from the companies that they should render due homage to him. He demanded of them, as rent, one-fifth of all the gold and silver mined, and one-fifteenth of all the copper. The only promise made to the emigrants was that they and their descendants should not cease to be Englishmen. Such were the terms of the "first written charter of a permanent American colony;" simply the charter of a mercantile corporation. 35. The Southern Company. - The Southern Company succeeded in making but one settlement, that of Jamestown, in 1607 (38). In 1609, the company received a second charter granting land further north, as far as Philadelphia, or the 40th parallel, and west to the "South Sea." In a few other respects, the conditions were changed by this charter, as well as by the third charter of 1612. In 1624, the company dissolved, and the settlement reverted to the king, as a royal colony. 36. The Northern Company. — The Northern Company failed in all its attempts to form a colony. The most notable effort was made under the special direction of Sir Ferdinando Gorges, in 1607. One hundred and twenty immigrants, under the lead of George Popham, arrived at the mouth of the Kennebec River, and began a settlement, which they called St. George. The winter proved very severe, and, upon the death of the leader, the "Popham Colony" abandoned the plantation and returned to England. In 1620, the company was succeeded by the Council of Plymouth for New England, which received land further south, as far as Philadelphia, and north to the parallel of 48°, or the northern boundary of New Brunswick, and west to the "South Sea." This council also failed in its purpose, and, in 1635, the members divided the land among themselves and thus surrendered their company rights. Though the results seem so meagre, the first steps had been taken, and the work of colonization went steadily on, without regard to the companies. New charters were granted, and within eighty years twelve English colonies lined the coast from the 32d to the 45th parallel of latitude. Indian Bow and Arrow CHAPTER VI. VIRGINIA. 37. The Fleet. The London Company was more vigorous than the Plymouth, and had its colonists on the way before the close of the year 1606. The leaders of the company had little difficulty in finding volunteers, and the three vessels fitted out were ready to sail in December. The contrast between the "Susan Constant," the largest vessel of the fleet, and an ocean greyhound of to-day is very great. The "Constant" was of one hundred tons' burden, while the "Good Speed" carried but forty tons, and the little pinnace "Discovery," twenty. The voyagers, about one hundred in number, were brave men to undertake the journey, which would occupy about four months, over seas so seldom traversed. The fleet sailed from London, December 19th, 1606, and took the southern course, via the West Indies. Captain Christopher Newport was in command, and among the party were Gosnold, Smith, and Wingfield. A storm prevented them from landing on Roanoke Island, as they had intended, and drove them northward as far as Chesapeake Bay. Ruins of the Settlement at Jamestown, Va. Baltimore Annapolis Patuxent CHESAPEAKE BAY 38. Land Reached. The refuge which they found in this bay proved of so much "comfort" to them, after the severity of the storm, that the name of Point Comfort was given to the land. As the vessels passed into the bay, the leaders named the capes on either side in honor of the two sons of King James, and Cape Henry and Cape Charles they are still called. Soon the fleet started up the beautiful river, which they termed the James, and a spot for the town was chosen on its banks. May 13th, 1607, the colonists landed, and at once began to lay the foundations of Jamestown. The place selected was not suitable for a colony, and to-day the ruins of a church are all that mark its site and designate the spot where the first permanent English settlement was made. John Smith's life covered the period from 1580 to 1631. His own account of his life previous to the year 1604 makes a story more exciting and apparently impossible than any fiction. During the six years beginning with 1596, he travelled in Holland, Scotland, France, Italy, Egypt, Hungary, Germany, and Prussia, until he joined an expedition against the Turks. In the Turkish war he performed many deeds of great valor, but was captured in 1602. After suffering cruel treatment as a slave by Turks, Moors, and Tartars, he finally made his escape, and, travelling alone through Muscovy, Hungary, and Austria, he arrived in Leipsic, in December, 1603. His trip from here back to England was most round-about, and on reaching home he immediately entered heartily into the idea of colonizing Virginia. St.Marys Potomac River Williamsbu Jamestown Yock ewport Cape Charles Pt.Comfort Cape Henry 39. The Men. - The London Company was a body of merchants united mainly for the sake of gain. If the colony which they sent out should bring back gold in abundance, or should find a Northwest Passage, it would be considered a successful adventure. No special plans were formed to establish a farming community, nor were arrangements made whereby the colonists could obtain the necessary food. 'Nobles, gentlemen, carpenters, laborers, boys," were among the voyagers, but no women. The nobles and gentlemen were unaccustomed to labor with their hands. The carpenters, laborers, and boys could dig for gold, and search could not furnish provisions. for precious stones, but they The leaders were not all wise, and their mistakes were often The members of the council had been chosen by very serious. |