Exhibit A 

Therefore, at my departure from them in 1587, I told them that if they should happen to be distressed in any of those places, that they should then also carve over the letters a Cross. But we found no clues of such signs of distress. As we neared the settlement, we found the houses taken down and the place very strongly enclosed with a high defensive wall of great trees looking very fortlike. One of the main trees or posts at the right side of the entrance had the bark taken off, and five feet from the ground in capital letters was carved CROATOAN without any sign or Cross. We entered into the fort, where we found many bars of iron, two blocks of lead, four iron guns, iron shot, and other similar heavy things thrown here and there, almost overgrown with grass and weeds.

“All along the way we saw in the sand the print of the savages’ feet. As we entered up the sandy bank there was a tree, in which was curiously carved the Roman letters C R O. We knew to signify the place where I would find the settlers. There was a secret token agreed upon between them and me at my last departure from them, which was that they were to carve on the trees or posts of the doors the name of the place where they would be waiting. Even when I was there, we were always prepared to move from Roanoke to 50 miles into the mainland.

In the end of an old trench made two years past by Captain Amadas, we found five chests that had been carefully hidden by the settlers. Three of the chests were my own, and many of my things had been spoiled and broken; my books torn from the covers, the frames of some of my pictures and maps rotten and spoiled with rain, and my armor almost eaten through with rust. This could be no other but the deed of the savages our enemies at Dasamongwepeuk, who had watched the departure of our men to Croatoan; and as soon as they departed, dug up every place where they suspected anything to be buried. Although it much grieved me to see such spoil of my goods, I was greatly joyed that I had safely found a certain token of their safe being at Croatoan.”