Chapter VI: A Seminary of Sedition

Summary review of the founding of Virginia 191-194 Bitter hostility of Spain to the enterprise 194 Gondomar and the Spanish match 195 Gondomar's advice to the king 196 How Sir Walter Raleigh was kept twelve years in prison 197 But was then released and sent on an expedition to Guiana 198 The king's base treachery 199 Judicial murder of Raleigh 200 How the king attempted to interfere with the Company's election of treasurer in 1620 201 How the king's emissaries listened to the reading of the charter 202 Withdrawal of Sandys and election of Southampton 203 Life and character of Nicholas Ferrar 203-205 His monastic home at Little Gidding 205 How disputes rose high in the Company's quarter sessions 206, 207 How the House of Commons rebuked the king 207, 208 How Nathaniel Butler was accused of robbery and screened himself by writing a pamphlet abusing the Company 208 Some of his charges and how they were answered by Virginia settlers 209 As to malaria 209 As to wetting one's feet 210 As to dying under hedges 211 As to the houses and their situations 211, 212 Object of the charges 212 Virginia assembly denies the allegations 213 The Lord Treasurer demands that Ferrar shall answer the charges 214 A cogent answer is returned 214, 215 [Pg xviii] Vain attempts to corrupt Ferrar 215, 216 How the wolf was set to investigate the dogs 216 The Virginia assembly makes "A Tragical Declaration" 217 On the attorney-general's advice a quo warranto is served 217, 218 How the Company appealed to Parliament, and the king refused to allow the appeal 217, 218 The attorney-general's irresistible logic 219 Lord Strafford's glee 220 How Nicholas Ferrar had the records copied 221, 222 The history of a manuscript 221, 222