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esteemed her reign signalized by the discovery of the
enchanting regions, and, as a memorial of her state of life, named them
Virginia.
Nor was it long before
Raleigh, elected to represent in parliament the county of
Devon, obtained a bill
confirming his patent of discovery;
1 and while he received the honor of knighthood, as the reward of his valor, he also acquired a lucrative monopoly of wines, which enabled him to continue with vigor his schemes of colonization.
2 The prospect of becoming the proprietary of a delightful territory, with a numerous tenantry, who should yield him not only a revenue, but allegiance, inflamed his ambition; and, as the
English nation listened with credulity to the descriptions of
Amidas and
Barlow, it was not difficult to gather a numerous company of emigrants.
While a new paten
3 was issued to his friend, for the discovery of the northwestern passage, and the well-known voyages of
Davis, sustained, in part, by the contributions of
Raleigh himself, were increasing the acquaintance of
Europe with the
Arctic sea, the plan of colonizing
Virginia was earnestly and steadily pursued.
The new expedition was composed of seven vessels,
and carried one hundred and eight colonists to the shores of
Carolina.
Ralph Lane, a man of considerable distinction, and so much esteemed for his services as a soldier, that he was afterwards knighted by Queen Elizabeth, was willing to act for
Raleigh as governor of the colony.
Sir Richard Grenville, the most able and celebrated of
Raleigh's associates, distinguished for bravery among the gallant spirits of a gallant age, as-
sumed the command of the fleet.
It sailed from
Plymouth,
