_______________ chose Roanoke as a possible first English settlement because its relative distance from settled Spanish territories allowed safe travel conditions for privateers.

A) James Cook
B) John Smith
C) Henry Hudson
D) Sir Walter Raleigh

Privateers

Armed private ships licensed to attack enemy shipping during wartime, functioning as a form of outsourced naval warfare.

Sir Walter Raleigh

An English adventurer, writer, and courtier of the late 16th and early 17th centuries, known for his exploration of America and attempts to establish colonies.

English Settlement

Refers to the establishment of communities and colonies by English people in foreign territories, notably in the Americas, during the 16th and 17th centuries.