1589. March 7. Raleigh assigns his patent. 1590. returns to Virginia. Searches for the colony that he SIR WALTER RALEIGH, having expended £40,000 in attempting the colonization of Virginia, without realizing the expected gain, made an assignment of his patent to Thomas Smith, and other merchants and adventurers, with a donation of £100 for the propagation of the Christian religion among the natives, and for the general benefit of the Virginia colony.' THE English nation, at the time of governor White's arrival in Gov. White England, being still at war with Spain, and apprehending an invasion by the Invincible Armada; the governor, who was one of the queen's Council of war, was obliged to remain there until the March 20. spring of this year. Finding himself at liberty to return to his colony, he sailed from Plymouth with three ships, and, having passed through the West Indies in quest of Spanish prizes, arrived on the 15th of August at Hatteras. In attempting to go on shore on the 17th, one of the boats was overset, and seven men were drowned. This disaster discouraged the other sailors to such a degree, that they all seemed resolved to abandon the research; but, by the persuasion and authority of the governor and one of their captains, they resumed it. The governor accordingly, taking with him 19 men in two boats, went toward the place where he had left the English colony, and found on a tree at the top of the bank, CRO: carved in fair Roman letters. This he knew to be intended to mark the place where the planters might be found; for they had secretly agreed with him at his departure for England, to write or carve on the trees or posts of the doors the name of the place where they should be seated, because they were at that time preparing to remove 50 miles from Roanoke into the main land. It had also been agreed, that, in case of their distress, they should carve over the letters a cross; but, to the great comfort and encouragement of their English friends, they found not this sign. Coming to the spot where the colouy had been left, they found the houses taken down, and the place very strongly inclosed with a high palisado of trees, in the form of a fort. At the right side of the entrance, on one of the chief trees or posts, the bark of which had been taken off five feet from the ground, was carved, in fair capital letters, CROATOAN, without the sign of distress. Concluding that had left there. ted. 1589 1 Hakluyt, A 815-817; Hazard, Coll. i. 425; where are entire copies of this assignment. Birch, Life Ral. 21. Stith, 25. Belknap, Biog. i. 220. Robertson, b. 9. where the date is erroneous. Oldys, Life Ral. p. 49. Raleigh was a generous benefactor to the colony, of which he was the parent. Mr. Hariot assures us, the least that he had granted had been 500 acres of land to a man only for the adventure of his person. Hakluyt, iii. 280. 2 Within the palisado they found many bars of iron, 2 pigs of lead, 4 iron fowlers, iron sack shot, and "such like heavy things throwen here and there almost 1590. the colony was safe at the place thus designated, they determined the next morning to sail for Croatoan. The ship, however, parting her cables, the weather being tempestuous, their provisions and fresh water scanty, they concluded to sail to the West Indies for supplies, remain there through the winter, and, on their re- Returns turn, visit their countrymen in Virginia; but the violence of the without disstorm obliged them to relinquish that design, and return to Eng- covering it. land.1 A FLEET of ships sailed from St. Malo in France for Canada; 1591. the French, at that time, being accustomed to fish at the islands French fleet about the bay of St. Lawrence for morses, whose teeth were then sold much dearer than ivory.2 sails to Canada. Thomas Cavendish, distinguished by his circumnavigation of Cavendish the earth, undertook a voyage with five ships to the Straits of attempts to pass the Magellan; but, unable to pass them on account of bad weather Straits of and contrary winds, he was driven back to the coast of Brazil, Magellan. where he died. The squadron, on their way out, annoyed the Dies. Portuguese on the coast of Brazil, and took Santos; and, on their return from the Straits, burnt St. Vincente, and were repulsed at Espirito Santo.3 Sir Richard Grenville, who had conducted the expedition for Sir R. settling Virginia, was mortally wounded in an engagement with Grenville's overgrowen with grasse and weedes." In the end of an old trench they found five chests, that had been carefully hidden by the planters, three of which Governor White says were his own; and adds, " about the place we found many of my things spoyled and broken, and my bookes torn from the covers, the frames of some of my pictures and mappes rotten and spoiled with rayne, and my armour almost eaten through with rust." Hakluyt. "Part of the works are seen to this day." Williamson, N. Car. A. D. 1812. 1 Hakluyt, iii. 287-295. Smith, Virginia, 15, 16. Beverly, 14. Croatoan was an Indian town on the north side of Cape Lookout [Marshall, Life of Washington, i. 20.], southward of Hatteras. Belknap, Biog. i. 221. Here Manteo was born, and the natives of the island were the friends of the English. By the account in Hakluyt, it was near Ocrecock Inlet. 2 Hakluyt, iii. 189, 191. Anderson, ii. 180, 184. They also made much oil from these animals, which the English call Sea horses, the Dutch and French, Sea cows. They are called in Latin, Boves Marini, or Vacca Marine, and in the Russian tongue, Morsses. Hakluyt says, "I have seene the hide of one as big as any oxe hide, and being dressed I have yet a piece of one thicker than any two oxe or buls hides in England. The leatherdressers take them to be excellent good to make light targets against the arrowes of the Savages; and I hold them farre better then the light leather targets, which the Moores use in Barbarie against arrowes and lances. The teeth of the sayd fishes, whereof I have seene a dry fat full at once, are a foote and sometimes more in length; and have been sold in England to the combe and knife makers, at 8 groats and 3 shillings the pound weight, whereas the best Ivory is sold for halfe the money." An English Voyager [ibid. 192.] says, there were 1500 killed this year (1591) by one small bark at Ramea. 3 Southey, Hist. Brazil, i. c. 12. Camden, Eliz. apud A. D. 1591. Cavendish died an untimely death-" ad Braziliæ littora rejectus ibi immature periit criminatus supremo testamento Joannem Davidem quasi perfide deseruerat." Southey says, he died on his way home, as much of a broken heart as of disease. The close of the expedition, and the death of Cavendish, were in 1592 death. 1591. 1592. a Spanish fleet, and died on board the admiral's ship, where he was a prisoner, highly admired by the enemy for his courage and fortitude.1 CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT, with three ships and a small bark, Expedition conducted an expedition against the Spaniards in the West Indies, and took several prizes. On the coast of Hispaniola, in the Bay of Honduras, and other places, he plundered and burnt several towns, and obtained considerable booty.2 against the Spaniards in W. Indies. Juan de Fuca. 1593. Juan de Fuca, a Greek, in the service of Spain, sent by the viceroy of Mexico to discover a Northwest passage by exploring the western side of the American continent, discovered a strait, which bears his name, in the 48th degree of north latitude.3 GEORGE DRAKE, an Englishman, made a voyage up the gulf Voyage of of St. Lawrence to the isle of Ramea, and carried home intelligence of the profitable trade of the French and others in these of America. G. Drake to rence. First whale fishery of the English. Their first use of whale bone. Dec. 17. parts Other English ships went this year to Cape Breton; some for morse fishing, and others for whale fishing. This is the first mention that we find of the whale fishery by the English. Although they found no whales in this instance, yet they discovered on an island 800 whale fins, where a Biscay ship had been lost three years before; and this is the first account that we have of whale fins, or whale bone, by the English.5 Henry May, a worthy mariner, returning from the East Indies H. May an in a French ship, was wrecked on one of the islands of BermuEnglishman wrecked on das, and was the first Englishman who set foot on this island. Bermudas. The company, having saved the carpenter's tools, built of cedar a bark of about 18 tons; caulked it, and payed the seams with 1 Stith's Hist. of Virginia, 49. 2 Hakluyt, iii. 567-569, where there is an entire account of this voyage. Stith, 42. Joselyn, Voy. 240. 3 Belknap, Biog. i. 39, 224-230, from Purchas. Fuca supposed it to be the long sought pasage. 4 Hakluyt, iii. 193. Ramea, according to Hakluyt, lies within the Straits of St. Peter, back of Newfoundland, to the southwert, in 47 deg. N. lat. This diligent author notices three voyages" of our owpe men, the first of Mr. George Drake, the second of M. Silvester Wyet, the third of M. Charles Leigh; because (he says) they are the first, for ought that has hitherto come to my knowledge, of our owne Nation, that have conducted English ships so farre within this gulfe of S. Laurence, and have brought us true relation of the manifold gaine which the French, Britaynes, Baskes and Biskaines do yerely return from the sayd partes; while wee this long time have stood still and have bene idle lookers on, making courtisie who should give the first adventure, or once being given, who should continue or prosecute the same." 5 Anderson, ii. 184. How ladies' stays were previously made, does not appear; but Anderson thinks it probable that slit pieces of cane, or of some tough and pliant wood, might have been used. lime, mixed with turtles' fat; procured the shrouds from the ship 1593. for rigging; put in 13 live turtles for provisions; and, after remaining on the island nearly five months, sailed to Newfoundland, whence they procured a passage for England.1 mouth to George Weymouth with two ships, fitted out from England at Voyage of the joint expense of the two companies of Russia and Turkey G. Weymerchants for the discovery of a Northwest passage, visited the Labrador. coast of Labrador. In 61° 40' north latitude, he saw the entrance of an inlet 40 leagues broad, up which he sailed nearly 100 leagues and returned. The variation of the compass here Variation was 350 to the west. Sailing along the coast of America, he of the comentered an inlet in the 56th degree of latitude, and had great but delusive hope of finding a passage. After a voyage of three months he arrived in England. pass. 1594. SILVESTER WYET of Bristol, in a bark of 35 tons, made a voyage up the bay of St. Lawrence as far as the isle of Assump- April 4. tion, for the barbs or fins of whales, and train oil. Ten leagues Voyage of S. Wyet to up the bay of Placentia, he found the fishermen of St. John de St. LawLuz, Sibibero, and Biscay, to be upwards of 60 sail; of which rence. eight ships only were Spanish. At Farrillon, 14 leagues to the northward of Cape Brace, he found 20 sail of Englishmen; and, having in this harbour satisfactorily made up his fishing voyage, August 24. he returned to England.3 J.Lancaster James Lancaster, sent out from London with three ships and Voyage of a galley frigate, and 275 men and boys, took 29 Spanish ships. against the Associating with him Venner an Englishman, and some Holland- Spaniards. ers and Frenchmen who were roving in the South American seas for booty, he surprised Pernambuco, the port town of Olinda, in Brazil. After keeping possession of it 30 days, he carried off the freight of a rich East Indian carrack, with which, and sugars, Brazil wood, and cotton, procured there, he loaded 15 sail of vessels, and returned home.1 1 Hakluyt, iii. 573, 574, where is Henry May's account of this voyage entire. The company did not leave the island until 11 May, 1594, and on the 20th fell in with the land near Cape Breton, where they took in water and provision, and then proceeded to Newfoundland. Ibid. Gorges, New Eng. 3. Smith, Virg. 173. Harris' Voy. 848. Belknap, Biog. i. 39. Sir William Monson says, he knew of this shipwreck, and of the preservation of Henry May, who belonged to one of the French ships that " captain Ryman had, when he was drowned returning from the Indies." Naval Tracts in Churchill, Collect. iii. 440. He also says, that above 50 years before the time when he was writing [i. e. about 1585], he "knew one captain Russell, a Frenchman, shipwrecked upon that island [Bermudas]; and with great industry of his people, for few of his men were lost, they patched up a boat out of the materials of the perished ship, that carried them to Newfoundland, where they found relief and passage into their own country." 2 Forster, Voyages, 312-317. 3 Hakluyt, iii. 194, 195. 4 Hakluyt, iii. 708-715. Camden, Eliz. A. D. 1594. Anderson, a. D. 1594. Guiana. March 22. Trinidad. 1595. SIR WALTER RALEIGH, having the preceding year sent to Voyage of Guiana captain Whiddon, an old and experienced officer, from Raleigh to whom he received flattering accounts of the opulence and grandeur of that country, resolved now to visit it in person. Fitting out a fleet at a great expense, he sailed on the 6th of February from Plymouth. Arriving at Trinidad, he spent a month in coasting the island, waiting at the same time for the arrival of captain Preston. During this period learning the state of St. Joseph, a small city lately built by the Spaniards on that island, and knowing that the search for Guiana must be made in small boats, and that his ships must be left several hundred miles behind, he perceived it would not be safe to leave at his back a garrison of enemies, interested in the same enterprise, and in daily expectation of reinforcement from Spain. Determined in his purpose, in the dusk of the evening he boldly assailed the Corps du Garde; and, having put them to the sword, advanced with 100 men, and by break of day took the city, which, at the entreaty of the Indians, he set on fire. He took Antonio de Berreo, the Spanish governor prisoner, and carried him, and a companion who was with him, on board his ships; but the other Spaniards he dismissed. Berreo provoked Raleigh to this measure, by treacherously capturing eight of captain Whiddon's men the year before, after giving his word that they should take wood and water safely. It appears too, that he and his Spaniards had treated the Indians with extreme cruelty; which accounts for the attachment these oppressed natives formed for Raleigh and the English people, whom they considered as their deliverers. Raleigh, leaving his ships at Trinidad, proceeded with 100 men in boats 400 miles up the Oronoque; but the river beginning dangerously to swell, he returned, without effecting the great discovery. Several petty kings of the country, however, resigned Takes the city of St. Joseph, and burns it. Southey, Brazil, c. 12. Southey says, Lancaster engaged three Dutch ships in his service, and was joined by a squadron of French, and took the town of Recife. Recife is another name for Pernambuco, or Fernambuck. Alcedo calls the place the city Arrecife. The last of these exploits of Lancaster were early in 1595; after which, he sailed for England. 1 Purchas, i. 828, 833; v. 1269. Hakluyt, iii. 627-662. Guiana lies eastward of Peru, under the equinoctial, between the Oronoque and the river of Amazons. Raleigh says, the Oronoque is navigable for ships little less than 1000 miles, and for smaller vessels near 2000; later writers say 1800. The country where he was led to expect to find immense treasures, lay on this river, 600 miles from the sea. This descent was hazardous. "The fury of Orenoque," says Raleigh, "began daily to threaten us with dangers in our returne; for no halfe day passed, but the river began to rage and overflowe very fearefully, and the raines came downe in terrible showers, and gustes in great abundance."- -Bancroft, so lately as 1766, says, The Charibbees of Guiana retain a tradition of an English Chief, who many years since landed among them, and encouraged them to persevere in enmity to the Spaniards; promising to return and settle among |