what witchcraft it happens, but no mortal to this day could ever
find that place again, though it be upon part of the Colonel's own
possessions. And so it rests, till time and thicker settlements discover
it.

Sec. 51. Thus, the company of adventurers having, by those frequent acts of
mismanagement, met with vast losses and misfortunes, many grew sick of
it and parted with their shares, and others came into their places, and
promoted the sending in fresh recruits of men and goods. But the chief
design of all parties concerned, was to fetch away the treasure from
thence, aiming more at sudden gain, than to form any regular colony, or
establish a settlement in such a manner as to make it a lasting
happiness to the country.

Several gentlemen went over upon their particular stocks, separate from
that of the company, with their own servants and goods, each designing
to obtain land from the government, as Captain Newport had done, or at
least to obtain patents, according to the regulations for granting lands
to adventurers. Others sought their grants of the company in London, and
obtained authorities and jurisdictions, as well as land, distinct from
the authority of the government, which was the foundation of great
disorder, and the occasion of their following misfortunes. Among others,
one Captain Martin, having made very considerable preparations towards a
settlement, obtained a suitable grant of land, and was made of the
council there. But he, grasping still at more, hankered after dominion,
as well as possession, and caused so many differences, that at last he
put all things into distraction, insomuch that the Indians, still
seeking revenge, took advantage of these dissensions, and fell foul
again on the English, gratifying their vengeance with new bloodshed.

Sec. 52. The fatal consequences of the company's maladministration cried so
loud, that king Charles the first, coming to the crown of England, had a
tender concern for the poor people that had been betrayed thither and
lost. Upon which consideration he dissolved the company in the year
1626, reducing the country and government into his own immediate
direction, appointing the governor and council himself, and ordering all
patents and processes to issue in his own name, reserving to himself a
quit-rent of two shillings for every hundred acres of land, and so _pro
rata_.

CHAPTER IV.

CONTAINING THE HISTORY OF THE GOVERNMENT FROM THE DISSOLUTION OF THE
C