Pedro de Zuniga is the Spanish Ambassador to the English Court. He has
orders from Philip to keep him informed, and this he does, and from time
to time suggests remedies. He writes of Newport and the First Supply.
"Sire.... Captain Newport makes haste to return with some people--and
there have combined merchants and other persons who desire to establish
themselves there; because it appears to them the most suitable place
that they have discovered for privateering and making attacks upon
the merchant fleets of Your Majesty. Your Majesty will command to see
whether they will be allowed to remain there.... They are in a great
state of excitement about that place, and very much afraid lest Your
Majesty should drive them out of it.... And there are so many... who
speak already of sending people to that country, that it is advisable
not to be too slow; because they will soon be found there with large
numbers of people."* In Spain the Council of State takes action upon
Zuniga's communications and closes a report to the King with these
words: "The actual taking possession will be to drive out of Virginia
all who are there now, before they are reenforced, and.... it will be
well to issue orders that the small fleet stationed to the windward,
which for so many years has been in state of preparation, should be
instantly made ready and forthwith proceed to drive out all who are now
in Virginia, since their small numbers will make this an easy task, and
this will suffice to prevent them from again coming to that place." Upon
this is made a Royal note: "Let such measures be taken in this business
as may now and hereafter appear proper."

* Brown's "Genesis of the United States", vol. 1, pp. 116-118.

It would seem that there was cause indeed for watching down the river
by that small, small town that was all of the United States! But there
follows a Spanish memorandum. "The driving out... by the fleet stationed
to the windward will be postponed for a long time because delay will
be caused by getting it ready."* Delay followed delay, and old
Spain--conquistador Spain--grew older, and the speech on Jamestown
Island is still English.

* Op. cit., vol. 1, p. 127.

Christopher Newport was gone; no ships--the last refuges, the last
possibilities for home-turning, should the earth grow too hard and the
sky too black--rode upon the river before the fort. Here was the summer
heat. A heavy breath rose from immemorial marshes, f