Were they not all here in the
wilderness together, with the savages hovering about them like the
Philistines about the Jews of old? How should the English live, unless
among themselves they lived in amity? So for the moment factions were
reconciled, and all went to church to partake of the Holy Communion.
Newport sailed, having in the holds of his ships sassafras and valuable
woods but no gold to meet the London Council's hopes, nor any certain news
of the South Sea. In due time he reached England, and in due time he turned
and came again to Virginia. But long was the sailing to and fro between
the daughter country and the mother country and the lading and unlading
at either shore. It was seven months before Newport came again.
While he sails, and while England-in-America watches for him longingly,
look for a moment at the attitude of Spain, falling old in the procession
of world-powers, but yet with grip and cunning left. Spain misliked that
English New World venture. She wished to keep these seas for her own; only,
with waning energies, she could not always enforce what she conceived to be
her right. By now there was seen to be much clay indeed in the image.
Philip the Second was dead; and Philip the Third, an indolent king, lived
in the Escurial.
Pedro de Zuniga is the Spanish Ambassador to the English Court. He has
orders from Philip to keep him informed, and this he does, and from time to
time suggests remedies. He writes of Newport and the First Supply.
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