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！
lous life in Virginia； let the imputation of misery be to their idleness； and the blood that was spilt upon their own heads that caused it。〃
Sir Thomas Gates affirmed that after his first coming there he had seen some of them eat their fish raw rather than go a stone's cast to fetch wood and dress it。
The colony was in such extremity in May； 1610； that it would have been extinct in ten days but for the arrival of Sir Thomas Gates and Sir George Somers and Captain Newport from the Bermudas。 These gallant gentlemen； with one hundred and fifty souls； had been wrecked on the Bermudas in the Sea Venture in the preceding July。 The terrors of the hurricane which dispersed the fleet； and this shipwreck； were much dwelt upon by the writers of the time； and the Bermudas became a sort of enchanted islands； or realms of the imagination。 For three nights； and three days that were as black as the nights； the water logged Sea Venture was scarcely kept afloat by bailing。 We have a vivid picture of the stanch Somers sitting upon the poop of the ship； where he sat three days and three nights together； without much meat and little or no sleep； conning the ship to keep her as upright as he could； until he happily descried land。 The ship went ashore and was wedged into the rocks so fast that it held together till all were got ashore； and a good part of the goods and provisions； and the tackling and iron of the ship necessary for the building and furnishing of a new ship。
This good fortune and the subsequent prosperous life on the island and final deliverance was due to the noble Somers； or Sommers； after whom the Bermudas were long called 〃Sommers Isles；〃 which was gradually corrupted into 〃The Summer Isles。〃 These islands of Bermuda had ever been accounted an enchanted pile of rocks and a desert inhabitation for devils； which the navigator and mariner avoided as Scylla and Charybdis； or the devil himself。 But this shipwrecked company found it the most delightful country in the world； the climate was enchanting； delicious fruits abounded； the waters swarmed with fish； some of them big enough to nearly drag the fishers into the sea； while whales could be heard spouting and nosing about the rocks at night； birds fat and tame and willing to be eaten covered all the bushes； and such droves of wild hogs covered the island that the slaughter of them for months seemed not to diminish their number。 The friendly disposition of the birds seemed most to impress the writer of the 〃True Declaration of Virginia。〃 He remembers how the ravens fed Elias in the brook Cedron； 〃so God provided for our disconsolate people in the midst of the sea by foules； but with an admirable difference； unto Elias the ravens brought meat； unto our men the foules brought （themselves） for meate： for when they whistled； or made any strange noyse； the foules would come and sit on their shoulders； they would suffer themselves to be taken and weighed by our men； who would make choice of the fairest and fattest and let flie the leane and lightest； an accident ＇the chronicler exclaims＇； I take it ＇and everybody will take it＇； that cannot be paralleled by any Historie； except when God sent abundance of Quayles to feed his Israel in the barren wilderness。〃
The rescued voyagers built themselves comfortable houses on the island； and dwelt there nine months in good health and plentifully fed。 Sunday was carefully observed； with sermons by Mr。 Buck； the chaplain； an Oxford man； who was assisted in the services by Stephen Hopkins； one of the Puritans who were in the company。 A marriage was celebrated between Thomas Powell； the cook of Sir George Somers； and Elizabeth Persons； the servant of Mrs。 Horlow。 Two children were also born； a boy who was christened Bermudas and a girl Bermuda。 The girl was the child of Mr。 John Rolfe and wife； the Rolfe who was shortly afterward to become famous by another marriage。 In order that nothing should be wanting to the ordinary course of a civilized community； a murder was committed。 In the company were two Indians； Machumps and Namontack； whose acquaintance we have before made； returning from England； whither they had been sent by Captain Smith。 Falling out about something； Machumps slew Namontack； and having made a hole to bury him； because it was too short he cut off his legs and laid them by him。 This proceeding Machumps concealed till he was in Virginia。
Somers and Gates were busy building two cedar ships； the Deliverer； of eighty tons； and a pinnace called the Patience。 When these were completed； the whole company； except two scamps who remained behind and had adventures enough for a three…volume novel； embarked； and on the 16th of May sailed for Jamestown； where they arrived on the 23d or 24th； and found the colony in the pitiable condition before described。 A few famished settlers watched their coming。 The church bell was rung in the shaky edifice； and the emaciated colonists assembled and heard the 〃zealous and sorrowful prayer〃 of Chaplain Buck。 The commission of Sir Thomas Gates was read； and Mr。 Percy retired from the governorship。
The town was empty and unfurnished； and seemed like the ruin of some ancient fortification rather than the habitation of living men。 The palisades were down； the ports open； the gates unhinged； the church ruined and unfrequented； the houses empty； torn to pieces or burnt； the people not able to step into the woods to gather fire…wood； and the Indians killing as fast without as famine and pestilence within。 William Strachey was among the new…comers； and this is the story that he despatched as Lord Delaware's report to England in July。 On taking stock of provisions there was found only scant rations for sixteen days； and Gates and Somers determined to abandon the plantation； and； taking all on board their own ships； to make their way to Newfoundland； in the hope of falling in with English vessels。 Accordingly； on the 7th of June they got on board and dropped down the James。
Meantime the news of the disasters to the colony； and the supposed loss of the Sea Venture； had created a great excitement in London； and a panic and stoppage of subscriptions in the company。 Lord Delaware； a man of the highest reputation for courage and principle； determined to go himself； as Captain…General； to Virginia； in the hope of saving the fortunes of the colony。 With three ships and one hundred and fifty persons； mostly artificers； he embarked on the 1st of April； 1610； and reached the Chesapeake Bay on the 5th of June； just in time to meet the forlorn company of Gates and Somers putting out to sea。
They turned back and ascended to Jamestown； when landing on Sunday； the 10th； after a sermon by Mr。 Buck； the commission of Lord Delaware was read； and Gates turned over his authority to the new Governor。 He swore in as Council； Sir Thomas Gates； Lieutenant…General； Sir George Somers； Admiral； Captain George Percy； Sir Ferdinando Wenman； Marshal； Captain Christopher Newport； and William Strachey； Esq。； Secretary and Recorder。
On the 19th of June the brave old sailor； Sir George Somers； volunteered to return to the Bermudas in his pinnace to procure hogs and other supplies for the colony。 He was accompani