The Birth of the Nation, Jamestown, 1607Pryor, Sara Agnes Rice
History
The Birth of the Nation, Jamestown, 1607
Pryor, Sara Agnes Rice
Virginia -- History -- Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775
The advice of the King could not be had. He was away at Theobald's for the
August shooting, and woe to that man who should interrupt him! Zuñiga's
ears were wide open to the news from Virginia, and he wrote to the King
of Spain: "It is very desirable that your Majesty make an end of the few
who are now in Virginia, as that would be digging up the Root so it could
put out no more. It will be serving God and your Majesty to drive these
villains out from there, hanging them in time which is short enough for
the purpose."
Philip III wrote regularly to his minister, agreeing with him, but doing
nothing. The Spanish Council of State advised the King instantly to
make ready a fleet "and forthwith proceed to drive out all who are in
Virginia," and this, they argued, "will suffice to prevent them from again
coming to the place."
After the resolution of the London Council, Zuñiga again urges Philip: "I
hear that three or four ships will return to Virginia. _Will your Majesty
give orders that measures be taken in time:_ because now it will be very
easy; and very difficult afterwards when they have taken root. If they are
punished in the beginning the result will be that no more will go there."
But Philip was disposed to take his own time--overruled by that Providence
which brought us safely through so many perils. He had his own private
schemes. A princess of England was growing up, and he meant to ask her
hand in marriage.
Finally he agreed that the colonists were to be driven out, but the thing
must be done secretly. Zuñiga continued to be his faithful spy, reporting
every step taken by the London Council. It was Zuñiga, we remember,
who was sent to London a few years afterwards to ask for the Princess
Elizabeth.
Before we return to the little colony, happily unconscious of its
many enemies, we must be allowed one more of the letters incident upon
Newport's return. All of them are extremely interesting as illustrative
of the time, but we must not pause too long in our history--a history so
rich in events that it is difficult to choose the most important.
The letter is dated August 18, 1607, and informs John Chamberlain that--
"Captaine Newport is come from our late adventures to Virginia,
having left them in an Island in the midst of a great river 120
mile into the land. They write much commendation of the aire and
the soile and the commodities of it: but silver and golde have
they none, and they cannot yet be at peace with the inhabitants
of the country. They have fortified themselves and built a small
towne which they call 'Jamestowne,' and so they date their
letters; but the towne methinks hath no gracefull name, and
besides the Spaniards, who think it no small matter of moment how
they stile their new populations, will tell us, I doubt, it comes
too neere 'Villiaco.'
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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