Okisko / Okisko / Okisko / Okisko
Additional Notes
Okisko/Okisco:; Okisko was the Chief of the Weopomioks, at least during the period from 1585-1586 when Lane wrote about him. He comes up numerous times in the various political and diplomatic machinations among the various Algonquian tribes, and a lack of clarity and detail concerning these various political maneuvers make discerning a clear picture rather difficult. Evidently, at one point he was induced by Menatonan, the chief of the Choanacs, who was at that time attempting to gain the favor of the English to secure the release of his hostage son, to submit to Lane “as the queen’s vassal.” However, shortly thereafter, during the unpleasantries of Wingina’s conspiracy to raise a force against the English, it seems that a large amount of copper sufficed to convince Okisko to supply about seven or eight hundred bowmen to the plot. Yet, only shortly thereafter, the text (and Quinn) seems to indicate that Okisko recognized that his obligation to Menatonon and Lane conflicted with his obligation derived from accepting the rather large bribe of copper. As a result, Okisko withdrew from direct action with his immediate followers, allowing his sub-chieftains to act independently and take part in Wingina’s planned uprising. ;
The Roanoke Voyages, 1584-1590: Volume I, ed. David Beers Quinn (London: Hakluyt Society, 1955), 248, 258, 279, 281, 284.