But the colonists needed many things from the motherland, and determined
to send the Governor to procure them. He was unwilling to leave them
under circumstances so strongly appealing to his paternal heart, but
yielded to the general wish and sailed on August 27th. But many causes
now opposed his success in the mother-country. Spain was threatening a
descent with her formidable Armada, and England was alive with
preparations to meet the shock. Raleigh and Grenville entered with
enthusiasm into the interests of their country, and were no longer in a
state to furnish aid for a distant colony. Not until April 22, 1588,
could they prepare two small barks for a voyage to Virginia, and these,
drawn away by their eager thirst for Spanish prizes laden with Mexican
gold, wandered from their route, and were driven back by superior
enemies to their original ports.
Yielding to his disappointment and mortification at these repeated
disasters, and exhausted in money by his enormous outlays, Raleigh no
longer hoped for success from his own exertions. Forty thousand pounds
had been expended and no return had been made. On March 7, 1589, he
assigned his patent to Thomas Smith, Richard Hakluyt, and others, who
had the means and the experience of merchants, or rather he extended to
them the rights enjoyed under his patent and exercised by him in giving
the charter for the "City of Raleigh.
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