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In 1578, England's Queen Elizabeth granted Sir Gilbert Humphrey the right to search out and find undiscovered lands not inhabited by civilized Christian people. It had been over 150 years since the New World was discovered, yet England had done little to claim any land. Queen Elizabeth wanted to change that.

Sir Humphrey had little luck in his ventures. While some of his ships were abandoning the mission, other ships were turning back for repairs. In 1583, Sir Humphrey made another voyage, but it failed as the first attempt had done. He met his death near the coast of New England.

Walter Raleigh, who happened to have been one of the sailors in Sir Humphrey's first voyage, petitioned Queen Elizabeth for a charter, for a chance to do what Sir Humphrey had failed to do twice. In 1584, the ships departed for the New World.

Arthur Barlowe was one of the commanders of the voyage. About three months after leaving England, Barlowe sighted land and described the area as "...so full of grapes, as the very beating, and the surge of the Sea overglowed them, of which we founde such plentie...that I thinke in all the world the like aboundance is not to be founde." During the time the explorers were on the island, they formed good relations with the Indians.

Sir Raleigh soon petitioned Queen Elizabeth for another voyage to the New World. He wanted to establish a permanent colony. In 1585, seven vessels were prepared to sail for the new colony. This expedition was under the command of Sir Richard Grenville. Around 600 men set sail for the Americas that Spring, along with provisions.

Almost from the beginning, the fleet of ships ran into problems. They ran into a fierce storm near Africa, and Sir Grenville was forced to sail on to Puerto Rico, a Spanish Territory, and wait for the rest of the fleet. Within two weeks, all but one of the seven ships had reunited with Sir Grenville, and they continued on their voyage to the New World. When they reached the shores of Wococon Inlet, the lead ship grounded and most of the cargo was destroyed.

By the Fall of 1585, a fort had been built. Sir Grenville was preparing to return to England. Captain Ralph Lane was left to command the 107 men in Roanoke. Diseases were spread to the Indians from the men that stayed behind in Roanoke.

As the Spring came and went in 1586, relations between the English and the Indians were at an all time low. Sir Grenville had not yet returned as he had intended to by Easter. Captain Ralph Lane lead an attack on the

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