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 Cavendish, the future circumnavigator, Arundel, Raymond, Stukeley, and Vincent. Sailing on the 5th of April, 1585, Greynvile touched at Puerto Rico and at Isabela, on the north coast of St. Domingo. Passing along the mainland of Florida, he anchored at Wocoken (now called Ocracoke Inlet) on the 26th of June; but one of his ships went on shore and was lost. In exploring the country, Greynvile crossed the south part of Pamlico Sound, and visited three towns called Pomeick, Aguascogoc, and Lecoto, where he was well received. The plan was, that a small colony should remain under the command of Ralph Lane, and that Sir Richard Greynvile should return home with the ships. He reached Plymouth on the 18th of October, having the voyage captured a richly laden Spanish ship of 300 tons. He boarded her in a boat made of the boards of chests, and the fragile craft went to pieces as he and his men sprang up the ship's side.

The colony under Ralph Lane was to remain and explore the mainland. There were with him Captain Philip Amadas, the learned Thomas Heriot, Courtenay, Stafford, Acton, Marmaduke Constable — all historic names — and a hundred men. They made the best use of their time, and Heriot studied the resources of the country, especially the vegetable products, and wrote an important work on the subject, which was of great use to future colonists. In June, 1586, Sir Francis Drake arrived with a fleet, and offered to supply the settlers with provisions; but they decided to return home. Meanwhile, Ralegh had sent out supplies to the colony in a vessel of 100 tons. Not finding the settlers, she returned to England. Sir Richard Greynvile also came out with three well-appointed vessels, and, failing to find the settlers, he also returned. He, however, left fifteen men at Roanoak, with provisions for two years.

In 1587, Ralegh obtained a charter for the "Governor and Assistants of the city of Ralegh in Virginia." He fitted out a ship of 120 tons, a fly-boat, and a pinnace, and sent out a colony of one hundred and fifty souls, under the leadership of John White, with Simon Fernando as pilot. They reached Hatorash on the 22nd of July, but found no signs of the fourteen men left by Sir Richard Greynvile. A colony was landed, consisting of ninety-one men, seventeen women, and nine boys; and John White went back to England for supplies. But it was not until the 20th of March, 1590, that he was able to return with three vessels. He landed at