your famous kinsman never
heard, ma'am. Part of the strangeness in our beauty's proportion. Lawrence, it can't be
an attack. The devils wouldn't dare. There's no cause for alarm, Colonel. As yet. What
do you mean? It's meant as a warning, I believe. A savage witticism. But what is it, ma'am?
An Indian in the forest beyond your clearing. He is imitating the screams of a white captive
under torture. Yes, but what shall we do? Nothing, ma'am, nothing. It's a taunt, a boast
merely. And the cover of the night. The savage jester is saying, we have put your women to
torture and we will do it again. You're quite sure, Lawrence. There was word in Jamestown
of new raids up in Stafford County. Our screamer out there is quite alone. He's been heard of
late up and down the river, and we've tried to ensnare him on two occasions. Can we not
try again? And now? Good for you, Bacon. But it's quite useless. At night and in the forest,
these creatures are invisible. Let him have his red jest for the present. It's fortunate
you were here, Master Lawrence, else we'd have been terrified. Oh, I doubt your husband
takes alarm easily, ma'am. And now I must go. My wife will be uneasy. We must meet,
Mr. Lawrence, soon. Within the week, ma'am. Oh, and the books I mentioned. I'll have them
unpacked tomorrow. You must feel free tomorrow. That will be a great pleasure, sir. And a rare
one in this, uh, this wild paradise. Good night to both of them. Nathaniel, I must warn you
against this man. He's not, um, well, he's not one of us. I like Richard Lawrence, Colonel.
I'm glad he's my neighbor here. Nevertheless, I must insist. It is dangerous to know him
too well. In England, cousin, my father tried to choose my associates for me. Here I shall
choose for myself. This is not England. In the months that followed Nathaniel's bacon
arrival, I came to know him very well and to recognize in him the leader we so badly
needed. And so I set about to make him see our cause and our need. I made sure that he
met one of his, um, happy yeoman at closer quarters. The long and the short of it, Master
Bacon, be this. We're freemen no more. We're all of us slaves to Governor Berkeley and
his crew of thieves. But Peter, you own your own farmland. I in the name we own it. But
it's mortgage, dear, and all to the same few men. Each year our debts do grow till our
land is swallowed up. But I've seen your tobacco crops with my own eyes. Splendid crops. Fine
crops, aye, for our bone and sinew went into them year after year. Much goes in, Master
Bacon, but not comes out. Greater rascals than the governor takes care of that. Oh?
Who might they be? I'll say it for him. Even if it be treason, he means King Charles, the
Lords of Trade in London, the merchants they serve. All the warehouses in London are crammed
full of tobacco, yet we're forbidden to sell save to London merchants. At a penny a pound,
a penny a pound. And next year they say it will be less. I need a coat to my back, shoes,
a plough, nails, gunpowder. My old woman needs a new kettle and tobacco's a penny a pound.
Between the governor's taxes and the king's law, Nathaniel, these people are ground to
dust. And we lesser planters, people like Will Drummond and me, we'll go down with them
in the end. But surely the House of Virgins... They were elected 15 years ago. They've been
bribed ever since by the governor's little favors. Well, then a new election. Ah, the
governor must call it. He refuses to do so. Just as he refuses to spend tax money to raise
troops against the Indians. Just as he sells guns to the Indians to his own profit. What?
But what manner of man is this Governor Berkeley? An old man, Nathaniel. A sour, daft old man
with a devil's pride and miser's greed, a young wife and a chronic dyspepsia. I've met
his like often enough at home. He's one reason why I sought a cleaner place to live. Richard,
my friend, something must be done about this Governor Berkeley.
Hardwick! You, Hardwick! Yes. Yes, your excellency. Ask Colonel Bacon to enter at once. Yes, sir.
Oh, where are those confounded pills of mine? Your excellency. That's you, Colonel Bacon.
Now what do you want? You sent for me, sir. I've been waiting. Oh, yes, yes, yes, so I
did. Colonel, we've been hearing strange rumors about this nephew of yours up in Enrico County.
Nathaniel Bacon is my cousin, your excellency. Cousin, nephew, who cares? Point is, the young
man's associating with troublemakers, Richard Lawrence, William Drummond and... I have warned
cousin Nathaniel concerning Richard Lawrence, your excellency. Yes, well then count, confounded
what's he doing half-dopping about with those rascals? Oh, your excellency must remember
that Nathaniel is young. He's read many books and has derived foolish notions from them.
Ah, that's sly, eh? I have a cure for that disease. That's right, Colonel. A judicious
balm applied to the bookish ego, eh? Colonel, let him know we have need of his learned council
here at the palace, eh? It never fails. An excellent idea, sir. Tell him that. Tell him
that I've appointed him to the council of state, eh? Get him away from those scoundrels
upriver, eh, Colonel? I shall be happy to tell him at once of your wishes. And I hope
we can win him over to a more reasonable view, your excellency. Hope? Say to her, Colonel.
I... You wouldn't care to lose any of your own little privileges, would you, Colonel?
Ah, I thought not. Well, then see to it that your cousin comes to his senses. That'll be
all. Get out. And so young Nathaniel Bacon, within a year of his arrival in the colony,
began to sit in the council chamber of its rulers and to know at first hand the corrupt
devices of its chief magistrate. When he returned to his friends in Enrico, his mind was made
up, though he didn't know it at once. It is must today now at Barina, seat of Enrico
County. On the green, a company of militia is awkwardly drilling, and at the nearby tavern,
a group of planters listens to Nathaniel Bacon, newly come from Jamestown. Gentlemen, let
me sum up my impressions. First, Dick Lawrence here was right about my appointment to the
council. It was intended as a bribe. I expected you to succumb to the flesh pot of Jamestown,
did they? Our New World Babylon? Or perhaps to the blandishments of Mistress Barclay,
Queen of the Rebels. Ah, ah, ah. She leads the old man of Mary Chase. I'll say that for
her. But here's the real news I bring. Berkeley knows of the Indian raids, of course. He knows
as we all know that the tribes are gathered in force just above the falls of the James.
He refuses still to raise or equip a force to move against them. He refuses to name a
general to act in his stead. Gentlemen, I truly believe your governor is bereft of his
senses. Yeah, yeah. Ah, you're right. Master Bacon. Yes, Will Drummond. Do you know what's
happened above the falls? I'm afraid I do, yes. Young Wilson, just above your own place,
the devil's burned his house, killed his wife. I've heard, I've heard. In three weeks up
now, thirty-six of our people have been so treated. Can you sit there so cool and calm?
I'm not cool, I'm not calm. I've lost friends. My old foreman was murdered there up the river.
But what can I do? Well, I think you know. I, um, I talked yesterday with Captain James
Crews of Tuckley Island. He told me that she'd asked Barclay for a commission to lead an
exposition against the Sustra-Hernix. I asked him to name someone anyone. He refused. Man,
man, we want you to lead us. There's three score good green sergeants tripping up and
down on the earth and now with their foolish tongues hanging out just waiting for someone
to tell them what to do. But there's no man among us whose means or talents permits him
to defy the governor and head up our force without a royal commission. You. Well, you,
Mr. Bacon, have no need of the governor's favor. As to your capabilities, we have no
dute. Will you lead us? That I will on one condition. And what is your condition? It's
this. That after we deal with the Indians, we remain an organized force. And that as
such we proceed to deal with the governor. Good, good. Round it. Why, that man was mad
enough to believe he could buy my allegiance. Yes, I will lead you. Gladly.
The DuPont Cavalcade of America, starring Basil Rathbone and Richard Green in The Torchbearer.
This is the story of Bacon's rebellion 100 years before the American Revolution. Basil
Rathbone as Richard Lawrence, Bacon's chief lieutenant, continues the story. I wish you
to see Nathaniel now as his young wife Elizabeth must have seen him on the eve of his great
adventure against all the beckons of material gain. He has chosen the party of the people
against the party of the governor. Tomorrow his meager army will assemble tonight. Tonight
he takes leave of all that remains to remind him of gentler days. Elizabeth. Yes, Nathaniel.
Am I right, Elizabeth? How can I know? I know how difficult the choice has been for you.
I'm content with your deciding. Truly content? Truly, my dear. Oh, I never sought this new
trust and I do not know why these Virginians urge me so to lead them. Why did I trust you
and urge you? I've never known. Perhaps because I saw the greatness they've seen in you. Perhaps
because I couldn't help myself. Oh, my love, my love. In any event, I have decided. I'll
not see you for a time, Elizabeth. It's not what we thought this, Virginia. It's not what
we dreamed. It's not a new world. No, not yet. But perhaps we can shape it a little in the
direction of our hopes. We'll try. We'll try. After a march of many weeks and many hardships,
Bacon's little army encountered the main body of the Suspahannock tribe at Roanoke River
and defeated them utterly. But once Bacon's army was disbanded, the governor returned
to his old ways. Again, the angry farmers assembled under Bacon's command at the arena
and this time they marched on Jamestown. At each plantation, a raging torrent grew until
the roads were filled with a band of 400 foot and 120 horse. Bacon entered the capital and
grew up before the state house. Captain Drummond. Yes, sir. Would you and Captain Lawrence enter
the state house, if you please, and request that the governor meet with us here on the
green? It appears that won't be necessary, General. Here comes the old devil now. Quiet!
Quiet, everyone. Well, Your Excellency. I give you greeting, traitor, but I tell you
to disperse this mob at once. I admire your courage, old man, but not your advice. Then
order them to shoot me. Here, here, shoot! Before God, I offer you a fair mark. No! No!
No, we'll not harm a hair of your ancient head. We have come for a commission to save
our lives against the Indians and for just laws to protect us from your hirelings. We
shall have both. But not from me. Never from me. From your tame gaggle of Burgesses, then.
Drummond. Yes, sir. Order the fusiliers to surround the state house. Lawrence, you and
I shall reason with these Burgesses within. From the frightened house of Burgesses, Bacon
got his commission. From London, however, the governor got the promise of troops and
warships. And from the fever-ridden Roanoke swamps, on a second campaign against the Indians,
Bacon drew a fatal infection that read Virginia Sickness when I saw him on his return. Well,
Dick, the shuttlecock flies back, huh? When the savages are subdued, then I must turn
about and face the governor. And when the governor's in hand, the Indians swarm in upon
us again. I'm tired, Dick. Mortal tired. I'd scarce know you, Nathaniel. You've lost
weight, man. You're pale as a ghost. By a touch of the fever, it'll pass. Only I were
not so confounded weary. There's so much to be done. Yes. There's a report that rightly
expects a thousand British regulars and three ships of war before the first frost. What
shall we do then? Defeat them in battle. It's the logical outcome of all we've done.
Dick, this is a greater thing than you knew when first you tried to persuade me to oppose
the governor. Maryland and Carolina will join us. I've reason to know that. We can make
a new nation here, a free nation, a nation ruled by reason and justice. That is... Help
me, Dick. Nathaniel, you are ill. You must rest. You must. No, no. I'm all right now.
There's no time to rest. I've called a general assembly to meet within the hour. You'll tell
these ragged scarecrow of ours that we must meet the king's own troops in battle and hang
if we lose? I must tell them. I must carry them with me. But where? Where can you lead
them now? Into the future, my friend. Into the future. Gentlemen and soldiers, I have
news. The news just now brought me that the king has sent troops to aid the governor.
May not a little startle you as well as myself. But seeing it is not altogether unexpected,
we may the better bear it and provide our answer. We cannot find one single spot of
rebellion in our hearts, for we have not tried to overthrow the government, but we have seen
this mad governor of ours supply arms and ammunition to the savages. We have seen our
plantations deserted, the blood of our dear brethren spilt and murder upon murder renewed
upon us as a result of Barclay's folly. Yet we abhor the name of rebel, having represented
our sad and heavy grievances to his most sacred majesty as our refuge and sanctuary. If then
we find no refuge, no sanctuary, what shall we do? I, we shall resist.
We have almost to the man we did follow him, swearing to take that last fatal step, the
step we knew as treason, and one by one we signed the oath he required to fight on until
we can no longer defend ourselves, our lives and liberties. Only Will Drummond and I knew
how the fever had sapped his strength. At last his illness could no longer be concealed.
Lawrence. Drummond. We are here, my friend. We are still here.
My lad, we'll not leave you. You must go on without me. Get help from Maryland, from
the Carolinas. When the troops come.
When the troops come, we'll sweep them into the sea, rest assured of that. It can be done.
Someday it will be done.
Nathaniel.
Yes.
I brought you to this. Will you forgive me?
Nothing to forgive. You were right. What we have started isn't finished. It will go on.
A great nation, a great nation will rise.
The rest is silence.
His name Nathaniel Bacon is his state. Gentlemen and soldier, his tragedy to be born a century
too soon. One hundred years before the seed he had planted came to fruition. One hundred
years before another Virginian gentleman announced to the world, we hold these truths to be self-evident.
That all men are created equal. That they are endowed by their creator with certain
inalienable rights. That among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
All thanks to Basil Rathbone, Richard Green and the Cavalcade players for tonight's DuPont
play, The Torchbearer.
Next week, the star of the DuPont Cavalcade will be Barry Sullivan. Our play, Path to
the Stars, is a heartwarming story of a man, a woman and a dream that came true. Be sure
to listen. Tonight's DuPont Cavalcade, The Torchbearer, starring Basil Rathbone and Richard
Green, was written by George H. Faulkner and was based on the book Torchbearer of the Revolution
by Thomas Wurttenbaker, published by the Princeton University Press. Music was composed by Arden
Cornwell, conducted by Donald Borey. The program was directed by John Zoller. This is Cy Harris
speaking.
Don't forget next week, our star, Barry Sullivan. Our play, Path to the Stars. The DuPont Cavalcade
of America comes to you from the Glasgow Theatre in New York and is sponsored by the DuPont
Company of Roamington, Delaware. Makers of better things for better living through chemistry.
Here tonight, hear Bob Hope on NBC.