They landed in the summer when everything was green. They found lush piney forests, and plenty of fish and game. They gathered many different types of plants to take back to England. One of the plants that they took back to England was a potato. They also met friendly native Indians. Two of these friendly Indians named Manteo and Wanchese sailed back to England with Amadas and Barlowe. They reported back to Queen Elizabeth and Raleigh about the friendly natives and other riches that were available in this new land. Both Queen Elizabeth and Raleigh were pleased with what they had learned about this new land. These glowing reports were not completely true though. They wanted people to think this was a paradise. Because of their glowing reports the first colonists were ill prepared for what they found when they landed at Roanoke Island.
When Raleigh decided to found a colony at Roanoke, his major decision was that it would be an excellent spot for privateering, which is when they are licensed to attack Spanish ships for the country and their own enrichment. Queen Elizabeth sanctioned this practice of privateering. She even invested in Raleigh's expedition, and her ship, the .
Tiger was the flagship. Five major ships and two pinnaces left Plymouth on April 9, 1585. Queen Elizabeth refused to let Raleigh go to sea, so Raleigh's cousin, Sir Richard Grenville sailed in his stead. Even though he had no experience, he was named general of the expedition and admiral of the fleet. His appointment exemplifies a fact of Elizabethan times that would hinder all colonial adventures to come. The man with the highest social standing would be in command even though he had no experience. Men with much more experience were taking orders even though they knew the orders would bring disaster.
At least four, possibly more, forts were built by Sir Walter Raleigh's expeditions to the New World in the 1580's.
