CHAP. I. oke, one of the boats, in passing a bar, was 1590. half filled with water, another overset, and six

men were drowned. Two other boats, however, were sometime afterward fitted out with nineteen men, to search the island on which the colony had been left. At the departure of mr. White they had contemplated removing about fifty miles up into the main, and it had been agreed that, if they left their then position, they would carve the name of the place to which they should remove, on some tree, door, or post; with the addition of a cross over it, as a signal of distress, if they should be really distressed at the time of changing their situation. After considerable search, the word CROATAN was found carved in fair capital letters on one of the chief posts, but unaccompanied by the sign of distress which had been agreed on.

Croatan was the name of an Indian town on the north side of cape Look-out, and for that place the fleet weighed anchor, the next day. Meeting with a storm, and several accidents, which discouraged them from proceeding on the voyage, they determined to give over further search for the present, and to return to the West Indies.

The company made no other attempt to find this lost colony; nor has the time, or the manner of their perishing, ever been discovered.

If any subsequent voyages were made by the English to North America, they were for

the mere purposes of traffic, and were entirely CHAP. I. unimportant in their consequences, until the 1602. year 1602, when one was undertaken by Bartholomew Gosnald, which contributed greatly to revive in the nation, the hitherto unsuccessful, and then dormant, spirit of colonizing in the new world.

He sailed from Falmouth in a small bark with thirty-two men; and avoiding the usual, but circuitous course by the West Indies, steered as nearly west as the winds would permit, and reached the American continent on the 11th of May, in nearly forty-three degrees of north latitude. Here some Indians in a shallop with a mast and sails (supposed to have been obtained from Biscayan fisherman) came fearlesly on board them.

Finding no good harbour at this place, Gosnald put to sea again, and stood to the southward. The next morning he descried a promontory which he called cape Cod, and holding his course along the coast as it stretched to the south-west, he touched at two islands, the first of which he named Martha's Vineyard, and the second, Elizabeth's Island. Having passed some time at these places, examining the country, and trading with the natives, he returned to England.

This voyage which was completed in less than four months, was attended with important consequences. Gosnald had found a healthy

CHAP. I. climate, a rich soil, good harbours, and a route 1602. which greatly shortened the distance to the

continent of North America. He had seen many of the fruits known and prized in Europe, blooming in the woods; and he had planted European grain, which he found to grow rapidly. Encouraged by the experiment, and delighted with the country he had visited, he quickly formed the resolution of transporting thither a colony, and of uniting with himself, in the execution of this design, others who might be enabled to support it. So unfortunate, however, had been former attempts of this sort, that men of wealth and rank, although the report of Gosnald made considerable impression on them, were slow in giving full faith to his representations, and in entering completely into his plans. One vessel was fitted out by the merchants of Bristol, and another by the earl of Southampton, and lord Arundel of Warder; in order to learn whether Gosnald's account of the country was to be considered as a just representation of its state, or as the exaggerated description of a person fond of magnifying his own discoveries. Both returned with a full confirmation of his veracity, and with the addition of so many new circumstances, in favour of the country, acquired by a more extensive view of it, as greatly increased the desire of planting it. The merchants of London too, fitted out a vessel which is supposed to have

entered the bay of Chessapeake, but to have returned, without having penetrated into and explored the country.

The English historians say, that Richard Hackluyt, prebendary of Westminster, a man of distinguished learning and intelligence, contributed more than any other, by his able and judicious exertions, to form an association sufficiently extensive, influential, and wealthy, to execute the so often renewed, and so often disappointed, project of establishing colonies in America.

At length such an association was formed; and a petition was presented to James I. who, on the death of Elizabeth had succeeded to the crown of England; praying the sanction of the royal authority, to the execution of the plan they proposed. Greatly pleased with it, he commended and immediately acceded to the wishes of its projectors.

CHAP. I.

1602.

sir Thomas

others.

On the 10th of April, letters patent were 1606. issued, under the great seal of England, to the Patent to petitioners sir Thomas Gates and his associates; Gates and granting to them those territories in America lying on the sea coast, between the 34th and 45th degrees of north latitude, and which either belonged to that monarch, or were not then possessed by any other christian prince or people; and also the islands adjacent thereto, or within one hundred miles thereof. They were divided, at their own desire, into two

CHAP. I. several companies; one consisting of certain 1606. knights, gentlemen, merchants, and other ad

venturers of the city of London, and elsewhere, was called the first colony, and was required to settle between the 34th and 41st degrees of north latitude; the other, consisting of certain knights, gentlemen, merchants, and other adventurers of Bristol, Exeter, Plymouth and elsewhere, was named the second colony, and was ordered to settle between the 38th and 45th degrees of north latitude; yet so that the colony last formed, should not be planted within one hundred miles of the prior establishment.

The adventurers were empowered to transport thither, so many English subjects as should be willing to accompany them; with provisions and arms, and without paying customs for seven years. The colonists and their children were, at all times, to enjoy the same liberties, within any other dominions of the crown of England, as if they had remained, or were born within the realm.

For their better government, there was established for each of the projected settlements, a council consisting of thirteen; to be appointed and removed by the royal instructions; who were empowered to govern the colonies according to such laws as should be given under the sign manual, and privy seal of England. Two other boards were formed in England, which were in like manner to consist