July 31, 2012

Molina, Spanish Spy

Don Diego de Molina, Spanish Spy, in CustodyGuests meet Don Diego de Molina, a Spanish commander, who was captured near a Virginia fort in 1611, during the program, ". . . my capture and the extraordinary occurrences": Don Diego de Molina, Captive and Spy, at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 and 3 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 11 at Historic Jamestowne. He will be allowed an interview during the 30-minute program with those wishing to meet him but beware - he is alleged to be a Spanish spy! Interviews will be held in the Jamestown Memorial Church.

In June 1611, a Spanish warship anchored near the English Fort Algernon at Point Comfort near the mouth of the James River. When Don Diego de Molina and two of his crew stepped ashore, they were surrounded by 50 Englishmen and marched off as prisoners.

Peace was settled between England and Spain just before the founding of Jamestown in 1607 - but Spanish spies kept a close eye on the settlement and its threat to a century of Spanish rule in the Americas. Governor Thomas Dale worried that Molina was sent ahead to scout the Virginia coast for a Spanish attack fleet yet to come.

Under close arrest at James Fort, Molina quickly learned how desperate the conditions were for the Englishmen "held captives by their masters." Some of the details we know today about life in the fort come from reports Molina smuggled out of the colony and back to Spain. Will Molina convince the English servants to rebel? Will he be hanged as a spy by the English or rescued by the Spanish? Learn about this Spanish captive and his experience at James Fort.

This program is presented jointly by Historic Jamestowne and The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.