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Despot in the landwas Emperor and Pope。
With the forest went the Indian。 They had a pact together。 The Indians
hacked out space for their villages of twenty or thirty huts； their maize
and bean fields and tobacco patches。 They took saplings for poles and bark
to cover the huts and wood for fires。 The forest gave canoe and bow and
arrow； household bowls and platters； the sides of the drum that was beaten
at feasts。 It furnished trees serviceable for shelter when the foe was
stalked。 It was their wall and roof； their habitat。 It was one of the Four
Friends of the Indiansthe Ground； the Waters； the Sky； the Forest。 The
forest was everywhere； and the Indians dwelled in the forest。 Not
unnaturally； they held that this world was theirs。
Upon the three ships； sailing； sailing； moved a few men who could speak
with authority of the forest and of Indians。 Christopher Newport was upon
his first voyage to Virginia； but he knew the Indies and the South American
coast。 He had sailed and had fought under Francis Drake。 And Bartholomew
Gosnold had explored both for himself and for Raleigh。 These two could tell
others what to look for。 In their company there was also John Smith。 This
gentleman； it is true； had not wandered； fought； and companioned with
romance in America； but he had done so everywhere else。 He had as yet no
experience with Indians； but he could conceive that rough experiences were
rough experiences； whether in Europe； Asia； Africa； or America。 And as he
knew there was a family likeness among dangerous happenings； so also he
found one among remedies； and he had a bag full of stories of strange
happenings and how they should be met。
They were going the old； long West Indies sea road。 There was time enough
for talking； wondering； considering the past； fantastically building up the
future。 Meeting in the ships' cabins over ale tankards； pacing up and down
the small high…raised poop…decks； leaning idle over the side； watching
the swirling dark…blue waters or the stars of night； lying idle upon the
deck； propped by the mast while the trade…winds blew and up beyond sail and
rigging curved the skythey had time enough indeed to plan for marvels！ If
they could have seen ahead； what pictures of things to come they might have
beheld rising； falling； melting we into another！
Certain of the men upon the Susan Constant； the Goodspeed； and the
Discovery stand out clearly； etched against the sky。
Christopher Newport might be forty years old。 He had been of Raleigh's
captains and was chosen； a very young man； to bring to England from the
Indies the captured great carrack； Madre de Dios； laden with fabulous
treasure。 In all； Newport was destined to make five voyages to Virginia；
carrying supply and aid。 After that； he would pass into the service of the
East India Company； know India； Java； and the Persian Gulf； would be
praised by that great company for sagacity； energy； and good care of his
men。 Ten years' time from this first Virginia voyage； and he would die upon
his ship； the Hope； before Bantam in Java。
Bartholomew Gosnold； the captain of the Goodspeed； had sailed with thirty
others； five years before； from Dartmouth in a bark named the Concord。 He
had not made the usual long sweep southward into tropic waters； there to
turn and come northward； but had gone； arrowstraight； across the north
Atlanticone of the first English sailors to make the direct passage and
save； many a weary sea league。 Gosnold and his men had seen Cape Ann and
Cape Cod； and had built upon Cuttyhunk； among the Elizabeth Islands； a
little fort thatched with rushes。 Then； hardships thronging and quarrels
developing； they had filled their ship with sassafras and cedar； and sailed
for home over the summer Atlantic； reaching England； with 〃not one cake of
bread〃 left but only 〃a little vinegar。〃 Gosnold； guiding the Goodspeed； is
now making his last voyage； for he is to die in Virginia within the year。
George Percy； brother of the Earl of Northumberland； has fought bravely in
the Low Countries。 He is to stay five years in Virginia； to serve there a
short time as Governor； and then； returning to England； is to write 〃A
Trewe Relacyion〃； in which he begs to differ from John Smith's 〃Generall
Historie。〃 Finally； he goes again to the wars in the Low Countries； serves
with distinction； and dies； unmarried； at the age of fifty…two。 His
portrait shows a long； rather melancholy face； set between a lace collar
and thick； dark hair。
A Queen and a CardinalMary Tudor and Reginald Polehad stood sponsors
for the father of Edward…Maria Wingfield。 This man； of an ancient and
honorable stock； was older than most of his fellow adventurers to Virginia。
He had fought in Ireland； fought in the Low Countries； had been a prisoner
of war。 Now he was presently to become 〃the first president of the first
council in the first English colony in America。 〃And then； miseries
increasing and wretched men being quick to impute evil； it was to be held
with other assertions against him that he was of a Catholic family； that he
traveled without a Bible； and probably meant to betray Virginia to the
Spaniard。 He was to be deposed from his presidency； return to England；
and there write a vindication。 〃I never turned my face from daunger； or
hidd my handes from labour； so watchful a sentinel stood myself to myself。〃
With John Smith he had a bitter quarrel。
Upon the Discovery is one who signed himself 〃John Radclyffe； comenly
called；〃 and who is named in the London Company's list as 〃Captain John
Sicklemore； alias Ratcliffe。 〃He will have a short and stormy Virginian
life； and in two years be done to death by Indians。 John Smith quarreled
with him also。 〃A poor counterfeited Imposture！〃 said Smith。 Gabriel Archer
is a lawyer； and first secretary or recorder of the colony。 Short； too； is
his life。 His name lives in Archer's Hope on the James River in Virginia。
John Smith will have none of him！ George Kendall's life is more nearly spun
than Ratcliffe's or Archer's。 He will be shot for treason and rebellion。
Robert Hunt is the chaplain。 Besides those whom the time dubbed
〃gentlemen；〃 there are upon the three ships English sailors； English
laborers； six carpenters； two bricklayers； a blacksmith； a tailor； a
barber； a drummer； other craftsmen； and nondescripts。 Up and down and to
and fro they pass in their narrow quarters； microscopic upon the bosom of
the ocean。
John Smith looms large among them。 John Smith has a mantle of marvelous
adventure。 It seems that he began to make it when he was a boy； and for
many years worked upon it steadily until it was stiff as cloth of gold and
voluminous as a puffed…out summer cloud。 Some think that much of it was
such stuff as dreams are made of。 Probably some breadths were the fabric of
vision。 Still it seems certain that he did have some kind of an
extraordinary coat or mantle。 The adventures which he relates of himself
are those of a paladin。 Born in 1579 or 1580； he was at this time still a
young man。 But already he had fought in France and in the Netherlands； and
in Transylvania against the Turks。 He had known sea…fights and shipwrecks
and had journeyed； with adve