The Jamestown Experiment Read Online Free Page A
Author: Tony Williams
to “suffer no man to…write any letter of anything that may discourage others.” Since their fortunes and the glory of England were invested in the colony, the council only wanted to publicize favorable news about the great successes in North America.
The council addressed the anticipated military and economic aspects of Indian relations. The primary consideration, before friendly relations were established and trust built, was to be wary of the Indians and carefully construct the defenses against possible aggressive actions. The colonists were to clear the trees on the land surrounding their town to deny the local peoples cover to launch an attack. Moreover, the colonists were not to expose their numbers of sick or dead, lest they give the Indians encouragement to attack. Only the best marksmen should handle weapons, “for if they see your learners miss what they aim at they will think the weapons not so terrible and thereby will be bold.”
Once the security of the colony was guaranteed, the settlers were ordered to trade with the Indians, who could also be a great source of local knowledge about the search for gold and the Northwest Passage. The colonists must take “great care not to offend the naturals if you can eschew it,” treating them justly and charitably. TheEnglish believed in their own propaganda about the Spanish lie— the supposed mistreatment and slaughter of millions of Indians by the Spanish—and wished to avoid repeating the crime. Thus, the Indians would be receptive to the Protestant missions to “draw the savages and heathen people…to the true service and knowledge of God.”
Although there were flaws in the planning, the members of the Virginia Council did the best they could to anticipate the conditions the settlers would face and instruct them in the vision of the investors. Now it was up to 107 brave souls to journey across three thousand miles of ocean into a virtually unknown land. Not every problem could be foreseen, nor would the wealthy investors have much to offer to fight the daily struggles to survive. The adventurers would have to adapt to circumstances and find innovative solutions to difficulties. They would also have to cooperate in pursuing their goals if they were to successfully plant a permanent English colony in North America.
When they stepped aboard their three vessels, no one could predict what the outcome would be for their purses, their very lives, or the glory of England. The council had generally planned well for the governance, profit, and survival of the colony. The instructions were closely related to fulfilling the goals of the investors. But the character of the instructions made it plain that the colony would resemble previous English attempts to settle in America. At this point, no one questioned the communal and centralized qualities of the colony for those more consistent with free Englishmen.
Chapter Eight
FOR GOD, GLORY, AND GOLD
T homas Smythe stared out one of the windows of his luxurious mansion on Philpot Lane trying to decide on a course of action to take regarding the Jamestown colony. The bleak winter weather that blanketed London did little to revive his mood. The normally busy streets were sparsely populated with bundled people trying to escape the cold. The poor were in desperate circumstances, hunting down spare pieces of wood to stay warm against the elements. The plague had come to London, further dampening the desires of many to go outdoors in the miserable cold. The wharves along the Thames were generally empty, and the traffic along the river had also slowed to a trickle as winter voyages were among the most perilous of all.
In January 1609 one ship that had braved the elements was captained by the indefatigable mariner Christopher Newport, who was returning from the New World. Newport met with Smythe and other members of the council within days of his arrival in London. Unfortunately, he confirmed their growing suspicions about
The council addressed the anticipated military and economic aspects of Indian relations. The primary consideration, before friendly relations were established and trust built, was to be wary of the Indians and carefully construct the defenses against possible aggressive actions. The colonists were to clear the trees on the land surrounding their town to deny the local peoples cover to launch an attack. Moreover, the colonists were not to expose their numbers of sick or dead, lest they give the Indians encouragement to attack. Only the best marksmen should handle weapons, “for if they see your learners miss what they aim at they will think the weapons not so terrible and thereby will be bold.”
Once the security of the colony was guaranteed, the settlers were ordered to trade with the Indians, who could also be a great source of local knowledge about the search for gold and the Northwest Passage. The colonists must take “great care not to offend the naturals if you can eschew it,” treating them justly and charitably. TheEnglish believed in their own propaganda about the Spanish lie— the supposed mistreatment and slaughter of millions of Indians by the Spanish—and wished to avoid repeating the crime. Thus, the Indians would be receptive to the Protestant missions to “draw the savages and heathen people…to the true service and knowledge of God.”
Although there were flaws in the planning, the members of the Virginia Council did the best they could to anticipate the conditions the settlers would face and instruct them in the vision of the investors. Now it was up to 107 brave souls to journey across three thousand miles of ocean into a virtually unknown land. Not every problem could be foreseen, nor would the wealthy investors have much to offer to fight the daily struggles to survive. The adventurers would have to adapt to circumstances and find innovative solutions to difficulties. They would also have to cooperate in pursuing their goals if they were to successfully plant a permanent English colony in North America.
When they stepped aboard their three vessels, no one could predict what the outcome would be for their purses, their very lives, or the glory of England. The council had generally planned well for the governance, profit, and survival of the colony. The instructions were closely related to fulfilling the goals of the investors. But the character of the instructions made it plain that the colony would resemble previous English attempts to settle in America. At this point, no one questioned the communal and centralized qualities of the colony for those more consistent with free Englishmen.
Chapter Eight
FOR GOD, GLORY, AND GOLD
T homas Smythe stared out one of the windows of his luxurious mansion on Philpot Lane trying to decide on a course of action to take regarding the Jamestown colony. The bleak winter weather that blanketed London did little to revive his mood. The normally busy streets were sparsely populated with bundled people trying to escape the cold. The poor were in desperate circumstances, hunting down spare pieces of wood to stay warm against the elements. The plague had come to London, further dampening the desires of many to go outdoors in the miserable cold. The wharves along the Thames were generally empty, and the traffic along the river had also slowed to a trickle as winter voyages were among the most perilous of all.
In January 1609 one ship that had braved the elements was captained by the indefatigable mariner Christopher Newport, who was returning from the New World. Newport met with Smythe and other members of the council within days of his arrival in London. Unfortunately, he confirmed their growing suspicions about
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