The Knight of the Golden Melice | Page 2

the river Hudson, and of the island of Manhattan, the present site of
the city of New-York, by the Dutch; and, in 1620, of New-England, by
the English. The fulness of time had arrived, when the seeds of a
mighty empire were to be sown.
A diversity of opinion prevails with regard to the motives of the early

colonists to leave their homes. Without entering into an elaborate
discussion of the subject, and thereby invading the province of the
historian, it may perhaps be permitted me to say, that, in my judgment,
they were partly political, partly religious, partly commercial, and
partly adventurous.
One of the first acts of James the First of England, on his accession to
the throne in 1603, was the conclusion, by a peace with Spain, of the
long war so gloriously signalized by the destruction of the Armada. The
pacific policy wherewith he began his administration, he never
abandoned during the twenty-two years while he held the sceptre.
Hence the spirit of enterprise which exists in various degrees in every
flourishing nation, finding itself diverted from that warlike channel
wherein it had been accustomed to flow, was obliged to seek other
issues. The immense region beyond the sea claimed by England by
priority of discovery, offered a theatre for a portion of that spirit to
expend itself upon. Hither turned their eyes those who, in the wars, had
contracted a fondness for adventure, and were unwilling to sink back
into the peaceful pursuits of laborious industry. For such men, the
vague and the uncertain possess irresistible attractions. For them,
emigration was like the hazard of the gaming-table; ruin was a possible
consequence, but fortune might also crown the most extravagant hopes.
The merchant regarded with favor a scheme which would furnish
employment for his ships by the transportation of men and stores.
Besides, the fisheries had always been productive; they might be
largely extended, and a trade in furs and other products of the country
opened with the Indians. Perhaps the precious metals, found in such
quantities by the Spaniards at the South, might enrich the North.
Happily they found not that pernicious bane which is alike the
corrupter of private morals and the debaucher of nations. To these
considerations may be added a willingness at least on the part of the
government, to rid itself of idle profligates and unruly spirits. Guided
by this chart, it is not difficult to understand why efforts similar to
those which had proved abortive, should now be successful.
The character of the first emigrants to the Virginia colony, and the
products of the country sent home, confirm these views. They are
described as "many gentlemen, a few laborers, several refiners,
goldsmiths, and jewellers," and the returning ships were freighted with

cedar and with a glittering earth, which was mistaken for gold. Another
party is spoken of by a chronicler of the times, as "many unruly gallants
sent hither by their friends to escape ill destinies." Doubtless among
those denominated gentlemen and gallants were some noble souls, like,
though longo intervallo, to the heroic Smith.
While the Virginia colony was slowly struggling against adverse
circumstances, and attracting to herself the cavaliers who, in various
capacities and with different fortunes, had figured in those troubled
times, important changes were going on at home destined to exert a
mighty influence on the New World. That awakening of the intellect
occasioned by the speculations of Wyckliff, the morning star of the
Reformation, more than two hundred years before, and to which Luther
and Calvin had imparted a fresh impulse, was performing its destined
work. By the assertion of the right of private judgment in matters of
religion, the pillars of authority had been shaken. Nothing was
considered as too sacred to be examined. To the tribunal of the mind of
every man, however undisciplined and illiterate, were brought, like
criminals to be tried, the profoundest mysteries and most perplexing
questions of theology, and in proportion to the ignorance of the judge,
was the presumption with which sentence was pronounced. A general
love of dogma prevailed. The cross-legged tailor plying his needle on
his raised platform; the cobbler in the pauses of beating the leather on
his lap-stone; and the field-laborer as he rested on his spade; discussed
with serene and satisfied assurance problems, before the contemplation
of which, the ripest learning and highest order of mind had veiled their
faces. Dissatisfaction with the condition of things spread more and
more. All, in both Church and State, was considered out of joint. The
former had not sufficiently cleansed herself from the pollutions of
Rome, and lagging behind at a wide distance from the primitive model,
required to be further reformed; the latter by encroachments on the
liberties of the subject, and assistance furnished to a