"The King," they said, "had no desire to infringe their rights. He
desired no more than that Sir Edwin Sandys should not be chosen."
Then they named two from the King's list, and the ballot was
immediately taken; the result being that one of the King's men had
two votes, the other but one, and the Earl of Southampton all the
rest.
When the King heard of this result he was a little anxious and
apologetic. The messengers, he said, had mistaken his intention.
He had only meant to recommend his friends, and not to forbid the
company to elect any other. But once again Englishmen had fought
a duel with tyranny, and won.
From this day, however, the King's hatred of the company became
deadly. He harassed it in every way and at last in 1624 took its
charter away, and made Virginia a Crown Colony. Henceforth in theory
at least self-government was taken away from Virginia, and to the
King alone belonged the right of appointing the Governor and Council.
But in fact the change made little difference to the colony. For
in the spring of 1625 King James died, and his son Charles I, who
succeeded him upon the throne, had so much else to trouble him that
he paid little heed to Virginia.
__________
Chapter 19 - The Coming of the Cavaliers
With a new King on the throne life in Virginia went on much as
it had done.
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