19. Soon Sir Richard Grenville came to Roanoke with three well-laden
ships, and made a fruitless search for the colonists. Not to lose
possession of the country, he left fifteen men on the island, and
set sail for home. Another colony was easily made up, and in July the
emigrants arrived in Carolina. A search for the fifteen men who had
been left on Roanoke revealed the fact, that the natives had murdered
them. Nevertheless, the northern extremity of the island was chosen as
the site for a city.
20. Disaster attended the enterprise. The Indians were hostile, and the
fear of starvation soon compelled Governor White to return to England
for supplies. The 18th of August was the birthday of Virginia Dare, the
first-born of English children in the New World. Raleigh returned in
1590 to search for the unfortunate colonists. No soul remained to tell
their story. Sir Walter, after spending two hundred thousand dollars,
gave up the enterprise, and assigned his rights to an association of
London merchants.
[Sidenote: English Explorations in the North.]
21. The next English expedition was that of BARTHOLOMEW GOSNOLD in
1602. Thus far all the voyages to America had been by way of the Canary
Islands and the West Indies. Abandoning this path, Gosnold, in a small
vessel called the _Concord_, sailed directly across the Atlantic, and
in seven weeks reached Maine. He explored the coast and went on shore
at Cape Cod. It was the first landing of Englishmen within the limits
of New England. He loaded the _Concord_ with sassafras root, and
reached home in safety.
22. Another expedition to America was soon planned, with MARTIN PRING
for commander. In April, 1603, his vessels came safely to Penobscot
Bay, and spent some time in exploring the harbors of Maine. He loaded
his vessels with sassafras at Martha's Vineyard, and returned to
England, after an absence of six months.
23. Two years later, GEORGE WAYMOUTH made a voyage to America. He
reached the coast of Maine, and explored a harbor. Trade was opened
with the Indians, some of whom returned with Waymouth to England. This
was the last English expedition before the actual establishment of a
colony in America.
CHAPTER VII.
ENGLISH DISCOVERIES AND SETTLEMENTS.--(CONTINUED.)
On the 10th of April, 1606, King James I. issued two patents to men of
his kingdom, authorizing them to colonize all that portion of North
America lying between the thirty-fourth and forty-fifth parallels of
latitude. The immense tract extended from the mouth of Cape Fear River
to Passamaquoddy Bay, and westward to the Pacific Ocean.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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