Some few days after they were gone, Sir Richard Greenvil, with three Ships, arriv’d at the Plantation at Roanoack, which he found deserted, and leaving fifty Men thereto keep Possession of that Countrey, return’d for England.
The year following, Mr. John White, with three Ships, came to search for the fifty English at Roanoack, but found them not, they having been set upon by the Natives, and dispers’d so, as no News could be heard of them, and in their room left a hundred and fifty more to continue that Plantation.
In August 1589. Mr. John White went thither again, to search for the last Colony which he had left there; but not finding them, return’d for England in Septemb. 6. 1590.
This ill Success made all further Discoveries to be laid aside, till Captain Gosnol on March 26. 1602. set Sail from Dartmouth, and on May 11. following, made Land at a place, where some Biscaners, as he guess’d by the Natives information, had formerly fish’d, being about the Latitude of forty eight Degrees Northerly Latitude; from hence putting to Sea, he made Discovery of an Island which he call’d Marthas Vineyard, and shortly after of Elizabeth’s Isle, and so return’d for England, June 18. following.
In the Year 1603. the City of Bristol rais’d a Stock, and furnish’d out two Barques for Discovery, under the Command of Captain Martin Pring, who about June 7. fell with the North of Virginia in the three and fortieth Degree, found plenty of good Fish, nam’d a place Whitson-Bay, and so return’d.
In the Year 1605. the Right Honorable Thomas Arundel the first, Baron of Warder, and Count of the Roman Empire, set out Captain George Waymouth, with twenty nine Sea-men, and necessary Provisions, to make what Discoveries he could; who by contrary Winds, fell Northward about one and forty Degrees and twenty Minutes of Northerly Latitude, where they found plenty of good Fish; and Sailing further, discover’d an Island, where they nam’d a Harbor, Pentecost-Harbor; and on July 18. following, came back for England.
In the Year 1606. by the sollicitation of Captain Gosnol, and several Gentlemen, a Commission was granted by King James of Great Brittain, &c. for establishing a Council, to direct those new Discoveries; Captain Newport (a well practic’d Marriner) was intrusted with the Transportation of the Adventurers in two Ships, and a Pinace, who on Decemb. 19. 1606. set Sail from Black-wall, and were by Storm, contrary to expectation, cast upon the first Land, which they call’d Cape Henry, at the Mouth of the Bay of Chesapeack, lying in thirty seven Degrees, or thereabouts, of Northerly Latitude: Here their Orders were open’d and read, and eight declar’d of the Council, and impower’d to chose a President for a year, who with the Council should Govern that Colony: Till May 13. they sought a place to Plant in, Mr. Winkfield was chose the first President, who caus’d a Fort to be rais’d at Powhatan, now call’d James-Town: In June following, Captain Newport return’d for England, leaving a hundred Men behind him; since which time they have been sufficiently supply’d from England, and by the indefatigable Industry and Courage of Captain John Smith, (one of the Council at that time, and afterward President of the Colony) they made several Discoveries on the Eastern shore, and up to the Head of the Bay of Chesapeack, and of the principal Rivers which fall into the said Bay.
Virginia being thus Discover’d and Planted, King James by his Letters Patent bearing Date April 10. in the fourth year of his Reign, 1607. Granted Licence to Sir Thomas Gates, Sir George Summers, and others, to divide themselves into two several Colonies, for the more speedy Planting of that Countrey, then call’d Virginia, between the Degrees of thirty four and forty five of North Latitude, that is to say, taken in that large extent, mention’d in the beginning: The first Colony to be undertaken by certain Knights, Gentlemen, and Merchants, in, and about the City of London: The second to be undertaken, and advanc’d by certain Knights, Gentlemen, and Merchants, and their Associates, in, or about the City of Bristol, Exon, Plymouth, and other parts.
At the first Colonies Request, in the seventh year of the same King, a second Patent was Granted to several Noblemen and Gentlemen, (including Sir Thomas Gates, and some of his former Fellow-Patentees) bearing Date May 23. 1610. whereby they were made a Corporation, and Body Politique, and stil’d, The Treasurer, and Company of Adventurers and Planters of the City of London, for the first Colony of Virginia: And by this Patent, there was Granted to them, their Successors and Assigns, two hundred Miles to the Southward, from a Cape of Land in Virginia, call’d Point Comfort; and two hundred Miles to the Northward of the said Cape, along the Sea-shore, and into the Land from Sea to Sea.
And on March 12. 1612. the said King, in the ninth year of his Reign, Grants them a third Patent, of all Islands lying in the Sea, within two hundred Miles of the Shore of that Tract of Land on the Continent, granted to them by the said former Patent, Jac. 7.