If
the man whom she brought knew that by tarrying in Virginia he
risked his ruin with the King, yet, with a courage worthy of a better
cause, he tarried.
Now and then ships came in, but they were small, belated craft.
The most had left England before the sailing of the Santa Teresa;
the rest, private ventures, trading for clapboard or sassafras, knew
nothing of court affairs. Only the Sea Flower, sailing from London
a fortnight after the Santa Teresa, and much delayed by adverse
winds, brought a letter from the deputy treasurer to Yeardley and
the Council. From Rolfe I learned its contents. It spoke of the stir
that was made by the departure from the realm of the King's
favorite. "None know where he hath gone. The King looks dour; 't
is hinted that the privy council are as much at sea as the rest of the
world; my Lord of Buckingham saith nothing, but his following -
which of late hath somewhat decayed - is so increased that his
antechambers cannot hold the throngs that come to wait upon
him. Some will have it that my Lord Carnal hath fled the kingdom
to escape the Tower; others, that the King hath sent him on a
mission to the King of Spain about this detested Spanish match;
others, that the gadfly hath stung him and he is gone to America, -
to search for Raleigh's gold mine, maybe. This last most
improbable; but if 't is so, and he should touch at Virginia, receive
him with all honor.
Pages:
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129