While Essex was executed, the sentence of Southampton, owing to his youth, was commuted by the influence of Sir Robert Cecil to imprisonment for life. On the death of Queen Elizabeth in 1603, the first act of King James was to set Southampton free. He was given high honors; made knight of the garter, appointed captain of the Isle of Wight and Carisbrooke Castle, as well as steward, receiver and bailiff of the royal manors on the Island. In 1604 lie was fully restored in blood by an act of parliament, and recreated Earl of Southampton. He became Keeper of the King's game in the divisions of Andover, Sawley and Kingsclere, Hampshire, and lord lieutenant of Hampshire, jointly with the Earl of Devonshire. He was sworn of the King's council, April 19, 1619.
In three aspects especially he shone with surpassing lustre. Literature was from his early manhood a chief interest of Southampton's life. He was the Maecenas of his age, and loved to surround himself with poets and men of letters, whom he encouraged with word and money. Among these were Gervas Markham, Barnabe Barnes, Thomas Nash, Florio and Shakespeare, who celebrated his name in prose and verse. Then his impetuous spirit begat a love of freedom which showed itself in his opposition at court and in the house of lords to the arbitrary orders of King James and his favorite Buckingham, whom he thoroughly disliked. He was a strong friend of the Protestant interest, and opposed the Spanish match proposed for Prince Charles, and on account of his too great familiarity with the popular party he was arrested and temporarily confined.
But especially was he the friend of colonization, acting the part of another Sir Walter Raleigh, and his dream was to extend the power of England throughout the world. To this object he devoted his leisure and ample wealth without stint. He sent Gosnold and Gilbert to Virginia in 1602 and Weymouth in 1605, had a great share in forming the Virginia Company of London in 1606 and was a member of the Virginia Company's council in England in 1609. The same year he was admitted a member of the East India Company's council. In 1610 he helped to dispatch Henry Hudson to North America, and was a member of the Northwest Passage Company 1612, and of the Somers Island Company in 1615. He was chosen treasurer of the Virginia Company, 1620, and devoted much energy to championing its interests, to which Gondomar, the Spanish ambassador, was resolutely hostile, but was unable to prevent the withdrawal of the company's charter in June, 1624. He had a copy of the record of the company made of the period of his administration, and when the King's commissioners demanded its delivery, the Earl made the brave answer that he would as soon part with the title deeds of his land as part with these manuscripts, since he regarded them as the evidence of his honor in the Virginia service. The maps of New England, Virginia and Bermuda commemorate Southampton's labors as a colonial pioneer. In his honor Southampton Hundred, Hampton river and Hampton roads in Virginia were named.
When in 1624 a defensive treaty of alliance was made between England and Holland against the Emperor of Germany, Southampton, accompanied by his son, James, left England and took command of a troop of English volunteers. But not long after reaching Holland both were attacked with fever and soon died. Southampton's death occurred November 10. 1624.
Ferrar, Nicholas, Sr., skinner, a member
