During the time of the New World colonization (notably the English Jamestown, Virginia, settlement) he held court with King James I of England.

[1] Before England's attempts at colonization, Spain had already laid claim to much the east coast of America, considering "La Florida" as far north as the Outer Banks.

Don Pedro Zúñiga implored Philip III to "drive out all who are now in Virginia", knowing of the low population of Englishmen, going as far as recommending interception of colony ships in 1608.

[5] Zuñiga obtained a manuscript map of Virginia, which included the location of Jamestowne (James Fort palisades), over 60 native villages, rivers, tributaries, and John Smith's route after capture by Opechancanough.

[1] The draftsman of the chart is unknown--many cartographers are suspected,[6] one being John Smith, or traveling companion Nathaniel Powell, or shipmaster Andrew Buckler (a possible spy).