Back in the days of Sir Walter Raleigh the governments of many countries were in the hands of a king or queen, like Elizabeth I of England. Important people, usually high-ranking nobles, would gather around the ruler to give their support and advice. These people were not elected but were chosen by the ruler for their wisdom, influence, and loyalty. Sir Walter Raleigh was a member of Queen Elizabeth's court. Members of the court were not always wise and loyal and could be dismissed if the ruler got mad at them.
Seawater can flow in and out of the sounds through the inlets.
Look at a map. If the inlets were closed the sound might then be called a lake because it would no longer be connected to the ocean. There are several bodies of water near Roanoke Island that are called 'sounds'. Manteo and Wanchese were two Native American men who sailed back to England with Raleigh's first expedition. They taught the English how to speak the Native language.