CHAPTER VI.

A SEMINARY OF SEDITION.

Summary review of the founding of Virginia 191-194

Bitter hostility of Spain to the enterprise 194

Gondomar and the Spanish match 195

Gondomar's advice to the king 196

How Sir Walter Raleigh was kept twelve years in prison 197

But was then released and sent on an expedition to Guiana 198

The king's base treachery 199

Judicial murder of Raleigh 200

How the king attempted to interfere with the Company's election of treasurer in 1620 201

How the king's emissaries listened to the reading of the charter 202

Withdrawal of Sandys and election of Southampton 203

Life and character of Nicholas Ferrar 203-205

His monastic home at Little Gidding 205

How disputes rose high in the Company's quarter sessions 206, 207

How the House of Commons rebuked the king 207, 208

How Nathaniel Butler was accused of robbery and screened himself by writing a pamphlet abusing the Company 208

Some of his charges and how they were answered by Virginia settlers 209

As to malaria 209

As to wetting one's feet 210

As to dying under hedges 211

As to the houses and their situations 211, 212

Object of the charges 212

Virginia assembly denies the allegations 213

The Lord Treasurer demands that Ferrar shall answer the charges 214

A cogent answer is returned 214, 215

Vain attempts to corrupt Ferrar 215, 216

How the wolf was set to investigate the dogs 216

The Virginia assembly makes "A Tragical Declaration" 217

On the attorney-general's advice a _quo warranto_ is served 217, 218

How the Company appealed to Parliament, and the king refused to allow the appeal 217, 218

The attorney-general's irresistible logic 219

Lord Strafford's glee 220

How Nicholas Ferrar had the records copied 221, 222

The history of a manuscript 221, 222