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Royal building； FrenchmenJesuits that！were trying a settlement on an
island now called Mount Desert； off a coast now named Maine。 The Virginia
Company…doubtless with some reference back to the King and Privy
CouncilDe La Warr； Gates； the deputy governor； and Dale； the High
Marshal； appear to have been of one mind as to these French settlements。 Up
north there was still Virginiain effect； England！ Hands off； therefore；
all European peoples speaking with an un…English tongue！
Now it happened about this time that Captain Samuel Argall received a
commission 〃to go fishing；〃 and that he fished off that coast that is now
the coast of Maine； and brought his ship to anchor by Mount Desert。 Argall；
a swift and high…handed person； fished on dry land。 He swept into his net
the Jesuits on Mount Desert； set half of them in an open boat to meet with
what ship they might； and brought the other half captive to Jamestown。
Later； he appeared before Port Royal； where he burned the cabins； slew the
cattle； and drove into the forest the settler Frenchmen。 But Port Royal and
the land about it called Acadia； though much hurt； survived Argall's
fishing。*
* Argall； on his fishing trip； has been credited with attacking not only
the French in Acadia but the Dutch traders on Manhattan。 But there are
grounds for doubt if he did the latter。
There was also on Virginia in these days the shadow of Spain。 In 1611 the
English had found upon the beach near Point Comfort three Spaniards from a
Spanish caravel which； as the Englishmen had learned with alarm； 〃was
fitted with a shallop necessarie and propper to discover freshetts； rivers；
and creekes。〃 They took the three prisoner and applied for instructions to
Dale； who held them to be spies and clapped them into prison at Point Comfort。
That Dale's suspicions were correct； is proved by a letter which the King
of Spain wrote in cipher to the Spanish Ambassador in London ordering him
to confer with the King as to the liberty of three prisoners whom
Englishmen in Virginia have captured。 The three are 〃the Alcayde Don Diego
de Molino； Ensign Marco Antonio Perez； and Francisco Lembri an English
pilot； who by my orders went to reconnoitre those ports。〃 Small wonder that
Dale was apprehensive。 〃What may be the daunger of this unto us；〃 he wrote
home； 〃who are here so few； so weake； and unfortified； 。 。 。 I refer me to
your owne honorable knowledg。〃
Months pass； and the English Ambassador to Spain writes from Madrid that he
〃is not hasty to advertise anything upon bare rumours； which hath made me
hitherto forbeare to write what I had generally heard of their intents
against Virginia； but now I have been 。 。 。 advertised that without
question they will speedily attempt against our plantation there。 And that
it is a thing resolved of； that ye King of Spain must run any hazard with
England rather than permit ye English to settle there 。 。 。 。Whatsoever is
attempted； I conceive will be from ye Havana。〃
Rumors fly back and forth。 The next year 1613the Ambassador writes from
Madrid： 〃They have latelie had severall Consultations about our Plantation
in Virginia。 The resolution isThat it must be removed； but they thinke
it fitt to suspend the execution of it； 。 。 。 for that they are in hope
that it will fall of itselfe。〃
The Spanish hope seemed； at this time； not at all without foundation。
Members of the Virginia Company had formed the Somers Islands Company named
for Somers the Admiraland had planted a small colony in Bermuda where
the Sea Adventure had been wrecked。 Here were fair； fertile islands without
Indians； and without the diseases that seemed to rise； no man knew how；
from the marshes along those lower reaches of the great river James in
Virginia。 Young though it was； the new plantation 〃prospereth better than
that of Virginia； and giveth greater incouragement to prosecute yt。〃 In
England there arose； from some concerned； the cry to Give up Virginia that
has proved a project awry！ As Gates was once about to remove thence every
living man； so truly they might 〃now removed to these more hopeful
islands！〃 The Spanish Ambassador is found writing to the Spanish King：
〃Thus they are here discouraged 。 。 。 on account of the heavy expenses they
have incurred； and the disappointment； that there is no passage from there
to the South Sea 。 。 。 nor mines of gold or silver。〃 This； be it noted； was
before tobacco was discovered to be an economic treasure。
The Elizabeth from London reached Virginia in May； 1613。 It brought to the
colony news of Bermuda； and incidentally of that new notion brewing in the
mind of some of the Company。 When the Elizabeth； after a month in Virginia；
turned homeward； she carried a vigorous letter from Dale； the High Marshal；
to Sir Thomas Smith； Treasurer of the Company。
〃Let me tell you all at home ＇writes Dale＇ this one thing； and I pray
remember it； if you give over this country and loose it； you； with your
wisdoms； will leap such a gudgeon as our state hath not done the like since
they lost the Kingdom of France； be ot gulled with the clamorous report of
base people； believe Caleb and Joshua； if the glory of God have no power
with them and the conversion of these poor infidels； yet let the rich
mammons' desire egge them on to inhabit these countries。 I protest to you；
by the faith of an honest man； the more I range the country the more I
admire it。 I have seen the best countries in Europe； I protest to you；
before the Living God； put them all together； this country will be
equivalent unto them if it be inhabited with good people。〃
If ever Mother England seriously thought of moving Virginia into Bermuda；
the idea was now given over。 Spain； suspending the sword until Virginia
〃will fall of itselfe；〃 saw that sword rust away。
Five years in all Dale ruled Virginia。 Then； personal and family matters
calling； he sailed away home to England； to return no more。 Soon his star
〃having shined in the Westerne； was set in the Easterne India。 〃At the helm
in Virginia he left George Yeardley； an honest； able man。 But in England；
what was known as the 〃court party〃 in the Company managed to have chosen
instead for De La Warr's deputy governor； Captain Samuel Argall。 It proved
an unfortunate choice。 Argall； a capable and daring buccaneer； fastened on
Virginia as on a Spanish galleon。 For a year he ruled in his own interest；
plundering and terrorizing。 At last the outcry against him grew so loud
that it had to be listened to across the Atlantic。 Lord De La Warr was sent
out in person to deal with matters but died on the way； and Captain
Yeardley； now knighted and appointed Governor； was instructed to proceed
against the incorrigible Argall。 But Argall had already departed to face
his accusers in England。
CHAPTER VII。 YOUNG VIRGINIA
The choice of Sir Edwyn Sandys as Treasurer of the Virginia Company in 1619
marks a turningpoint in the history of both Company and colony。 At a moment
when James I was aiming at absolute monarchy and was menacing Parliament；
Sandys and his partythe Liberals of the dayturned the sessions of the
Company into a parliament where momentous questions of state and colon