X.
LORD DE LA WARR.
X. Governor
and
Captain-General.
X. June 10, 1610, to March 28, 1611.
Sir Thomas West, third Lord De la Warr, the first
resident Governor-in-Chief of the Colony of Virginia, was
born in 1579. He received this important appointment on account
of his virtues as well as in consideration of his rank,
for he was descended from a long line of noble ancestry. He
assumed control of the Colony June 10, 1610. Having published
his commission, which invested him with the sole command,
he appointed a Council of six persons to assist him in
the administration. An essential change now took place in
the form of the ancient Virginia Constitution; the original
aristocracy was converted into a rule of one, over whose
deliberations the people had no control. Security returned to
the Colony and prosperity appeared under the auspices of this
intelligent and distinguished nobleman. But Lord De la
Warr's health failing, he sailed March 28, 1611, for the island
of Nevis, for the benefit of the warm baths, leaving his Colony
in the charge of Captain George Percy. His health improving
somewhat, he desired to return to Virginia, but was persuaded
to go to England. The settlement at this time consisted
of about two hundred men, but the Governor's departure
produced great despondency. Fortunately, Sir Thomas Dale,
"an experienced soldier," had been dispatched from London
with supplies for the Colony. He arrived in the Chesapeake,
May, 1611, and assumed the government, which he soon afterwards
administered upon the basis of martial law.
In this year, 1611, Samuel Argall, exploring the neighboring
coast to the north, at nine o'clock in the morning of the
27th of July, cast anchor in a very great bay, with many
affluents, and gave it the name of Delaware.
"A short relation made by the Lord De la Warre, to the
Lords and others of the Counsell of Virginia, touching his
unexpected return home, and afterwards delivered to the
Generall Assembly of the said Company, at a court holden
the twenty-five of June, 1611, published by authority of the
said Counsell," says:
"In the next place, I am to give accompt in what estate I
left the Collony for government in my absence. It may please
your Lordships, therefore, to understand that upon my departure
thence, I made choise of Captaine George Pearcie (a gentleman
of honour and resolution, and of no small experience
in that place), to remaine Deputie-Governor untill the comming
of the Marshall, Sir Thomas Dale, whose commission
was likewise to be determined upon the arrivall of Sir Thomas
Gates, according to the intent and order of your Lordships
and the Councill here."
The following, from the same, is an interesting allusion to
the noble Potomac:
"The last discovery, during my continuall sicknesse, was
by Captaine Argall, who hath found a trade with Patomack
(a king as great as Powhatan, who still remaines our enemie,
though not able to doe us hurt). This is a goodly River,
called Patomack, upon the borders whereof there are growne
the goodliest Trees for Masts, that may be found else-where
in the World; Hempe better then English, growing wilde in
abundance; Mines of Antimonie and Leade. Without our
Bay to the Northward is also found an excellent fishing Banke
for Codde and Ling as good as can be eaten, and of a kinde
that will keepe a whole yeare, in Shippe's hould, with little
care, a tryall whereof I have now brought over with me," etc.,
etc.
During Lord De la Warr's stay in England at this time,
he was largely instrumental in procuring "A Third Charter of
King James I. to the Treasurer and Company for Virginia."
[5]
This charter not only confirmed all their former privileges,
and prolonged their term of exemption from payment of duties
on the commodities exported by them, but granted them more
extensive property and more ample jurisdiction. By this
charter, all the islands lying within three hundred leagues of
the coast were annexed to the Province of Virginia. Lord
De la Warr set sail from England to return to Virginia in
March, 1618, but unfortunately died (near the bay which
bears his name) on the 7th of June following.
