Gosnold's views
were strongly supported by the geographer Richard Hakluyt, "to whom
America owes a heavy debt of gratitude." There were numerous offers
of money and service, and when application was made to King James I
he was quite ready to sanction the project. He is said to have
thought of the profits that might return to him and also of the
satisfaction to be found in being rid of the "turbulent spirits" sure
to be drawn into the enterprise.
On April 10, 1606, James I issued a patent to Sir Thomas Gates, Sir
George Somers, Richard Hakluyt, and others with them associated, under
which they proposed to embark upon their eagerly sought scheme. This
royal grant deserves our close attention, as it will explain the nature
of the enterprise and the powers originally enjoyed by those who entered
upon it.
Selecting for the scene of operations the beautiful belt of country lying
between the thirty-fourth and forty-fifth parallels of north latitude,
the King certainly provided an ample field for the success of the
patentees. This tract extends from Cape Fear to Halifax, and embraces all
the lands between its boundaries in North America, except perhaps the
French settlement in Arcadia, which had already been so far matured as to
come under the excluding clause of the patent.
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