himselfe and his fellows, and sodainly set to sea … a rash, undutifull, and insolent attempt,’ no merchants nor ship's officers, should they meet with him, are to ‘comfort him with men, money, munition, victuals, merchandise, or other commodities,’ but are to ‘attack, seize, and summon him to returne.’ Lord North was moreover imprisoned on a charge of connivance at the offence. Gondomar now assailed the king with indignant remonstrance. James admitted, in a personal interview with Gondomar, that he had cause to complain ‘of Captain North's voyage,’ but he laid the blame on Buckingham. Buckingham was then called into the room, and when asked by the king why he had sold a passport to North without the king's knowledge, replied, ‘Because you never give me any money yourself.’
Meanwhile North seems to have prospered in his venture, until, falling in with a Dutch vessel, he heard of the proclamation out against him, and returned of his own accord. By this time his ship was ‘well fraught’ with seven thousand pounds of tobacco. He had not encountered the Spaniards, and had only lost two men. His ship and cargo were nevertheless seized at the instance of Gondomar, and he himself committed to the Tower (6 Jan. 1621). It was reported (28 April 1621) that he ‘put up a bill to have justice and a lawful hearing against Don Gondomar for his ship and tobacco.’ Owing to the intervention of Buckingham, North was released (18 July 1621) on the same evening as Henry, earl of Northumberland. Once more at liberty, he succeeded in making good his claim to the restitution of his ship and cargo, together with certain of the immunities promised him at the outset. His tobacco was returned to him free of all charges.
North next obtained (2 June 1627), in conjunction with Robert Harcourt, letters patent under the great seal from Charles I, authorising them to form a company under the title of ‘the Governor and Company of Noblemen and Gentlemen of England for the Plantation of Guiana,’ North being named as deputy governor of the settlement. The king lent much favour to ‘soe good a worke,’ which, he writes to his attorney-general (Heath), is undertaken ‘as well for the conversion of ye people inhabiting thereabouts to ye Christian faith as for ye enlarging of his Majestie's dominions, and setling of trade and trafique for diverse Comodities of his Majestie's Kingdom with these nations.’ The king desired not only that the adventurers should be free from all imposts, but that they should have the fullest possible powers and privileges for the transport of ships, men, munitions, arms, &c.
In the face of much difficulty with regard to funds, this expedition was at length fitted out, a plantation established in 1627, and trade opened with the natives by North's personal endeavours. In 1632 he was, however, again in England, detained by a tedious chancery suit, into which he had been drawn as administrator to his brother-in-law, Sir Francis Coningsby, of North Mimms in Hertfordshire, and as executor to Mary, lady Coningsby, his widow. In this suit the manors of North Mimms and Woodhall, as well as other important lands, were involved. In 1634 North petitioned the king for a speedy settlement of these proceedings, which had then lasted for seventeen years, and—the petitioner states—had not only caused the death and ruin of his sister and her husband, but had made his own life miserable since they died. He further pleads the loss and injury to the king's interest consequent upon delay. The plantation was left without government, the French and Dutch were gaining ground upon it, and their trade supplanting that of the English.
North expressed a strong desire to spend the remainder of his ‘life and fortunes’ on the plantation in Guiana; but whether he ever again, for any cause, put to sea does not appear. In July 1636 Sir John North wrote that he wished his brother Roger could be captain of one of the king's ships, and in November 1637 sent him a message from court that the king desired the formation of a new company, but ‘there is a way to be thought upon first.’
During this time of suspense Roger was much at Kirtling, the home of Dudley, third baron North, and the constant resort of his brothers. In 1652 he was ill at his own house in Princes Street, Bloomsbury. He died late in 1652, or early in 1653, leaving to his brother and executor Gilbert his lands in the fens, and all his real and personal property, excepting only some legacies to relatives of insignificant value. His will bears the impress of a religious and affectionate nature.
