pioneers of the old south-第8章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


auntient　fortification　than　that　any　people　living　might　now　inhabit　it。〃

A　pitiable　outcome；　this；　of　all　the　hopes　of　fair　〃harbours　and
habitations；〃　of　golden　dreams；　and　farflung　dominion。　All　those　whom
Raleigh　had　sent　to　Roanoke　were　lost　or　had　perished。　Those　who　had　named
and　had　first　dwelled　in　Jamestown　were　in　number　about　a　hundred。　To　these
had　been　added；　during　the　first　year　or　so；　perhaps　two　hundred　more。　And
the　ships　that　had　parted　from　the　Sea　Adventure　had　brought　in　three
hundred。　First　and　last；　not　far　from　seven　hundred　English　folk　had　come
to　live　in　Virginia。　And　these　skeletons　eating　snakes　and　adders　were　all
that　remained　of　that　company；　all　those　others　had　died　miserably　and
their　hopes　were　ashes　with　them。

What　might　Sir　Thomas　Gates；　the　Governor；　do？　〃That　which　added　most　to
his　sorowe；　and　not　a　little　startled　him；　was　the　impossibilitie。　。　how　to
amend　one　whitt　of　this。　His　forces　were　not　of　habilitie　to　revenge　upon
the。　Indian；　nor　his　owne　supply　（now　brought　from　the　Bermudas）　sufficient
to　relieve　his　people。〃　So　he　called　a　Council　and　listened　in　turn　to　Sir
George　Somers；　to　Christopher　Newport；　and　to　〃the　gentlemen　and　Counsaile
of　the　former　Government。〃　The　end　and　upshot　was　that　none　could　see　other
course　than　to　abandon　the　country。　England…in…America　had　tried　and
failed；　and　had　tried　again　and　failed。　God；　or　the　course　of　Nature；　or
the　current　of　History　was　against　her。　Perhaps　in　time　stronger　forces　and
other　attempts　might　yet　issue　from　England。　But　now　the　hour　had　come　to
say　farewell！

Upon　the　bosom　of　the　river　swung　two　pinnaces；　the　Discovery　and　the
Virginia；　left　by　the　departing　ships　months　before；　and　the　Deliverance
and　the　Patience；　the　Bermuda　pinnaces。　Thus　the　English　abandoned　the
little　town　that　was　but　three　years　old。　Aboard　the　four　small　ships　they
went；　and　down　the　broad　river；　between　the　flowery　shores；　they　sailed　away。
Doubtless　under　the　trees　on　either　hand　were　Indians　watching　this　retreat　of
the　invaders　of　their　forests。　The　plan　of　the　departing　colonists　was　to　turn
north；　when　they　had　reached　the　sea；　and　make　for　Newfoundland；　where　they
might　perhaps　meet　with　English　fishing　ships。　So　they　sailed　down　the　river；
and　doubtless　many　hearts　were　heavy　and　sad；　but　others　doubtless　were　full
of　joy　and　thankfulness　to　be　going　back　to　an　older　home　than　Virginia。

The　river　broadened　toward　Chesapeakeand　then；　before　them；　what　did　they
see？　What　deliverance　for　those　who　had　held　on　to　the　uttermost？　They　saw
the　long　boat　of　an　English　ship　coming　toward　them　with　flashing　oars；
bringing　news　of　comfort　and　relief。　There；　indeed；　off　Point　Comfort　lay
three　ships；　the　De　La　Warr；　the　Blessing；　and　the　Hercules；　and　they
brought；　with　a　good　company　and　good　stores；　Sir　Thomas　West；　Lord　De　La
Warr；　appointed；　over　Gates；　Lord　Governor　and　CaptainGeneral；　by　land　and
sea；　of　the　Colony　of　Virginia。

The　Discovery；　the　Virginia；　the　Patience；　and　the　Deliverance　thereupon
put　back　to　that　shore　they　thought　to　have　left　forever。　Two　days　later；
on　Sunday　the　10th　of　June；　1610；　there　anchored　before　Jamestown　the　De　La
Warr；　the　Blessing；　and　the　Hercules；　and　it　was　thus　that　the　new　Lord
Governor　wrote　home：　〃I　。　。　。　in　the　afternoon　went　ashore；　where　after　a
sermon　made　by　Mr。　Buck　。　。　。　I　caused　my　commission　to　be　read；　upon　which
Sir　Thomas　Gates　delivered　up　'。。unto　me　his　owne　commission；　both　patents；
and　'the　counsell　seale；　and　then　I　delivered　some　few　wordes　unto　the
Company　。。　。　。　and　after　。　。　。　did　constitute　and　give　place　of　office　and
chardge　to　divers　Captaines　and　gentlemen　and　elected　unto　me　a　counsaile。〃

The　dead　was　alive　again。　Saith　Rich's　ballad：

And　to　the　adventurers*　thus　he　writes；
　　　〃Be　not　dismayed　at　all；
For　scandall　cannot　doe　us　wrong；
　　　God　will　not　let　us　fall。
Let　England　knowe　our　willingnesse；
　　　For　that　our　worke　is　good；
WE　HOPE　TO　PLANT　A　NATION
　　　WHERE　NONE　BEFORE　HATH　STOOD。〃

*　The　Virginia　Company。



CHAPTER　VI。　SIR　THOMAS　DALE

In　a　rebuilded　Jamestown；　Lord　De　La　Warr；　of　〃approved　courage；　temper　and
experience；〃　held　for　a　short　interval　dignified；　seigneurial　sway；　while
his　restless　associates　adventured　far　and　wide。　Sir　George　Somers　sailed
back　to　the　Bermudas　to　gather　a　cargo　of　the　wild　swine　of　those　woods；
but　illness　seized　him　there；　and　he　died　among　the　beautiful　islands。　That
Captain　Samuel　Argall　who　had　traversed　for　the　Company　the　short　road　from
the　Canaries　took　up　Smith's　fallen　mantle　and　carried　on　the　work　of
exploration。　It　was　he　who　found；　and　named　for　the　Lord　Governor；　Delaware
Bay。　He　went　up　the　Potomac　and　traded　for　corn；　rescued　an　English　boy
from　the　Indians；　had　brushes　with　the　savages。　In　the　autumn　back　to
England　with　a　string　of　ships　went　that　tried　and　tested　seafarer
Christopher　Newport。　Virginia　wanted　many　things；　and　chiefly　that　the
Virginia　Company　should　excuse　defect　and　remember　promise。　So　Gates　sailed
with　Newport　to　make　true　report　and　guide　exertion。　Six　months　passed；　and
the　Lord　Governor　himself　fell　ill　and　must　home　to　England。　So　away　he；
too；　went　and　for　seven　years　until　his　death　ruled　from　that　distance
through　a　deputy　governor。　De　La　Warr　was　a　man　of　note　and　worth；　old
privy　councilor　of　Elizabeth　and　of　James；　soldier　in　the　Low　Countries；
strong　Protestant　and　believer　in　England…in…America。　Today　his　name　is
borne　by　a　great　river；　a　great　bay；　and　by　one　of　the　United　States。

In　London；　the　Virginia　Company；　having　listened　to　Gates；　projected　a
fourth　supply　for　the　colony。　Of　those　hundreds　who　had　perished　in
Virginia；　many　had　been　true　and　intelligent　men；　and　again　many　perhaps
had　been　hardly　that。　But　the　Virginia　Company　was　now　determined　to
exercise　for　the　future　a　discrimination。　It　issued　a　broadside；　making
known　that　it　was　sending　a　new　supply　of　men　and　all　necessary　provision
in　a　fleet　of　good　ships；　under　the　conduct　of　Sir　Thomas　Gates　and　Sir
Thomas　Dale；　and　that　it　was　not　intended　any　more　to　burden　the　action
with　〃vagrant　and　unnecessary　persons　。　。　。　but　honest　and　industrious　men；
as　Carpenters；　Smiths；　Coopers；　Fishermen；　Tanners；　Shoemakers；
Shipwrights；　Brickmen；　Gardeners；　Husbandmen；　and　laboring　men　of　all　sorts
that　。　。　。　shall　be　entertained　for　the　Voyage　upon　such　termes　as　their
qualitie　and　fitnesse　shall　deserve。〃　Yet；　in　spite　of　precautions；　some　of
the　other　sort　continued　to　creep　in　with　the　sober　and　industrious。　Master
William　Crashaw；　in　a　sermon　upon　the　Virginia　venture；　remarks　that　〃they
who　goe　。　。　。　be　like　for　aught　I　see）　to　those　who　are　left　behind；　even
of　all　sorts　better　and　worse！〃　This　probably　hits　the　mark。

The　Virginia　Company　meant　at　last　to　have　order　in　Virginia。　To　this
effect；　a　new　office　was　created　and　a　strong　man　was　found　to　fill　it。
Gates　remained　De　La　Warr's　deputy　governor；　but　Sir　Thomas　Dale　went　as
Marshal　of　Virginia。　The　latter　sailed　in　March；　1611；　with　〃three　ships；
three　hundred　people；　twelve　kine；　twenty　goats；　and　all　things　needful　for
the　colony。〃　Gates　followed　in　May　with　other　ships；　three　hundred
colonists；　and　much　cattle。

For　the　next　few　years　Dale　becomes；　in　effect；　ruler　of　Virginia。　He　did
much　for　the　colony；　and　therefore；　in　that　far　past　that　is　not　so　distant
either；　much　for　the　United　States　…　a　man　of　note；　and　worth　considering。

Dale　had　seen　many　years　of　service　in　the　Low　Countries。　He　was　still　in
Holland　when　the　summons　came　to　cross　the　ocean　in　the　service　of　the
Virginia　Company。　On　the　recommendation　of　Henry；　Prince　of　Wales；　the
States…General　of　the　United　Netherlands　consented　〃that　Captain　Thomas
Dale　（destined　by　the　King　of　Great　Britain　to　be　employed　in　Virginia　in
his　Majesty's　service）　may　absent　himself　from　his　company　for　the　space　of
three　years；　and　that　his　said　company　shall　remain　meanwhile　vacant；　to　be
resumed　by　him　if　he　think　proper。〃

This　man　had　a　soldier's　way　with　him　and　an　iron　will。　For　five　years　in
Virginia　he　exhibited　a　certain　stern　efficiency　which　was　perhaps　the　best
support　and　medicine　that　could　have　been　devised。　At　the　end　of　that　time；
leaving　Virginia；　he　did　not　return　to　the　Dutch　service；　but　became
Admiral　of　the　fleet　of　the　English　East　India　Company；　thus　passing　from
one　huge　historic　mercantile　company　to　another。　With　six　ships　he　sailed
for　India。　Near　Java；　the　English　and　the　Dutch　having　chosen　to　quarrel；
he　had　with　a　Dutch　fleet　〃a　cruel；　bloody　fight。〃　Later；　when　peace　was
restored；　the　East　India　Company　would　have　given　him　command　of　an　allied
fleet　of　English　and　Dutch　ships；　the　objective　being　trade　along　the　coast
of　Malabar　and　an　attempt　to　open　commerce　with　…the　Chinese。　But　Sir
Thomas　Dale　was　opening　commerce　with　a　vaster；　hidden　land；　for　at
Masulipatam　he　died。　〃Whose　valor；〃　says　his　epitaph；　〃having　shined　in　the
Westerne；　was　set　in　the　Easterne　India。〃

But　now　in　Maytime　of　1611　Dale　was　in　Virginian　waters。　By　this　day；
beside　the　main　settlement　of　Jamestown；　there　were　at　Cape　Henry　and　Point
Comfort　small　forts　garrisoned　with　meager　companies　of　men。　Dale　made
pause　at　these；　setting　matters　in　order；　and　then；　proceeding　up　the
river；　he　came　to　Jamestown　and　found　the　people　gathered　to　receive　him。
Presently　he　writes　home　to　the　Company　a　letter　that　gives　a　view　of　the
place　and　its　needs。　Any　number　of　things　must　be　done；　requiring
continuous　and　hard　work；　〃as；　namely；　the　reparation　of　the　falling　Church
and　so　of　the　Store…house；　a　stable　for　our　horses；　a　munition　house；　a
Powder　house；　a　new　well　for　the　amending　of　the　most　unwholesome　water
which　the　old　afforded。　Brick　to　be　made；　a　sturgion　house　。　。　。　a　Block
house　to　be　raised　on　the　North　side　of　our　back　river　to　prevent　the
Indians　from　killing　our　cattle；　a　house　to　be　set　up　to　lodge　our　cattle
in　the　winter；　and　hay　to　be　appointed　in　his　due　time　to　be　made；　a
smith's　forge　to　be　perfected　caske　for　our　Sturgions　to　be　made；　and
besides　private　gardens　for　each　man　common　gardens　for　hemp　and　flax　and
such　other　seeds；　and　lastly　a　bridge　to　land　our　goods　dry　and　safe　upon；
for　most　of　which　I　take　present　order。〃

Dale　would　have　agreed　with　Dr。　Watts　that

Satan　finds　some　mischief　still
　　　For　idle　hands　to　do！

If　we　of　the　United　States　today　will　call　to　mind　certain　Western　small
towns　of　some　decades　agoif　we　will　review　them　as　they　are　pictured　in
poem　and　novel　and　playwe　may　receive；　as　it　were　out　of　the　tail　of　the
eye；　an　impression　of　some　aspects　of　these　western　plantings　of　the
seventeenth　century。　The　dare…devil；　the　bully；　the　tenderfoot；　the
gambler；　the　gentleman…desperado　had　their　counterparts　in　Virginia。　So　had
the　cool；　indomitable　sheriff　and　his　dependable　posse；　the　friends
generally　of　law　and　order。　Dale　may　be　viewed　as　the　picturesque　sheriff
of　this　earlier　age。

But　it　must　be　remembered　that　this　Virginia　was　of　the　seventeenth；　not　of
the　nineteenth　century。　And　law　had　cruel　and　idiot　faces　as　well　as　faces
just　and　wise。　Hitherto　the　colony　possessed　no　written　statutes。　Th