BEGINNINGS OF ENGLISH COLONIZATION 57 



sins, the fishermen retaliated by inveighing against the sins of and were 

 the settlers, which were three in number: seizing as they didy^^f 

 the best fishing-places, stealing what fishers left behind, and centuries. 

 forbidding bait-birds to be slain on Baccalieu Island (1618). 

 Orders were issued, probably by the Star Chamber, not to 

 commit these sins (I62I), 1 but the fishing-captains ignored 

 the Orders and defied the Ordinances, and these accusations 

 and counter-accusations were bandied to and fro for the next 

 century or two. Between August 1611 and June 1612, Guy 

 was in England, and William Colston, who bore a name 

 honoured in Bristol, acted as Governor. On his return with 

 settlers, cattle, and, as Protestant chaplain, Erasmus Stourton 

 (1612), Guy sent Colston home for a holiday, and stood 

 impotently by, while Captain Peter Easton, a pirate, comman- 

 deered men, arms, and provisions from the fishermen, and 

 made Ferryland his rendezvous. The next winter, we are 

 told, was severe ; beer froze, and 4 men ' drank half water, an 

 ill remedy for cold '. The Irish cattle did badly. The party 

 numbered sixty-two and ' a lusty boy ' was born. Trinity 

 Bay 2 was visited, where Guy trucked with the Beolhic natives, 

 giving bread, beer, and brandy, in exchange for skins and 

 furs. Next year a fisherman fired on the Beothics and scared 

 them away from Trinity Bay, even as they had already been 

 scared away from other coasts. For many years to come 

 they were numerous in the bays north of Trinity Bay, where 

 they caught auks and other birds while breeding on bare 

 rocky islets, and terrified English colonists and fishermen on 

 their south, and French fishermen on their north. Guy spent 

 six summers, but only two winters, 3 in Newfoundland, and 



1 Docquet, Oct. 27, 1621. 'Also to Sir F. Gorges and other Com- 

 missioners for establishing of orders amongst the fishermen of New- 

 foundland ... to report unto them the orders here inclosed. Procured 

 by Sir William Alexander.' I cannot find the enclosed orders. 



2 Savage and Allhallows Harbours. 



3 Orpheus junior (Sir \V. Vaughan), Golden Fleece, 1626, Part III 

 ch. iv, p. 27. 



