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auntient fortification than that any people living might now inhabit it。〃
A pitiable outcome； this； of all the hopes of fair 〃harbours and
habitations；〃 of golden dreams； and farflung dominion。 All those whom
Raleigh had sent to Roanoke were lost or had perished。 Those who had named
and had first dwelled in Jamestown were in number about a hundred。 To these
had been added； during the first year or so； perhaps two hundred more。 And
the ships that had parted from the Sea Adventure had brought in three
hundred。 First and last； not far from seven hundred English folk had come
to live in Virginia。 And these skeletons eating snakes and adders were all
that remained of that company； all those others had died miserably and
their hopes were ashes with them。
What might Sir Thomas Gates； the Governor； do？ 〃That which added most to
his sorowe； and not a little startled him； was the impossibilitie。 。 how to
amend one whitt of this。 His forces were not of habilitie to revenge upon
the。 Indian； nor his owne supply （now brought from the Bermudas） sufficient
to relieve his people。〃 So he called a Council and listened in turn to Sir
George Somers； to Christopher Newport； and to 〃the gentlemen and Counsaile
of the former Government。〃 The end and upshot was that none could see other
course than to abandon the country。 England…in…America had tried and
failed； and had tried again and failed。 God； or the course of Nature； or
the current of History was against her。 Perhaps in time stronger forces and
other attempts might yet issue from England。 But now the hour had come to
say farewell！
Upon the bosom of the river swung two pinnaces； the Discovery and the
Virginia； left by the departing ships months before； and the Deliverance
and the Patience； the Bermuda pinnaces。 Thus the English abandoned the
little town that was but three years old。 Aboard the four small ships they
went； and down the broad river； between the flowery shores； they sailed away。
Doubtless under the trees on either hand were Indians watching this retreat of
the invaders of their forests。 The plan of the departing colonists was to turn
north； when they had reached the sea； and make for Newfoundland； where they
might perhaps meet with English fishing ships。 So they sailed down the river；
and doubtless many hearts were heavy and sad； but others doubtless were full
of joy and thankfulness to be going back to an older home than Virginia。
The river broadened toward Chesapeakeand then； before them； what did they
see？ What deliverance for those who had held on to the uttermost？ They saw
the long boat of an English ship coming toward them with flashing oars；
bringing news of comfort and relief。 There； indeed； off Point Comfort lay
three ships； the De La Warr； the Blessing； and the Hercules； and they
brought； with a good company and good stores； Sir Thomas West； Lord De La
Warr； appointed； over Gates； Lord Governor and CaptainGeneral； by land and
sea； of the Colony of Virginia。
The Discovery； the Virginia； the Patience； and the Deliverance thereupon
put back to that shore they thought to have left forever。 Two days later；
on Sunday the 10th of June； 1610； there anchored before Jamestown the De La
Warr； the Blessing； and the Hercules； and it was thus that the new Lord
Governor wrote home： 〃I 。 。 。 in the afternoon went ashore； where after a
sermon made by Mr。 Buck 。 。 。 I caused my commission to be read； upon which
Sir Thomas Gates delivered up '。。unto me his owne commission； both patents；
and 'the counsell seale； and then I delivered some few wordes unto the
Company 。。 。 。 and after 。 。 。 did constitute and give place of office and
chardge to divers Captaines and gentlemen and elected unto me a counsaile。〃
The dead was alive again。 Saith Rich's ballad：
And to the adventurers* thus he writes；
〃Be not dismayed at all；
For scandall cannot doe us wrong；
God will not let us fall。
Let England knowe our willingnesse；
For that our worke is good；
WE HOPE TO PLANT A NATION
WHERE NONE BEFORE HATH STOOD。〃
* The Virginia Company。
CHAPTER VI。 SIR THOMAS DALE
In a rebuilded Jamestown； Lord De La Warr； of 〃approved courage； temper and
experience；〃 held for a short interval dignified； seigneurial sway； while
his restless associates adventured far and wide。 Sir George Somers sailed
back to the Bermudas to gather a cargo of the wild swine of those woods；
but illness seized him there； and he died among the beautiful islands。 That
Captain Samuel Argall who had traversed for the Company the short road from
the Canaries took up Smith's fallen mantle and carried on the work of
exploration。 It was he who found； and named for the Lord Governor； Delaware
Bay。 He went up the Potomac and traded for corn； rescued an English boy
from the Indians； had brushes with the savages。 In the autumn back to
England with a string of ships went that tried and tested seafarer
Christopher Newport。 Virginia wanted many things； and chiefly that the
Virginia Company should excuse defect and remember promise。 So Gates sailed
with Newport to make true report and guide exertion。 Six months passed； and
the Lord Governor himself fell ill and must home to England。 So away he；
too； went and for seven years until his death ruled from that distance
through a deputy governor。 De La Warr was a man of note and worth； old
privy councilor of Elizabeth and of James； soldier in the Low Countries；
strong Protestant and believer in England…in…America。 Today his name is
borne by a great river； a great bay； and by one of the United States。
In London； the Virginia Company； having listened to Gates； projected a
fourth supply for the colony。 Of those hundreds who had perished in
Virginia； many had been true and intelligent men； and again many perhaps
had been hardly that。 But the Virginia Company was now determined to
exercise for the future a discrimination。 It issued a broadside； making
known that it was sending a new supply of men and all necessary provision
in a fleet of good ships； under the conduct of Sir Thomas Gates and Sir
Thomas Dale； and that it was not intended any more to burden the action
with 〃vagrant and unnecessary persons 。 。 。 but honest and industrious men；
as Carpenters； Smiths； Coopers； Fishermen； Tanners； Shoemakers；
Shipwrights； Brickmen； Gardeners； Husbandmen； and laboring men of all sorts
that 。 。 。 shall be entertained for the Voyage upon such termes as their
qualitie and fitnesse shall deserve。〃 Yet； in spite of precautions； some of
the other sort continued to creep in with the sober and industrious。 Master
William Crashaw； in a sermon upon the Virginia venture； remarks that 〃they
who goe 。 。 。 be like for aught I see） to those who are left behind； even
of all sorts better and worse！〃 This probably hits the mark。
The Virginia Company meant at last to have order in Virginia。 To this
effect； a new office was created and a strong man was found to fill it。
Gates remained De La Warr's deputy governor； but Sir Thomas Dale went as
Marshal of Virginia。 The latter sailed in March； 1611； with 〃three ships；
three hundred people； twelve kine； twenty goats； and all things needful for
the colony。〃 Gates followe