Some said that he was poisoned, but that has never been proved.

The illness that had attacked him during his siege of Jamestown and that held on after his victory seems to have sufficed for his taking off.

In Gloucester County he "surrendered up that fort he was no longer able to keep, into the hands of that grim and all-conquering Captaine Death." His body was buried, says the old account, "but where deposited till the Generall day not knowne, only to those who are resolutely silent in that particular." With Bacon's death there fell to pieces all this hopeful or unhopeful movement.

Lawrence might have a subtle head and Drummond the courage to persevere; Hansford, Cheeseman, Bland, and others might have varied abilities.

But the passionate and determined Bacon had been the organ of action; Bacon's the eloquence that could bring to the cause men with property to give as well as men with life to lose.