patent, as the foundation of all our proceedings, to be here immediately produced, and read, before this honourable assembly, and these worthy gentlemen the king's messengers. And then both we and they shall all soon be satisfied in the extent of our privileges, and in the strength of his majesty's grant, which he hath made to us under the great seal of England, and under the hand and honour of a king."

Thereupon, all instantly cried out, "The patent! The patent! God save the king." The patent was then openly and distinctly read by the secretary.

After which sir Laurence Hyde stood up again and said, "Gentlemen, I pray you all to observe well the words of the patent in the point of electing a governor. You see it is thereby left to your own free choice. This I take it is so very plain and evident that we shall not need to say any thing more to it. And no doubt these gentlemen, when we shall have done our duty, and they depart, will give his majesty a just information of the case, and undeceive him in the unjust misrepresentations which have been given him in this point.”

The rest of the many lawyers who were there concurred in opinion with sir Laurence Hyde, and the court voted that they should now immediately proceed to election. When a friend of sir Edwyn Sandys, sir Robert Phillips, who sat behind him, and to whom sir Edwyn had whispered, stood up and craved of them before they proceeded, to hear him a word, or two, and then said,

"I shall consent that we go to an election out of hand, because it is the business of the day, and if we do it not now, we may thereby in my opinion forfeit our patent; and also that we may by so doing shew our duty to the king, in order to satisfy him in all that we may which, as I am instructed by this worthy gentleman your late governor, may be done, if governor, may be done, if you will out of your own judgments, at present forbear to set up his name (whom I perceive you all think and know most worthy to be continued in that office) and put up two or three names of the persons recommended by his majesty. And let these managers themselves, if they think fit, nominate which two they please. And in order in some degree to preserve your own privileges, do you then name a third person. And then let all these three names be set upon the balloting box, and so go to the election in God's name, and let his will be done."

Thereupon with a general acclamation, not one voice against

it, the whole court cried out "Southampton! Southampton!" At which my lord of Southampton rose up to speak. But they again cried out, "The time is almost past, we most humbly beseech your lordship not to interrupt our proceedings."

The king's messengers then said, they must confess that the company proceeded wisely; and that if they had the nomination of two out of three, as sir Robert Phillips proposed, they doubted not but his majesty would be satisfied. For as sir Edwyn Sandys had wisely waved his interest, if the king desired no more than that he might not be chosen, the course proposed to be taken was likely to please him. And so they proceeded to the ballot; when of the two persons nominated by the king's messengers, one of them had only one ball, and the other but two. The earl of Southampton had all the rest. Lord Southampton then took the chair, and they proceeded to the choice of a deputy, when Mr. John Ferrar was chosen by the same majority; of that large company, consisting of near five hundred persons, only three dissenting. And thus began the year 1620.

The earl of Southampton, now elected governor of the Virginia company, had a particular friendship with sir Edwyn Sandys, and took this office conditionally that his friend should continue his advice and assistance in the business of the company. So that there were now three very able men engaged, lord Southampton, sir Edwyn Sandys, and Mr. Nicholas Ferrar. Lord Southampton celebrated for wisdom, eloquence, and sweet deportment; sir Edwyn Sandys for great knowledge, and integrity; and Nicholas Ferrar for wonderful abilities, unwearied diligence, and the strictest virtue.

The latter was now fully employed in drawing up instructions concerning all the various business respecting the plantation, in writing all letters of advice to the colony in Virginia, and in being constantly one in every committee. Which instructions and letters being always read in the open courts, gained him universal approbation. The civilians, the common lawyers, the divines, (of which last dean Williams, afterwards bishop of Lincoln', was one) who attended these courts, when acquainted with Mr. Ferrar's performances, all spoke of him in highest terms of commendation. The merchants and tradesmen, when he had

• Bishop of Lincoln.] John Williams, afterwards lord keeper and archbishop of York, of whom see more in the Life of Bishop Hall.

occasion to speak of their matters, even the sea officers, and mariners, when he gave directions about the victualling and ordering the ships or other naval affairs, all were in the highest admiration of his abilities and accurate knowledge of every thing relating to their respective professions. And now under the management and direction of lord Southampton, sir Edwyn Sandys, and Mr. Nicholas Ferrar, the affairs of the Virginia plantation were soon in the most flourishing situation.

At this time there was in London a Mr. Copeland, a minister in the Somers Islands, who contracted a great intimacy with Mr. Ferrar. He was a worthy man, and very zealous for the conversion of the infidel natives of America. He had many conferences with Mr. Ferrar upon this subject, and the best way and means to effect it; and he seriously informed sir E. Sandys and others of the company, that he verily believed Mr. Ferrar was determined some time to leave the whole world, and settle in Virginia; and there employ the extraordinary talents with which God had blessed him, and spend his life in the conversion of the natives, or other infidels in that country: adding, "If he should So, I will never forsake him, but wait upon him in that glorious work." This I think is a strong presumptive proof, that notwithstanding Mr. Ferrar's great abilities in different occupations, and his wonderful proficiency in various acquisitions of science, and other accomplishments, yet that the peculiar bent, and determination of his mind was uniformly given to the promotion of the Christian religion.

do

At this time (April, 1620) died Mr. Ferrar the father, who made his son Nicholas his sole executor; which was a great addition to the business already lying upon him: but he had abilities equal to any thing, and to every thing; with firmness of mind and integrity equal to his ability. Mr. Ferrar sen. by his will gave 300l. towards erecting a school or college in Virginia for the better education of such infidel children as should be there converted to the Christian religion. He was buried in the church of St. Bennet Sherhog, April 11, and his old friend Dr. Francis White, whom he brought from the obscurity of the country into a more public life, preached his funeral sermon to a crouded audience; in which he described him as a second Nathaniel,"an Israelite indeed, in whom was no guile."

The Virginia plantation, now under the government of the earl of Southampton, became every day of higher reputation, and the

affairs of the company in consequence every day of more weighty importance. So that Mr. Ferrar, both as counsel' to the company, and assistant also to his brother as deputy governor, was pressed by a double weight of care: as the company would not permit the deputy to resign till he had executed his office three years; which he did 1619, under sir Edwyn Sandys, and 1620, 1621, under the earl of Southampton.

But now the increasing fame of this company, and the wise management of it was carried into Spain, and caused no small alarm. The politicians there saw, or pretended to see danger in the course of not many years. Virginia was too near them, both by sea and land: and they did not know but the people of that plantation, when once a little settled, might perhaps be looking over the hills, and at length spy out their rich mines. Gondomar therefore had it in commission to have a special eye upon the company, and the managers of their affairs. And he was indeed a vigilant observer of his instructions. He not only gained an absolute influence over the king, but many great men about him, whom he had bought with Spanish money: these were very powerful, and well known at court by the name of the Spanish party.

Gondomar and the king had now agreed upon the destruction of the Virginia company. Notice of their dishonourable designs was given to lord Southampton and sir Edwyn Sandys, by the marquis of Hamilton and the earl of Pembroke; who privately warned them to look well to themselves, and their proceedings, for that many stratagems were now in train, and would be pushed to the utmost to procure the destruction of the plantation, and to ruin all persons who should be employed in supporting the affairs of the company.

This opportune advice produced a double care and watchfulness in the managers, if possible, to prevent the intended mischief. But it would be endless here to relate the many discouragements, the dark intrigues, and shameful practices which they now daily met and encountered. These things require another time and place. All that need here be said is that the Virginia business was now no pastime, nor were the managers in any respect permitted to be idle.

In the Easter term, 1622, Mr. John Ferrar, having been con

VOL. IV.

5 As counsel.] See p. 155, note.

M

tinued deputy governor three years, Nicholas Ferrar was elected to succeed him. For lord Southampton plainly told the deputation from the company, who waited on him to desire he would consent to be re-elected, that if they did not choose Mr. Nicholas Ferrar to be the deputy governor, he could not any longer take the office of governor upon him; saying that he was the only person who was able to go through with the business; and to encounter all those great and potent oppositions, which he knew either were, or very soon would be raised against the company and the plantation: and that without Mr. Ferrar's assistance all would fall to ruin. "You all," he continued, "see, and know his abilities and his integrity as well as I. On condition of his being deputy, I will be your governor: but he must be the person who must act both mine and his own part also. Without him I dare not accept the office: with him, I will do all I can to serve you.'

These things being thus settled, the meetings at Mr. Ferrar's house began again to be crouded, as usual; and Gondomar exerted double diligence, procuring, by Spanish gold, spies, who informed him of every thing that was done at these meetings; and, what added greatly to his influence, the Spanish party at court carried every thing with a high hand.

Many shameful stratagems were now attempted against the company, to throw their affairs into confusion, and to dishearten them on all sides. Particularly their privilege in point of customs (which was to pay only 5 per cent.) was now questioned, and 15 per cent. demanded. One Jacobs also, who had procured a licence for importing Spanish tobacco, was now employed and supported by the great men in the pay of Gondomar to infringe the company's patent: which encreased Mr. Ferrar's trouble to a great degree, and made it necessary for him to resort frequently to the council table, and to sir Tho. Coventry the king's attorney general.

The hardship and the injustice put upon the company in this last article only was very great, as the profit arising from Virginia tobacco, was as yet the only return which the planters had to answer all their trouble, expence, and hazard. For little progress had been made in the several plans of improvement, as the consequences of the first massacre by the savages, were not yet fully

recovered.

6

• The first massacre.] [That massacre was perpetrated on Friday, March 22, 1621, at which time the savages killed 347 persons. There were then mur