14 rtrfRQDUCTION. chap, i. England, where they arrived the 15th of Sep- 1584. tember. The splendid descriptions which they gave of the soil, the climate, and the produc- tions of the country they had visited, so pleased Elizabeth, that she bestowed on it the name of Virginia, as a memorial that it had been dis- covered during the reign of a virgin queen. 1 Their report encouraged Raleigh to hasten his preparations for taking possession of such an inviting property. Early in the following 1585. spring, he fitted out seven small ships laden with arms, ammunition, provisions, and pas- sengers for a settlement. The command of this squadron was given to sir Richard Grenville, his relation, who was interested with him in voyage cf the patent obtained from Elizabeth; and who, sir Richard -T ' crenviie. even m that gallant age, was conspicuous for his courage. He sailed from Plymouth on the 9th of April. Having taken the southern route, and wasted some time in cruising against the Spaniards, he did not reach the coast of North America until the close of the month of June. He touched at both the islands on which Ami- das and Barlow had landed, made some excur- sions into different parts of the continent, around Pamplicoe and Albemarle sounds; but, unfor- tunately, did not advance so far towards the north as to discover the bay of Chesapeak. Having established a colony, consisting of one hundred and eight persons, in the island of i Robertson. „.Chalmer...,StitA.
