The Beginners of a Nation: A History of the Source and Rise of the Earliest English Settlements in America, with Special Reference to the Life and Character of the PeopleEggleston, Edward
History
The Beginners of a Nation: A History of the Source and Rise of the Earliest English Settlements in America, with Special Reference to the Life and Character of the People
Eggleston, Edward
United States -- History -- Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775
The Code of Lawes, Divine, Morall and Martiall, by which Dale reigned
was edited and published by Strachey in 1612, and reprinted in Force's
Tracts, vol. iii. This code appears to have had no other sanction than
the approval of Sir Thomas Smythe, the governor of the company. The
beneficial effect of these laws is maintained in Hamor's Discourse, in
Rolfe's Relation, and in certain letters of Dale in the Record Office.
It was not, indeed, the government by martial law, but Dale's abuse of
his power, that wrought the mischief. After the emancipation the old
settlers lived in perpetual terror lest some turn of the wheel should
put them once more in the power of Sir Thomas Smythe and his divine
and martial laws. See especially the Additional Statement appended to
the Discourse of the Old Virginia Company. On the long and bitter
dissension that resulted in the overthrow of the company, see Arthur
Woodnoth's Short Collection of the most remarkable Passages from the
Original to the Dissolution of the Virginia Company, a rare work of
great value to the historian of this period.
[Sidenote: Note 17, page 56.]
Rolfe's Relation has it that the ship which brought Yeardley brought
also the news of the election of Sandys and John Ferrar. But Yeardley
arrived in Virginia on the 18th of April (O.S.), and Sir Thomas
Smythe's resignation did not take place until ten days later.
Manuscript Records of the Virginia Company. The news that Sir George
Yeardley did bring was no doubt that the power of Sir Thomas Smythe
and his party was broken, and that the actual control of affairs was
in the hands of such men as Sandys, Southampton, Cavendish, Danvers,
and the two Ferrars. The whole policy of the company indicates that
the new party was really in power, and the appointment of such a man
as Yeardley was probably the work of the rising party. The records
before the resignation of Sir Thomas Smythe were probably destroyed
for purposes of concealment.
[Sidenote: Note 18, page 57.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account