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疯狂热线 更新:2021-12-07 09:33 字数:9321
Pioneers of the Old South; A Chronicle of English Colonial Beginnings
by Mary Johnston
CONTENTS
I。 THE THREE SHIPS SAIL
II。 THE ADVENTURERS
III。 JAMESTOWN
IV。 JOHN SMITH
V。 THE SEA ADVENTURE
VI。 SIR THOMAS DALE
VII。 YOUNG VIRGINIA
VIII。 ROYAL GOVERNMENT
IX。 MARYLAND
X。 CHURCH AND KINGDOM
XI。 COMMONWEALTH AND RESTORATION
XII。 NATHANIEL BACON
XIII。 REBELLION AND CHANGE
XIV。 THE CAROLINAS
XV。 ALEXANDER SPOTSWOOD
XVI。 GEORGIA
THE NAVIGATION LAWS
BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTE
PIONEERS OF THE OLD SOUTH
CHAPTER I。 THE THREE SHIPS SAIL
Elizabeth of England died in 1603。 There came to the English throne James
Stuart; King of Scotland; King now of England and Scotland。 In 1604 a
treaty of peace ended the long war with Spain。 Gone was the sixteenth
century; here; though in childhood; was the seventeenth century。
Now that the wars were over; old colonization schemes were revived in the
English mind。 Of the motives; which in the first instance had prompted
these schemes; some with the passing of time had become weaker; some
remained quite as strong as before。 Most Englishmen and women knew now that
Spain had clay feet; and that Rome; though she might threaten; could not
always perform what she threatened。 To abase the pride of Spain; to make
harbors of refuge for the angel of the Reformationthese wishes; though
they had not vanished; though no man could know how long the peace with
Spain would last; were less fervid than they had been in the days of Drake。
But the old desire for trade remained as strong as ever。 It would be a
great boon to have English markets in the New World; as well as in the Old;
to which merchants might send their wares; and from which might be drawn in
bulk; the raw stuffs that were needed at home。 The idea of a surplus
population persisted; England of five million souls still thought that she
was crowded and that it would be well to have a land of younger sons; a
land of promise for all not abundantly provided for at home。 It were surely
well; for mere pride's sake; to have due lot and part in the great New
World! And wealth like that which Spain had found was a dazzle and a lure。
〃Why; man; all their dripping…pans are pure gold; and all the chains with
which they chain up their streets are massy gold; all the prisoners they
take are fettered in gold; and for rubies and diamonds they go forth on
holidays and gather 'em by the seashore!〃 So the comedy of 〃Eastward Ho!〃
seen on the London stage in 1605〃Eastward Ho!〃 because yet they thought
of America as on the road around to China。
In this year Captain George Weymouth sailed across the sea and spent a
summer month in North Virginialater; New England。 Weymouth had powerful
backers; and with him sailed old adventurers who had been with Raleigh。
Coming home to England with five Indians in his company; Weymouth and his
voyage gave to public interest the needed fillip towards action。 Here was
the peace with Spain; and here was the new interest in Virginia。 〃Go to!〃
said Mother England。 〃It is time to place our children in the world!〃
The old adventurers of the day of Sir Humphrey Gilbert had acted as
individuals。 Soon was to come in the idea of cooperative actionthe idea
of the joint…stock company; acting under the open permission of the Crown;
attended by the interest and favor of numbers of the people; and giving to
private initiative and personal ambition; a public tone。 Some men of
foresight would have had Crown and Country themselves the adventurers;
superseding any smaller bodies。 But for the moment the fortunes of Virginia
were furthered by a group within the great group; by a joint…stock company;
a corporation。
In 1600 had come into being the East India Company; prototype of many
companies to follow。 Now; six years later; there arose under one royal
charter two companies; generally known as the London and the Plymouth。 The
first colony planted by the latter was short…lived。 Its letters patent were
for North Virginia。 Two ships; the Mary and John and the Gift of God;
sailed with over a hundred settlers。 These men; reaching the coast of what
is now Maine; built a fort and a church on the banks of the Kennebec。 Then
followed the usual miseries typical of colonial venturesickness;
starvation; and a freezing winter。 With the return of summer the enterprise
was abandoned。 The foundation of New England was delayed awhile; her
Pilgrims yet in England; though meditating that first remove to Holland;
her Mayflower only a ship of London port; staunch; but with no fame above
another。
The London Company; soon to become the Virginia Company; therefore engages
our attention。 The charter recites that Sir Thomas Gates and Sir George
Somers; Knights; Richard Hakluyt; clerk; Prebendary of Westminster;
Edward…Maria Wingfield; and other knights; gentlemen; merchants; and
adventurers; wish 〃to make habitation; plantation; and to deduce a colony
of sundry of our people into that part of America commonly called
Virginia。〃 It covenants with them and gives them for a heritage all America
between the thirty…fourth and the fortyfirst parallels of latitude。
The thirty…fourth parallel passes through the middle of what is now South
Carolina; the forty…first grazes New York; crosses the northern tip of New
Jersey; divides Pennsylvania; and so westward across to that Pacific or
South Sea that the age thought so near to the Atlantic。 All England might
have been placed many times over in what was given to those knights;
gentlemen; merchants; and others。
The King's charter created a great Council of Virginia; sitting in London;
governing from overhead。 In the new land itself there should exist a second
and lesser council。 The two councils had authority within the range of
Virginian matters; but the Crown retained the power of veto。 The Council in
Virginia might coin money for trade with the Indians; expel invaders;
import settlers; punish illdoers; levy and collect taxesshould have; in
short; dignity and power enough for any colony。 Likewise; acting for the
whole; it might give and take orders 〃to dig; mine and search for all
manner of mines of gold; silver and copper 。 。 。 to have and enjoy 。 。 。
yielding to us; our heirs and successors; the fifth part only of all the
same gold and silver; and the fifteenth part of all the same copper。〃
Now are we readyit being Christmas…tide of the year 1606to go to
Virginia。 Riding on the Thames; before Blackwall; are three ships; small
enough in all conscience' sake; the Susan Constant; the Goodspeed; and the
Discovery。 The Admiral of this fleet is Christopher Newport; an old seaman
of Raleigh's。 Bartholomew Gosnold captains the Goodspeed; and John
Ratcliffe the Discovery。 The three ships have aboard their crews and one
hundred and twenty colonists; all men。 The Council in Virginia is on board;
but it does not yet know itself as such; for the names of its members have
been deposited by the superior home council in a sealed box; to be opened
only on Virginia soil。
The colonists have their paper of instructions。 They shall find out a safe
port in the entrance of a navigable river。 They shall be prepared against
surprise and attack。 They shall observe 〃whether the river on which you
plant doth spring out of mountains or out of lakes。 If it be out of any
lake the passage to the other sea will be the more easy; and like enough 。
。 。 you shall find some spring which runs the contrary way toward the East
India sea。 〃They must avoid giving offense to the 〃naturals〃must choose a
healthful place for their houses…must guard their shipping。 They are to set
down in black and white for the information of the Council at home all such
matters as directions and distances; the nature of soils and forests and
the various commodities that they may find。 And no man is to return from
Virginia without leave from the Council; and none is to write home any
discouraging letter。 The instructions end; 〃Lastly and chiefly; the way to
prosper and to achieve good success is to make yourselves all of one mind
for the good of your country and your own; and to serve and fear God; the
Giver of all Goodness; for every plantation which our Heavenly Father hath
not planted shall be rooted out。〃
Nor did they lack verses to go by; as their enterprise itself did not lack
poetry。 Michael Drayton wrote for them:
Britons; you stay too long;
Quickly aboard bestow you;
And with a merry gale;
Swell your stretched sail;
With vows as strong
As the winds that blow you。
Your course securely steer;
West and by South forth keep;
Rocks; lee shores nor shoals;
Where Eolus scowls;
You need not fear;
So absolute the deep。
And cheerfully at sea
Success you still entice;
To get the pearl and gold;
And ours to hold
VIRGINIA;
Earth's only paradise! 。 。 。
And in regions far
Such heroes bring ye forth
As those from whom we came;
And plant our name
Under that star
Not known unto our north。
See the parting upon Thames's side; Englishmen going; English kindred;
friends; and neighbors calling farewell; waving hat and scarf; standing
bare…headed in the gray winter weather! To Virginiathey are