Excerpt from Introduction to the History of the Colony and Ancient Dominion of Virginia Portuguese, French and Spanish naviga tors now visited North America, with what motives, adventures and success, it is not necessary to relate here. Sir Hum phrey Gilbert, commissioned by Queen Eliz abeth and assisted by his half-brother, Wal ter Raleigh, fitted out a small eet and made a voyage to Newfoundland, where he landed and took formal possession of the country. This intrepid navigator embarking to return in the Squirrel, a vessel of only ten tons, was lost in a storm. When last seen by the com pany of the Hind, Sir Humphrey, although surrounded by imminent perils, was seated calmly on deck, with a book in his hand, and was heard to exclaim, Be of good cheer, my friends, it is as near to Heaven by sea as by land. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works."

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Excerpt from History of the Colony and Ancient Dominion of Virginia As far as time would admit, some survey Of the country was made, the principal object of which was the discovery Of mines and minerals; and the admiral listened with credulity to the promises Of silver. The company being dispersed abroad, some were taken sick and died; some hid themselves in the woods, and others cut one Of the vessels out of the harbor and carried her off. At length the admiral, having collected as many Of his men as could be found, and ordered one of his vessels to remain and take Off the sick, set sail with three vessels, intending to visit Cape Breton and the Isle of Sable; but one of his vessels being lost on a sand-bank, he determined to return to England. The Squirrel, in which he had embarked for the survey of the coast, was very small and heavily laden, yet this intrepid navigator persisted in remaining on board of her, notwithstanding the urgent entreaties of his friends in the other and larger vessel, the Hind; in reply to which, he declared, that he would not de sert his little crew on the homeward voyage, after having with them passed through SO many storms and perils. And after proceeding three hundred leagues, the little bark, with the admi ral and all her crew, was lost in a storm. When last seen by the company Of the Hind, Sir Humphrey, although surrounded by imminent perils, was seated composedly on the deck with a book in his hand, and as Often as they approached within hear ing was heard to exclaim: Be Of good cheer, my friends; it is as near to heaven by sea as by land. At midnight the lights Of the little vessel suddenly disappeared, and she was seen no more. Sir Humphrey Gilbert was descended from an ancient family in Devonshire; his father was Otho Gilbert, Esq., of Greenway, and his mother, Catharine, daughter of Sir Philip Champernon, of Modbury. He was educated at Oxford, and became distinguished for courage, learning, and enterprise. Ap pointed colonel in Ireland, he displayed singular energy and ad dress. In the year 1571 he was a member of the House of Commons from Compton, his native place. He strenuously de fended the queen's prerogative against the charge Of monopoly. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.