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！
These were moving times in the little colony whose population may by now
have been five thousand。 Harvey； the Governor； was rapacious； the King at
home； autocratic。 Meanwhile； signs of change and of unrest were not wanting
in Europe。 England was hastening toward revolution； in Germany the Thirty
Years' War was in mid…career； France and Italy were racked by strife； over
the world the peoples groaned under the strain of oppression。 In science；
too； there was promise of revolution。 Harveynot that Governor Harvey of
Virginia； but a greater in England was writing upon the circulation of the
blood。 Galileo brooded over ideas of the movement of the earth； Kepler；
over celestial harmonies and solar rule。 Descartes was laying the
foundation of a new philosophy。
In the meantime； far across the Atlantic； bands of Virginians went out
against the Indianswho might； or might not； God knows！ have put in a
claim to be considered among the oppressed peoples。 In Virginia the fat；
black； tobacco…fields； steaming under a sun like the sun of Spain； called
for and got more labor and still more labor。 Every little sailing ship
brought white workmencalled servantsconsigned； indentured； apprenticed
to many…acred planters。 These； in return for their passage money； must
serve Laban for a term of years； but then would receive Rachel； or at least
Leah； in the shape of freedom and a small holding and provision with which
to begin again their individual life。 If they were ambitious and energetic
they might presently be able； in turn； to import labor for their own acres。
As yet； in Virginia； there were few African slavesnot more perhaps than a
couple of hundred。 But whenever ships brought them they were readily
purchased。
In Virginia； as everywhere in time of change； there arose anomalies。 Side
by side persisted' a romantic devotion to the King and a determination to
have popular assemblies； a great sense of the rights of the white
individual together with African slavery； a practical； easy…going； debonair
naturalism side by side with an Established Church penalizing alike Papist；
Puritan； and atheist。 Even so early as this； the social tone was set that
was to hold for many and many a year。 The suave climate was somehow to
foster alike a sense of caste and good neighborliness…class distinctions
and republican ideas。
The 〃towns〃 were of the fewest and rudestlittle more than small palisaded
hamlets； built of frame or log； poised near the water of the river James。
The genius of the land…was for the plantation rather than the town。 The
fair and large brick or frame planter's house of a later time had not yet
risen； but the system was well inaugurated that set a main or 〃big〃 house
upon some fair site； with cabins clustered near it； and all surrounded；
save on the river front； with far…flung acres； some planted with grain and
the rest with tobacco。 Up and down the river these estates were strung
together by the rudest roads； mere tracks through field and wood。 The cart
was as yet the sole wheeled vehicle。 But the Virginia plantera horseman
in Englandbrought over horses； bred horses； and early placed horsemanship
in the catalogue of the necessary colonial virtues。 At this point； however；
in a land of great and lesser rivers； with a network of creeks； the boat
provided the chief means of communication。 Behind all； enveloping all；
still spread the illimitable forest； the haunt of Indians and innumerable
game。
Virginians were already preparing for an expansion to the north。 There was
a man in Virginia named William Claiborne。 This individualable；
determined； self…reliant； energetichad come in as a young man； with the
title of surveyorgeneral for the Company； in the ship that brought Sir
Francis Wyatt； just before the massacre of 1622。 He had prospered and was
now Secretary of the Province。 He held lands； and was endowed with a bold；
adventurous temper and a genius for business。 In a few years he had
established widespread trading relations with the Indians。 He and the men
whom he employed penetrated to the upper shores of Chesapeake； into the
forest bordering Potomac and Susquehanna： Knives and hatchets； beads；
trinkets； and colored cloth were changed for rich furs and various articles
that the Indians could furnish。 The skins thus gathered Claiborne shipped
to London merchants； and was like to grow wealthy from what his trading
brought。
Looking upon the future and contemplating barter on a princely scale； he
set to work and obtained exhaustive licenses from the immediate Virginian
authorities； and at last from the King himself。 Under these grants；
Claiborne began to provide settlements for his numerous traders。 Far up the
Chesapeake； a hundred miles or so from Point Comfort； he found an island
that he liked； and named it Kent Island。 Here for his men he built cabins
with gardens around them； a mill and a church。 He was far from the river
James and the mass of his fellows； but he esteemed himself to be in
Virginia and upon his own land。 What came of Claiborne's enterprise the
sequel has to show。
CHAPTER IX。 MARYLAND
There now enters upon the scene in Virginia a man of middle age； not
without experience in planting colonies； by name George Calvert； first Lord
Baltimore。 Of Flemish ancestry； born in Yorkshire； scholar at Oxford；
traveler； clerk of the Privy Council； a Secretary of State under James；
member of the House of Commons； member of the Virginia Company； he knew
many of the ramifications of life。 A man of worth and weight； he was placed
by temperament and education upon the side of the court party and the Crown
in the growing contest over rights。 About the year 1625； under what
influence is not known； he had openly professed the Roman Catholic
faithand that took courage in the seventeenth century； in England！
Some years before； Calvert had obtained from the Crown a grant of a part of
Newfoundland； had named it Avalon； and had built great hopes upon its
settlement。 But the northern winter had worked against him。 He knew； for he
had resided there himself with his family in that harsh clime。 〃From the
middle of October to the middle of May there is a sad fare of winter on all
this land。〃 He is writing to King Charles； and he goes on to say 〃I have
had strong temptations to leave all proceedings in plantations 。 。 。but my
inclination carrying me naturally to these kind of works 。。 。 I am
determined to commit this place to fishermen that are able to encounter
storms and hard weather； and to remove myself with some forty persons to
your Majesty's dominion of Virginia where； if your Majesty will please to
grant me a precinct of land。 。 。 I shall endeavour to the utmost of my
power； to deserve it。〃
With his immediate following he thereupon does sail far southward。 In
October； 1629； he comes in between the capes； past Point Comfort and so up
to Jamestownto the embarrassment of that capital； as will soon be evident。
Here in Church of England Virginia was a 〃popish recusant！〃 Here was an old
〃court party〃 man； one of James's commissioners； a person of rank and
prestige； known； for all his recusancy； to be in favor with the present
King。 Here was the