cion, the King proceeded to execute the new statutes
with rigor. As a rule, the Catholic were loyal subjects. We have
seen that when Spain threatened to invade the country, they fought as
valiantly in its defense as the Protestants themselves (SS399, 400).
Many of them were now ruined by enormous fines, while the priests were
driven from the realm.

One of the sufferers by these unjust measures was Robert Catesby, a
Catholic gentleman of good position. He, with the aid of a Yorkshire
man, named Guy Fawkes, and about a dozen more, formed a plot to blow
up the Parliament House on the day the King was to open the session
(November 5, 1605). Their intention, after they had thus summarily
disposed of the government, was to induce the Catholics to rise and
proclaim a new sovereign. The plot was discovered, the conspirators
were executed, and the Catholics treated with greater severity than
ever (S382).

421. American Colonies, Virginia, 1607.

A London joint-stock company of merchants and adventurers, or
speculators, established the first permanent English colony in
America, on the coast of Virginia, in 1607, at a place which they
called Jamestown, in honor of the King. (See map facing p. 222.) The
colony was wholly under the control of the Crown.

The religion was to be that of the Church of England. Most of those
who went out were described as "gentlemen," that is, persons not
brought up to manual labor. Fortunately the eneergy and determined
courage of Captain John Smith, who was the real soul of the
enterprise, saved it from miserable failure.

Negro slavery, which in those days touched no man's conscience, was
introduced, and by its means great quantities of tobacco were raised
for export. The settlement grew in population and wealth, and at the
end of twelve years (1619) it had secured the privilege of making its
own local laws, thus becoming practically a self-governing community.

422. The Pilgrims; the New Power.

The year after the Virginia legislature was established, another band
of emigrants went out from England, not west, but east; not to seek
prosperity, but greater religious freedom. James's declaration that
he would make all men conform to the Established Church, or drive them
out of the land, was having its due effect (S418).

Those who continued to refuse to conform were fined, cast into filthy
prisons, beaten, and often half starved, so that the old and feeble
soon died. Strange to s