To celebrate another backer of Weymouth’s
voyage. Cornishman William Rosecarrock (arms shown here) the annual ceremony of the ‘Obby
Oss’ at Padstow is featured at the top of this scene. William is the squire of Endillion near Padstow
(in 1955 all that was left of his house were two granite posts).
Rosecarrock is an entrepreneur and as such, much
interested in investing in colonisation attempts in America. This is why he belongs to the Plymouth Adventurers Company and
has been drawn for membership of the London Virginia Company.
On the left at the top Weymouth returns to Dartmouth by mid-July
and one of the town’s half-timbered houses is shown (still in existence in 1989 it was the town’s Job Centre).
In the centre is Birdcombe Court at Wraxall in Somerset, complete with pheasant onlooker. Birdcombe is the home of Sir Ferdinando Gorges (arms shown here).
Gorges is almost the most important player, with Raleigh, in the drama that is England’s colonisation of Virginia or
New England as it will come to be known. He is also, together with Sir John Popham (arms shown scene five) the chief
promoter of the Plymouth Adventurers Company as Governor of Plymouth Fort he can oversee the victualling of the Company’s
expedition ships and give encouragement to the captains and crews. (Eventually he will become the first Governor of Maine.
His monument will be in St Budeaux Church in Plymouth).
Because of Gorges’ prime importance Weymouth wastes no time
in reporting to him at Birdcombe and handing over the three Indian captives, Shetwarroes, Manteo and Tisquantum to be trained
as guides for future expeditions. It’s August now and the Indians have come to realise that they’re not going
to be harmed and their captors by careful handling gain their confidence and trust. This is demonstrated by the happy main
scene as the native Americans, greatly amuse Gorges and his wife by trying on suits of armour.
Sir Thomas Smythe (arms shown here) is
a wealthy London merchant. He was Sheriff of the City of London in 1599, knighted three years ago, is a member of the Virginia
Council in London and will become its treasurer in 1620. To him and Arundell, the establishment
and survival of Jamestown will eventually be mainly due.
