ing now that we won so few years ago? Let not the world be deceived, we are the same now we were then, and they would soon see it if they were to give us a chance, since with the blessing of God we are more powerful now than we were then, those parts being now enclosed and in good order which at that time were open. Our plant has taken root, the branches are green and very desirous to spread out.”[1]
This was the spirit, of the English race, which had to be reckoned with before a hand was raised to strike a blow at the infant settlement on the Powhatan. The English ambassador at Madrid, who was constantly reporting to his government the rumors afloat as to expeditions to be sent out by the Spaniards against Virginia, stated as the result of his observation that “for their doing anything by ye way of hostilitie, I conceive they will be very slowe to give England (who is very apte to lay holde on any occasion) so juste a pretence to bee doing with them.”[2]
- ↑ New Britain, Brown’s Genesis of the United States, pp. 262-263. See the original, Nova Britannia, pp. 7-8, Force’s Historical Tracts, vol. I.
- ↑ Digby to Carleton, June 20, 1612, Brown’s Genesis of the United States, p. 561. See also the letter addressed to Salisbury by Cottington, who was the English ambassador at Madrid in 1611. Ibid., p. 472. Referring to a rumored expedition against Virginia from Havana, he wrote, “I doe give it soe little credit knowing ye poure abylyty of this State that I am almost ashamed to advertyse it unto your lordship.” There is an interesting series of reports in the British Public Record Office, which Digby transmitted to London from time to time, as to movements of the Spanish government, directed, as he thought, although without ground as the result proved, against the Colony in Virginia. These reports show that this English ambassador was constantly apprehensive of attack. There is, however, no reason to doubt that Digby was largely under the influence of the mistaken notion prevailing in that age as to the vastness of the power of Spain, an opinion which lingered long after that power had really passed away. Cottington, although clearly aware of the uneasy feeling among the Spaniards, does not seem to have yielded even for a moment to the fear that the Colony in Virginia was in danger of an attack
