CHAP. I. Although the idea of making settlements 1498. in America, if ever seriously adopted, was for Renewed by Elizabeth. Letters patent granted to sir the time abandoned; the discovery of a shorter passage to the East Indies, by the north-west, continued to be the favourite project of the English nation. To effect it, several unsuccessful expeditions were made to the American coast. In the mean time the fisheries of Newfoundland were carried on to a considerable extent, by individuals of England, France, and other European nations; whose views seem to have extended no further than to the fish they took, and to a paltry traffic with the natives. No serious, or permanent plans for acquiring territory, and planting colonies, in America, were formed, until the reign of Elizabeth. The knowledge of the Spanish language and history, which had become fashionable during the reign of Philip and Mary, among persons of fortune and education; the immense wealth derived from South America; the power of Spain in Europe; which was, in a considerable degree, attributed to that wealth; had turned the attention of both the sovereign, and the nation, towards the new world. A plan for making permanent settlements in those parts of America which, heretofore, Humphrey the English had only visited, was now projected and patronized by persons of rank and influence. Sir Humphrey Gilbert of Compton in Devonshire, who had early rendered himself 1498. conspicuous by his military services, both in CHAP. I. France and Ireland, and afterwards by a treatise concerning the north-west passage, in which great ingenuity and learning were mingled, according to mr. Robertson, with the enthusiasm the credulity, and sanguine expectation, which incite men to new and hazardous undertakings, was deemed a proper person to be employed in establishing the colony now contemplated; and on the 11th of June 1578, he obtained letters 1578. patent from the queen, vesting in him such powers as were thought sufficient for the pur pose. This is the first charter to a colony, granted by the crown of England. Its articles merit particular attention, as they unfold the ideas of that age, with respect to the nature of such settlements. Elizabeth authorizes sir Humphrey, his heirs, and assigns, to discover, and take possession of such remote, heathen, and barbarous lands, as were not actually possessed by any christian prince, or people. She vests in him, his heirs, and assigns for ever, the lands so to be discovered and possessed, with the rights, royalties, and jurisdiction, as well marine as other, within the said lands and countries, and the seas thereunto adjoining; with full power to dispose thereof to her majesty's subjects, in fee simple, or otherwise, according to the laws of England, as nearly as conveniently might be; paying to CHAP. L the queen, her heirs, and successors, for all 1578. services, duties, and demands whatever, the fifth part of all the ore of gold and silver, which vided always that they should be, as near as conveniently might, agreeable to the laws and policy of England; and provided also, that they be not against the true christian faith, professed in the church of England; nor any way tend to withdraw the subjects or people of those lands or places, from the allegiance of the queen, her heirs, or successors.”. CHAP. I. 1578. and death. Furnished with these ample powers, Gilbert His voyages and the associates of his voyage embarked for America. But his success by no means equalled his expectations. The variety of difficulties inseparable from the settlement of a distant unexplored country; inhabited only by savages; the scanty and inadequate supplies for a colony, which could be furnished by the funds of a private man; the misfortune of having approached the continent too far towards the north, where the cold barren coast of cape Breton, was rather calculated to repel than invite a settlement; have been assigned as the probable causes of his failure. Two expeditions, conducted by this gentleman, ended disastrously. In the last he himself perished, having done nothing further in the execution of his patent, than taking possession of the island of Newfoundland, in the name of Elizabeth, and in the presence of several fishermen, and merchants, from different nations in Europe, who were convened to attend the solemnity. CHAP. I. Sir Walter Raleigh, so greatly distinguished 1578. by his genius, his courage, and his unmerited fate, had been deeply interested in the adventures, by which his half brother sir Humphrey Gilbert wasted his fortune, and was not deto sir Walter terred by their ill success, or the difficulties attending such an enterprise, from prosecuting with vigour, a plan so well calculated to captivate his bold and romantic temper. Letters patent granted Raleigh. 1584. On the 26th of March he obtained from queen Elizabeth a patent, similar to that which had been granted to Gilbert; and, on the 27th of April he dispatched two small vessels, under the command of captains Amidas and Barlow, for the purpose of visiting the countries he intended to settle, and of acquiring some previous knowledge of those circumstances which might be essential to the welfare of the colony he was about to plant. To avoid the error of Gilbert, in holding too far north, they took the route by the Canaries and the West India islands, and approached the North American continent towards the gulf of Florida. On the 2d of July, they touched at an island situate on the inlet into Pamplicoe sound,* about fifteen miles in length, and six in breadth, which they called Wokocon (probably Ocakoke) where they were surprised and delighted with the immense number of grapes, the clusters of which covered alike the smallest shrubs and the tallest trees.. * In the state of North Carolina. |