ABSTRACT
In 1585–6 the Roanoke ventures had been closely connected with the strategy of the sea war against Spain. By 1587, though the concept of a shore base in North America against the Indies had not been abandoned, White’s venture filled only a very small part of a picture that was dominated by Drake’s Cadiz raid and the English preparations at home to meet the Spanish Armada. Consequently, from the point of view of the government, considerations of developing, or even supplying, the American settlement took a minor place in the general strategy of the time. Raleigh, Grenville, Lane and others who were concerned with the Virginia ventures in one degree or another were busily employed on military or naval business. 2 Yet when John White met Raleigh on 20 November and reported on his expedition, 3 Raleigh immediately set on foot preparations for a pinnace to be sent out to the colony with what the settlers needed. This, it was intended, should leave as soon as possible, but it was to be followed by a larger expedition, headed by Sir Richard Grenville. We do not know whether Grenville’s intention was to concentrate on assisting the City of Raleigh colony to establish itself on Chesapeake Bay as had originally been planned, or to develop the Roanoke Island area as well. It is almost certain that on this occasion he intended to proceed by way of the West Indies in order to do as much 554damage to Spanish shipping there as possible and to compensate for his inability to make a voyage in 1587.
