Other notables of the Shakes-peace coterie who were members of the Virginia Colony were the Earl of Pembroke (who, like Southampton, was a member of the Council for New England, as well as of that for Virginia), Sir Robert Sidney (brother of the knightly Sir Philip), Sir Henry Neville, and Lord Delaware—the famous some time Governor of the colony. breathes which makes it speciailysuitable for Christmas good fellow shop.
It is the fashion to think American democracy as having had its origin on this side of the' Atlantic. It was really a gift from England, conceived there in the minds of a group of men responsible for the beginning of successful English colonization of the New World, and was brought to birth in Virginia on July 30, 1619, when a Legislature, elected by the people of the colony, assembled at James-town to make laws for the people who had chosen them.
Fortunately for Americans, the narrow and despotic James I had'! about him strong men, who were! members at the same time of his Parliament and of the Council for the Virginia Company of London.
Ohiet among these was Sir Edwin Sandys, son of the Archbishop of York and brother of the quaint poet, Master George Sandys. Both Virginia and New England might claim him as godfather, for before the Pilgrims set sai] for the West it was Sir Edwin who obtained for them the King's promise that they should not be disturbed in their freedom to worship as they pleased.
Sandys and his colleagues were not merely men of enterprise who had invested in a stock company with the hope of making money. They were statesmen, patriots and patrons of letters. In birth and breeding, in talent and culture, in character and influence, they were the cream of England. In society and in commerce they were intima ately associated. In politics they were of the same party and held the same liberal views as to government and human rights. They were men of vision, and the Virginia lure had captivated them. They were full of it. Naturally, they talked of it at their gatherings, as they touched their wine-cups or crumbled into the queer things called "pipes" the pungent dried leaves voyagers to the Western world had brought back, and enjoyed the new and fashionable sensation—smoking. of King James warned his Majesty against '"'the popular Lord Southampton'' as well as "'the dangerous Sandys." His Majesty had good reason to fear the Virginia Company itself, which was a self-governing body, and which, during the long intervals when he purposely refrained from assembling Parliament, did not hesitate to debate upon affairs of State which bore no relation to colonial matters.
_This company, dominated by the liberal party, has been called school for education in free government." The weekly meetings of its executive council were long held at the house of Nicholas Ferrar, one of London's merchant princes, and he and his sons, Nicholas and John, were among the staunchest friends of Virginia and most faithful nurses of the budding American democracy. They were business men of high integrity, and the younger Nicholas, was, besides, a scholar and a man of conspicuously saintly life. Virginia was fortunate indeed when, after his seven years at Cambridge and his extensive travels, this young gentleman decided to devote himself to her development.
More than to all others does the world owe the beginnings of American democracy to these three—Ferrar, Sandys and Southampton. Thanks to the portrait painters of the day, we may look upon the faces—above huge, starchy ruffs—of this trio of patriots of three hundred years ago. They are large-browed, all of them. Sandys' and Southampton's features are strong and keen and at the same time benevolent; Ferrar's is almost angelic in ° sweetness. Charles Mills Gayley, in his interesting book, "Shakespeare and Founders of Liberty in America" (Mac-milan, 1917), proves that, besides Southampton, Will. Shakespeare had other families in the-group of sponsors for the beginning of free government for Englishmen beyond seas. How much, we wonder with Dr. Gayley, did the liberal-
Then there were the brother lawyers and poets, Christopher Brooke (crony of John Donne, who Was nimseil a@ stockholder in the company) and valin Bolden, who "kept a plentiful table and was never without learned company."'
it was through the determined endeavour of the men named and their associates that, in order to give the Virginians "a bande in the governings of themselves," it was granted that. ''a general assemblie should be held yearly."
was to consist of the Governor and Council, sitting as upper House, and a House of Burgesses composed of two members from each plantation or borough, "'freely to be elected by the inhabitants thereof." While its acts had to be approved by the Virginia Company in London, no legislation by the company was to be valid until confirmed by the ''assemblie'' sitting at Jamestown.
Lhe newly commissioned Governor, Sir George Yeardley, was to have sailed for Virginia on November 28, 1618, bearing with him torma! instructions for the election. fiiverything was in readiness for the voyage, but as the stars came out on the night before, a brilliant comet was seen to bloom among them. Sir George and his sponsors, searching the skies for weather signs, gazed at the flaming thing with uneasy awe. Who could say whether it boded good fortune or disaster? Men who went down to the sea in ships in those days took their lives in their hands. The "wracked"' of the 'Sea Venture' was still remembered. Governor Yeardley was himself a survivor, and many of his party had seen "The Tempest'? played. His good ship remained in port next day and many days thereafter, for the heavenly visitor kept all England stargazing for full two months.
And so England's gift of free government was not started upon its voyage to far Virginia until the end of January in the new year.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.