School History of North Carolina (From 1584 to the Present Time) | Page 9

Gilbert, who had made
reputation as a commander of ships. In the year 1578, the queen
granted leave to these two men to sail in search of lands yet
undiscovered by civilized nations. In 1583 they sent out a large vessel
called the Raleigh, [It is said that the vessel was commanded by Sir
Walter Raleigh in person, and this was the only attempt ever made by
him to visit the shores of North America. ] which was compelled to
return in a few days, on account of disease among the crew.
10. English sailors, at that time, were easily discouraged in efforts to
navigate the Atlantic Ocean. They had never crossed it, and were full of

superstition concerning that unknown and mysterious sea.
11. Again, in 1583, Sir Humphrey Gilbert, with three ships, ventured
out upon the waste of waters that lay to the west of their island homes.
He discovered the island of Newfoundland, and thence sailed
southward. Off the coast of Maine he was overtaken by a storm which
sunk one of his ships. This disaster induced him to turn his prows for
the voyage homeward; but the storm continued, and the darkness and
horrors of the sea grew tenfold worse when they found themselves
amid drifting icebergs. Brave Sir Humphrey, from the deck of his ship,
the Squirrel, to the last cheered the men of her consort, crying out,
"Cheer up, my lads! We are as near heaven at sea as on land."
12. When the terrible night had passed, it was found that Sir Humphrey
Gilbert and his crew had perished, and only the Hind was left to carry
back the disheartening tidings to Raleigh and the English queen. The
vessel which carried Sir Humphrey Gilbert and his crew was of only
ten tons burden, and very poorly able to stand the gales along the
American coast. The Delight, another one of the fleet, had gone down a
few days before the loss of the Squirrel.
[NOTE--In the year 1520 a Spanish vessel, commanded by Vasques de
Ayllon, was driven by a violent storm upon the coast of Carolina. The
commander was kindly treated by the natives, and, in return, he enticed
a number of them on board his ship and tried to carry them to
Hispaniola. But the Indians preferred death to captivity; they all refused
to partake of any food, and thus died of voluntary starvation. The scene
of this occurrence is within the present borders of South Carolina.]
QUESTIONS.
1. What is said of the sixteenth century of the world's history?
2. What was the condition of the "new world"? What people laid claim
to the American continent, and why?
3. Who was Queen of England, and what was the condition of her
kingdom? What was Queen Elizabeth's trouble with the Pope of Rome?
4. What is said of Queen Elizabeth as a ruler?
5. What other traits of character did she possess?
6. What interesting circumstance is relayed of the queen?
7. Who was the young man, and what did the queen think of him?
8. What was the character of Walter Raleigh?
9. To whom did he communicate his plans? What did the queen grant

to these two men? When was the first expedition started, and with what
result?
10. How did sailors of that period regard the Atlantic Ocean?
11. What occurred in 1583? What island was discovered? What disaster
befell the expedition?
12. What did daylight reveal? Give the names of the three ships.

CHAPTER VI
.
DISCOVERY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
A. D. 1584 TO 1585.
1584. When the little ship Hind reached England, and it was known
how Sir Humphrey Gilbert and so many of his men had gone down into
the depths of that mysterious ocean which was so much dreaded, there
was great grief; and, possibly many bitter speeches were made by the
people who stayed at home and predicted disaster to the daring
enterprise. Raleigh was sorely afflicted at the loss of his brother and
men, and had he been weak or selfish this disaster would have
unmanned him, and he would have ventured on no more such projects.
2. He had lost many thousands of dollars in the foundered ships; and
many a gallant friend that had trusted him and cheered him in his
mighty schemes had perished. But the hearts of heroes are not cast in
common moulds. Instead of abandoning his enterprise, he obtained, on
March 25, 1584, letters-patent from the queen favoring another
expedition, and he at once began to fit out another fleet. This consisted
of two vessels, and they were put under the command of Philip Amadas
and Arthur Barlowe.
[NOTE--The queen's "Letters-Patent" to Raleigh gave him "Free liberty
to discover such remote heathen and barbarous lands not actually