The calamities in the history of the colony as thus far outlined have been attributed to the great preponderance of “gentlemen” among these early immigrants; but afterwards when the company sent over mechanics and laborers the story of misfortune was not much changed.  The preceding narrative shows that other causes, purposely underestimated at the time, had far more to do with the matter.  Imported diseases and a climate singularly fatal to the new-comers, the faction-breeding charter, the communism of labor, Indian attack, and the unreasonable desire of the company for immediate profit afford explanations more than sufficient.  Despite the presence of some unworthy characters, these “gentlemen” were largely composed of the “restless, pushing material of which the pathfinders of the world have ever been made.”

The ships returning from the “Second Supply” reached England in January, 1609, and the account that they brought of the dissensions at Jamestown convinced the officers of the London Company that the government in Virginia needed correction.  It was deemed expedient to admit stockholders into some share of the government, and something like a “boom” was started.  Broadsides were issued by the managers, pamphlets praising the country were published, and sermons were delivered by eminent preachers like Rev. William Simonds and Rev. Daniel Price.  Zuniga, the Spanish minister, was greatly disturbed, and urgently advised his master, Philip III., to give orders to have “these insolent people in Virginia quickly annihilated.”  But King Philip was afraid of England, and contented himself with instructing Zuniga to keep on the watch; and thus the preparations of the London Company went on without interruption.[9]

May 23, 1609, a new charter was granted to the company, constituting it a corporation entirely independent of the North Virginia or Plymouth Company.  The stockholders, seven hundred and sixty-five in number, came from every rank, profession, or trade in England, and even included the merchant guilds in London.[10] The charter increased the company’s bounds to a tract fronting on the Atlantic Ocean, “from the point of land called Cape, or Point, Comfort all along the sea-coast to the northward two hundred miles, and from the point of Cape Comfort all along the sea-coast to the southward two hundred miles,” and extending “up into the land, throughout from sea to sea, west and northwest,"[11] a clause which subsequently caused much dispute.

The governing power was still far from taking a popular form, being centred in a treasurer and council, vacancies in which the company had the right to fill.  For the colonists it meant nothing more than change of one tyranny for another, since the local government in Virginia was made the rule of an absolute governor.  For this office the council selected one of the peers of the realm, Thomas West, Lord Delaware, but as he could not go out at once they commissioned Sir Thomas Gates as first governor of Virginia,[12] arming him with a code of martial law which fixed the penalty of death for many offences.