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Page GO. TouNG FOLKS' Heroes of Histort RALEGH HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES BY GEORGE MAKEPEACE TOWLE AUTHOR OF " VASCO DA GAMA " " PIZARRO " "MAGELLAN' •* MARCO POLO " ETC. ILLUSTRA TED BOSTON LEE AND SHEPARD PUBLISHERS NEW YORK CHARLES T. DILLINGHAM Copyright, 1881, By Lee and SheparDc All Rights Resetted. CIS R\h>3b2 PREFACE, Sir Walter Ralegh was famous in several fields of action. His younger manhood was spent in the midst of the most brilliant royal court which English palaces ever held. Later, he proved his courage and military prowess in more than one bitterly contested battle-field and naval conflict. In middle life, and again in old age, he braved the great deep and the perils of savage lands, in the sturdy attempt to make discoveries, and to settle EngHsh colonies in the new world. His love of his own land, and his hatred of her enemies, were always ardent ; nor did he permit the harsh ill- treatment to which he was subjected by the hos- tility of his rivals, the intrigues of Spain, the caprices of Queen Elizabeth, and the insurmount- able dislike of King James, to dampen or dull the fire of his patriotism. Ralegh was the wittiest man, and one of the r>l most scholarly men of Elizabeth's court. He was ^ fond of books ; and as an author, he took rank in »7> PREFACE. with the great Uterary hghts of the Elizabethan age. Chivah"ous in feehng, brave in action, court- ly in manner, handsome in person, a faithful hus- band, a devoted father, a valiant soldier, a vigorous and persevering explorer, and a wise and states- manlike thinker, his career was full of absorbing and often exciting interest, as the pages which follow will doubtless prove it to have been, to those who read them. C O N 1' E N T S. CHAPTER I. Ralegh's Boyhood and Youth . CHAPTF.R JT. Ralegh a Soldier CHAPTER JJT Ralegh a Courtier CHAPTER IV. Ralegh as a Colonizer CHAPTER V. The Invincible Armada CHAPTER VI. Ralegh a Prisoner CHAPTER VII. Ralegh's First Voyage CHAPTER VIII. Adventures on the Orinoco CHAPTER IX. Ralegh's Return Home CHAPTER X. Sea-fights with the Spaniards i6 32 48 64 79 96 113 130 H7 CONTENTS. CHAPTER XI. The Essex Conspiracy 165 CHAPTER XII. Ralegh Charged with Treason 182 CHAPTER XIII. Tried for his Life ... CHAPTER XIV. Twelve Years in thu luutk . CHAPTER XVII. The Final Scene 195 CHAPTER XV. Ralegh's Second Voi/vGc, 227 CHAPTER XVI. Ralegh's Return 243 257 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. Ralegh spreading his Cloak before the Queen .... 35 Ualegh's Servant attempts to put out the Fire . . . Cxj Kalegh showing the Portrait of Queen Elizabeth . , .132 Pvalegh Urging and Encouraging his Men 15.1 Ralegh's Narrow Escape 171 Ralegh in Prison 221 Death of Ralegh's Son 237 The Final Scene 27J ralegh: HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. CHAPTER I. RALEGH'S BOYHOOD AND YOUTH. N the south of England, bordering upon the British Channel, lies the pleasant and picturesque county of Devon. The gentle beauties of its landscape, and its mild and healthy climate ; its vales, and downs, and woodlands ; its lofty cliffs stretching along the coast ; its pretty bays, inlets, and rivers, winding amid rich mead- ows and sloping hills ; its fine farms and dainty dairies ; and its quaint old cities and towns, snug villages, and hoary manor-houses, have long been noted, and are described in glowing colors by travellers and poets. Not the least picturesque of the Devon rivers is the Otter, which flows into the Channel at the 2 RALEGH : eastern end of the county. The Otter runs through a country of prosperous farms and ancient settle- ments ; and along its banks nestle many cottages and hamlets centuries old. Close to the Otter, just outside the village of Budleigh, there still stands, where it has stood for at least four centuries, a plain and now half- ruined farmhouse, snugly settled beneath lofty oaks and amid thrifty apple orchards. The Otter flows in full sight of the small-paned, irregular win- dows. Behind the old house, the hills rise to thickly-wooded summits. The venerable homestead has, no doubt, seen many changes in the progress of four hundred years ; nor would those who dwelt within its walls in the time of bluff Henry the Eighth, probably recognize it, could they come to life again, and revisit the once familiar scene. Yet some vestiges of its ancient condition remain. A table, clumsily carved and worn with age, still stands in the spacious sitting-room, where, it is said, it has stood for at least three centuries. Should you visit the house, its good dame would eagerly lead you up the narrow staircase, and, con- ducting you into a musty, low-ceilinged chamber, HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 3 would proudly tell you that it was in this room that the famous Sir Walter Ralegh was born. A short distance from the house, too, stands a curious church, older even than the house itself; and in this church may be seen a quaint oaken pew, richly carved with a family coat-of-arms, where, for centuries, the Raleghs sat and wor- shipped. As each master of Hayes — this was the name of the house and farm which have been described — passed away from earth, he was sol- emnly borne into the church of All Saints, and thence to the ancient family tomb near by. At the modest farmhouse of Hayes there lived, about the middle of the sixteenth century, a poor gentleman named Walter Ralegh. But though poor, he was a man of high breeding and of noble blood, and belonged to a family which had long been rich and powerful. He w^as nearly related to many of the nobility and great landlords of his neighbor- hood, and often received visits from them at his modest homestead of Hayes. Mr. Ralegh was a quiet gentleman, who took little part in the stirring events of his time, and preferred living in his rustic retreat at Hayes, to plunging into the ex- citements and pleasures of London life. He is 4 RALEGH : therefore little heard of in history ; further than that he was a man of gentle manners and an amiable nature, we hear nothing of him. His wife, however, was a person of marked traits, and of many noble virtues. She was a lady of very high degree, the daughter of Sir Philip Champernon, a proud Norman squire, and a de- scendant of the Courtenays, the famous English emperors of Constantinople. She had first wedded, when a fair and haughty young girl, a valiant knight named Sir Otho Gilbert, and had given birth to three stalwart sons — John, Humphrey, and Adrian Gilbert — all of whom played an heroic part in the events of their time, and attained, by their valorous deeds, the dignity of knighthood. After Sir Otho's death, his beautiful wife had been won by the modest and gentle Walter Ralegh, and had been content to leave the proud social cir- cles of which she was a brilliant ornament, and to share with her impoverished second husband his rustic abode and his scanty fortune. Four sons were the issue of this singular but happy love- match. With the three elder, this story has little or nothing to do. The fourth, who first saw the light in the very HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. ^ year that Queen Mary ascended the throne of Britain — 1552 — was named after his father, Wal- ter Ralegh. In his very babyhood, this boy was noted through the country around Hayes for his exceeding beauty. His regular features, his rosy complexion, his big, bright, brown eyes, and his quick precocity, were the talk of the farmers and their dames. His father and mother were wondrously proud of him, and fairly doted on him ; he was the favorite and the pet of the household, from the day he was born to that on which he left Hayes to seek adventure and fame in the wide world beyond. The good father and the ambitious mother mourned that they were too poor to give him such an education as was due to the son of an ancient English family, and the descendant of imperial ancestors. Walter Ralegh received his early education at his mother's knees ; and was brought up in the homely, simple, high-bred fash- ion of the English country-houses as they were in the days of the Tudor kings and queens. Very early in his boyhood, Walter Ralegh showed a high spirit of courage, a fondness for the lusty sports of the Devon country side, a love of out-door 6 RALEGH : recreations and trials of physical strength, and a fondness for the excitements and dangers of the chase. As soon as he could mount a horse, he was seen galloping about the rustic roads, where he outrode all his comrades, and became the un- questioned leader of their pastimes. He was a muscular as well as a handsome young fellow, tall, well-formed, and manly for his age, full of cour- tesy, and pleasant, engaging ways, which made him a hero among the lads who shared his sturdy sports. There was no rural recreation, indeed, in which he did not take part with keenest ardor, and did not soon become an adept. On many an early summer day, he was wont to follow the shady streams which wound through the forests in his neighborhood, with angler's hook and line ; and as he cast his line for the wary trout, dreamed, no doubt, many a dream of the adventures and ambi- tions he would have one day in the big, bustling world far beyond his rural home. There were other days on which, in company with his sport- loving father, he galloped over the breezy hills of Dartmoor, his packs of hounds running and yelp- ing at his side, and followed the flying deer across HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. ^ dell and down, and through the cool thickets, rejoicing mightily when at last the victim of the chase was brought down, and the hunting-horns, echoing from hill to hill, announced the result of the chase to all the country round. About thirty miles from Hayes, in the midst of dense forests, varied, here and there, by blooming apple orchards, there stood a grim and hoary cas^ tie, whose lofty towers rose above the trees amid which it was nestled. It was, even in those days, an ancient edifice. Its walls were thickly clothed with sturdy ivies ; some portions of it were already uninhabitable from decay ; and rooks made their nests, and cawed and fluttered in the now deserted halls of this ruined part. Just behind the castle, a noble park stretched out, with its rich, turfy lawns, and its grass-grown and much-neglected avenues ; while beyond, the woods were full of deer and other game, and offered fine hunting-grounds for the occupants of the gloomy old place. In this ancient and remote castle, which was known as Compton Castle, lived two brothers, who had already become noted for their spirit, valor, and love of adventure. They were Humphrey and Adrian Gilbert, the half-brothers of young Walter 8 RALEGH : Ralegh. Although still young, Humphrey and Adrian had been much abroad in the world, and had seen some military service. Both of them were fond of dangerous expeditions, and were expert navigators ; and they liked to talk of the many exciting scenes which they had witnessed, and in which they had taken an active and some- times an heroic part. They both had a warm affection for their young half-brother, who was always welcomed to Comp- ton Castle with open arms. The Gilberts, no doubt, perceived in him a spirit of enthusiasm and adventure akin to their own ; and encouraged him by their stories and their praise to look eagerly forward to a stirring career in the bustling world. The happiest days of Walter Ralegh's boyhood, indeed, were spent in the quaint halls and forests of Compton. He would often gallop over there on his favorite horse, and remain for weeks at a time in the congenial companionship of the two young soldiers. He never tired of sitting by the big fire- place, on a winter's night, and, as the huge logs blazed, hearing them relate their adventures till long after midnight ; and he never was so joyous as when following them to the hunt. HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. Q So spirited and imaginative a boy was not likely to neglect the hardy pleasures of the seaside, near which he lived. It was but a short ride from Hayes to the stormy coast of the British Channel ; and many a long day did Walter spend in sight of its angry waters, and of the sturdy craft which con- stantly came and went. That part of the coast, in those days, was studded with humble cottages, the homes of a colony of sailors, who hastened thither, after a voyage, to seek rest and recreation in the midst of their families. These sailors were a very talkative set ; they were only too glad if they could find any one to listen to their thrilling narratives of battle, shipwreck, and discovery. Walter's intimacy with his half-brothers, Hum- phrey and Adrian Gilbert, had given him an ardent taste for the sea, and for the adventures which those who follow the sea are sure to encounter. His fancy had been fired by their enthusiasm for discoN-ery, and he already began to long to take part in those voyages to seek out new lands, which, in his time, had become more frequent than for- merly. He eagerly, therefore, scraped acquaintance with the scarred and weather-beaten sailors who, ever lO RALEGH : and anon, made their appearance at the cottages on the coast near Hayes. These rough men took a fancy to the bright-eyed, inquisitive lad, who plied them with innumerable questions, and lis- tened with open mouth and dilated pupils to their homely tales and rude descriptions. He would sit for hours on the benches just outside the cottages ; and having drunk in a succession of exciting stories, would gallop back to Hayes, to pass a sleepless night, or to dream of being himself the hero of battles with savages, or of obstinate con- flicts with Spanish galleons ; or of gazing, rapt in wonder, on the tropical splendors of America and the Indies. Walter's ambition to become an adventurer was still further fed by what he read and heard about the daring voyages and conquests of his time. Already, there had sprung up in his heart a warm love of, and pride in, his native England. He eagerly devoured the accounts of the glorious achievements of the Spaniards and the Portu- guese in the field of discovery. He read with breathless interest the thrilling and inspiring sto- ries of Vasco da Gama, of Columbus, of Pizarro and Cortez, of Magellan and Albuquerque, and HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. II fancied himself the future hero of similar ex- ploits. The English had grown very jealous of the success of the Spaniards and Portuguese. They prided themselves on being the masters of the sea, and of the art of navigation ; nor did they yield to the Spaniards in courage, enterprise, and contempt of danger. They were resolved to be- come the rivals of Spain in discovery ; and they coveted the possession of the rich, distant lands which yet remained to be conquered and colonized by European valor. In Ralegh's boyhood, several English navigators had already won glory and renown by their suc- cessful voyages and conquests. Stout old John Hawkins had made his voyage to Africa ; and Drake, although only six years older than Ralegh, had become famous in Devonshire as a voyager to the West Indies, and had engaged in many sea- fights with Spanish cruisers. It is very likely that, in these early days, young Ralegh saw and talked with Drake and Hawkins ; for both Uved at no great distance from him. At all events, their example filled him with ardor and impatience. He learned to hate the Spaniards with all the warmth and spirit of boyish hatred ; 12 RALEGH : and was eager to take his part in the fierce rivalr)/ and hostility which now raged between Spain and England. His blood boiled when he heard of an English ship being taken by a Spanish cruiser ; and thrilled with delight when the news came that a Spanish merchantman, with its rich cargo from the Eastern seas, had been gallantly attacked and brought into port by an English privateer. His father and mother did not fail to encourage his adventurous disposition. They saw that he was made of heroic stuff, and his mother was too proud of her famous sons, Humphrey and Adrian Gilbert, not to be ambitious of the future of her youngest boy. She indulged in fond dreams of his coming greatness and fame ; and was too sure of his courage and intelligence, to fear to trust him amid the perilous conflicts of the world. Mean- while she directed his studies, and persuaded him to work as hard as possible with his books, that he might be the sooner prepared to enter upon the stirring career to which he looked for- ward so eagerly. With his sturdy recreations and his books, his gallops over to Compton Castle, and his afternoon visits to the sailors' cots, time sped rapidly with young Walter Ralegh ; and almost HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 1 3 before he knew it, the day arrived when he was to leave his pretty rustic home on the banks of the Otter, and to go up to Oxford to enter the University. He was scarcely fifteen when this important change in his life took place ; but his quickness to learn had enabled him, even at that age, to be- come fully qualified to enter college. We may well believe that it was not without many a sigh of regret that he left the quiet and beloved scenes of his home, and that his parting from father and mother, brothers and boon companions, brought a pang to his warm boyish heart. But he was a brave young fellow, and his ambi- tion had grown with his years ; and he looked eagerly forward to a career in Oxford, the prizes of which glittered before his fancy, and the self- dependent life at which appealed strongly to his manly nature. An autumn day in 1567, then, found him with his good father, seated in a quaint little room at Oriel College, which is still pointed out to the modern visitor as that once occupied by the great Sir Walter. It looked out upon the ivy-grown quadrangle, with its jutting windows and its broad 14 RALEGH : stone pavement ; anc^ Walter watched the students in their hats and gowns, as they passed to and fro, with great interest. He soon found himself the centre of a large circle of gay college youths, into whose pleas- ures and frolics he entered with as much ardor as he had done into the pastimes of his Devon home. He was, at Oriel, as in Devon, the hero and leader of his companions, the foremost in their sports and escapades, as well as the rival of the first in scholarship. The students liked the frank, grace- ful, courtly, and good-natured youth ; and he quite as quickly attracted the attention of the more sober dons and professors. It was not long before Wal- ter Ralegh was known as one of the brilliant lights of Oriel, the pride alike of his classmates and his instructors. Sometimes the University was visited by great nobles, and men of high distinction ; and young Walter Ralegh thus made the acquaintance of many statesmen and soldiers, who inspired his ambition, and deeply interested him with their con- 'versation and comments on the events of the time. The great Lord Bacon, who, in after years knew Ralegh well, tells us a little anecdote of Ralegh's HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 1 5 college life, which shows that even thus early his soldierly qualities were well developed. " Whilst Ralegh was a scholar at Oxford," relates Lord Bacon, " there was a cowardly fellow, who hap- pened to be a very good archer ; but having been grossly abused by another, he bemoaned himself to Ralegh, and asked his advice what he should do to repair the wrong that had been offered to him. * Why,' promptly answered Ralegh, ' challenge him to a match of shooting ! ' " These happy and triumphant college days, how- ever, came suddenly to an end. A temptation was offered to Ralegh to set out suddenly upon a stirring career of war and adventure, which his spirited and ambitious nature could not resist ; and before he had been at Oriel three years, he one day bade adieu to its tranquil cloisters, em- braced his young friends, and throwing himself upon his horse, galloped away to London. There he would meet his valiant cousin, Henry Champer- non, and, with him, would depart for far different scenes from those of ancient and scholastic Ox- ford. l6 RALEGH : CHAPTER II. RALEGH A SOLDIER. T happened that, at this time, a bitter conflict was going on in France, between the persecuted Huguenots, or Protestants, and the cruel government of the CathoUc King Charles the Ninth. The poor Huguenots had long been down-trodden, and visited with the most relentless tyranny. But they had survived all these injuries, and now included in their number many of the ablest and noblest men in France. Among these were the great Prince of Conde and Admiral Coligny. At the head of the Huguenot party was the brave and brilliant Queen of Na- varre. Of course the English, who had now become ardent Protestants, warmly sympathized with the cause of the Huguenots. Queen Elizabeth, who had succeeded her sister Mary on the English throne, did not dare to openly espouse the Hugue- HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 1 7 not side ; but she connived at the expeditions which were formed by spirited young Enghshmen, and which repaired to France to join their arms with those of the vahant Conde and CoHgny. One of the most active young cavaHers, who saw in the Huguenot conflict an opportunity to engage in an exciting enterprise, and to win the laurels of war, was Henry Champernon, Walter Ralegh's cousin. Champernon gathered about him a force of one hundred ambitious youths, the flower of English blood and chivalry ; many of them the sons of noblemen of high rank. The skilful fingers of fair maidens worked for them a richly-embroidered banner, on which their motto, ''Fiftem det mihi virtus,'' v^2iS> emblazoned in gold and silver thread. Their costumes were costly and brilliant ; and four vessels were anchored in the Thames, ready to speed them to the shores of France when the appointed hour came. Walter Ralegh hastened up to London with high hopes and fluttering heart. His cousin Champernon greeted him, on his arrival at the quaint old inn which was the rendezvous of the band of adventurers, with a warm embrace ; and Ralegh was soon " hail fellow well met " with all 10 RALEGH : the young cavaliers who were to be his comrades in the approaching voyage and adventures. He hastened to make every necessary preparation ; and ere long found himself fully equipped with a bran-new suit of military clothes, and armed with the best weapons that London afforded. It was on a hazy, September day, in 1769, that the band of youthful warriors went on board the vessels, and the Uttle fleet, with colors flying and the voyagers gathered on the decks, floated down the Thames toward the sea. As the white cliffs of England faded from the view, the more level and inviting coast of France appeared in the hori- zon ; and the next morning the fleet had lost sight of land altogether. After a smooth passage, unbroken by any note- worthy incident, though the voyagers kept an anxious lookout for French and Spanish cruisers, the towers and spires of La Rochelle, the head- quarters of the Huguenot forces, appeared beyond the boisterous waves of the Bay of Biscay. The port was soon reached, and the four vessels an- chored at the dock. A great multitude of the inhabitants were gath- ered on the wharves to welcome the brave young HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. I9 Englishmen, who formed in line and marched through the crowd to their quarters in the fortress, their embroidered banner waving in the sunlight at their head. After resting and refreshing them- selves, they repaired to the Queen of Navarre, who, with the young princess, greeted them with tearful gratitude, and encouraged them with elo- quent words and brilliant promises of renown. It was not without a thrill of satisfaction that Cham- pernon and his companions learned that they would not be compelled to lie idle long at La Rochelle, but would at once proceed to the battle-field and enter upon active service. A few days after their arrival the young cav- aliers set out to join the Huguenot army under Coligny. ' Their first experience, however, was an untoward one ; for, as they were advancing to join their arms with those of the French rebels, they met the retreating forces of the Count of Nassau. But the English band had, soon after, occasion to show their valor and mettle at the famous battle of Moncontour. Walter Ralegh's career in the conflicts of France remains to this day shrouded in obscurity ; for no account remains of his exploits, or those of his 20 RALEGH : comrades. But we may well believe that they proved themselves valiant and sturdy, and that they shared the laurels of the self-devoted Hugue- nots in their struggle for their religious liberties. It is, however, probable that Walter Ralegh was in Paris when the dreadful massacre of St. Bar- tholomew took place, in 1572; and that he, with the chivalrous Sir Philip Sidney and other English knights, took refuge in the house of the English ambassador, to escape the fury of the myrmidons of the French king. He remained in France about six years, and during that long period, not only engaged in the civil war, but took careful note of all he saw and heard. He had an inquiring mind, and was eager to store it with knowledge ; and it was in France, too, that he undoubtedly acquired that, ripe polish and courtliness of bearing which were in years to come to so well serve his fortunes at home. He afterwards wrote accounts of some of the curious things which he observed in France. One of these curiosities he thus describes : " I saw certain caves in Languedoc which had but one entrance, and that very narrow, cut out in the midway of high rockS; which we knew not how to HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 21 enter by any ladder or engine; till, at last, by cer- tain bundles of straw, let down by an iron chain, and a weighty stone in the midst, those that de- fended it were so smothered that they rendered themselves prisoners, with their plate, money, and other goods therein hidden." At last Walter Ralegh returned home to England. He had gone forth a slim and ruddy-cheeked youth of seventeen. When he once more trod his native ground, he was a tall, broad-shouldered, bronze- featured young man of twenty-four ; his rich, brown hair fell in long, curly locks to his shoulders ; his lip and chin were covered with a glossy beard. He was conspicuous for his manly beauty, and his soldier-like, yet refined and graceful manners. After paying a visit to his parents in Devon, he returned to London, there to pursue his fortunes in the great urban world. He took rooms in the Middle Temple, a building for the most part occu- pied by lawyers ; but Ralegh had other and more stirring ambitions than to become an advocate. At this time he led a life of pleasure, awaiting the course of events, confident that new fields of ad- venture and action would soon stretch out before him. 22 RALEGH : Such an opportunity soon occurred. A war broke out in Holland, where the proud Don John of Austria, the brother of the King of Spain, was striving to subject the brave Dutch to his despotic rule. Queen Elizabeth hastened to send aid to the oppressed people. An expedition, under the command of Sir John Norris, set out for Holland, and in this Walter Ralegh eagerly sought and readily obtained a command. This adventure was a brief but brilliant one. Norris nTet the forces of Don John at Rinemant, and by a shrewd stratagem succeeded in routing the haughty Spaniard and his troops. In this achievement Ralegh took a conspicuous and heroic part. His long and perilous service in France had trained him into a daring, accomplished, and skilful warrior. He had learned to love the din of the battle-field, the stirring sound of trumpet and drum, the impetuous onset, and the desperate encounter arm to arm. It was sweet to him to follow, with clattering hoof and hoarse voice, the fast-retreating foe ; to mount the deserted citadel, and plant the victorious banner on its summit. He was not a httle disappointed, therefore, to find the campaign in Holland so brief. But on HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 23 returning once more to London, he found a new and very different sort of adventure ready for his undertaking. His half brother, Sir Humphrey Gilbert, whose ambition had long been excited by voyages of dis- covery, had made up his mind to set out upon such a voyage himself. His destination was the still mysterious continent of America. He busied himself getting together and fitting up a small squadron of vessels, of which he himself proposed to take the command ; and Walter Ralegh reached London just in time to enter with eager delight into Sir Humphrey's plans. Sir Humphrey was only too glad to assent to his brave young broth- er's prayer that he might go on the expedition, too; and Walter made all haste to complete his preparations for the voyage. In due time the squadron dropped down the English Channel, and put to sea. Walter was on the flag-ship with Sir Humphrey. It was his first experience of -life on the ocean wave," and he took the keenest interest in all that went forward on shipboard. He watched the various operations of the seamen ; the methods of ascertaining the longitude and latitude of the ship's position ; the 24 RALEGH : various arrangements and management of the sails ; and the discipHne which was imposed on the crew. As his own duties were light, he spent much of his time while on board in study. He made it a rule only to allow five hours for sleep ; and to devote at least four hours a day to his books. Meanwhile, he shared the rough life of the sailors, and endufed the same hardships of sea life to which the humblest of the men were subjected. He treated them, moreover, as his equals, and was never tired of listening to their yarns of the perils they had witnessed and the strange lands they had seen. All of a sudden, one morning, an event took place which resulted in a fatal loss to the expedi- tion. The crew of one of the largest ships rose in mutiny. The officers were deprived of their com- mands, and before Sir Humphrey Gilbert could recover possession of the ship, it had parted com- pany with the rest, and had sailed away. Nor was this desertion the only misfortune he was destined to encounter; for soon after the mutineers had departed, some Spanish cruisers bore down upon the squadron, and fiercely assailed it. The cruisers proved too strong for Sir Humphrey's ships, and HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 2$ his only course was to put on all sail and get away from them. In this he succeeded ; but only after several of his ships had been badly damaged by the Spaniards. In this sad plight the squadron put in at Ports- mouth, and all thought of resuming the expedition was abandoned. Walter Ralegh now found his time once more on his hands, and returned to London, to keep a sharp eye out for new adven- tures. He had, at least, attracted the attention of Queen Elizabeth and some of her greatest court- iers. Among these was the elegant and chivalrous Earl of Leicester, who, at -this period, was the queen's special favorite. Ralegh succeeded in winning Leicester's friendship ; and this event was destined to have an important influence on the young man's after life. A bitter rebellion had recently broken out in Ireland, owing to the oppressions of the English. It at last became necessary to send thither a con- siderable force to put down the revolt ; and in this force Ralegh went as captain of a company of cavalry. Although he was eager once more to test his warlike mettle, he did not like the service on which he was being sent to Ireland. He shrank 26 RALEGH : from shedding the blood of a people who were struggling for their liberty. " I disdain this charge," he said to the Earl of Leicester, "as much as to keep sheep." But Ralegh's ambition prevailed over his scru- ples. He was determined to rise and to win war- like fame ; and so he suppressed the better im- pulses of his heart, and went forth to fight the Irish rebels.' Once on Irish soil, he plunged with vigor and ardor into the campaign. On every field he showed dauntless valor, and won the admiration and devo- tion of his men. His compunctions soon disap- peared, and he became severe, and even cruel, to the Irish whom he fought and captured. On one occasion, having noticed that, after an English force had left an encampment, the Irish swarmed into it, he lay in ambush for them with his troop, and succeeded in capturing a number of them. He observed that one of these prisoners had a bundle of rope under his arm. *' What are you going to do with that rope .'' " Ralegh sternly asked the man. " Hang the English churls," was the fierce and rash reply. HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 2/ '' Is it SO ? " returned the captain. " It shall now serve for an Irish rebel." And he forthwith ordered the man to be hung with his own rope. Another adventure of Ralegh's, which happened during his sojourn in Ireland, is more to his credit. He was going, with his company, to take posses- sion of the castle of a certain rebellious lord near Cork. On the way, the rebels were waiting in ambush near a river, in order to attack him by sur- prise. Their plot nearly succeeded ; for Ralegh's force was small, and was advancing in a careless, disorderly fashion. After a sharp fight, however, the little English troop prevailed over their assail- ants. In the midst of the struggle, a friend of Ralegh's, named Moyle, fell with his horse into a deep bog near the scene of conflict. He was sur- rounded by several of the Irish, who would speed- ily have put him to death, had not Ralegh, per- ceiving his friend's peril, hastened to his rescue. Just as he reached Moyle, he was suddenly thrown from his horse by an Irishman, and was forced to fight his friend's assailants on foot, standing ankle- deep in the bog. At least twenty Irishmen at- tacked him ; but with sword and pistol the gallant 28 RALEGH : cavalier held them at bay, until his soldiers could come up and drive them back. This heroic deed was soon known throughout Ireland, and gave Ralegh a high reputation for courage. The next scene of his service was at the siege of a fort at Smerwick, in southern Ireland. Ralegh commanded the operations of the siege ; and when the fort was at last taken, he entered the town at the head of his troops, and dealt a terrible ven- geance upon the Irish rebels for their resistance. Many of them were put to death in the streets. This massacre, in which Ralegh himself probably took part, is a dark blot on his renown. At last, Ralegh was made the military governor of the province of Munster. This was a high trust and distinction for so young a soldier ; but he soon proved that he was well fitted to fill such an office. Many stories are told of his deeds of gallantry, and his hair-breadth escapes during the progress of the war. More than once his horse was killed under him, and his life was in the most serious peril ; but his coolness and pluck always brought him safe out of danger. He thus won the devotion and love of his soldiers wherever he was in command. They proudly followed a chief so fearless and so knightly. HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 29 One of the last of Ralegh's exploits while in Ireland was his adventure at a castle called Bally, and his capture of Lord Roche, its proprietor. Lord Roche was one of the most powerful of the Irish rebels, and had gathered a large force of his adherents and retainers, to defend Bally Castle from capture by the English. This bold lord had long been a source of annoy- ance to Ralegh ; and at last he made up his mind to make the noble rebel a prisoner. Unfortu- nately, Ralegh had but a small force at his com- mand. Bally Castle was twenty miles from Cork, in which city Ralegh had his headquarters ; and it was no easy matter to march troops that distance, and take the castle by surprise. Yet Ralegh set out early one morning with his little troop, which was to be followed as speedily as possible by an- other company. He had not got far on the road when he learned that an ambush of eight hundred Irishmen lay in wait for him just ahead. He quickly led his soldiers aside, across some fields, and by rapid marching and adroit movement escaped this dan- ger. But it was not the last which he was to encounter on his way ; for on approaching Bally, he 30 RALEGH : was confronted by a mob of some five hundred villagers and farm-laborers, rudely armed, but resolved to check his advance. By a skilful manoeuvre, Ralegh managed to elude these, as he had done the body of Irish in ambuscade ; and, selecting six stalwart and trusty comrades, he hur- ried up to the castle gates. There he demanded an interview with Lord Roche. The guard replied that he might enter, but that only two of his com- panions could go in with him. As Ralegh and two of his soldiers entered the gates, however, the other three managed to sHp in behind them without being perceived. While Ralegh and his comrades ascended into the castle hall, these three, who had remained behind, suddenly reopened the gates, and before the Irish guard knew what was going forward, the entire English troop were drawn up in battle array in the courtyard. Meanwhile Ralegh, confronting Lord Roche in the castle hall, told him plainly that he must go back with the Enghsh to Cork. At first the sturdy baron refused ; but finding that his castle was in full possession of Ralegh's soldiers, and that resistance was useless, he reluctantly yielded. HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 3I That night, which was a wild and stormy one, Ralegh and his troop set out from Bally Castle, with the captured lord in their midst. On their way back to Cork, they were repeatedly assailed by guerilla bands of the Irish ; but in each instance the assailants were driven back, though several of Ralegh's bravest soldiers were left mortally wounded by the roadside. When he entered Cork with his formidable pris- oner, he was greeted with an excited welcome by his brother officers and the garrison ; the news of the exploit, which was the most brilliant and dar- ing of the war, extended not only through Ireland, but reached the ears of the queen and her court at home ; and Ralegh's praises resounded far and near. 32 RALEGH I CHAPTER III. RALEGH A COURTIER. ALTER RALEGH at last returned home from Ireland, crowned with the laurels of military fame, and eager to pursue the upward path towards .higher renown and power. He was now thirty years of age, and in the full ripeness of manly bearing and beauty ; and had already seen enough of active and stirring service to give him a thorough knowledge of the world, and a yet more ardent desire to play a great part in its affairs. It was not long before he appeared upon a far more brilliant scene than the military camp, or the grim, rude fortress. One day, the ancient palace of Greenwich, which stood on the banks of the Thames, a few miles below London, presented a lively and bril- liant scene. The palace was thronged with court- iers, arrayed in all the gorgeous colors and glitter- ing ornaments which the ingenuity of the age Ralegh sprkaping his Cloak befoke the Queen. Page 35- HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 33 could devise. Grave statesmen, all beruffled, and their white beards carefully trimmed and daintily pointed ; fine young cavaliers, sparkling with gems, attired in rich velvets and long plumes, and armed with gold-hilted swords ; stately dames, with heavy and gayly trimmed trains ; beautiful belles of high degree, grouped in dazzling knots, were gathered on the thick green lawn beneath the palace portals; while the trumpets gave forth inspiriting sounds, and lines of soldiers were drawn up along the bank. Presently there was a stir and a flutter in the gorgeous crowd ; for now appeared, descending the broad flight of steps, with proud and majestic mien, the tall and slender figure of the maiden Queen of England. The haughty Elizabeth was then in the mature ripeness of middle age, but she still preserved not a few remnants of the beauty of her youth. Her form, though slight, was straight and well propor- tioned. Her complexion was still wonderfully fair and smooth ; her large blue eyes were still bright and expressive. One of her greatest beauties was her white, small, and delicate hands. She was very proud of her hands ; and one old envoy, who often talked with her, says that at every 34 RALEGH : audience he had with her, she kept pulling off her gloves, so as to display them. Her hair was a light red, and very plentiful, and most carefully arranged. Her face was full of pride ; but when she was pleased, her expression melted into one of the most engaging sweetness. Her voice, too, was clear and musical, and added to the charm of her gracious smile. Her person was fairly ablaze with the largest and most precious jewels, for which she had an extravagant fondness : and her attire was splendid, far beyond that of any of the ladies of her court. A large, fan-like collar of richest lace rose from her slender neck above her head behind ; and her golden tresses were combed high from her forehead. On this afternoon, a heavy shower had just passed over ; and even now the sun, bursting through the fast-vanishing clouds, cast its rays upon the trees still dripping with glittering drops. The queen, surrounded by the gay group of ladies and courtiers, set forth upon a promenade through her park, chatting affably with this one and that, as, with stately carriage, she passed along. Musical laughter rang through the copses of oak and chestnut ; fine-bred dogs trotted and HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 35 scented in the midst of the party ; atid it seemed that the court of Elizabeth was indeed a merry and a mirthful. one. Pretty soon the queen came to a place where a muddy spot, formed by the recent rain, crossed her path. Her dainty feet were incased in hand- some shoes, and when she saw the puddle, she stopped, perplexed how to cross it without soil- ing them. At that instant one of the courtiers, more elegantly attired than the majority of his companions, stepped forward, and throwing off his richly embroidered cloak, spread it over the muddy place, and bowed gallantly to the queen. Eliza- beth, delighted at so chivalrous an act, rewarded the cavalier with her brightest smile, and lightly tripped across the extemporized carpet thus laid for her. The courtiers and ladies glanced with admira- tion, not unmingled with envy, at the young gal- lant who had so readily pleased their mistress ; and during the rest of the promenade, Elizabeth kept him at her side, and gave him many a gracious and grateful glance. The cavalier — who was none other than Walter Ralegh — was well fitted to attract the favor of 36 RALEGH : the sentimental queen. He was at that time six feet high, nobly formed, as straight as an arrow, and had a fine, manly bearing, which distinguished him above the other courtiers. His dark hair fell in luxuriant ringlets over his neck ; his clear, ruddy complexion and bright eyes and fine brown beard added to the attractiveness of his appearance ; while the grace and eloquence of his speech charmed all who talked with him. Ralegh pleased the queen also by the splendor of his dress. His white satin vest, his brown, finely-flowered doublet embroidered with pearls, his rich sword-belt, his fringed white satin garters, his bufl'-colored shoes studded with jewels and tied with dainty white ribbons, his wide hat, to which the long black plume was fastened with an enormous ruby, made him a gorgeous object indeed. After this incident in the park, Ralegh very rapidly rose in the favor of the queen, and in position at her pleasure-loving court, Elizabeth, being fond of handsome, and especially of witty and eloquent young men, grew more and more attached to him every day. He was almost con- stantly at the palace, and his brother courtiers HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 37 whispered in his ear that he would soon be the ruling favorite. He enjoyed all ttie sweets of praise and flattery, and began to dream dazzling dreams of the power and riches which seemed almost within his grasp. It was not long before he became known as a polished poet. His verses were read in the luxurious halls of the palace with exclamations of delight ; while the tales of his military exploits were eagerly repeated from mouth to mouth. It was not long after the adventure of the cloak, that Ralegh was standing, one day, in the recess of a window of the palace, a little apart from the spot where the queen was chatting vivaciously with the wits and beauties of her court. Seizing a moment when his royal mistress's glance was directed to- wards him, he pulled a diamond ring off his finger, and with the diamond quickly scratched a line on the window-pane, and then sauntered leisurely away. Elizabeth saw him do this, and burning with curiosity to know what the cavalier had traced, escaped from the group around her, and hurried to the window. There she read, written in a dainty hand, this line : " Fain would I climb, but that I tear to fall." 38 RALEGH : She understood the meaning at once; and taking her own diamond, she wrote, just underneath, the following response, completing the rhyme : " If thy heart fail thee, do not climb at all." Ralegh was filled with joy on reading this en- couraging reply ; for he knew that the queen meant to hint to him that he should grow bolder in his attentions toward her. This hint he was not slow to accept. He became more ardent than ever in his advances to the susceptible royal lady, and she received them with a coquettish pleasure which made Ralegh's heart beat high with hope. It is very likely that he soon began to flatter himself that the maiden queen might yet bestow her royal heart and hand upon him ; and it is certain that he bent all his energies to win her affection. But he had at least one formidable rival in pur- suit of the queen's special favor. His old friend, the courtly Earl of Leicester, had once been the favorite, but had fallen under Elizabeth's displeas- ure. But the impulsive and jealous young Earl of Essex attracted her notice, and was as determined as Ralegh himself to win her exclusive pref- erence. There grew up a bitter rivalry between HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 39 the two ; but Elizabeth was a skilful coquette, and succeeded in making each of her lovers think that he was the favored one. Meanwhile, Ralegh plunged with all the ardor and vigor of his nature into the gay and giddy pas- times of the court ; and there never was a royal court more absorbed in dazzling pageantry and chivalric pleasures than that of Elizabeth. There were famous tournaments in the royal pleasure- grounds, over which the queen, decked out in all her extravagant finery, presided, and in which she dispensed the prizes of victory with her own royal hand. Sometimes the jousting was between two bands of richly attired cavaliers, who met with stout combat of lances on the field, and contested the palm in closely-serried ranks. At other times, the tournament would be held between two an- tagonists alone, who struggled with obstinate pluck to send each other sprawling upon the thick turf. Elizabeth and her high-born dames watched these encounters with breathless interest ; and pleased indeed was she, when she could award the palm of triumph to her favored Walter Ralegh. This, indeed, often happened ; for there was no more stalwart or skilful arm, no more impetuous 40 RALEGH : courage than his among all the warriors and nobles of the court. Other div^ersions served to beguile the time. There were Italian masquerades, held in the palace halls late at night, when all the lords and ladies appeared in costumes the most magnificent as well as quaint and curious ; and in these the hand- some figure of Walter Ralegh was one of the most conspicuous and attractive. Queen Elizabeth was very fond of making what were called "progresses" through her dominions. . She would journey, with a numerous and brilliant retinue, from castle to castle and from hall to manor-house, receiving the lavish hospitalities of her great nobles, who were, of course, only too proud to receive their sovereign beneath their roofs, and placed no limit on the expense of her entertain- ment. In these progresses, Walter Ralegh often formed one of her gay escort ; and thus he shared the splendid festivities which graced her sojourn in the various places, and at the same time made familiar acquaintance with some of the most power- ful patricians, statesmen, and soldiers in England. Splendid, indeed, in its galaxy of brilliant and talented men, was at that time the court of the HIS EXPLOITS AND VOVAGIiS. 4I maiden queen. Besides Ralegh, there were the loble and chivalrous Sir Philip Sidney, whose life fvas a romance of adventure, heroism, and gal- lantry ; the sage and sedate Lord Burleigh, whose shake of the head was so significant ; the graceful Sir Christopher Hatton,who, at fifty, was noted as the finest dancer in the kingdom, and who was one of Ralegh's most formidable rivals for the affection of the queen ; young Francis Bacon, already begin- ning a career which was to become so lofty, and was to end in a gloom so dismal ; and many another knight and noble, whose names still live in the history of that picturesque time. But Ralegh's life at court, favored and prosper- ous as it was, was not without its trials and tribu- lations. So rapid an elevation as his was sure to arouse many enemies. Sir Christopher Hatton was full of jealous anger to see the queen lavish- ing her smiles upon this upstart yoimg cavalier, and wrote piteous letters to her, begging her to snub Ralegh ; which she answered with such cunning coquetry as to soothe the love-sick knight's agitated soul. Old Lord Burleigh, too, the queen's wisest and most trusted counsellor, disliked Ralegh, and tried 42 RALEGH : to win the queen away from him ; but Ralegh's handsome face and form, the sweet speeches he whispered into her ear, the ever flattering gallantry of his manner towards her, his poetry and his wit, were too strong to be overcome by the gray- headed old statesman's protestations. The preference of the queen and the flatteries of the court seem to have been a little too much for Ralegh's self-control ; for he grew somewhat haughty and arrogant, and thus alienated from him many who had at first been his ardent friends and admirers. Despite all this, Ralegh's star was still in the ascendant. As time advanced, he received proof after proof of the queen's affection for him ; nor could all the efforts of his enemies displace him from her heart. Elizabeth took it into her head, at one time, to get married ; and casting her eye abroad for a husband of royal rank, picked out an ugly, pock- marked little prince, the Duke of Anjou, as her spouse to-be. It became necessary to send an embassy to Holland, where the duke was, to ar- range the matter. The Earl of Leicester, Ra- legh's early friend, had now become reconciled to HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 43 the queen ; and he was selected to be the chief envoy. With him went Ralegh and Sir Philip Sidney, and a fine array of young noblemen and officers. They crossed over to Holland in fifteen gaily decked-out vessels. The embassy was received with great pomp by William the Silent, Prince of Orange, and was entertained with lavish splendor. With this great soldier and statesman Ralegh soon became inti- mate. William liked the spirited young courtier, and Ralegh venerated the hero of so many bitter struggles ; and after the rest of the English em- bassy had gone home, Ralegh still lingered a while with his new and famous friend. The projected marriage with the Duke of Anjou never came to anything ; for after all, Elizabeth could not make up her mind to accept so repulsive a person as her husband. Not long after Ralegh's return from Holland, he received new evidences of the queen's favor. He was appointed *' Warden of the Stannaries," or Cornwall and Devon mines, from which he derived each year a large income. Then, two years later, he succeeded his old rival, Sir Christopher Hatton, as captain of the Queen's Guard ; so that now he 44 RALEGH : was charged with the protection of her person, and attended her in gorgeous attire, at the head of his troop, wherever she went. The Queen's Guards were all selected for their size and good looks, and their uniform was the most showy in England. Other substantial favors which the queen conferred on Ralegh, were the right to export broadcloths, which brought him enormous profits ; the " farm- ing of wines," which gave him the right to grant licenses everywhere in England to sell wines, an- other large source of income ; the office of Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall ; and that of Vice Admiral of Devon. Already Ralegh had received certain estates in Ireland, which had been confiscated from their rebellious native owners ; and now, with all the other privileges and licenses which have been mentioned, he was fast becoming a very rich man ; and the richer he grew, the more splendidly and extravagantly did he dress, and the more parade did he make of his state and show. Meanwhile the conviction of Anthony Babington, a rich Catholic gentleman, for plotting to assassinate the queen, enabled Elizabeth to lavish a larger gift than ever before upon her favorite ; for she gave Ralegh aU HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 45 Babington's large estates, which lay in five coun- ties, and included several manors, castles, and fine parks and game preserves. It was towards the close of his life at court, that Walter Ralegh first saw a fair young girl, whose career was afterwards to" be strangely mixed up with his own. Lady Arabella Stuart, who had royal blood in her veins, and who, it then seemed, might very likely reign over England as its queen, arrived at the court; and, though she was but twelve years of age, at once attracted Ralegh's attention, not only by reason of her extraordinary beauty, but by her surprising brightness of mind. It is said that she was already a finished French and Italian scholar, and that her dancing and musical talents would have done credit to an accomplished court damsel of twenty-five. Ralegh saw this young paragon for the first time at a supper given in her honor at the house of old Lord Burleigh ; and, though he himself was more than double her age, was so fascinated by her that he forgot to use his knife and fork. Lord Burleigh, observing his intentness, whispered to him, with a sly look, — '' Ah, Walter, 'tis a pity she is not more than fifteen." 46 RALEGH : " It would be a very happy thing," repUed Ra- legh, with a smile. He Uttle thought how his fate was to be woven with that of the fair and bright young Arabella in darker days to come. Not long after this remarkable meeting, Ralegh's star began to decline at court. Elizabeth, senti- mental as she was, was also fickle ; her fancy lightly passed from one gallant to another. For some time Leicester, who had once been her sole favorite, and who desired to regain her favor, had been growing jealous of his young friend Ralegh's ascendancy ; and he had put forward the youthful and impetuous Earl of Essex, for the purpose of dividing the queen's affections. His plan seems to have at last succeeded ; for Elizabeth now took a violent fancy to Essex, and Ralegh soon found that his power over her heart was waning. At last, a mysterious quarrel, the cause of which is not certainly known, took place between them. It was probably brought about by Ralegh's jeal- ousy. At all events, the queen affronted him before the whole court, and Ralegh retired to his cham- bers overwhelmed with humiliation and grief. But his proud and adventurous spirit was not to be quelled or daunted, even by so serious an event. HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 47 He soon recovered his haughty bearing, and showed Elizabeth and the courtiers that he was far from being crushed by her displeasure. Finding that his influence at court was waning, he turned, like the courageous man he was, to a more stir- ring occupation than that of dangling about a fickle queen in palaces and castles. Happily, an opportunity was not long in presenting itself; and Ralegh seized it with the eager enthusiasm of one whose ambition longed for conquest and the renown of discovery. 48 RALEGH CHAPTER IV. RALEGH AS A COLONIZER. HILE Ralegh had been at courts he had by no means confined himself solely to its pleasures and gayeties. He had never lost his boyish love of the sea, his hatred of Eng- land's Spanish rival, or his ardent desire to emulate the triumphs of Vasco da Gama, Cortez, and Co- lumbus. His thoughts were ever wandering away to far distant and savage^ climes. He often gazed longingly after the fleets which set forth, from time to time, on new voyages of discovery; and fancied his own name linked with those of the great colonizers of the age. It seems that, for many years, it had been a conjecture of the navigators, that China and the rest of Asia might be reached by sailing northwest- ward from Europe. Vasco da Gama had found a passage to the East around the Cape of Good Hope ; and Magellan had discovered a similar HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 49 passage by way of Cape Horn. Both of these expeditions had succeeded by southern passages. Could not, it was asked, passages be found to the same goal by proceeding northward also ? This idea finally took a strong hold on the mind of Sir Humphrey Gilbert, Walter Ralegh's gal- lant and ambitious half-brother. With a sturdy victor all his own, Gilbert had no sooner con- ceived the project than he set about putting it into execution. His zeal had been greatly stim- ulated by the voyage of the intrepid Sir Francis Drake. That sturdy sailor returned from his voy- age around the world in 1580, in the good ship ** Golden Hind," bringing with him not only aston- ishing stories of the countries and peoples he had seen, but his vessels laden with precious treasures which he had taken from Spanish galleons. Mean- while, Frobisher had made his successful voyages to the North American coast. Sir Humphrey Gilbert's design now was to es- tablish a colony in Newfoundland, and make that the basis of expeditions to the northwest. In this project his brother, Walter Ralegh, eagerly joined him. The two brothers fitted out a small fleet of five vessels, in one of which, the " Squirrel," the 50 RALEGH : doughty Sir Humphrey himself sailed, Ralegh remaining at home. This fleet set out from Plym- outh in the early summer of 1583. Ralegh then affectionately embraced his brother, and with much emotion bade him adieu. He was destined never to see Humphrey's handsome face again. The expedition was unfortunate from the start. Scarcely had the vessels got to sea, when one of them, the "Ralegh," deserted its companions.:, Having at last reached the American coast, Gilbert found it impossible to establish his intended colony there ; for his men were restless and lawless, and at last insisted on returning to England. Gilbert found himself forced to yield to their angry de- mand, and accordingly re-embarked. The vessel in which he himself sailed, the " Squirrel," proved to be very unseaworthy, and his officers begged him to go on board a sounder ship. But the gal- lant commander replied, — " No ; I will not forsake my little company going homeward, with whom I have shared so many storms and perils." . When the ''Golden Hind," the best of the ships, came near to the " Squirrel," Sir Humphrey called out cheerily to those on board, — HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. $1 *' Be of good heart, my friends ; we are as nea/ to heaven by sea as by land ! " It was the last time his comrades on the " Golden Hind " ever heard his voice. That night the '' Squirrel " was sailing a little in advance of the other ships. As they looked, the sailors on the ''Golden Hind" saw the commander's frail bark lurch and heave, and then sink suddenly and forever beneath the waves. Thus the brave Sir Humphrey Gilbert, in the flower of his age, and in the zenith of his renown, found a watery grave. Ralegh was overwhelmed with grief when the *' Golden Hind " reached home, bringing the news of his heroic brother's death. But this sad intelli- gence, far from discouraging him, only lent new energy to Ralegh's schemes. But he no longer thought of Newfoundland, or the northwest pas- sage to Asia. He turned his attention to the milder and richer regions of the southern coast of North America. He knew that while the Span- iards had won and still held Florida and Mexico, the coast just north of Florida, and that of north- ern South America, had not as yet been settled by any rival colony. He had, at this time, still enough influence with Queen Elizabeth to obtain 52 RALEGH: her aid in his new plans ; and obtained from her the right to establish colonies in any region not already occupied, and to himself have the absolute government of such colonies as he might plant. With his ample wealth, the indefatigable Ra- legh found no trouble in fitting out an expedi- tion ; and, the year after Sir Humphrey's sad end, he sent forth two vessels, commanded by Philip Amadas and Arthur Barbour, to explore the coast of the Carolinas. Ralegh himself was not yet ready to go, for he was resolved to remain at court and face his enemies there. The voyage of the two vessels was a very fortu- nate one, and the captains returned to tell a glow- ing tale of what, they had seen on the American shores. The balmy atmosphere, the earth teeming with luscious fruits and brilliant flowers ; the fine- looking and friendly savages ; the beautiful harbors and rivers ; the plentiful game and abundance of delicious fish, the magnificent forests, the spice- laden breezes, — these were the subjects of their enthusiastic descriptions. * The queen, dehghted with the account of the expedition which Ralegh gave her, at once named the fair country thus made known by the captains. HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 53 "Virginia," that men might know that the country was explored in the time of the virgin queen. Ralegh was wild with delight, and could not rest until he had begun his preparations to follow up this expedition by another and larger one. So busy was he with these engrossing plans, that he was now rarely seen at court. He spent his time inspecting his new fleet, studying his charts, and selecting the men to whom to confide the new venture. A fleet of seven vessels, with one hun- dred colonists, among whom was a famous math- ematician named Thomas Hariot, and a sea-worn voyager, Thomas Cavendish, set sail in April, 1585, under the command of Sir Richard Gren- ville. The second in command vyas Ralph Lane. Ralegh promised each of the colonists that he should have at least five hundred acres of land in the new country. The fleet in due time reached the lovely and fertile shores of Virginia. But un- happily Grenville, the commander, was a man of fierce and cruel character, and eager to become suddenly rich. No sooner had he landed than he began to treat the kindly-disposed savages with harshness and rapacity. He tried to seize their treasures, and when they resisted, he burned their 54 RALEGH : villages, and put them to death. A quarrel, more- over, soon broke out between Grenville and Ralph Lane. At last Grenville, disgusted at the small gains he had made, set sail for England, leaving Lane and the colony behind. Lane and his comrades now set to work to estab- lish the settlement, and made choice, for this pur- pose, of the island of Roanoke, where a fort soon rose on the bank. But, resting content with this, the ^ew colonists neglected to build houses, or to plant crops. They seemed to think that they could live on the wild fruits of the earth ; and their heads were full of the dazzling stories of the Spanish discoveries of gold and silver. They imagined Virginia to be the true El Dorado, and instead of settling down to the laborious task of farming, as they should have done, they spent their time scouring about on the main land in search of mines. Meanwhile, their treatment of the once gentle natives was so harsh that the Indians soon be- came very hostile. The colonists at first received their supplies of provisions from the neighboring tribes ; but now the Indians refused to give them food. In the many conflicts which the English had HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 55 with the natives, they always came off victorious ; but the need of provisions soon reduced the colony to a desperate condition. They found themselves obliged to subsist on shell-fish, and disease soon broke out among the little company. A happy accident at last saved them from the agonies of actual starvation. One fine morning the eyes of the colonists were gladdened by the sight of a large fleet of sail in the offing, and ere long the fleet had anchored off Roanoke Island. It proved to be an expedition headed by the gal- lant old sailor, Sir Francis Drake, who was return- ing to England with the large booty which he had taken from the Spaniards in the southern seas. The colonists begged Drake to take them back to England with him ; and accordingly all hands set sail, and left Roanoke once more to the native tribes, glad enough at the prospect of getting home again. But Drake had not been gone long be- fore Grenville, who had been sent back by Ralegh with three vessels to carry aid to his colony, arrived at the island. To his utter amazement, he found it quite deserted, and the fort standing there amid the trees. Grenville resolved to leave some of his men there, and return to England ; and accord- 56 RALEGH : ingly fifteen men, supplied with provisions for two years, remained behind. In the following spring, Ralegh sent out one hundred and fifty colonists, under the command of Captain John White. When these reached Roanoke, they found that the fifteen men who had been left by Grenville had miserably perished, for the most part by the at- tacks of the now hostile Indians while the fort had been utterly destroyed. White landed his colonists on the island, and as ^est he could, sought to repair the ravages of the yiatives. The huts left by the last colony were, hap- pily, still standing, and White's company at first seemed to thrive in their new and remote home. A number of them had their wives and children with them. Not very long after the landing. Cap- tain White's daughter, the wife of a young colo- nist, gave birth to the first white child ever born in the Virginia colony. The child was christened "Virginia Dare," When the ships had got ready to sail for Eng- land again. White made up his mind that he would return in them, give Ralegh an account of what he had found, and procure more stores and colo- nists for the new settlement. But on reaching HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 57 England, he found that Ralegh was too much occupied with other affairs to lend him the aid for which he had come. So, after a brief stay in England, the persevering captain returned alone to Virginia, in a ship which was bound for the West Indies. As, on a hot day in August, White's vessel ap- proached the shores of Roanoke, he was amazed and alarmed to see a great fire raging on the shore. Arrived within a short distance, he caused a trum- pet to be sounded, and with his crew set up a loud cry. But no one appeared to answer his call, and his fears were now raised to their highest pitch, when, instead of any English people, he saw a number of savages running through the bushes on the island. He hastened to land, and ran fran- tically to the huts where he had left his com- panions. The huts were quite deserted. They were, indeed, in a state of ruin. Many of the articles which the colonists had had — books, clothing, and pictures — were strewn about in con- fusion on the ground. White searched everywhere in vain for any traces of the colony. He was destined never to see his fair daughter or her little child again. At 58 RALEGH: last, giving up his search, he once more set sail, and after the cruise in the West Indies had been completed, returned home to tell his harrowing tale. Nothing was ever afterwards heard of the colony of Roanoke. Ralegh was deeply discouraged when he heard that the result of all his expenditure and exertions had been death and desolation. But he was a man of resolute and fearless character, and he resolved to leave nothing undone to rescue the poor people who had been left to the mercy of the savages, if they still perchance survived. At various times he sent out five separate expeditions, to discover, if possible, their whereabouts, and render them aid. Although engrossed with many other mat- ters, and having spent the greater part of his for- tune, he could not give up his favorite scheme of founding a settlement on American soil. But his sailors, though they penetrated the wilds of Vir- ginia again and again, could find no vestige what- ever of the fate of the devoted little band ; and Ralegh was compelled at last to conclude that the colony had been massacred, one and all, by the Indians of the vicinity. One result, very important to the world for good HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 59 or ill, followed the return of the men who had gone out with Grenville and Lane, and who had returned to England in Drake's fleet. One of these, as has been said, was a man of considerable learning, named Thomas Hariot. Hariot had taken keen pleasure in exploring the new country, and was careful to write down all that he saw there. He examined all the native products, and minutely described their appearance and properties in his notes. One of these plants, especially, attracted his curiosity, and caused him not only to study its qualities, but to carry it with him to England. He thus described it : *' There is an herb which is sowed apart by itself, and is called by the inhabitants, Yppowoc. The Spaniards generally call it tobacco. The leaves thereof, being dried and brought into powder, they used to take the fume or smoke thereof, by sucking it through pipes of clay into their stom- achs and heads. We ourselves, during the time we were there, used to suck it after their manner, as also since our return, and have found many rare and wonderful experiments of the virtues thereof, of which the relation would require a volume of itself. The use of it by so many of late, men and 6o RALEGH : women of great calling, as else, and some learned physicians also, is sufficient witness." When Hariot saw Ralegh on his return, he did not fail to tell him about this wonderful herb ; and Ralegh, whose curiosity was greatly aroused, caused a jeweller to make him a silver pipe, after the fashion of the rude Indian clay pipes, some of which Hariot had taken care to bring with him. Ralegh then began to smoke the tobacco, and soon grew to like it very much, so that, when at home, he was scarcely ever without his pipe. On one of the first occasions when he thus indulged himself, he was sitting cosily by his fire- side, pipe in mouth. The smoke was curling in dense, graceful clouds from his mouth. Just as he was puffing out a particularly thick cloud, one of his servants happened to enter the room with a tankard of ale for his master. Seeing the smoke all about Ralegh's head, he thought him on fire ; and without further ado threw the ale full in Ralegh's face, and then ran down stairs with all his might, crying out that his master was burning up. Very soon the example of so elegant and fash- ionable a cavalier as Ralegh was followed by many other courtiers, and pipe-smoking came much HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 6l into vogue amon.i; the higher orders of the Eng- lish. Queen Ehzabeth, on hearing of the new luxury which Ralegh had found, expressed her curiosity to see him enjoy it, and sat by his side, with eyes wide open, as he puffed the curling smoke from his pipe. It is said that she herself was one day so eager to try the taste and effect of tobacco, that she took Ralegh's pipe in her own royal mouth, but became so dizzy and ill from the effects that she never ventured upon the experi- ment again. On one occasion, when she was watching Ralegh smoking, she said to him, — ''You are a very witty man ; but I will wager that you cannot tell me the weight of that smoke that comes from your pipe." *' I can, indeed, your majesty," was Ralegh's con- fident reply. He at once took as much tobacco as would fill his pipe, and exactly weighed it. Having then smoked it up in his pipe, he in like manner weighed the ashes. '* Now, your majesty," said he, smiling, " the difference between these two weights is the weight of the smoke.'' The queen acknowledged that she was beaten, and laughingly paid the wager. 62 RALEGH I Ralegh's dreams of founding colonies in Amer- ica were sadly dispelled by the fate of those who had gone and perished there; and other events crowding upon him, and with his purse depleted, he was forced, for a while, to forego further efforts with that object in view. He never lost sight, how- ever, of his brilliant projects, and firmly resolved that, some day in the future, he would resume them. Many years after, when heavy misfortune had overtaken him, he wrote of the Virginia col- ony, in a desperate mood, " I shall yet live to see it an English nation." And he did. During all this time he had been engaged in struggling with his rivals and enemies at Eliza- beth's court. He had overcome the queen's anger aga^inst him, and once more basked in the royal sunshine. He still displayed such splendor of living as his means would allow, and his renown had been greatly increased by his spirit in attempt- ing to establish colonies in the new world. His visfor and ambition had become reco2:nized, and he was now in the very front rank of England's famous men. His existence could never be an idle one ; nor did the festivities and gay indolence of court life satisfy the restless aspirations of his HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 63 soul. Despite the abandonment, for the while, of his designs in America, he found plenty of active employment on his hands, and pursued his career with all his sturdy and unflinching perseverance. 64 RALEGH : CHAPTER V. THE INVINCIBLE ARMADA. HE first enterprise to which Ralegh now turned his attention, was the care of those large estates in Ireland which had been granted to him for his military services there. These extensive and fertile lands had been taken away from their Irish owners, who had rebelled against the crown ; and were now pretty much deserted. Ralegh made up his mind to have his acres cultivated, and so he entered vigorously into a scheme for settling English peasants upon them. He himself went to Ireland, and spent several years in improving his estates ; engaging, at the same time, in many occupations and ventures, among others, the building of casks and barrels from the fine Irish timber. . But he found so many difficulties in the way of his projects, and was so hindered by the machinations of his enemies at court, that he made up his mind to sell his Irish HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 6^ estates, and to return to England. After he had completed the sale, he wrote : " There remains to me but an old castle and domain, which are yet in the occupation of the old Countess of Desmond, for her jointure." This Countess of Desmond might, indeed, be called "old." She had been a belle in the court of King Edward the Fourth, and lived in the reigns of no less than nine English sovereigns ; and finally died, it is said, by falling out of an apple-tree, at the wonderful age of one hundred and forty. Events soon prepared a fresh and more stirring occupation for Ralegh. One of his most ardent feelings, all his life long, was his bitter hatred of the Spaniards, who, at that time, were the rivals and foes of England alike on land and sea. As a statesman, Ralegh always advised resistance to Spain ; and, as a soldier, no cavalier of the age more eagerly welcomed the prospect of a struggle with that arrogant power. The moment was at hand when his desire in this respect was to be fully gratified. The beautiful .but hapless Mary Queen of Scots had just been beheaded in London, by the stern command of her 66 RALEGH : royal cousin, Elizabeth. The cause of Mary had always been warmly championed by Philip the Second, King of Spain. Her violent death aroused his anger, and gave him the pretext to assail Eng- land which he had long sought. He was deter- mined, if possible, to depose Elizabeth from her throne, and to force the Catholic faith upon her subjects. Spain was a very different power in these days from what we see her now. She was a terror to all Europe, and had carried her conquests to the German ocean. She had proved herself more than a match for France, even in those chivalrous days when France was ruled by the brilliant and gallant Francis the First. Philip himself had been the husband of Queen Mary, Elizabeth's sister and predecessor, and imagined that he had some right to interfere in English affairs. He was greatly incensed when Elizabeth restored the Protestant faith ; and he had long designed an attack upon her, in the name of the ancient religion of which he was so redoubtable a champion. So Philip now made vigorous preparations to carry out this project. No sooner did the English hear of his purpose, than Sir Francis Drake in- HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 6/ dignantly declared that he would " singe Philip's beard ;" and with a fleet of twenty-five war ships boldly entered the Spanish port of Cadiz, where he sank thirty-four ships, and captured and took away with him four more, before the Spanish king so much as heard of his attack. At last Philip, in spite of this loss, managed to collect and equip a splendid fleet of no less than one hundred and thirty-two war ships; and on these he put a force of more than fifty thousand soldiers and sailors. The news of this formidable armament filled the English court and the Eng- lish people with dismay ; for its destination was well known to be the English coast. Elizabeth knew but too well how inferior her own navy was to cope with the invading fleet. She had, all told, but thirty-four war ships, and these were manned by less than seven thousand men. But one thing greatly encouraged her. Her Catholic subjects were as loyal as the Protestants, and quite as eager to. repel the assault of the Catholic mon- arch. All England was one in this stern re- solve. There was no time to be lost ; for the Spaniards were on the point of setting forth. A desperate 6S RALEGH : effort must be made to meet and defeat them. The merchant vessels from all the English ports has- tened to the rendezvous selected for them, and prepared to take part in the fight ; while many of the wealthy nobles and courtiers hurriedly set about fitting up vessels at their own expense. Two famous admirals, Lord Howard of Effingham and Sir Francis Drake, were put at the head of the fleet which was thus rapidly formed ; and Drake soon reported that he had succeeded in collecting sixty sail at Plymouth. The approaching struggle fired Ralegh with mil- itary ardor. He was anxious to bear his part in inflicting defeat upon the hateful Spaniards. No sooner did the peril become known than he has- tened down to his native shire, to recruit men and strengthen the defences of that part of the coast. He worked with all his wonted vigor, and sent troop after troop of sturdy Cornish and Devon men to the headquarters of the army at Tilbury, where the heroic queen was infusing her own dauntless spirit into the devoted soldiery. One day, Elizabeth appeared before her troops, and thus harangued them : " I have but the body of a weak and . feeble HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. • 69 woman," said she ; " but I have the heart of a king, and of a king of England, too. I think it foul scorn that Spain should dare to invade the borders of my realm ; to which, rather than any dishonor should grow by me, I myself will take up arms; I myself will be your general, judge, and rewarder of every one of your virtues in the field." An army led by such a monarch was not likely to flinch before the enemy. The Spanish fleet had already appeared in sight of the white English cliffs, when Ralegh, having fulfilled his errand in Devon, joined one of the English ships ; and from that time he was one of the bravest among the heroes who so despe- rately fought, and, finally, so splendidly overcame, the presumptuous invader. The stately fleet of the Spaniards sailed slowly and in close array, up the English Channel. Lord Howard, with seventy vessels, was lying in wait for it at Plymouth ; but, instead of issuing forth and attacking the Span- iards when they came opposite to him, he let them pass, and then fell upon them in the rear. He was too wise to join battle with them, and con- tented himself with following them up, shooting away their masts, and worrying them with his 70 RALEGH : lighter and swifter craft. The Spanish ships drew still closer together, and advanced up the Channel. Then the bold Drake suddenly issued out of port, seized a big ship which had become so much dam- aged that she had fallen behind, and carried her in triumph into the harbor. As Lord Howard's fleet followed the Spaniards, it every moment grew larger and larger ; for out of every little harbor and inlet, as it went along, ships, barques, and every size and sort of vessel issued, and glided into line behind or at the sides of the English men-of-war. At last Lord Howard resolved to make a more vigorous attack upon the enemy. He divided his fleet into four squadrons, of one of which he him- self took command ; the other three were entrusted to Drake, Frobisher, and Hawkins. First, Fro- bisher and Hawkins set forth and attacked the Spanish ships off the Isle of Wight, and so gal- lantly handled the Spaniards, that they won the first laurels of the struggle. They followed close upon the enemy as his vessels passed hurriedly through the Strait of Calais, and more than one proud galleon sank beneath the shower of their shots. But now the Spaniards were about to re- ceive a reinforcement from Dunkirk, where a fleet HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. /I under the Prince of Parma was lying in wait to join them. Lord Howard saw that no time was to be lost. He decided to deal a deadly blow at the enemy by a cunning and effectual stratagem. He chose a number of his least seaworthy ships, and ordered his men to pack them to the decks with gun- powder and pitch. Then he waited for night to come. When the night was at its darkest, these ships were floated out in the direction of the Span- ish fleet and set on fire. The English watched the result with anxious hearts. The fate of Eng- land hung upon the floating messengers of destruc- tion. They had not long to wait. The burning ships were quickly carried by the wind and tide into the very heart of the Spanish armament. Then followed a scene which beggars description. The night was filled and lit up by a lurid glare. The explosions of gunpowder were deafening, and seemed to echo each other in their terrible din. Some of the Spanish ships caught fire, and the flames were seen leaping up their stately masts, and shrivelling in an instant the white, wide-spread sails. And now ensued a great commotion amongst the fleet. With all haste, the as yet undamaged f 2 RALEGH I galleons hoisted sail, and put out to sea, leaving those which were afire to their fate. A heavy gale now came up to aid the plans of the Enghsh, and contribute to the discomfiture of the foe. Many 3f the Spanish ships were driven upon the French coast north of Calais. Howard and Drake did not lose a moment in following up the advantage thus gained. They sailed promptly down upon the distressed Span- ish squadrons, and gave them broadside after broadside. For six terrible hours the rain of the English shot and shell poured unceasingly on the decks and sides of the wavering ves- sels. They finally sailed in all haste northward, the English ships following ; but by the time the Spaniards came opposite the Norwegian coast, the English ammunition gave out, and they were forced to give up the pursuit, and seek their har- bors again. The ships put into port, and took in fpesh supplies of provisions, powder, and shot, so as to be prepared for the enemy in case he had the hardihood to repeat his attack. But the precaution proved needless. The ill-fated Spanish galleons were overtaken on the Norwegian coast by a ter- rific tempest. Some of them were stranded there ; HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. '] -i^ some met their fate on the rock-bound shores of Scotland ; and only fifty-three of the gallant array which had set sail from Spain ever returned thither again. Thus was the "Invincible Armada" of Spain repelled by the valor and genius of Howard and Drake, seconded by such brave men as Haw- kins, Frobisher, and, we may well add, Ralegh. The rejoicings at the court of Elizabeth over this magnificent victory may be well imagined. The principal heroes of the fight were received by the queen with delighted and lavish welcome, and received many noble rewards for their con- duct. The court held high festival for several weeks. The days were spent in fine cavalcades, tournaments, and shows ; and the nights were lit up by gorgeous illuminations and fireworks, and were quickly sped in masquerades and balls Among the rest, Ralegh took a lively part in thexe rejoicings. He appeared at court in all the splendor of the most costly apparel, and was one of the most conspicuous of the warriors who surrounded the throne of the maiden monarch. He seemed once more to be restored to favor, and began again to cherish hopes of securing the queen's affection. 74 RALEGH : But he soon found that the brilliant and hand- some Earl of Essex had completely won her heart. Essex was so bent upon supplanting Ralegh, that he sought a quarrel with him ; and is even said to have challenged him to a duel Ralegh was too proud to remain at court and see another preferred to him in the queen's favor ; and so he again departed from it, and once more sought rest and consolation in the remoteness of Ireland. There was living at that time at Kilcolman, a lonely castle perched on a lofty summit, and over- looking a lovely lake, an old friend and companion of Ralegh's. This was no other than the famous poet, Edmund Spenser. Spenser had known Ra- legh well in Ireland ten years before ; and not only their common misfortunes, but their mutual love of literature, had drawn them together in inti- mate friendship. They had fought side by side in the old Irish rebellion, and as they marched, had forgotten their hardships and their grim task in their absorbing talks about poetry and history. Ralegh now bethought him of the gentle Spenser, and, knowing that he would be right welcome, lost no time in repairing to Kilcolman, and once more enjoying the companionship of his poetic friend. HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 75 The days spent in the beautiful seclusion of this retreat were among the happiest that Ralegh ever knew. There, amid the tranquillity of the scene, far from the heart-burnings and mortifications of the royal court, in company with a sweet-natured, affectionate friend, the hours sped only too pleas- antly and swiftly. The two comrades wandered together in the forest, or lolled on the green banks of the glassy lake, and, in their communion, forgot all the carking cares and troubles of the world. Spenser read to Ralegh the poems he had been writing ; and Ralegh brought out poems which he, too, had written, and conned them over to Spenser as they rechned. Spenser has left a record in verse of those happy days, in which he says : " He piped ; I sung ; and when he sung, I piped ; By change of turns, each making other merry; Neither envying other, or envied ; So piped we, until we both were weary." Not long before Ralegh's coming, Spenser had begun the great poem which was to make his fame immortal ; and one day, as they sat beneath the shadow of the old castle's ivied wall, he timidly brought out the stanzas he had thus far written, and read them with trembhng voice. Then he 76 RALEGH : told Ralegh the plan of the poem which his glow- ing fancy had constructed. Ralegh warmly de- clared that the verses were much the finest that Spenser had ever written, and implored him to follow out the plan he had described. But for his eager encouragement, the " Faerie Queen " might never have seen the light ; but his ardent words fired Spenser's ambition, and from that time he labored strenuously upon his great work until it was completed and given to the world. When a part of the " Faerie Queen " was fin- ished, Ralegh returned to the court, and made it known to Elizabeth, who was so delighted with its beauty, and also with the eloquent compliments which it showered upon herself, that she took both Spenser and Ralegh for a while into her favor again. But alas for the ingratitude of monarchs ! Spenser was soon neglected, and even found his Irish property taken from him ; and died, at last, in great poverty and misery. The kindness with which the queen treated Ra- legh after his return from Ireland, was destined to vanish almost as quickly as it came. It happened that there resided at this time at the court, a beau- tiful, golden-haired young maid of honor, named HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. // Elizabeth Throgmorton. No sooner had Ralegh seen her, than he fell violently in love with her. But he was well aware of the extremely jealous nature of the queen. In spite of her preference for Essex, Queen EHzabeth was quite unwilling that Ralegh, her less favored lover, should transfer his affections to another. She watched him nar- rowly, and would bluntly upbraid him if he showed especial attention to any of the young ladies of her court. So Ralegh, in paying his court to EHzabeth Throgmorton, was compelled to do so with great caution and secrecy. The young lady fully reciprocated his love, but was as much afraid of the queen as he himself It chanced one day, however, that the queen discovered what was going on between her maid of honor and the cavalier. Her rage knew no bounds. She berated Ralegh before her ladies, and forbade him to come to court ; and fiercely ordered the maid to remain a prisoner in her room, and on no account to see Ralegh again. This misadventure caused Ralegh once more to turn his thoughts from the court, and to seek a new opportunity for his active spirit. Happily there was always a chance for adventure and for- 78 RALEGH : tune, in the expeditions which were constantly setting out to attack and capture Spanish gal- leons ; and Ralegh, in order not only to give himself a stirring occupation, but to divert the anger of the queen, plunged with all his ardor into these schemes of conflict and plunder. HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 79 CHAPTER VI. RALEGH A PRISONER. N the later years of the sixteenth century, the favorite occupation of many EngHsh adventurers of wealth and noble birth was to fit out squadrons and send them forth to assail and capture Spanish ships on the high seas. The hostility between the two nations still burned with its old ferocity, and was constantly kept alive by their rivalry and greed. The Spanish galleons, laden often with precious cargoes gleaned both in Asia and in America, were rich prizes, which proved very tempting to English privateers; and many were the fierce sea-battles which ensued between them. Even Queen Elizabeth herself did not disdain to aid her courtiers in fitting out such expeditions, and was as eager as they that the Spanish galleons should be captured and brought into English ports. When such a prize was secured, the queen herself 8o RALEGH : was entitled to a share of the booty. This was nothing more nor less than piracy ; but the cus- tom of those times made it honorable even for men of high rank and reputation to engage in these ventures. Walter Ralegh now engaged very actively in fitting out squadrons to attack the Spanish ships. He had always cherished, from earliest youth, a very bitter hatred of Spain and the Spaniards. He looked upon them as the special enemies of England, and he thought it nothing more than right to do them all the injury he possibly could. When, therefore, he had excited the queen's wrath by his courtship of the fair young Elizabeth Throgmorton, his first thought was to occupy himself with a cruise in search of Spanish prizes. The queen was glad enough to separate him from his lady-love, and not only consented to his project, but promised to aid him in it. With his wonted energy and enthusiasm he set to work getting together his ships, and preparing for his adventure. Ere long thirteen vessels were an- chored in the Thames, fully equipped, and supplied with a goodly armament. To these the queen added two more vessels. On this occasion, Ralegh HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 8 1 resolved that he himself would take command of his expedition. B'efore he set out, however, he made up his mind that he would secretly marry his beloved Elizabeth Throgmorton. He found an opportunity to communicate with her, which was not difficult, as the queen, believing she had cured Ralegh of his love, had released her from confinement. The pair readily found a clergyman who performed the marriage ceremony. Then, after being locked in each other's arms in a long, clinging embrace, the bride and bridegroom, with many vows of unalter- able affection, parted. Ralegh hastened to his ships, while his young wife returned to her place at the royal court. He gave the command to set sail the next morning ; and accordingly at sunrise, on the 6th of May, 1592, the squadron floated under a fair wind down the Thames, and so out to sea. Ralegh's purpose was to make directly for the Spanish coast, and to attack the Spanish ships anchored in the harbor of Seville. After plundering them, he intended to cross the ocean, and assail the Spanish colony of Panama, in Central America. As his squadron sped lightly over the waves, Ralegh gave himself 82 RALEGH : up to bright visions of the riches he was about to gain, and the greater fame which would follow his success. The prospect of winning once more the favor of the queen, and of recovering his in- fluence at court, gladdened his heart, and steeled him to a desperate effort to achieve what he had undertaken. He had not been long at sea, however, when he espied, rapidly approaching his squadron from the direction of England, a swift pinnace which was evidently trying to catch up with him. He at once suspected that something was wrong, and his heart was filled with misgiving. He resolved, if possible, to outstrip the pinnace, and putting on all sail, tried to escape her. But the pinnace gained on the squadron with every league, and at last came near enough to give Ralegh a signal. Ere long, the pursuing craft came alongside the flag-ship, and in another moment her commander climbed on board. This proved to be no other than the famous navigator, Sir Martin Frobisher. Taking Ralegh apart, he told him that Queen Elizabeth had changed her mind, and had determined that Ralegh should not go in command of the expe- HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 83 dition. The queen was most tenderly anxious, said Frobisher, for Ralegh's safety, and could not bear to have him absent from court. Ralegh was almost beside himself with vexation at this turn of affairs. He was forced to banish all the bright dreams in which he had been so freely indulging, and to return to the court, where he would once more become subject to the caprices of the queen. But he could not disobey the royal command ; and so, having with a heavy heart given up the com- mand of his squadron to Sir Martin Frobisher, he reluctantly returned to London in the pinnace. He repaired to his lodgings, and exchanging his weather-proof sea-clothing for a gorgeous suit of apparel, lost no time in going to court. On arriv- ing at the palace, he asked for an audience of the queen, and after some delay was admitted to the royal presence. Queen Elizabeth, who was now about sixty years of age, was more than ever proud and stately in her bearing. No sooner had Ralegh entered her apartment, than, instead of greeting him with her usual smile of welcome, she frowned darkly, and in a haughty tone ordered him not to approach her. Then she broke out into a torrent of bitter 84 RALEGH : reproaches, and called him ungrateful and perfid- ious, and sharply accused him of having, by his secret marriage with Elizabeth Throgmorton, dis- obeyed her most solemn commands. Ralegh was speechless with amazement. How had the queen learned his secret ? What reply could he make to her angry accusations? He had scarcely time, however, to consider his situation ; for the queen, summoning her guards, ordered them to seize Ralegh, and carry him a prisoner to the Tower of London. Before he could speak a word of protest agains* this treatment, he found himself hurried out of the palace. A boat lay in readiness in the river. Into this the unhappy cavaher was roughly placed, and rowed rapidly to the grim prison of which he was now to be an inmate. Ralegh soon found himself at the entrance of the Tower which opens upon the Thames. He was led up the gloomy stairway ; and before he could wholly realize that he was really a prisoner, he found himself the occupant of a dark, narrow cell, into which scarcely a glimmer of daylight shone, and the floor of which consisted of large, damp stones. A table, a rude chair, and a low HIS EXPI.OITS AND VOYAGES. 85 cot against the damp wall, were the only articles of furniture permitted to the prisoner. What a change in fortune and surroundings was this ! He who had lived amid all the splendors and ease of a royal court, whose person was even now apparelled in the costliest attire, whose lodgings had been replete with extravagant luxury, whose familiar companions had been princes, nobles, and warriors, now found himself the inhabitant of a miserable cell, and forced to exist on the coarsest and scantiest fare ! Instead of gallantly ploughing the seas, the commander of a brave array of war- ships, dealing doughty blows at England's enemies, and bringing home in triumph galleons laden with the riches of the earth, he must live day by day in this dreary solitude, and comfort himself as best he could with his thoughts and his books. Happily, his jailers did not long keep him in these miserable quarters, but gave him a larger apartment in the Tower, from the high-barred win- dows of which he was able to gaze out upon the busy craft which dotted the Thames and busily sped to and fro. The governor of the Tower, Sir George Carew, often came to visit him in his solitude, and gave him the news of the day ; and 86 RALEGH : now Ralegh's table was served as that of a cavalier of rank should be. After a while, he was allowed to write letters to his friends, and even, now and then, to receive them in his prison ; and thus many an hour was pleasantly beguiled. But for one thing he deeply grieved, and that was the absence of his beloved young wife. He had not seen her since his sudden return, and he longed to clasp her once more in his arms. But this the stern and jealous queen angrily denied him. It is strange that, despite this cruel treatment on the part of the queen, Ralegh, after the habit of the courtiers of that day, constantly avowed his affection for her, and pretended that his chief sor- row in being shut up in the Tower was that he could no longer see her, and bask in the sunshine of her smiles. The idea of a refined and hand- some knight, such as he, professing that his great- est happiness lay in the love of a capricious and tyrannical old woman of sixty ! He spent much of his time while a prisoner in the Tower, writing letters to his various friends, in which he imparted to them his misery at being parted from his royal mistress. To one of them he said : *' I am become like a fish on dry land, HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 8/ gasping for breath ; with lame legs and lamer lungs." On hearing that the queen was about to take a trip into the interior of England, he ex- claimed, in a letter to his friend, Sir Robert Cecil, " Aly heart was never broken till this day, that I hear the queen goes so far off, whom I have fol- lowed so many years with so great love and desire in so many journeys, and am now left behind her, in a dark prison all alone. While she was yet nigh at hand, that I might hear of her once in two or three days, my sorrows were the less ; but even now my heart is cast into the depth of all misery. I, that was wont to behold her riding like Alex- ander, hunting like Diana, walking like Venus, the gentle wind blowing her fair hair about her pure cheeks like a nymph, sometimes sitting in the shade like a goddess, sometimes singing like an angel, sometimes playing like an Orpheus." This absurd lament ahout a vain old woman he ended by saying, in despair, " Do with me as you will ; I am more weary of life than they are desir- ous I should perish." All these high-flown flatteries and protestations of love for the queen seem to us unworthy of a brave and gallant cavalier and refined scholar, like SS RALEGH: Walter Ralegh. We feel that none of them are sincere ; that they are a pretence, and are written from a motive of ambition. Ralegh, in these rhapsodies, adopted the extravagant style of his time ; it was only by such gross adulation, he thought, that he could soften the queen's heart, and restore himself to his old position of honor and influence. One bright summer morning Ralegh was gazing out of his grated window, and listlessly watching the craft on the river sailing to and fro. His thoughts were given up to sorrowful reflections, and his face was clouded by a shadow of sadness. Suddenly, however, an unusual sight presented itself upon the waters of the Thames. A num- ber of splendid barges, gilded and painted in brilliant colors, adorned with rich awnings, and gay with banners, flags, and streamers, were mov- ing slowly, in regular order, down the stream. The barge in the centre was larger and hand- somer than the rest, and above it Ralegh espied, floating in the breeze, the emblazoned standard of England. Another glance sufficed to show him, reclining on ample cushions beneath a mag- nificently embroidered canopy, the queen herself. HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 89 She was attired in great splendor, glittering with gems, and surrounded by a bevy of the fair ladies of her court. Ralegh was, or pretended to be, overcome with emotion. Leaping from his seat by the window, he called loudly for Sir George Carew, the gov- ernor of the Tower. As soon as he saw Sir George, he broke out into a paroxysm of rage. He declared that his enemies had caused the queen to pass by his prison in her barge, purposely to torment and tantalize him ; and he begged Sir George to allow him to go out and follow the barge, promising that, as soon as he had got a sight of her near by, he would return to prison again. But the governor would not permit him to go ; whereupon Ralegh, full of ungovernable anger, fiercely upbraided him. From words the governor and his prisoner came to blows. Pres- ently each drew his dagger ; and the quarrel might have .'^oon proved fatal to one or the other, had not Sir Arthur Gorges interposed and separated the combatants. Ralegh spent a great deal of his time while in the Tower reading and writing. He was already known as one of the best poets and essayists of QO RALEGH I his time ; and throughout all his busy and often adventurous career he had never lost his early love for books and learning. His ambition was as eager to become a scholar, and to leave literary works which should endure, as it was to obtain wealth and power at home, and to found colonies in dis- tant lands. So it was, that, while he was a pris- oner, many a weary hour was lightened by his books and his pen, and many were the wise things which he wrote at this time. He had been in the Tower several months, when one day the news was brought to him that some of the ships which he had fitted up and sent out as privateers had cast anchor in the harbor of Dartmouth, whither they had brought a large Spanish galleon, fairly loaded down with precious spoil. This news was soon confirmed. The Spanish ship, the name of which was ''La Madre de Diosl' proved to be loaded with a cargo of spices, drugs, silks, and other articles, the value of which was not less than seven hundred thou- sand dollars of our money. The arrival of this great prize soon filled the country with excitement, and Queen Elizabeth herself greeted the event with unconcealed joy. HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 9I Although ''La Madrc dc Dios " had been captured exactly as pirates take and plunder ships on the high seas, she was no less delighted than her court- iers at the prospect of profiting by it. As Eliza- beth had contributed towards fitting out the fleet, she was entitled to a share of the plunder. Walter Ralegh, too, had a claim upon a large portion of the profits of the expedition, and it was very neces- sary that he should go to Dartmouth, to make a division of the spoil. The queen was not yet willing, however, to re- lease him from his captivity. She had not become reconciled to his secret marriage, and was resolved, if possible, to keep him and his young bride apart. Besides, her resentment against him was being constantly inflamed by his bitter rival, the Earl of Essex, who feared the result of Ralegh's return to court. Nor was Essex the only enemy Ralegh had about the queen ; for his haughty bearing had given grave offence to more than one proud noble and dame of high degree. At last Elizabeth resolved to permit Ralegh to go to Dartmouth, but ordered that a keeper should go with him and attend him everywhere, night and day, to see that he did not escape. The sail- 92 RALEGH : ors of the fleet were becoming very insubordinate, and the queen knew that Ralegh alone had their affection, and could quell their discontent. So one day Ralegh found himself breathing the free air, outside his gloomy prison, though he him- self was not yet free. His keeper remained close by his side, and in his unwelcome company Ralegh journeyed down to Dartmouth. In spite of his being a prisoner, Ralegh was greeted at Dartmouth, which was not far from his native place, with shouts of joyful welcome ; for however much he might be disliked and feared at the royal court, in his own neighborhood he was greatly beloved. The sailors of the fleet, too, who had been so unruly, gathered about him, and lav- ished upon him every token of their affection. Ralegh bore himself with much dignity, but every one observed the sad expression of his counte- nance. When one of his old friends wished him joy at being free again, he shook his head and sor- rowfully replied, — *' No, I am still the queen of England's poor captive." It took a long time to complete the division of the rich spoil which had been taken with the HIS EXPLOITS AND VOVAGES. 93 Spanish galleon ; but at last Ralegh found his task finished, and with his keeper, he returned to Lon- don. But he was not again consigned to the dreary solitude of the Tower. He lived for a while under the eye of his keeper, and at last the queen's heart softened towards him, and he was restored to full liberty again. And now, for the first time since his marriage, he was to enjoy for a little while the sweet repose and comforts of a happy wedded life. His young wife was all that his warm heart could desire. She was young, beautiful, accomplished, and lov- ing. Ralegh was her hero, and she was completely wrapped up in him and his fortunes. Never did cavalier have a more faithful or more helpful part- ner. She shared with her whole heart his joys and sorrows, and she was perfectly happy, now that she could live with him in the luxurious country retreat w^hither they speedily repaired. Not long before, Ralegh had become the owner of one of the finest manor-houses in Engfland. It was called Sherborne, and was not very far distant from his native place. It was a noble mansion, replete with every luxury of the age, imposing to the eye, spacious and convenient ; its walls hung 94 RALEGH : with rare tapestries, and its ceilings made of the heaviest carved oak. Around the manor-house lay a beautiful park, and in its near vicinity were blos- soming orchards, and cool, pretty groves, and thriving gardens. In so lovely a retreat Ralegh spent many happy months. He was ardently fond of country sports, and took the greatest delight in building taste- ful additions to his castle, laying out new gardens, and cutting stately avenues through his park. With him, too, he had his choice library of books, to which he could gratefully turn when wearied with his out-of-door occupations. Around him lived, in stately castles and more modest hunt- ing-houses, many gentlemen of tastes as refined and as sturdy as his own; and with them he en- joyed frequent and pleasant companionship. In such an existence he seemed to forget for a while that there was such a thing as a royal court, or such a personage as the vain old queen. His am- bition seemed lulled to slumber by his tranquil surroundings. But after a while his adventurous spirit again became restless, and he began to think of once more seeking renown and riches by the perilous HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 95 ventures of the sea. This time, he said to himself, he would go on the projected voyage in person. He would embark on a new expedition towards the setting sun. As he sat amid the shades of Sherborne, he looked eagerly forward to the time when, at sea, he would have " to lie hard ; to fare worse ; to be subjected to perils, to dis- eases, to ill savors ; to be parched and withered ; and, withal, to sustain the care and labor" of a long and doubtful voyage. 96 RALEGH CHAPTER VII. RALEGH'S FIRST VOYAGE. ARVELLOUS stories of a certain region in America had long been circulating in England, and throughout Europe. The Spaniards, who had been so bold and successfiil in their voyages across the Atlantic, and in their conquests of the western nations, told dazzling tales of the riches of those countries, and of the wonderful sights they had seen there. The ac- counts of the Spanish voyages thither had been printed ; and one collection of these thrilling sto- ries had been made in England by Richard Hak- luyt, an intimate friend of Walter Ralegh, who had encouraged him to undertake this work. According to the Spanish adventurers, the em- pire of Guiana, on the northern coast of South America, was in truth the land of gold, in search of which so many expeditions had been made ; the very land which had aroused the ambition of HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 97 Columbus, of Cortez, of Pizarro, of Fernando de Soto, and Ponce de Leon. It was said, indeed, that the vast treasures of the Mexican king, Mon- tezuma, had been carried to Guiana by his ser- vants, when he was subdued and captured by Cortez ; and that the boundless wealth of the Inca of Peru, Atahualpa, had in the same manner been transferred to Guiana, after his overthrow by Pizarro. Very many implicitly believed these stories, and were eager to go to Guiana, and search out and bring home these treasures. Other voy- agers declared that Guiana itself was fabulously rich in gold, silver, and precious gems. Stories were told of a great imperial city, which stood on imposing heights in the interior of the country, where the very troughs at the corners of the streets, at which the horses were watered, were made of solid blocks of gold and silver ; and where ''billets of gold lay about in heaps, as if they were logs of wood marked out to burn." In this marvellous city there dwelt a king, who lived in the greatest wealth and magnificence. Some of his habits were at least peculiar. There were state occasions on which it was his custom to cover his royal body with turpentine, and then roll 98 RALEGH : himself in gold-dust, until he appeared like a living figure of gold. He would then enter his state barge, and thus, in the centre of a group of nobles, arrayed in attire which glistened with gems, would make the tour of a beautiful lake ; in which, at the end of their promenade, the monarch and his court would take a refreshing bath. But somehow or other, it always seemed very difficult, if not impossible, to find this rich city and its king. One expedition after another went in search of it, and after a series of bitter and cruel hardships, returned without having found it. Sometimes these expeditions, after enduring hunger and want and cold in the vast South American forests, were massacred by the angry natives. Among other adventurers who tried to find the much-talked-of El Dorado was Gonzalo Pizarro, the brother of that great Pizarro who had conquered Peru. Gonzalo crossed the mountains of South America from Peru with over three hun- dred Spaniards, and a still larger force of natives. A part of his force, under Orellana, managed to reach the river Amazon after many vicissi- tudes. Hastily constructing a rude boat, they de- scended that mighty stream, and, deserting Pizarro, HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 99 made their way back to Europe. Meanwhile Gonzalo and a portion of the force remained in the mountains awaiting the result of Orellana's search. Finding that he did not return, Gonzalo returned to Peru ; but not until his company had been forced to eat their saddles, so near had they come to actual starvation. Other expeditions had met a fate not less unfor- tunate. All alike had failed to reach the golden city. For a long while the attempt to find El Dorado was abandoned. But some time before Ralegh took up his residence at Sherborne, a bold Spaniard named Berreo had resolved to un- dertake the task which still remained unfulfilled. Berreo made a successful voyage across the Atlan- tic, and safely reached New Granada, in South America. Thence he set forth, it is said, with seven hundred horsemen, and travelled, first along the banks of the river Negro, and then along those of the river Orinoco. At some points, the adven- turers descended the Orinoco in rough boats, built on the spot. As they advanced, many of the men and horses died from illness and exhaustion, while others fell in the frequent skirmishes which Berreo had with the natives of the country. lOO RALEGH : He thus travelled amid many perils for more than a year. At last he reached a country, from the natives of which he heard about Guiana and its riches ; the city, they said, was not far off. These natives were at first hostile to Berreo, but they soon became friendly with him, and lavished many costly presents upon him. They gave him ''ten images of fine gold, which were so curiously wrought, as he had not seen the like in Italy, Spain, or the Low Countries." After remaining with them for three months, Berreo pursued his journey in search of Guiana; but his force had now so seriously dwindled, and those who still survived grew so clamorous to return home, that he at last gave up his project and went back, not without many hardships and difficulties, to the island of Trinidad, off the South American coast. He did not give up all hope, however, of finding Guiana ; and remained for many years at Trinidad with this purpose in his mind. All these stories of El Dorado, and of the at- tempts of the Spaniards to find the marvellous city of gold, excited and absorbed Ralegh in his retreat at Sherborne. He began to believe the most won- derful accounts of the land of Guiana ; and often, HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. lOl as he sat with his wife by the roaring fire in his great hall, did he tell her of his eager desire to be the successful explorer of that distant region. His hatred of the Spaniards led him above all to crave the distinction of preventing their capture of the golden land, and of himself planting the stand- ard and the authority of Queen Elizabeth in its midst. So in the year 1594, some eleven or twelve years after Berreo had set forth on his venture, Ralegh made up his mind to enter once more upon his old career of colonization and discovery. He was now in the very prime of life, and the full ripeness of his vigor. At the age of forty-two, he had many years of activity and enterprise before him. He had long ago given up all idea of planting a settle- ment in Virginia; the failure of his former attempts to do so had completely discouraged him. But here was a new and brilliant field of adventure ; and his ambitious nature was stirred by the pros- pect of finding the fabled land. He had never him- self sailed on any of the expeditions which he had fitted up and sent forth upon the ocean. Now, he resolved that he himself would go, and take com- mand of the voyage to America. It would be hard 102 RALEGH: to tear himself away from the companionship of his devoted wife and the luxurious ease of Sher- borne ; but he was too ambitious and too restless to remain there in languor and indolence. But before venturing himself upon the ocean, Ralegh resolved to send out a ship to explore the mouth of the Orinoco, up which he would have to pass. He accordingly dispatched his friend, Jacob Whiddon, in a small vessel, to make the explora- tion. Whidden arrived safely at Trinidad, where he landed, and where Berreo pretended to welcome him with warm cordiality. Berreo was at this time governor of Trinidad ; and he himself had, just at this time, nearly got ready a new expedition to search for El Dorado. While, therefore, he pro- fessed to be friendly to Whiddon, he really used every means to delay him, and prevent his sailing to the Orinoco. One after another, Whiddon's sailors w^ere arrested and thrown into prison on various pretexts, until his crew became too small to enable him to continue his voyage. Finally, Whiddon was forced to return to England without having achieved the object for which he had sailed. No sooner had Ralegh heard his officer's report, than he decided to delay no longer the prepara- HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. IO3 tions for his own voyage to South America. When he told his wife of his purpose, she implored him with tears in her eyes not to undertake so perilous a journey. Finding that she could not persuade him to abandon it, she wrote to Sir Robert Cecil a touching letter, begging him to prevail upon Ralegh to remain at home. But Sir Robert re- fused to listen to her prayer. Ralegh went to London, and without loss of time set about col- lecting the ships which were to form his squadron, and a picked company of men to go with him. In his preparations he was actively assisted by Sir Robert Cecil, then a great man at the royal court, and by the gallant admiral, Lord Howard of Effing- ham, who had won the victory over the Spanish Armada. At last five stout vessels, amply provided with crews, arms, and provisions, were gathered in the picturesque harbor of Plymouth, near Ralegh's native place. The vessels had on board a number of light, small boats, which were certain to be useful when the adventurers reached the South American rivers. Besides the crews of the ships, about one hundred gentlemen, officers, and soldiers were gathered at the rendezvous ; and Ralegh also 104 RALEGH took with him a number of rowers, boat-keepers, and boys. On the morning of a misty day in February, I595> everything was ready, and Ralegh, attended by a number of his companions, and attired in all his finery, proceeded on board his flagship. The vessels in the harbor displayed their flags and pennons in honor of the expedition. The quays were crowded with a curious multitude ; and there were gathered many nobles and ladies from the region round about, who had assembled to bid the bold voyagers God-speed and a happy return. Ra- legh stood erect upon the deck, the long feathers in his hat floating in the breeze, and his velvet cloak wrapped about his stalwart form. With quick glance he looked from one ship to the other. The captains signalled to him that they were pre- pared to weigh anchor. Waving his hand to the crowd of his friends on shore, he gave the order to set sail. The ships, with sails set and flags flying, slowly passed out of the harbor ; and presently the fair town of Plymouth, and then the white cliffs of his native Devon, faded from Ra- legh's view. The first destination of the squadron was the HIS EXPLOITS AND VOi'AGES. IO5 Canary Islands, off the African coast ; the same islands on which Vasco da Gama had landed just about a hundred years before. Ralegh's ships reached them without accident, and there took in a fresh supply of water and provisions. Just as the squadron was setting sail again, Ralegh espied, in the distance, a Spanish ship. The temptation to attack and capture her was too strong for him to resist. Whenever and wherever Walter Ralegh could inflict injury on the Spaniards, whom he so bitterly detested, he did so with eagerness. He ordered his vessels to bear down upon the new-comer ; and after a brief, hot fight, the Spaniard surren- dered, and the English voyagers boarded her. To Ralegh's delight he found that the cargo of the captured ship consisted of fire-arms ; these he caused to be stowed away in his own squadron, and then let the captive vessel go. Proceeding on his voyage, he not long after en- countered and captured another prize. A Flemish ship was sailing homeward with a cargo of fine wines. Ralegh attacked her without hesitation, ;ind soon made her lower her flag to him. The wine, to the amount of twenty huge hogsheads, I06 RALEGH : was transferred to his own ship, and the Flemish craft was compelled to return home empty. The course of the squadron was now directly across the stormy Atlantic. Ralegh himself, who had long and carefully studied the art of naviga- tion, commanded its movements. Meanwhile he passed many a monotonous hour at sea with the books which he had brought to beguile him on his way. He studied the rude charts of the coast and country whither he was sailing, and read with absorbing interest the accounts of the pre- vious voyages which had been made to those remote regions. The further the ships advanced, the more dazzling became his dreams of the pos- sible conquests and riches which lay before him, and the more impatient he became to reach his destination. In a little less than two months after setting out from Plymouth, Ralegh and his five ships came in sight of the island of Trinidad. It was with a thrill of joy that he first spied land in the new world, — that world of which he had heard so much, and which he had so often longed to behold with his own eyes. Anchoring in one of the har- bors of the island, Ralegh's fiirst step was to make HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 10/ a careful survey of the coast. He tried to win the good will of the natives, so as to learn as much as possible about the mysterious country he was about to explore. Berreo, the adventurer whose expedition has been described, was still the ruler of Trinidad. Ralegh was resolved to punish him for having prevented Whiddon from going to the Orinoco ; and soon Berreo's conduct towards his own squadron strengthened this resolve. Berreo told the Indians of Trinidad that if any of them should dare to go on board any of Ra- legh's ships, or give him any information about the country, such offenders should be promptly hung and quartered. But already Ralegh had won the good will of the natives by the kind manner in which he treated them, and the presents which he lavished upon them. In spite of Berreo's savage threats, the Indians would creep out from the shore in their canoes, under the cover of night, and come alongside the flag-ship. They brought provisions to Ralegh, and were often persuaded to board the vessel. The poor savages loudly bewailed the cru- elty which the Spaniards were constantly inflicting upon them, and soon learned to look to the gallant English commander for relief and protection. I08 RALEGH : They told Ralegh, among other things, that sev- eral of their chiefs were at that moment lying in chains in the town of St. Joseph, and besought him to go to their rescue. Ralegh quickly perceived that this was a good opportunity at once to inflict a blow upon his Spanish enemy, and to gain still more securely the good will of the natives. So he made a sudden and vigorous attack upon St. Joseph, which speed- ily fell into his hands. He released the chiefs, who overwhelmed him with their gratitude, and from that time the Indians of Trinidad became devoted to him. Ralegh took occasion to tell them that his sovereign was a great queen, who ruled over a powerful island realm, and who was an in- veterate enemy of the Spaniards ; and he promised always to protect them from Spanish tyranny. With the capture of St. Joseph, Berreo himself fell into Ralegh's hands as a prisoner. But Ra- legh, far from delivering the Spaniard over to execution, gave him a spacious cabin in his own ship, and invited him to take his meals daily at his own table. Berreo, who did not suspect as yet that Ralegh had come thither to make the discov- ery of El Dorado, talked freely with him about his HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. IO9 own expedition to the Orinoco ; and thus Ralegh gathered a good deal of valuable information. This, with what he was constantly learning from the friendly natives, enabled him soon to perfect his own plans for exploring the main land. Ralegh learned that it would be in vain for him to attempt to navigate the river Orinoco with his large ships. The various mouths of this stream were choked up by great sand-banks, and the shifting tides made the channels uncertain and dangerous. It was necessary, therefore, to leave the ships, with a sufficient force to defend them, at the island of Trinidad, and to pursue the journey in the smaller craft which Ralegh had had the forethought to bring along with him. He accordingly an- chored his squadron at a place called Los Gallos, in the Gulf of Paria, at a point on Trinidad nearest to the main land. He chose one hundred men to accompany him on his perilous venture, carrying provisions for a month ; and finally embarked in an old galley, a barge, two light wherries, and a ship's boat. Ralegh had with him a young Indian pilot, who professed to be entirely familiar with the coast, and with the dangerously winding channels of the no RALEGH : Orinoco. In crossing the strait between Trinidad and the main land, the frail little fleet of boats met with very stormy weather. The high-rolling bil- lows and the fierce wind reminded Ralegh of the rough passage between Dover and Calais. When at last they reached the coast, and entered that mouth of the river which they first found, the boats became so involved in the network of chan- nels which crossed and recrossed each other, that Ralegh almost despaired of being able either to advance or to retreat again. In the account which he wrote of his expedition afterwards, he said: " If God had not sent us help, we might have wandered a whole year in that labyrinth of rivers, ere we had found any way. I know all the earth doth not yield the like confluence of streams and branches, the one crossing the other so many times, and all so fair and large, and so like to one another, as no man can tell which to take. And if we went by the sun or compass, hoping thereby to go directly one way or other, yet that way also we were carried in a circle amongst multitudes of islands. Every island was so bordered with big trees, as no man could see any further than the breadth of the river or length of the branch." HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. Ill The young Indian pilot, who was sincerely anxious to fulfil his task, proved to be really ignorant of the various channels ; and so the Englishmen were obliged to trust to their own experience and judg- ment. At last they were extricated from their difficulty and peril by a lucky accident. The boats happened to turn up a channel which seemed deeper and easier than the rest. After rowing a few hours, Ralegh was surprised and delighted to espy, just on ahead, a little canoe, with three natives, crossing the rapid stream. He or- dered his rowers to make all speed, and, if possible, overtake the canoe. The natives, as soon as they perceived the strange craft making towards them, with white men in it, took fright and hurried their own rowing. But the skilful English oars were too quick for them, and soon the barge (in which was Ralegh himself) overtook the canoe, and the men seized its occupants. Ralegh, by many signs, tried to persuade the natives that he was friendly, and had no hostile designs upon them ; and some of the Indians whom he had brought with him soon persuaded them that they had nothing to fear. One of the three natives was an old man, with a wise and solemn 112 RALEGH : face, who proved to have a thorough knowledge of the river and the country round about. He was induced, by means of presents and gentle treat- ment, to be the pilot of the expedition, and under- took his task with hearty good will. That evening, Ralegh and his comrades landed on a little knoll, which was mostly overgrown with dense reeds and tropical vegetation, and there, amid the stillness of the strange and savage land, — a stillness broken only by the sound of the wild rush of the river's current, — the adventurers feasted on such plain fare as they had brought with them, and slept soundly after their desperate struggling with the formidable waters. The faith- ful Indians kept guard as they slept. They rose bright and early in the morning, and with stout hearts prepared to resume their perilous journey. HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. II 3 CHAPTER VIII. ADVENTURES ON THE ORINOCO. N launching forth, the next morning, upon the stream, Ralegh and his companions found that their difficulties and dangers were by no means over. Their old Indian guide promised them that after a while they would reach smoother waters, and would find, some dis- tance above, a large Indian village, where they were sure of being hospitably welcomed, and aided in penetrating the interior. Meanwhile it was all that the five frail crafts could do to breast the extremely rapid and violent currents. Sometimes the men were obliged to go on shore, and pull their boats over the rapids which they now and then encountered. Then they came upon treacherous shoals, over which they pushed their boats with difficulty, and where they were at times completely stranded. And now the rank rushes and reeds grew so thick on either bank, 114 RALEGH : and so close to the water's edge, that the adven- turers were stifled for want of air, and could not find a place on the shore where to set their feet. They proceeded thus slowly, and with so many drawbacks, for four weary days ; at the end of which they reached another branch of the riv-er, where they were able to proceed more easily. "We fell," relates Ralegh, ''into as goodly a river as ever I beheld, called the Great Amana, which ran more directly without windings or turnings than the other ; but soon the flood of the sea left us, and being forced either by main strength to row against a violent current, or to return as wise as we went, we had then no shift but to persuade the companies that it was but two or three days' work, and therefore desired them to take pains, every gentleman and others taking their turns to row. When three days more were overgone, our companies began to despair, the weather being extremely hot, the river bordered with very high trees, that kept away the air, and the current against us every day stronger than the other. But we ever more commanded our pilots to promise an end the next day ; and used it so lone: as we were driven to assure them from four HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. • II5 reaches of the river to three, and so to two, and so to the next reach. But so long we labored that many days were spent, and we were driven our- selves to harder allowance of our bread even at the last, and we had no drink at all ; while our men and ourselves were wearied and scorched, and we were, withal, doubtful whether we should ever reach our goal or no, the heat increasing as we drew near the equator." Still, with all these obstacles and discourage- ments, Ralegh observed with great curiosity and delight the strange country through which, as through a bright, varied panorama, his little flo- tilla was passing. Before his eyes, here and there, stretched broad and fertile plains, which extended to the horizon. The rich grass was soft as velvet, and of a deep, luxuriant green. Stately copses of wide-spreading, lofty trees formed cool and lovely groves in the midst of these charm- ing expanses ; while ever and anon, nimble and graceful deer, with their big, soft brown eyes, and slender legs, peered innocently and fearlessly through the rushes at the voyagers, and even ven- tured to feed and drink on the very bank, within a few feet of the boats. The adventurers o:azed Il6 RALEGH: upon these fair scenes with keenest pleasure, for they promised a fairer journey on ahead. " On the banks of these rivers," says Ralegh, ''were divers sorts of fruits good to eat; flowers, too, and trees of such variety as were sufficient to make ten volumes of travels. We refreshed our- selves many times with the fruits of the country, and sometimes with fowls and fish. We saw birds of all colors ; some carnation, some crimson, or- ange, tawny, purple, and so on ; and it was unto us a great good passing time to behold them, besides the relief we found by killing some store of them with our fowling-pieces." After some days, the old Indian guide told Ralegh that they were now quite near the village of which he had spoken. But it would not be well, he said, that all the boats should go thither ; for that might lead the natives to fear that a hos- tile attack upon them was meditated. So Ralegh himself, accompanied only by three or four of his companions and by the guide, proceeded up a branch of the river in the smallest of his boats, and boldly went ashore where the huts of the Indians were grouped together at the river side. The Indians at first stared at the strangers with HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. II7 faces full of fear and suspicion, and some of them ran into the woods. But the guide hastened to let them know that Ralegh and his comrades were not Spaniards, — who had got a bad name through all that country, by reason of their greed of gold and many deeds of wanton cruelty, — but friendly white men, who had come thither with innocent designs. Then the natives gathered around the strangers, and curiously inspected them. Several young Indians took hold of Ralegh's tunic, and touched his broad hat, and made other demonstrations of friendliness ; for their fears had speedily vanished. The Englishmen went freely into their huts and sat down ; and there they were regaled with such primitive fare as the little village afforded. Ralegh observed that these natives, though living in a savage state, were gentle and simple in character, and were, many of them, handsome and graceful men and women. After he had duly inspected the village, and had made some presents to his kind- hearted hosts, he prepared to return to the ren- dezvous of the boats. On his taking leave of the village, the natives brought him a quantity of bread, fish, and hens, and he took leave of them with many signs of friendship and cordiality. 115 RALEGH : Soon after returning to the rest of his company the voyage of the boats was continued up the Ori- noco. They had not gone far when they saw two canoes crossing the river. These they speedily overtook, and were deUghted to find that they contained a large quantity of very nice bread, — the nicest, they declared, of which they had par- taken since they had left the shores of old Eng- land. The feast which the men had upon this bread so restored their spirits, that they exclaimed, " Let us go on ; we care not how far." As they progressed they kept seeing other canoes, some of which they captured, while others escaped them. In one of the latter they were surprised and indig- nant to see three Spaniards ; but in vain did they give these enemies chase. Ralegh had now learned from the Indians that the Spaniards had told them that the English were cannibals and robbers, and this made him very careful to always treat the Indians so well that they would see that the Spaniards had lied. The adventurers next came upon a number of Indian villages on the banks, at each of which they took occasion to stop. Ralegh was so kind to the savages, that everywhere he went he left a HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. I I9 good name behind him, and completely won the affection of the various tribes. If any of his men stole anything from the Indian huts, he not onl) caused the articles stolen to be returned, but ordered the thieves to be whipped and branded in the presence of the simple folk they had robbed. It was not long before all the tribes in the neighboring country had heard all about Ralegh and his companions, and especially about the kind- ness with which he treated the people wherever he appeared among them. As the boats passed up the river, the natives would come flocking down to the banks to greet the strangers, bringing with them their women and children ; and they never failed to offer Ralegh a great abundance of provisions. The Englishmen feasted daily upon fish and fowl, succulent roots, and delicious fruit of many sorts ; and now and then they dined royally on the haunches of venison which the Indians roasted over the big fires and laid before them. Among the fruits which were thus lavishly bestowed upon the new-comers were pineapples of enormous size, and deliciously fragrant and sweet. Ralegh called them "the prince of fruits." One day, the boats reached a point on the Ori- 120 RALEGH : noco where another great river, only second to the Orinoco in width and the force ^of its current, emptied into it. This was the river Caroni. Near this junction of streams the country was more beautiful and fertile than any which Ralegh had yet encountered in this remote land. The river banks and plains were fairly studded with neat, prosperous Indian villages; and as the favorable news of Ralegh and his comrades had preceded him thither, their welcome was as warm and gratifying as possible. No sooner had they landed in this region, than the natives flocked about them in great numbers, and showed them in a hundred ways how much the English were trusted and liked. "They came," says Ralegh, "to wonder at our nation, and to bring us down victual, which they had in great plenty." Among the Indians who thus gathered about the voyagers, was a wise old chief named. Topia- wari, with whom Ralegh soon became intimate. Topiawari was a man of rare gravity and judg- ment, " and of good discourse," says Ralegh, "though he had had no help of learning or breed." With this old chief Ralegh held many long and interesting talks, as they sat beneath the cool HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 12 F shade of the trees, whose broad branches arched above the water. Topiawari gave him a minute account of all the tribes in the vicinity, and of the productions and capabilities of the highly fertile land of Guiana ; and in return shrewdly questioned Ralegh about England, Spain, and other European countries. One day, as Ralegh and his comrades were sit- ting in the midst of the groups of Indians on the river bank, he told them all about Queen Eliza- beth and her court. He spared no pains to im- press upon their minds what a mighty and gracious sovereign she was. " I dilated," he says, '* on her majesty's greatness, her justice, her charity to all oppressed nations, with as many of the rest of her beauties and virtues as either I could express or they conceive." Perceiving that the Indians were deeply inter- ested in all the marvels he related about the queen, he beckoned to one of his sailors, and whis- pered in his ear. The sailor hastened down to one of the boats, and in a few moments reappeared, bringing with him a small, square object.' Ralegh took it from him, and rising to his feet, held up the object to the astonished natives. 122 RALEGH : " Here," he exclaimed, " is the portrait of Queen Elizabeth, her own royal self. Gaze upon the face of the most powerful and brilliant of earthly sov- ereigns." The natives crouched before the picture in an attitude of awe mingled with curiosity. It seemed as if they regarded it almost as an idol, for they appeared about to prostrate themselves before it. "They so admired and honored it," says Ralegh, " as it had been easy to have made them idolatrous thereof." They eagerly questioned him about the royal lady for hours together, until he fairly per- suaded them that she was more than mortal. In the midst of these primitive people, Ralegh and his companions spent many happy days. Sometimes they went hunting, and made merry feasts with the deer and game they brought in. They fished in the broad and rapid Orinoco, or wandered in parties of two or three through the stately forests, or along the sloping river banks. Ralegh resolved to go up the river Caroni, which, he was told, would lead him into the heart of the rich land of Guiana. It is true that he failed to hear any definite tidings of the golden city which the Spanish voyagers had described in colors so HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 1 23 glowing, or of El Dorado, its mighty king. But the old chief, Topiawari, told him that Guiana abounded in fertile valleys, and that there were many gold and silver mines in various portions of it. So one day he bade the old chief and his people good-by, and expressed the hope that on his return towards the sea, he should see him again. " Alas," exclaimed Topiawari sadly, " I am very old, and Death calls for me daily. But yet I hope, good Englishman, to see you once again." Ralegh divided his company into four parties. Three of these parties started forth to explore the country on either bank of the Caroni, by land ; while the fourth took an eight-oared boat, and with great difficulty — for the Caroni, if anything, was more rapid than the Orinoco — ascended the river. Ralegh had been told of a famous cataract, which plunged and foamed over gigantic boulders, some miles above the junction of the streams ; and this he was very anxious to see. He went, there- fore, with the party in the eight-oared boat. It was very slow rowing, but at last the boat came to a place whence the cataract could be seen and heard in the distance. 124 RALEGH : Ralegh and his companions made fast their boat, and went on shore. They found themselves at the foot of a lofty hill, which, thickly wooded near its base and along its sides, was seen to be quite bald and bare at its summit. Conducted by one of the natives as a guide, the party ascended the emi- nence, and, after a toilsome climb of several hours, found themselves amid cool breezes and a clear atmosphere at the top. The vision which then met their eyes filled them with wonder and admi- ration. Far below them, on every side, stretched one of the loveliest landscapes which mortal vision ever beheld. Over hill and dale were spread mighty forests, in some directions as far as the eye could reach. Just below, the broad and smiling valley of the Caroni presented fruitful fields, luxu- riant meadows, snug native villages, and all the brilliant and varied verdure and color of a tropical clime ; while in the distance, the still vaster valley of the Orinoco, with the most fairy-like scenery and picturesque slopes, descended with gentle sweep to the river banks. But most striking of all was the series of gigan- tic cascades, which formed what the natives called the *' Great Cataract " of the Caroni. The adven- HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 125 turers could distinctly bear its thunderous roar, and see the silvery spray dashed in big sheets into the air. It was such a display of waters as even the most travelled among them had never before seen. " We beheld," wrote Ralegh afterwards, *' the wonderful breach of waters that ran down Caroni, and might, from that mountain, see the river how it ran in three parts above twenty miles off; and there appeared some ten or twelve overfalls in sight, every one as high above the other as a church tower, which fell with that fury that the rebound of waters made it seem as if it had been all covered over with a great shower of rain. And in some places we took it at first for a smoke that had risen over some great town. For my own part," he continues, " I was well persuaded from thence to have returned, being a very bad walker ; but the rest were all so desirous to go nearer this strange thunder of waters, that they drew me on, by little and little, until we came into the next valley, where we might better discern the cataract. *' I never saw a more beautiful country, or more lively prospects : hills so raised, here and there, over the valleys ; the river winding into divers 126 RALEGH: branches ; the plains adjoining, all green grass, without bush or stubble ; the ground of hard sand, easy to march on, either for horse or foot ; the deer crossing on every path ; the birds, towards evening, singing on every tree with a thousand sweet tunes ; cranes and herons, of white, crimson, and carnation, perching on the river's side ; the air fresh, with a gentle, easterly wind ; and every stone we stooped to pick up promising either gold or silver, by its complexion." Ralegh and his party explored the river above the cataract, to see whether the expedition could proceed by it further into the depths of the coun- try ; but the Caroni was at that point so boisterous and rapid, and so full of waterfalls and rocks, that Ralegh decided a longer journey by this way im- possible. The party therefore clambered down to their boat again, and the swift current soon wafted them back to the junction of the two rivers. On returning to the place of rendezvous, they found that the other three parties, who had gone exploring on foot, had arrived before them, and were awaiting them with much eagerness and anxiety. Ralegh was welcomed with a hearty greeting, and hastened to ask the parties what HIS EXPLOITS AND VOVAGES. 12/ they had seen and found. They had many mar- vellous incidents to relate. The leader of one of the parties assured him that they had discovered traces of gold in many places, and in witness of this, he showed Ralegh several pieces of the shin- ing ore. " We had with us," said he, " no tools or other appliances with which to get the ore out, and so we tore it out as well as we could with our dag- gers, and even with our fingers. For, sir, the veins in these places lie, most often, a fathom or two deep in the rocks. Near one of the rivers I found of white spar, or flint, a very great ledge or bank, which I endeavored to break by every means I could, because there appeared on the outside some small grains of gold ; but finding no means to work the same upon the upper part, on seeking the sides of the rock, I found a cleft in it from whence, with daggers and the head of an axe, we got out a small quantity of it." This story of the finding of gold filled Ralegh and all his companions with dazzling anticipa- tions. It seemed to give promise, after all, of those glittering riches of which they had heard so much, and of a discovery which would carry their renown 128 RALEGH I throughout the world. Ralegh himself had another object in making his perilous expedition, besides that of finding the jDrecious metals. It was his ambition to establish the English dominion in America; to deprive the Spaniards of some of the glory of western discovery, and divide it with them ; to capture possessions for Queen Elizabeth, which otherwise would fall into Spanish hands ; and to secure a place on American soil where English colonists might go, and settle, and thrive. But it was a great source of joy to him that he could carry back to the old country the news, that in this new land which he had explored, and in which he had, by kind treatment, won the affection of the native tribes, there was certainly a vast and unknown treasure of the precious metals. No sooner had the parties returned to their old quarters than the natives again flocked to see them, and to bring them, as a proof of their good will, an abundant supply of provisions. The place soon had the appearance, as Ralegh declared, of *'a great market, or fair, in England;" for the natives heaped up their venison and other game, their fruits, herbs and roots, in rows ; and the wearied, hungry, worn-out travellers were invited HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 1 29 to pass among the piled-up heaps of good things, and to help themselves, each to that which he most craved Thus the adventurers passed several days, feasting and makin<£ merry, and amusing themselves with tne good-hearted natives. I so RALEGH : CHAPTER IX. ralegh's return home. NE day, while Ralegh was sitting in front of his tent, chatting and smoking with some of his comrades, he saw a group of Indians approaching him ; and when they came near, he was surprised and delighted to perceive that the foremost of them was his old friend, the chief Topiawari. He hastened to rise and em- brace the aged man, and invite him into his tent. Topiawari, whose tribe dwelt some distance above on the banks of the Orinoco, had conceived such an affection for Ralegh, that when he heard of his return to the junction of the rivers, he could not resist the temptation to talk with the kind and brave Englishman once more. The old chief, as has been said, was intelligent and wise far above the rest of the natives whom Ralegh met ; and Ralegh now spent many hours each day talking with him, listening to his accounts HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. I3I of the neighboring tribes, and planning with him how the Spaniards should be kept out of the country, and how the English should establish themselves there. He found Topiawari eager that the English should become the masters of Guiana, and ready to do anything he could to bring about such an end. Topiawari then asked Ralegh if he would not leave some of his companions behind, so as to aid the natives in repelling the attacks of the Spaniards. It appeared that many of the Eng- lish were as anxious to remain as the natives were to have them. Ralegh told the old chief that his force was already so small that he could with diffi- culty protect himself on his return ; but he con- sented at last to leave two of his most trusted followers, who should remain in the country until another expedition should come thither from Eng- land. The two men who were chosen to remain were Francis Sparrey, and a youth named Hugh Good- win. It may be said here that Sparrey, after dwelling several years among the Indians, and meeting with many thrilling adventures, was cap- tured by the Spaniards, and sent in irons to Spain, where he was long kept in prison, and returned at 132 RALEGH: last to England seven years after Ralegh's expedi- tion to Guiana. The youth, Goodwin, remained with the Indians a great while, and there Ralegh found him, more than twenty years after, dressed in the native costume, and having become so fixed in all the native ways and habits, that he had almost forgotten his own language. Shortly before parting from Ralegh, the old chief, Topiawari, gave him his only son, a fine young Indian, to take with him to England ; "for," said the chief, " I have not long to live ; but if my son goes with you, he will become established as my successor, by the aid of the valiant EngUsh." Ralegh now began to make his final preparations to descend the rapid waters of the Orinoco, and once more make his way to his ships on the island of Trinidad. After bidding an affectionate adieu to Topiawari and the crowd of natives who bit- terly bewailed his departure, the boats were shoved from the shore, and speedily floated out of sight of the spot where the adventurers had spent so many happy hours. The descent of the river was, of course, far more quick and easy than the ascent had been ; yet it was not without its accidents and dangers. Sometimes the boats plunged and floun- HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 1 33 tiered among perilous rapids, where every moment it seemed as if they would be dashed to pieces. Then one of them would be stranded on a shoal, so that all hands were forced to turn out and push it off again. Sometimes they were assailed from the shore by tribes which were hostile to the In- dians whose friendship Ralegh had won above ; and the voyagers narrowly escaped the arrows, javelins, and big stones which these savages, with many a fierce cry and war-whoop, hurled upon them from behind the canes and reeds which clustered on the river banks. Ever and anon, too, they were threatened by the wild beasts which dwelt in the tropical forests and swamps along their course. Panthers and leopards glared at them, and showed their glistening fangs from between the rank leaves at the water's edge. Alligators and snakes thrust up their shiny, scale-covered heads, and seemed about to approach the boats. Occasionally, the occupants of the boats would go on shore, and engage in a day's hunt, bringing back a welcome supply of deer and birds for their evening meal. The descent of the river, too, was not without more than one thrilling adventure and hair-breadth escape. One incident was thus related by Ralegh 134 RALEGH: himself, in his narrative of the expedition. One day, when the party had gone ashore to rest, Ralegh, with a number of picked men, went a short way into the interior, to an Indian town called Winecapora. " The chief," he says, '' was one Timitwara, at whose house, it being one of their feast-days, we found the Indians all as drunk as beggars, and the pots walking from one to another without rest. We, being weary and hot with marching, were glad of the plenty, though a small quantity satisfied us, their drink being strong and heady. After we had fed, we drew ourselves back to our boats on the river ; and then came to us all the lords of the country, with all such kinds of victual as the place yielded, and with their delicate wine of pines, and with abundance of hens and other provisions, and of those stones which we call spleen stones. We understood by these chieftains that their lord, Car- apana, had departed from Emeria, which was now in sight, and that he had fled to the mountains of Guiana, being persuaded by the Spaniards who lay at his house that we would destroy him and the country." As the voyagers approached the labyrinth of the HIS EXPLOITS AND VOVAGES. 1 35 mouths of the Orinoco, their hardships rapidly increased. The stormy season had now come on, and the river daily became more tempestuous and hard to navigate. At times, the rowers were almost fain to give up in despair. But Ralegh's soul was full of hope and courage, and he kept constantly encouraging his wearied comrades, and inspiring them with his own dauntless and perse- vering spirit. Involved in the perplexing outlets, the difficulties continually increased. " We were now," relates Ralegh, •* in a most desperate state. For the same night in which we anchored in the mouth of the river Capuri, where it falls into the sea, there arose a mighty storm ; the river's mouth was at least a league broad, so that we ran, before night, close under the land with our small boats, and brought the galley as near as we could. But she had as much to do to live as could 'be, and there wanted little of her sinking, and all those who were in her. The longer we tarried, the worse it was ; and therefore I took Captains Gififord and Caulfield and my cousin Grenville into my barge. After it cleared up, we put ourselves into God's keeping, and thrust out into the sea, leaving the galley at anchor, as it 136 RALEGH: durst not adventure, except by daylight. And so, being all very sober and melancholy, one faintly cheering another to show courage, it pleased God that the next day, about nine o'clock, we descried the island of Trinidad ; and steering for the near- est part of it, we kept the shore till we came to Curiapan, where we found our ships at anchor ; than which there was never to us a more joyful sight." The weather-beaten travellers rested with great comfort at Curiapan, and loitered there, on board the good ships which had awaited them, for several weeks. Ralegh at first thought that, instead of sailing at once for England, he would make a voyage to Virginia, and seek for the colony which he had so long before tried to plant there. But the stormy weather at last compelled him reluc- tantly to give up this project ; and so it happened that Ralegh never saw any part of North America, which he had so ardently desired to settle and civilize. The homeward voyage was accomplished with little incident, and with no serious mishap. On the way, Ralegh stopped at several Spanish settle- ments, where he forced the people to furnish his ships with provisions ; for Queen Elizabeth had HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 1 37 commanded him to do the Spaniards all the injury he could, whenever and wherever he had the chance. It was a warm day in the latter part of August, 1595, when the ships at last came in sight of the familiar harbor of Plymouth. All on board were wild with joy, on espying the well-known features of the coast, with the reflection that, after all their perils and adventures and hardships, they were about to set foot on their native land once more. Ralegh thought of his sweet wife, awaiting him with beating heart in the luxurious solitude of Sherborne; and of the queen, who perhaps had forgotten the gallant voyager amid the splendid pleasures and incidents of the court. He won- dered what had been going on in England during his long and weary absence from home ; and was impatient that all the world should hear the thrill- ing nev/s of his explorations and discoveries. Anchoring in Plymouth harbor, he lost no time in hastening to Sherborne, where, it may well be believed, he met with a tearfully loving welcome. It seemed delightful to be resting once more in his great hall, and to wander leisurely through his um- brageous park ; to be once more attired in soft 138 RALEGH : raiment and gay colors ; to have his books and charts about him, and to greet the host of old friends who flocked to see him when they heard of his return. But, charming as it was to be with his young wife, and to enjoy again the ease and com- fort of Sherborne, it was not long before Ralegh became uneasy to visit London, to present him- self to the queen, and to make known at court the tidings of all he had seen and heard across the seas. Queen Elizabeth was now an old woman. She had reigned for nearly forty years ; her beauty had long before departed, and with the approach of age she had lost many of the graces and attractions for which she had been renowned in the earlier period of her sovereignty. She had become more and more capricious, irritable, and petulant in her ways at court ; and, strangely enough, she still craved flattery, and demanded the most slavish attentions from those whom she looked upon as her lovers. For Ralegh, however, she had long ceased to feel the liking which she had at one time shown ; and so when one day he made his ap- pearance, and approached her with all his old deference and elegance of bearing, she plainly HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 1 39 betrayed her indifference to him. She did, how- ever, so far acknowledge his great services as to create him a Knight ; so he was thenceforward known as Sir Walter Ralegh. The people in general were greatly excited, and rejoiced to hear of his success, and to know that Ralegh had won so important an advantage over the hated Spaniards in Guiana. His praises were in their mouths, and everywhere he went he was greeted as if he were a hero. But his old enemies at court did all they could to deprive him of the renown, as a voyager and discoverer, which was justly his due. Some of them eagerly sought to persuade the old queen that all that Ralegh narrated was a lie. They declared that he had never been across the Atlantic at all, but that while he pretended to have done so, he had really gone down to Cornwall, and had kept himself hid there all these months. They said that there was no such place as Guiana, and that Ralegh only desired to win fame for doing what he had never done. These slanders wounded the valiant voy- ager to the quick. He resolved that he would write a full account of his expedition, and publish it, so that all the world should know what he had 140 RALEGH : really accomplished. So he went down to Sher- borne, and shut himself up for several months ; and when he returned to London, he had finished his book, "The Discovery of Guiana," which was read throughout England with the deepest interest. Although Ralegh was now out of favor with the queen, and was therefore but seldom seen about the royal court, he was still one of the most conspicuous figures in London society. After completing his book, he entered with all his old zest into the pleasures and gayeties of the city, and found consolation for the neglect of the queen in the company of many of the most emi- nent men of the day. He was the friend of Lord Bacon, then in the height of his fame as a scholar and philosopher. Sir Robert Cecil, the son of the sage old Lord Burleigh, and one of the rising statesmen of the age, admired and honored the bold discoverer of Guiana; while even the proud and jealous Essex, who had supplanted Ralegh in the affections of the queen, and was still her ruling favorite, became one of his intimate companions, and for a while a warm friendship existed between the former rivals. HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. I4I Ralegh, a poet and scholar, was very fond of the drama ; and no cavalier of those days was more often seen at the theatres. He was present many a night at the Globe and Blackfriars theatres, where the plays of Shakspere were produced and were managed by the illustrious author himself, and saw Shakspere take the part of the ghost of Ham- let's father. Ralegh thus came to know all the leading dramatists and actors of the time. He was wont to pass evenings of revelry and brilliant wit at the Blue Boar, with Shakspere himself, and "rare Ben Jonson," and held his own with those bright geniuses in the sparkle of conversation which flashed about the heavy-laden tables of the cosy old inn. He told the story of his adventures across the seas, while the poets listened spell- bound to the thrilling narrative ; and it seems cer- tain that Shakspere made use of the accounts of Ralegh in some of his descriptions of strange countries and seas, in his "Tempest" and "Othello." Amid this round of social pleasures, Ralegh did not forget his great project to plant an English settlement in Guiana. Happily he was still a rich man, and could pursue his ambition without assist- ance from the old queen, who had become indiffer- 142 RALEGH : ent to discovery in America. He accordingly fitted out, early in the year after his return, an- other expedition for Guiana. He could not him- self go with it, for he foresaw that an event was about to happen which made his remaining at home necessary ; so he chose Captain Keymis, one of his comrades on the last voyage, to com- mand the new enterprise. Keymis reached the Orinoco in safety, and as- cended the stream, as the previous expedition had done. But what was his surprise and grief, on reaching the river Caroni, to find that the Span- iards under Berreo had arrived before him, and were encamped at the junction of the river! He had not sufficient force, unfortunately, to attack them, and was forced to divert his route, and pro- ceed another way up the Orinoco. He penetrated some distance further into the country than Ralegh had done, and made some valuable discoveries. Everywhere he went, he found that the Indians remembered Ralegh with affection, and that they were very anxious that the English should come in large numbers, and drive the hated Spaniards out ; for everywhere the Spaniards went, they robbed and killed the natives without mercy. HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. I43 When Keymis returned to England and made his report to Ralegh, the latter resolved that still another party should go out to Guiana. He fitted up another small vessel, which he placed under the command of Captain Leonard Berry. This expedition, however, did not achieve more than that of Keymis had done ; but it at least showed the Indians that Ralegh had not forgotten them. Meanwhile Ralegh's thoughts and time were absorbed by a bold military project, which had gradually ripened in the minds of English states- men and generals, and in which he burned with a desire to take a stirring part. This was a desperate attack on the Spanish port of Cadiz. England and Spain were still bitter foes. The defeat of the Armada, eight years before, had only fanned the flames of this hostility. King Philip, proud and warlike, had never become reconciled to the destruction of his splendid fleet in the British Channel. He yearned for revenge, and had for years devoted himself to the raising of another naval armament, with which to once more attack his obstinate enemy. This new fleet was now gathered in Cadiz harbor, and the purpose of the English was to assail, and if possible to destroy it. 144 RALEGH : They also intended to capture the rich and beauti- ful city of Cadiz itself, wherein they were sure to find a great deal of booty to bring away with them. Among those who were most eager to make this attack were the gallant Lord Howard of Effing- ham, who had commanded in the battle with the Armada, the Earl of Essex, Lord Bacon, and Ra- legh. The queen, who had grown timid in her old age, at first refused to listen to the plan ; but finally gave her reluctant consent. It was resolved that the English fleet should be commanded by Lord Howard and the Earl of Essex, the former direct- ing the movements of the ships, and the latter leading the land forces. With them, second in command, were to go Ralegh, and Thomas How- ard, the admiral's son. Ralegh at once set to work busily enlisting sailors and soldiers, and preparing for departure. In a few weeks the fleet was collected in Plym- outh harbor ; and a noble sight it was to see this forest of lordly vessels, newly fitted and painted, with their flags and pennons floating in the bril- liant June sunlight, their guns peeping grimly from the port-holes, and their decks crowded with gayly HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. I45 dressed soldiers, tough, bronzed sailors, and groups of officers with velvet cloaks and plumed hats. In all, the English fleet comprised seventeen men-of- war and seventy-six smaller craft, most of which were used for the transporting of the soldiers. There were, besides, a large number of pinnaces and other small boats, which were to follow the expedition. The fleet was divided into four squad- rons, one of five vessels, the other three of four vessels each ; and one of these squadrons was placed under Ralegh's command. A short time before the day appointed for the sailing of the expedition, a fine fleet of Dutch men- of-war made its appearance in the channel, and was greeted, as it drew slowly into the harbor, by a deafening shout of welcoming cheers. This Dutch fleet had come to join that of England in the attack upon Cadiz. It consisted of twenty-four vessels, and brought about twenty-five hundred Dutch soldiers, in quaint, prim uniforms, and with stout, sturdy frames. In all, the force of the com- bined squadrons consisted of about sixteen thou- sand soldiers and sailors. Ralegh, who had now gathered his quota of men, and had assumed the command of his squad- 146 RALEGH : ron, hailed with delight the order of Lord Howard that the armament should set sail. With swelling heart he gazed at the long line of stately vessels, as, four abreast, they slowly sailed out of the har- bor. The guns thundered forth a cheery farewell to old England ; the shouts from the decks were echoed by answering cries from the multitudes who, from the wharves, witnessed the departure ; and then Ralegh turned his gaze seaward, and gave himself up to the visions of the glory he hoped to reap from the dangerous venture on which he had embarked. HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. I47 CHAPTER X. SEA-FIGHTS WITH THE SPANIARDS. HE fleet arrived in sight of Cadiz about a fortnight after setting sail. On the voyage, Ralegh detached his squadron from the rest and sailed on ahead, in order to in- tercept any Spanish vessels which might be going to or coming from Cadiz. He scoured the sea off the Spanish coast, and took several prizes ; and then hastened to rejoin the fleet. When he came near the other vessels, he saw, to his surprise, that the soldiers were disembarking from them, and were taking boats to go on shore. He hastened on board the ship where the Earl of Essex was, and protested against landing the troops. With earnest eloquence he insisted that the Spanish fleet should be attacked and conquered before the town was assailed by the land forces. At first the Earl of Essex, who commanded the land forces, was impatient to begin by taking the 148 RALEGH : town. Ralegh, however, was determined. He hastened from Essex's ship to that of Lord Howard, the admiral, and persuaded him that the best way was to first fight the ships. Essex soon came to the same conclusion ; and anxious as he had been at the beginning for the land attack, he was now so glad that the fleet was to go into action first, that, taking his handsome plumed hat, he threw it into the water in his delight. The soldiers were ordered to return on board the ships from the boats, and Lord Howard gave the command to the squadrons to prepare for the conflict. The harbor of Cadiz was seen to be crowded with a perfect forest of stately men-of-war. There were many more ships than the attacking fleet contained. They were ranged in compact rows close to the shore, just beneath the towering and frowning castle of Cadiz ; and on either side they were protected by fortresses, whence heavy guns peeped forth to defend them. In all, there were nearly sixty large vessels, four of which were great galleons, which, with their lofty sides and enormous bulk, looked fairly invincible. Besides these, there were twenty galleys moored near by. Under cover of the dusk, on the evening of the HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 1 49 20th of June, 1 596, the British ships quietly and rapidly took" their position in line. To the gallant Ralegh, whose wise advice had decided the manner of attack, was given the honor of leading it. The ships of his squadron, therefore, assumed their places in the van of the fleet. His own flag-ship, the "Water-Sprite," floated in the very front of the entire array. Just behind were the " Mary Rose," commanded by Ralegh's cousin, Sir George Carew, and the "Rainbow," commanded by Sir Francis Vere. In the rear of these were the '* Lion," " Dreadnaught," and '* Nonpareil," — all sturdy men-of-war, full-armed, their occupants eager for the fray. ''With the first peep of day," writes Ralegh, describing the battle, " I weighed anchor, and bore down on the Spanish fleet, taking the start of all ours a good distance." It was not long before Ralegh's approach was observed from the Spanish fleet. Instantly a huge galleon, the '* Saint Philip," the largest in the Spanish navy, swung out of her position, followed by the " Saint Andrew," second only to the other in size. Ralegh thought that these sea-giants were coming to meet him. Instead of that, they sailed for a narrow strait in the harbor, 150 RALEGH: followed by the rest of the Spanish fleet, and cast anchor just under a great fortress, called Fort Puntal. There the big galleons and their sister ships ranged themselves in close array, and awaited the Englishman's attack. Ralegh, with the impetuous courage of his char- acter, bore straight down upon this formidable array. The sun's rays were just now streaming over the picturesque town, gilding its pinnacles and spires, and lighting up the whole scene in the harbor. The '' Water-Sprite," '' Mary Rose," and " Rainbow " led the attacking fleet, their streamers flying and their big sails flapping in the brisk morning breeze. As soon as Ralegh had come near enough to the " Saint Philip" and the " Saint Andrew," he ordered his cannon to open their throats. Then arose the dread din and confusion of naval conflict. To Ralegh's cannon answered those of the Spanish galleons and of Fort Puntal. Ralegh himself passed rapidly from point to point on deck, encouraging and urging on his men, and exposing himself as freely as the rest ; wherever there was faltering, there he appeared, and with burning words inspired the troops to their utmost exertion. HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. I51 Ralegh was anxious to fight his way on board the mighty ''Saint PhiHp." But he had been ordered not to do so until the fly-boats came up. He fought on desperately for three long hours, but the fly-boats did not arrive. Mean- while, the booming of the cannon, the clouds of smoke, the shouts and noise, were heard with im- patience by the rest of the English fleet in the rear. The Earl of Essex, burning with eagerness to take his part in the excitement and peril of the fray, at last found it impossible to lie idle any longer, and ordered his flag-ship to pass through the advance line of vessels, and make its way to the front. Ralegh soon found Essex close by his side; he was now chafing with rage because the fly- boats had not come. In spite of the peril, he jumped into a light skiff; and was rowed over to Essex's ship. He told Essex he would certainly board the •' Saint Philip," if the fly-boats did not soon arrive, even though it were against the admi- ral's orders. " For," said he to the Earl, ^' to burn or to sink is the same loss ; and I must endure one or other." "I will second you," answered the generous Essex, " upon my honor." 152 RALEGH : Ralegh hastened back with all speed to the " Water Sprite," where his men were fighting with desperate and leonine courage. No sooner had he mounted to the deck, however, than he perceived that two other vessels of his squadron, the " Rain- bow" and "Nonpareil," had forced themselves into a position in front of his own. Their commanders were eager to bear the peril and win the honors of the sea-fight. But Ralegh was not willing that this glory should be thus snatched from him ; so he ran the "Water Sprite" between the other two ships, and passing them, again took up his position in the van. Sir Francis Vere, the captain of the " Rainbow," was resolved, if possible, to keep to the front, as well as Ralegh ; so when he saw the "Water Sprite" pass him, he slyly caused a rope to be fastened to her side connecting with the " Rainbow," so as to keep the latter abreast of Ralegh's ship. " But," writes Ralegh, " some of my company advising me thereof, I caused the rope to be cast off, and so Vere fell back into his place. I guarded him, all but his very prow, from the sight of the enemy. I was very sure that none would outstart me again for that day." Ralegh now advanced in order to board the Ralegh ukgikg and encoukaging his Men. Page 150. HIS EXPLOITS AND VOVAGES. 1 53 ^' Saint Philip ; " for fortune had gone against the Spaniards, and the big galleons lay apparently helpless in the face of their valiant enemy, while the guns of the fort appeared to be silenced. The English commander had, indeed, almost clutched his splendid prize, when it escaped him. The Spaniards, finding that the "Saint Philip" and other galleons would certainly be captured, made haste to let slip, and to run the huge vessel and several of her sister ships aground on the strand. Then the order was hurriedly given to blow them up. The Spaniards preferred destroying their noble vessels to having them fall into EngHsh hands. Ralegh saw the Spanish sailors and sol- diers " tumbling out of the ships into the sea, in heaps, as thick as if coals had been poured out of a sack into many pots at once." Then he heard the deafening roar of the explosions, and the air was straightway filled with flying spars and sails, and shivered portions of the doomed galleons. The water in their vicinity was now alive with the struggling swarms of Spaniards, desperately trying to save themselves. ''The spectacle," says Ralegh, "was very lamen- table, for many drowned themselves ; many, half 154 RALEGH: burned, leaped into the water ; very many hung by the ropes' ends, by the ships' sides, under the water, even to the lips ; many swimming, with grievous wounds, struck under water, and were put out of their pain ; and, withal, so huge a fire and such tearing of the guns in the great ' Saint Philip ' and the rest, when the fire came to them, as, if any man had a desire to see hell itself, it was there most lively figured." Victory now perched on the banners of the Eng- lish ; and of all the gallant warriors of that day, Ralegh had been the most persistent, daring, and heroic. It only remained to gather the fruits of the triumph. Ralegh was quick to perceive that the " Saint Andrew," the largest of the galleons except the '' Saint Philip," still remained afloat, and hastened to board and capture her, which he did without difficulty. Another Spanish ship, the ** Saint Matthew," in like manner fell into his hands. These two were the only vessels, of all the Spanish fleet which had so proudly ridden in Cadiz harbor the night before, which had escaped the flames. In the moment of triumph, the victors were merciful. The English commanders gave orders that all lives should be spared. These HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. I 55 orders were rigidly obeyed by the English soldiers ; but the Dutch, whose hatred of the Spaniards was bitter and savage, cruelly slaughtered many of their hapless prisoners. In the later part of the battle, Ralegh himself had been severely wounded in the leg. But he had refused to leave the scene of action, or to give up the command of his ship. He was resolved that, in spite of his wound, he would go on shore with the troops, and witness the taking of the town of Cadiz. As he could not ride on horse- back, a litter was prepared for him, and upon this he was lowered into one of the boats, rowed ashore, and taken, on the shoulders of some of his faithful soldiers, to a point whence he could observe the brief but furious struggle which resulted in a second victory for the English. Cadiz was cap- tured and plundered, and although the lives of the people were spared, the castle, fortifications, and the greater part of the town itself, were burned or torn down. To this day, the marks of this mem- orable battle may be seen at Cadiz. There was nothing left to do but to collect the spoils, to put the Spanish prisoners on board the fleet, and to set sail atrain for EnMand. When the 156 RALEGH: fleet made its appearance again at Plymouth, it was received by the people with the wildest joy and enthusiasm. The news of the glorious victory had already arrived, and all England was ringing with praises of the valor and victory of its heroes. Spain had now, thanks to Ralegh and his com- rades, been stripped forever of her ability to injure her English rival ; England's power was supreme on the sea. Strangely enough, at the royal court alone the news was heard without joy, and the visitors were received without a cordial welcome. The avaricious old queen was angry because her share of the spoils taken from the Spaniards was not so great as she had fondly hoped; and her courtiers were jealous of the warlike renown which Ralegh and Essex had so bravely won. Ralegh was greeted as coldly as he had been before his departure with the fleet. He had long been de- prived of his office as captain of the Queen's Guard ; and even his bravery at Cadiz did not at once win it back for him. Nor did he receive any share of the rich spoils w^iich had been secured by his exertions and those of his comrades. "What the generals have got," he said, " I know least. For my own part, I have got a lame leg, and HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 1 5/ deformed. I have not wanted good words, and exceeding kind and regardful usage ; but I have possession of nought but poverty and pain." Not long after, however, the old queen was per- suaded by Sir Robert Cecil to invite Ralegh to come once more to court ; and so he and his wife, whom the queen had now forgiven, reappeared in the brilliant throng which gathered daily in the halls and corridors of the royal palace. Finally Elizabeth restored Ralegh to his old office of cap- tain of the guard ; and the next day he rode forth, in all the splendor of his uniform, at the queen's side. The Earl of Essex had ceased, for the while, to be jealous of his former rival, and the old days of power and prosperity seemed to have returned to the brave warrior and voyager. But the ambition of Ralegh, Essex, and other cavaliers, who had been so elated by their triumph at Cadiz, did not allow them to rest long idle amid the pleasures and indolence of court life. A year had not passed before they became restless to make new ventures for glory and spoils, and to attack once more England's mortal enemy, Spain. It was rumored that King Philip had not even yet given up his intention to avenge his many defeats, 158 RALEGH: and that he was preparing still another fleet with which to invade Ireland. Queen Elizabeth was anxious for peace and rest, but she was so much attached to Essex that he at last persuaded her to consent to a resumption of the war on the ocean. Essex lost no time in put- ting his design into execution. He at once fitted out a new fleet, of which he himself assumed the chief command. This fleet was divided into two squadrons ; over one Ralegh was placed, and over the other, Lord Thomas Howard. The sailing of the expedition was postponed for several weeks, owing to the tempests which prevailed. It finally set out early in July, 1597; but the storms still raged, and scarcely had the fleet got well out to sea before it encountered furious gales. "The storm so increased," wrote Ralegh after- wards, " and the billows were so raised and en- raged, that we could carry no sail. On Saturday night we made account to have yielded ourselves up to God." They were at last forced to put back to Plymouth, and there the ships lay idle a month. They then started forth afresh, only to be tossed about and separated by new tempests ; but the brave commanders were resolved to risk every HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 1 59 peril to achieve their purpose. After the squad- rons had lost sight of each other, and had long wandered the stormy seas in search of each other, they at last came together off the Azores, much to the delight of all on board. Ralegh and Essex fondly embraced, hastily recounted the adven- tures and perils each had had since parting, and then took counsel as to what course they should now pursue. It was suspected that a Spanish merchant fleet from the East Indies would soon pass the Azores on its way to Spain ; and Essex resolved to await it, and if possible to capture it. Meanwhile he would take some of the Azores islands, so that the Spanish ships might not find refuge in their har- bors. Accordingly he despatched Ralegh with his squadron to Fayal. Ralegh soon arrived in sight of the town. He gazed on it with surprise and admiration, for it was a handsome town, nestled picturesquely on the shore, and rising upon the hills behind. As the English ships approached, a great commotion was observed in the town. The 'streets soon filled with people, and Ralegh saw them pouring out upon the hills, and hastening with all their might into the country beyond. l6o RALEGFI : Ralegh cast anchor just outside the harbor, for he expected the other squairon to join him there, and aid him in the attack. Above the town loomed 2 formidable citadel, which seemed ready to defend the town to the last. After waiting for the other ships for three days, Ralegh's men became very eager to attack the town without them. They were suffering for want of fresh water, and the sight of the fair and pros- perous town, with its air of comfort and luxury, roused their cupidity and impatience to the highest point. Ralegh was unwilling to make the attack before Essex arrived ; but at last, giving up the hope that he would soon come, he satisfied his men by declaring that the town should be assailed the next day. The sun had not risen next morning, when the boats were lowered from the ships, and two hun- dred and sixty men had rapidly and quietly taken their places in them. In the foremost boat was Ralegh himself; for, whenever he commanded an attack, he always placed himself at the head of his soldiers, and shared the struggles and dangers of battle with them. The boats were swiftly rowed towards the shore. But before they could ap- HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. l6l proach it, their movements had been discovered ; and when they came near, they were overwhelmed with a tremendous volley from the frowning cit- adel. The men quailed beneath this attack ; one or two of the boats capsized ; and for a moment it seemed as if destruction awaited all of the rash assailants. In vain did Ralegh shout to his men, urging them to push forward ; several of the boats turned back, as if to fly in panic. Then Ralegh, to rally them, did a daring and desperate thing. He ordered his own oarsmen to run his boat straight among the rocks which lay in craggy masses along the shore, and cried out to the others to follow. The men, seeing their beloved com- mander in a position of such extreme danger, and his boat alone exposed to the storm of shot from the citadel, swung their boats around, and hastened to rejoin him. The boats soon came close together again, and made a bold push for the shore. Under the continuous fire of the citadel, they at last secured a landing. Ralegh marshalled his men on the shore, and was now rejoiced to see more boats coming ashore, bringing some Dutch troops who had come with him in his squadron. These, too, landed in safety; and now Ralegh found I 62 RALEGH: himself at the head of a little army of six hun- dred men. He at once gave the order to advance, and him- self marched forward at the head of his troops. Still the guns of the citadel rained a perfect tem- pest of shot upon them. Again and again the little band wavered beneath this continual assault. Once the men broke ranks in their distress and fright ; and now again Ralegh showed them a val- iant example. Taking with him a few picked men, he went forward to the bottom of the hill on which the greater part of the town was built. He thus became a mark for the shot of the enemy, which poured remorselessly upon him. Pretty soon Sir Arthur Gorges was wounded in the leg, and fell at Ralegh's side. Then the gallant leader himself was struck, and received several shots in his arm. This spectacle aroused the courage of the men, who rushed forward, and sturdily followed Ralegh up the hill. On entering the town, Ralegh was surprised to find that his approach was no longer resisted. The people had fled ; the soldiers in the citadel abandoned their guns ; and the English and Dutch occupied the town, and quartered them- selves in the deserted houses and gardens. There HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 163 they found provisions, fruits, and water in plenty, and spent the night in great ease and comfort. The next morning at sunrise, the squadron of the Earl of Essex appeared in the harbor. The Earl speedily landed, and as soon as he met Ralegh began to reproach him in angry tones for attacking the town before his arrival. Essex was jealous of the glory which Ralegh would reap from this heroic exploit. At first it seemed as if a bitter quarrel would ensue between the two commanders. But Ralegh earnestly defended himself, and persuaded Essex that his action had not been worthy of blame. Essex had now given up all hope of capturing the Spanish ships from the East Indies ; so, after burning the town of Fayal, he gave the order to the fleet to return towards England. The voyage back was prosperous ; and while the ships were home- ward bound, Ralegh took several Spanish galleons, and carried them along with him. Ralegh had thus, from first to last, been the real hero of the expedition. When the commanders reached Lon- don, and the old queen heard the story of their adventures, she bestowed all her smiles on Ralegh, and, to the surprise of all, bitterly upbraided her 64 RALEGH : old lover, Essex, for not capturing the East Indian fleet. Essex was angry and disappointed at this, and abruptly retired from court, leaving Ralegh once more in the sole enjoyment of the queen's favor. HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 1 65 mi CHAPTER XI. THE ESSEX CONSPIRACY. [UEEN ELIZABETH was now fast ap- proaching her seventieth year, and the end of her long reign. For fifty years she had swayed the destinies of England. That period had been full of brilliant exploits, of noble literary triumphs, and of stirring events. No court in Europe had shone so brilliantly with genius, bravery, beauty, the splendor of dress and the elegance of manners. Her reign had been illu- mined by a race of illustrious navigators and war- riors, like Drake, Frobisher, Hawkins, and Lord Howard of Effingham; by a glorious band of poets, like Shakspere, Ben Jonson, Spenser, and Marlowe ; by the greatest of English philosophers, Francis Bacon ; by courtiers and cavaliers of the renown of Leicester, Essex, Hatton, and Sir Philip Sidney ; and by statesmen of the rank of Lord Burleigh, Walsingham, Buckhurst, and Sir Robert 1 66 RALEGH : Cecil. In each of these various fields of fame, Sir Walter Ralegh had proved himself worthy of a place. He had been a navigator with Drake, a soldier with Howard, a poet with Shakspere and Spenser, a philosopher with Bacon, a courtier with Sidney, a statesman with Burleigh and Cecil. In the later years of Elizabeth's reign he was the most conspicuous and the most universally re- nowned of Englishmen. He had still many years to live, and many adventures and vicissitudes to meet. But already, at the age of nearly fifty, he had accomplished enough to establish his renown to all time. The queen, even in her old age, had the weak- ness to try to seem young, and to assume the light, frivolous airs of a court belle. She was exces- sively vain of her personal appearance, and used every artifice to conceal her baldness and her wrinkles, and to present to her court a youthful and coquettish aspect. At this time, she painted her face and neck, and wore a red wig. She appeared in low-necked dresses, and in her attire and orna- ments was as showy and splendid as she had been forty years before. Large pearls shone in her ears ; a glittering necklace clasped her wrinkled HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 167 throat ; a gown of white silk, sown with pearls, enveloped her long, gaunt figure ; and a black silk mantle, trimmed with silver lace, flowed from her bony shoulders to the ground. Her last years were troubled by many perplexi- ties and sorrows. Old as she was, she clung to the handsome and impulsive Earl of Essex with a fond and jealous affection. The Earl, however, could not always hide the disgust and annoyance to which her maudlin sentiment subjected him. He had returned from his expedition to the Azores with a heart full of bitterness ; and soon after, his anger was still further aroused by the promotion of his enemy, Lord Howard of Effingham, to the rank of an Earl. Essex often became very violent in the councils of state, over which the queen pre- sided ; and on one occasion treated the queen with such open disrespect that he was dismissed in deep disgrace. He had been urging her to make a certain appointment. She became petulant, and would not listen to him. He was so angry at this that he turned his back upon her. Elizabeth turned fiercely on her favorite, and gave him a sharp box on the ear ; at the same time pointing to the door, and screeching out, in a shrill voice, l68 RALEGH : " Go, sir, and be hanged." Essex started up, and grasped his sword, and ior a moment the aston- ished courtiers thought he would actually draw it upon his sovereign. It was long before the queen forgot or forgave this arrogant insult. For a short while after Essex and Ralegh had returned from the Azores, they had kept up an appearance of friendship. Essex had visited Ra- legh in his house on the Strand, and had declared him to be the most delightful companion he had ever met. Ralegh had taken care to treat Essex with the greatest respect. But the old quarrel between them soon broke out afresh, and was des- tined to continue to the day of Essex's unhappy end. Ralegh became closely allied with Sir Rob- ert Cecil, whose wise old father, Lord Burleigh, had recently died ; and together they seemed to have resolved upon the ruin of Essex. Unhappily the queen's impulsive favorite laid himself open again and again to the assaults of his enemies. Essex was sent to Ireland to quell the rebellion aroused by the valiant Irish chieftain, Hugh O'Neil. There he so conducted himself as to bring down upon him once more Elizabeth's wrath. She exclaimed, " I am no queen. That HIS EXPLOITS AND VOVAGES. 169 man sets himself above me." Essex was even arrested, several profitable offices were taken from him, and he perceived that Ralegh had become one of his most active enemies. It was while these quarrels were at their bitter- est, that, on the occasion of the queen's birthday, a great tournament was held in her presence in the tilt-yard at Westminster. The court gathered in all its fine array of silks, feathers, and jewels, to witness the contest. Of all the knights who ap- peared in the arena, Ralegh was the most noticed for the splendor of his armor and ornaments. The very shoes upon his feet were so lavishly decorated with jewels, that they were said to have cost six thousand pounds. His sword and belt fairly glit- tered with large gems. Chains of gold fell from his neck on the highly-burnished breastplate. On one arm he wore conspicuously a long ribbon, which the queen had coquettishly given him as a reward of his devotion. When Essex, also gayly accoutred, entered the tilt-yard, and saw his enemy so much more gor- geously arrayed than himself, he became very jealous, and resolved that, at the next tournament, he would not only outdo Ralegh in magnificence 1^0 RALEGH : of dress, but that he would try to kill him in the contest. It was not long before another tournament was held. Essex learned that Ralegh intended to ap- pear in it with still greater splendor than before, accompanied by a company of young nobles, all of whom were to wear orange-colored feathers in their caps. So he made haste to assemble a much larger company of his friends, and caused them to wear feathers exactly like those of Ralegh's party. Essex dressed himself in a complete suit of orange, and entered the tilt-yard at the head of his adhe- rents. They soon mingled and became confused with Ralegh's train, and the whole company of knights were thus supposed to be commanded by Essex. This plan of mixing up the two companies succeeded in spoiling the sport of the day, and snatched from Ralegh the triumph of appearing in the greater splendor. The fiery and ambitious spirit of Essex could not rest contented beneath the slights of the queen, and the favor with which his enemies, Ralegh and Cecil, were in these days received at court. Despairing of regaining his influence over Elizabeth, he made up his mind to enter into a HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. I/I desperate plot to seize on power by force. He had still many brave and powerful friends, who were devoted to his fortunes, and who would o-o to any length to serve him. There were nobles and courtiers, too, who had been ill-treated by the queen and her advisers, and who were ripe for a conspiracy. He called together a small number of these at his house in London, and locking and barring his doors, and sitting in their midst in the dead of night, he unfolded his plot to them. He proposed no less treasonable a design than to seize Queen Elizabeth herself, to hold her a prisoner, and to exercise the royal power in her name. He declared that the common people of London were bound to him by ties of affection, and would help to crown the plot with success. It needed but a small band of brave, devoted cav- aliers, he said, to invade the palace, take possession of the queen, throw Ralegh and Cecil into the Tower, and assume the reins of government. The cavaliers eagerly assented to the plot, and on parting, agreed to meet on the next night. Mean- while Essex took means to protect the conspiracy from discovery. He caused his house to be care- fully guarded, and remained within doors, lest he 1/2 RALEGH : should be arrested. Among his fellow-conspirators were some of the most celebrated courtiers and soldiers of the day. Sir Ferdinand Gorges, Sir Christopher Blount, the Earl of Southampton (a friend and patron of Shakspere), and the Earl of Rutland, were among the number. At last the day on which the plot was to be carried out was fixed ; it was Sunday, the 8th of February, 1601. The evening before, Essex sum- moned all his adherents to assemble at his house ; and they came stealthily and quietly, until the house and court-yard were full of conspirators, armed to the teeth. Ralegh had now heard a report that Essex intended to head a rising ; and on Sunday morning, he sent a message to Sir Ferdinand Gor- ges, at Essex's house, asking him to come at once to his own house in the Strand. Sir Ferdinand was an old friend and comrade of Ralegh's, and the latter was anxious to detach him from the con- spiracy. The conspirator replied that he would meet Ralegh, not at his house, but in a boat on the Thames. Ralegh accordingly set out in a boat from the bottom of his garden, which bordered on the river. He was quite alone. Presently the boat containing Gorges, attended by two cavaliers, drew HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 1 73 near. The interview between the two old friends was short and sharp. " I implore you," said Ralegh, " to leave Essex, and hasten out of town, or you will be arrested and thrown into the prison of the Fleet." " It is too late," replied Gorges. " You will soon know why. I have pledged myself, and can- not withdraw." "What are you pledged to do?" asked Ralegh, anxiously. " There are two thousand cavaliers," retorted Gorges, " who are resolved to die this very day, or to live as free men." Ralegh parted from his old friend with a sigh, and hastened back to take his part in defending the queen from the attack which was about to be made upon her. He had not gone far in his boat, however, when several shots whizzed by him. Turning around, Ralegh perceived another boat at a little distance away, which was occupied by sev- eral cavaliers. One, whom he recognized as Sir Christopher Blount, an adherent of Essex, was standing up in the bow, and aiming his gun at Ralegh. The latter hastened away, barely escap- ing the shots of his enemy. It appeared that 1/4 RALEGH: when Blount heard that Ralegh was going to meet Gorges on the river, he resolved to kill him, and it ivas only by a narrow chance that his murderous purpose was foiled. While these events were going on, the conspira- tors at Essex's house had gathered in the court- yard, and were getting ready to issue forth on their rash venture. Just as they were about to set out, four of the queen's councillors made their appearance at the gate, and demanded admittance. No sooner had they entered, and inquired the cause of the gathering, than Essex ordered them to be arrested and kept as prisoners in his house. Then, putting himself at the head of his com- pany, he rode boldly out into the London streets, shouting to the people, " For the queen ! My life is in danger ! " But the citizens, upon whose devotion to him Essex had relied, only stared at him and his caval- cade with astonished and curious eyes. They manifested no disposition to follow him and aid him in his design. Their indifference dampened his spirits at the outset. He kept on, however, in the direction of the " city," still shouting, wav- ing his sword, and followed by his friends. At HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 1 75 the same moment, Lord Burleigh had entered the " city," and proclaimed Essex a traitor ; and Lord Nottingham — as Lord Howard of Efifingham was now called — was advancing rapidly upon the conspirators with a formidable body of troops. Ralegh, meanwhile, was posted, at the head of the Royal Guard, in the palace, so as to protect the person of the queen. When Essex heard of Lord Nottingham's ap- proach, he saw that his plot had failed. He could not, as he had hoped, seize the palace and the queen by surprise ; nor could he for a moment cope with Lord Nottingham's troops. It now only remained to return — if indeed it was not too late to return — to his house again. With trembling voice, he gave the order to his followers to turn their horses' heads. They soon came to one of the gates of St. Paul's church, where Essex perceiv id, to his chagrin, that his way was barred by a huge chain stretched across the street. Here, too, was stationed a troop of the queen's soldiers, armed with guns and pikes. These set upon the conspirators, and Essex was soon overwhelmed with grief to see a young cav- alier, who was a dear friend of his, fall dead by his 176 RALEGH: side. His own hat was shot from his head, and several of the cavaUers were hurled from their saddles. Essex and his comrades then galloped off towards the Thames, which they reached in safety ; there they took boats, and were soon landed at. Essex's house. The Earl, finding himself com- pletely foiled, made haste to release the councillors whom he had ordered to be imprisoned, in the hope that he might thus appease the queen's wrath ; but at the same time he and his friends set to work fortifying the house as best they could. Then Essex burned all his papers, saying that at least " they should tell no tales." It was not long before the conspirators found themselves assailed by the royal troops. Lord Nottingham, with his force, and Ralegh, with the Royal Guard, surrounded the house on every side, so that no man should escaoe. Essex soon per- ceived that he could not long hold out against his besiegers, for they numbered very many more than his adherents. At ten o'clock at night, he surren- dered to Lord Nottingham. It was a stormy, dreary night, and the baffled conspirators, closely guarded, were taken to and lodged in Lambeth Palace. HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 1 7/ The next day, they all found a gloomy abode in the Tower of London, the grim jail which had held so many royal and noble prisoners. Eleven days after their arrest, Essex and the Earl of Southampton were arraigned before the House of Lords on the charge of high treason. The scene was a memorable one ; for many of the most famous men in England witnessed the trial of him who had been so long the queen's beloved favorite, and who had won the affection of a mul- titude of friends by his courage and generosity of heart. Among his accusers was Francis Bacon, whom Essex had loaded with favors, and who was indebted to Essex for his rapid rise at the bar ; and this ingratitude seemed to affect Essex more than the prospect of his conviction and execution. Ralegh appeared at the trial as captain of the Guard, and gave witness of his interview with Gor- ges. Otherwise he did not take an active part in the trial of Essex, who had become his bitter enemy. Essex was found guilty, and was condemned by the Lords to be beheaded. It was only with a cruel pang that the old queen could bring herself to sign the death-warrant of one who had long been so dear to her ; and she never recovered I/S RALEGH : from the shock of this act for the rest of her Hfe. Six days after his arraignment, the Earl of Essex was brought out of the Tower, and executed in the presence of an immense multitude. He was, after all, greatly loved by the people, and as the fatal axe fell, a great groan rose from the crowd. Of the other leading conspirators, Southampton alone was spared. He was condemned to impris- onment in the Tower. Sir Christopher Blount and two other cavaliers were beheaded a few days after the death of Essex. Ralegh, at the head of the Guards, stood near the scaffold on this occasion. Blount had once been his warm friend, and had then turned against him with intense hostility. When Blount mounted the scaffold, he looked around and asked, " Is Sir Walter Ralegh here ? " Ralegh stepped forward, and confronted the doomed knight. " Sir Walter," said Blount, in an agitated voice, " I thank God you are present. I had an infinite desire to speak with you ; to ask your forgiveness ere I died. Both for the wrong done you, and my particular ill intent towards you, I beseech you forgive me." HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. I /Q Ralegh warmly grasped his hand, and replied, — " I most willingly forgive you, and I beseech God to forgive you, and to give you his divine comfort." He then turned to the multitude, and added, in tones of emotion, " I protest before God that whatever Sir Christopher Blount meant towards me, I for my part never bore him any ill intent." He then embraced his unhappy enemy, and in another moment Blount had ceased to live. After the death of Essex and his comrades, Ralegh went to the island of Jersey, over which he had some time before been appointed governor. He spent several weeks in fortifying the island, and introduced some reforms into its government. Then he returned to London. He had been a member of Parliament for some years, but had hitherto taken only an occasional part in its pro- ceedings, having been very busy with other affairs. He now attended the sessions, and made many speeches on public questions, taking, in all of them, the side of the liberties of the people. He acquired a high reputation as an orator, and soon won a position of marked influence in the House of Commons. l8o RALEGH : Though Essex and almost all his old enemies were dead, Ralegh seems never to have fully re- gained the favor of Queen Elizabeth. He went to court, but the queen seldom consulted him on affairs of state. Sometimes he attended her in her progresses, but never as a favored cavalier. Yet the queen valued his services, for they were vigilant and faithful. When, wearied for the while of public life and the turmoil of the court, Ralegh escaped from London, and went down to his beauti- ful retreat at Sherborne, he plunged into all the pleasures of the country side with youthful ardor, and fairly revelled in the happiness of domestic life. He now had a bright young son, whom he had named Walter, and who was rapidly growing into manhood. With this lad he roamed the parks and forests, relating his adventures, and teaching the boy those lessons of worldly wisdom, which he himself had learned from a stormy and checkered experience. Queen Elizabeth survived her old lover, Essex, just two years. His death filled her with grief, and remorse preyed upon her for signing his death- warrant. From that unhappy day her mind and body began to fail. She ceased to like the show HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 151 and splendor of former days, and grew more and more petulant and morose. To drive away her dismal thoughts, she still kept up her old custom of going to the hunt : and so haughty was her spirit, that even when ill she would refuse to go to bed, or to receive the ministrations of her doctors. At last she grew too feeble to sit up, or walk about the room. She lay all day on some cushions on the floor of her bed-room, fully attired, and still insisted on performing the business of the state. One day, however, it was remarked with alarm that her tongue refused to serve her, and that she could not move her limbs. She lay for some time in this state ; and then, with a soft sigh, breathed her last. With all her faults and weaknesses, Elizabeth was in many respects a great and wise sovereign. She ruled, in the earlier years of her reign, with an iron will, and a clear, strong intellect. She so increased the power of England that she left it far greater than she had found it. She had worn the crown for half a century, and it passed with a brighter lustre than it had when she received it, to her successor. 152 RALEGH : CHAPTER XII. RALEGH CHARGED WITH TREASON. HE new sovereign of England was the Scottish King James, the son of Mary Queen of Scots. He was a second cousin of the dead EHzabeth, and was the first monarch of the house of Stuart. About thirty- seven years of age when he succeeded to the Eng- lish throne, and thus united both the crowns of the British isle, James was a well-read man, fond of learning, shrewd, and ambitious. He was also cowardly and timid and narrow-minded. In mor- als his life was unstained. His favorite pastime was the peculiarly British sport of hunting. In personal appearance, James was very plain. His movements were extremely awkward ; his walk was ungainly, and his voice thick and husky. When he first arrived in England, he greatly amused the court by his broad Scotch brogue. King James had lofty notions of the royal HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 1 83 powers, and was always jealous of his Parliament. On the other hand, he rarely used his authority like a tyrant. He was always more prone to mercy than to severity. A striking instance of this will be seen as this story progresses. When the courtiers learned that the new king was on his way from Edinburgh to London, they hastened, with brilliant retinues, to meet and greet their new master on his way. As he advanced southward, James met everywhere with a hospita- ble welcome, which surprised and delighted him ; for he had been very doubtful how the English would receive him. He knew that there were many Englishmen who preferred other claimants to the throne to himself, and that there was much dissatisfaction that he, a foreigner and a stranger, should assume the sceptre of Elizabeth. His fears, however, were soon dispelled. He was entertained each night at some lordly castle or capacious manor-house, and flattered and feasted to his heart's content. Soon the most distinguished statesmen and courtiers, with long trains of liv- eried attendants, began to flock about him. Cecil, Elizabeth's chief councillor. Lord Nottingham, the admiral, Popham, the chief justice, and many 184 Ralegh: others, ourneyed far to assure the new monarch of their allegiance and loyal devotion. Ralegh was still captain of the Royal Guard. In this capacity, it was his duty to go and meet the king. He accordingly set out with his retinue ; and on reaching Burghley, he encountered the royal party coming southward. Ralegh lost no time in making his obeisances, with the rest, to James. As soon, however, as he entered the royal presence, he was surprised and chagrined to find that the king heard his name with a frown. James greeted him haughtily, and said, making a joke upon his name, — "By my soul, man, I have heard but rawly of thee." Ralegh did not remain long in the royal com- pany. The king continued to treat him with coldness and disdain, and he saw that he could gain nothing by staying. He soon found out the cause of this singular treatment. Years before, his enemy, the Earl of Essex, in writing to James, had taken care to fill his mind with the most intense prejudices against Ralegh ; another enemy, Lord Henry Howard, had lately still further biased James's mind against him. The king had never HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 1 85 forgotten Essex's bitter accusations. It was not long before Ralegh received yet more marked evi- dences of the new king's dislike. One of the first of James's acts was to deprive him of the cap- taincy of the Guard, and to give the office to a Scottish favorite. Then Ralegh was removed from his office of Governor of Jersey. Then his fine house in London, Durham House, was taken from him and presented to a bishop. This was, however, but the beginning of Ra- legh's misfortunes and miseries at the hands of King James and his government. Not many weeks elapsed before he found himself not only stripped of all his posts, and of a large portion of his property, but actually put in peril of his life. It appears that, some time before the death of Elizabeth, various plots had been organized in op- position to James's accession, and in favor of other claimants to the throne. Among these claimants, the most conspicuous was the fair Arabella Stuart, whom, as we have seen, Ralegh had met and ad- mired for her girlish beauty and brightness years before at Lord Burleigh's house. Arabella was a great-granddaughter of Margaret Tudor, a sister of Henry VIII., just as James was her great I 86 RALEGH: grandson. Besides, Arabella was the wife of Wiliam Seymour, who was the great grandson of Mary Tudor, another sister of Henry VIII. Many of the English desired Arabella to succeed Eliza- beth, because she was a native English woman, whereas James, as a Scotchman, was regarded as a foreigner. Even after James peacefully ascended the throne, plots were being conceived against his rule and his person. One of these plots was started by Wat- son, a Catholic priest, who was enraged because James had not made certain concessions to the Catholics. It was the purpose of Watson and his confederates to seize James and imprison him, and force him to make them pledges that he would give the Catholics greater liberties. In this con- spiracy were some of the most eminent men in England, not only Catholics, but Protestants also. The chief conspirators, besides Watson, were George Brooke, a brother of Lord Cobham, Sir Griffin Markham, and a gallant and generous- hearted nobleman of ancient lineage, Lord Grey de Wilton. The conspiracy was discovered before it could ripen into action. The confederates in vain fled HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. iS/ from the capital. They were taken, one after an- other, and thrown into the Tower of London. On their being brought to trial, which was very soon after their arrest, their examination brought to light still another and yet more formidable plot. This was no less than to dethrone King James, and to place Arabella Stuart on the throne in his stead. The chief of this last plot was found to be Lord Cobham, the brother of George Brooke, one of the fellow-conspirators of Watson. Cobham was a weak and vacillating man, of uncertain purpose and duplicity of mind. In order to bring his plot to a successful issue, he had entered into some negotiations with Spain, from whose king he hoped to procure a large sum of money to aid his pur- pose. Cobham had been for some time an inti- mate friend of Ralegh, and it was this fact which involved Ralegh in the misfortunes which were speedily to ensue upon the discovery of Cobham's plot. One midsummer morning, Ralegh, attired in his resplendent court dress, was leisurely pacing up and down the broad terrace of Windsor Castle. Although he was still disliked and neglected by I 88 RALEGH: King James, he remained at the royal court, and formed one of the throng of cavahers who sur- rounded the royal person. He was now waiting for the king to emerge from the Castle. James was going on a hunt in Windsor Forest, and Ralegh intended to accompany him. As he walked up and down the terrace, his eyes wandered over the beautiful, luxuriant landscape before him. The hills, forests, and avenues were clothed in their greenest midsummer glory. Below, the Thames flowed in graceful windings beneath the overhanging trees. The towers of Eton peeped above the groves beyond. The great forest on the other side of the Castle stretched out before him as far as glance could reach. The cavalier's heart must have beat high as he looked upon a scene which his love of nature doubtless revelled in. He had no thought of any sudden misfortune. He had been ill-treated, but the future, at least, seemed cloudless and serene before him. As he walked in smiling reverie, Sir Robert Cecil, who was James's chief adviser, as he had been Elizabeth's, came upon the terrace, and ad- vanced to Ralegh with knitted brow. " Sir Walter," said he, in a stern voice, " you are HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 1 89 bidden not to go to the royal hunt to-day. You are commanded to repair to the lords of the king's councils. They have some serious questions to ask you." Ralegh, for a moment, was speechless with amazement. He demanded of Cecil what the lords of the council desired of him. " The plot of Lord Cobham against the king is discovered," returned Cecil, '* and you are sus- pected of being concerned in it." With beating heart Ralegh hastened to present himself before the council. He was received with lowering looks and cold, repelling manners. He protested with all the earnestness he could com- mand that he was wholly ignorant of any plot to dethrone the king. He was then disdainfully dis- missed. A day or two afterwards, he wrote to the council that he had seen Cobham go to the house of the Spanish ambassador, and that he suspected Cob- ham of secret dealings with that personage. Cobham, who had been thrown into the Tower, soon heard of what Ralegh had said. Overcome with anger against his old friend, he at once de- clared that Ralegh had instigated him to plot 190 RALEGH : against the king. Upon this Ralegh was arrested on a charge of high treason, and was torn from his family and imprisoned in the Tower. He saw that he was in a situation of great peril. The king had ahvays disliked him, and would probably show him no mercy. His old friend Cecil was too careful of his own fortunes to defend him. Cobham had solemnly sworn that Ralegh was the chief conspirator. The judges who would try him were devoted to the king's interests. Ra- legh saw before him at last certain poverty and disgrace. It might be that he was standing in the face of death. And now he was each day brought before com- missioners, who severely questioned and cross- questioned him as to the plot. Cobham again and again repeated his charges. At last poor Ralegh became desperate. He felt that the only way in which he could preserve his wife and children, whom he most tenderly loved, from beggary and dishonor, was to destroy himself. Accordingly one day as he sat in his dark, gloomy cell, in a sudden fit of frenzy he seized his dagger, and plunged it into his breast. Fortu- nately, as he lay bleeding and fainting on his HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. I9I couch, a warden of the Tower entered the cell. Physicians were soon called ; the wound was ban- daged up ; Ralegh was strictly watched ; and thus d life so precious to England was with difficulty saved ; but saved, alas ! for a still sadder end than that which he had designed. Reflection caused Ralegh to repent bitterly this attempt upon his life. He now turned his thoughts to meeting and refuting the charge which had been brought against him ; for he was certain to be tried for treason. The only evidence which could secure his condemnation was the assertion of Lord Cob- ham. It so happened that Cobham was confined in a cell near Ralegh's in the Tower. It seemed to Ralegh that, as Cobham was an irresolute man, and had had a great affection for him in former days, he might be induced to retract his false accusation. But how could he find means to communicate with Cobham .? Although their cells were close together, the two prisoners were never allowed to meet and speak to each other. They were taken out for their daily walks at differ- ent times, and, aside from these daily walks, they were strictly guarded in their cells. Ralegh had a faithful attendant in the person of 192 RALEGH : a youth named Cotercll. He knew that he could rely on Coterell's fidelity and shrewrhiess. He therefore one day lo:"nied a scheme for communi- cating with Cobham, with Colerell's aid. Taking an apple which had been served to him for dinner, he tied a small note to it. This he gave to Cot- erell, with instructions to throw it into the window of Cobham's cell when the wardens were out of the way. Coterell performed his task so adroitly that Cobham received the note without detection. The note implored Cobham to retract his charge that Ralegh was concerned in the plot to place Arabella Stuart on the throne. Cobham, with a sudden generous impulse, at once wrote a reply, which he thrust under the door of the cell. Coterell, who had been impatiently awaiting Cobham's response, hurriedly grasped the note, and hastened to Ralegh. The prisoner opened it with trembling fingers, and read as follows : — " I never had any conference with you in any treason ; nor was I ever moved by you to the things I heretofore accused you of. And, for any- thing I know, you are as innocent and as clear from any treason against the king as is any subject HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. I93 living. God so deal with me, and have mercy on my soul, as this is true." Ralegh read this confession with a thrill of joy. He felt sure that Cobham's letter would restore him to family, liberty, and honor. It took away all the evidence against him. What was his chagrin when, a few days after, he learned that Cobham had once more charged him with treason, and boldly repudiated the note of confession he had written to him ! It now only remained for Ralegh to put faith in his own ability to repel the charge so boldly repeated, and to rely upon his own inno- cence to defend him in the face of his accusers. He knew that the king was hostile towards him, and that his many enemies would strain every nerve to secure his condemnation. But he sus- tained from this time, in the face of his bitter mis- fortunes, a hopeful, resolute, and dauntless spirit. The time for Ralegh's trial was fixed for late in the autumn. Meanwhile, through the long sum- mer, he remained solitary in his dark little cell in the Tower. It was only at rare intervals that he was permitted to clasp to his breast his devoted and loving wife and his pretty children. But he had the great consolation which, throughout his life, he 194 RALEGH ; had derived from books, and from writing his nar- ratives and essays ; and thus the days sped swiftly, until the time came when he was to be brought before his judges. It happened that the plague had spread through London, and was now raging everywhere through the city. The court, and all the well-to-do people, had fled at its approach, and the city was well nigh deserted. The scene of Ralegh's trial was therefore transferred to the ancient town of Win- chester, in south-western England. The coming of this event was looked forward to with much curiosity and excitement, not alone at the royal court, but among the people throughout England ; for Ralegh was a very famous man, and the entire country was interested in his fate. HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. I95 CHAPTER XIII. TRIED FOR HIS LIFE. N a gloomy morning in November, 1603, the spires and towers of the old city of Winchester were shrouded in fog and mist. But, dismal as was the weather, the quaint, crooked streets were early filled with an unwonted crowd. It was evident that something very unusual was about to take place ; for the greater part of the multitudes which thronged the thoroughfares consisted of strangers to the town. Cavalcades of richly dressed gentlemen and attendants in livery, troops of horse and foot, groups of lawyers in their crimson costumes, and now and then the retinue of a solemn-looking judge, passed and repassed before the curious eyes of the inhabitants, who deserted house and shop to witness the un- familiar scenes which presented themselves in their ordinarily tranquil streets. At one end of the town rose the ancient towers 196 RALEGH : of a lofty castle ; and it was in the direction of this castle that the tide of the new-comers steadily flowed. Within its court-yard troops of soldiers were drawn up, while about the doors stood sher- iffs, marshals, and other officials of the law. Ever and anon the soldiers saluted a party as it entered the castle portals, — a party consisting of one of the judges in his long, flowing gown, and the offi- cers whose duty it was to escort him. In the great hall of the castle, a high bench, above which hung a rich canopy surmounted by the royal arms of England, had been erected ; and below this were other benches, ranged in rows, some parallel, and others at right angles with each other. The hall, in short, had been converted into a court of justice. The various actors of the drama which was about to ensue were already beginning to take their appointed places. The lawyers had come in, and were busy with their books and papers. The tipstaffs were ushering the specta- tors, many of whom were eminent statesmen and nobles of high rank, to the benches set apart for them ; while the clerks were hurridly preparing to take notes of the proceedings. Presently a sheriff commanded quiet, and an- HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. I97 nounced that the judges were about to make their entrance. Preceded by a procession of officials bearing long rods, the grave men who were to pre- side filed in slowly, with solemn countenances, their persons enveloped in long gowns. These judges were all men of note. Among them might be seen the crooked figure and sallow, serious face of Sir Robert Cecil, the king's chief adviser ; the tall form and bronzed features of Thomas Howard, Earl of Suffolk ; the Earl of Devonshire ; the two chief justices, Popham and Anderson ; and the courtly Sir John Stanhope. Never had the halls of Wolvesey Castle — which was the name of the edifice — beheld so brilliant a galaxy of famous and powerful personages. Just below the judges' bench, a "man of sharp, hard features, with keen eyes, and a firm, thin mouth, promptly took his place. This was Sir Edward Coke, the attorney-general, whose duty it was to conduct the prosecution, and who had grimly resolved that he would strain every nerve to win the decision of the court. Just opposite Coke sat the twelve men who were, as the jury, to decide on the prisoner's guilt or innocence. The judges now ordered the sheriffs to bring in 198 RALEGH : the prisoner. There was a period of deathlike stillness. All eyes were strained towards the door at which the prisoner would enter. Then there was a stir outside, and the sound of heavy foot- steps. The door was flung wide Open, and Sir Walter Ralegh, led by two officers, appeared ad- vancing through the crowded hall. His handsome face was pale, and his expression mournful ; but he held his head proudly in the air, and his step was firm and resolute, as he entered the box which had been placed for him. He was charged with high treason against the king, and the moment of his trial for that crime had at last arrived. All eyes turned upon him as, after a low bow to the bench of judges, he took his seat ; he answered the look by glancing deliberately around with a calm and confident visage. Then the spectators preserved perfect silence, as the voice of one of the sergeants was heard reading, in clear, rapid tones, the indict- ment which contained the charges against the prisoner. No sooner had he finished,, than one of the clerks, looking at Ralegh, said, — "What say you, Sir Walter Ralegh, are you guilty or not guilty ^ " " Not guilty," replied Ralegh, in a prompt, loud voice. HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 1 99 "Do you desire to challenge any of the jury ? " *' I know none of them," said Ralegh, looking at the jury-box, "but think them all honest and Christian men. I know my own innocence, and therefore will challenge none." It was now time for Sir Edward Coke, the attor- ney-general, to make his address against the pris- oner ; and as he began in harsh, bitter tones to inveigh against what he declared to be Ralegh's treasonable acts, the crowded hall hung breath- lessly upon his lips. So violent were his attacks that Ralegh again and again sprang to his feet, and hurled back his insults with flushed face and angry tones ; and the scene became more and more ex- citing as the wrath of the two men waxed to greater intensity. The attorney-general did not hesitate to overwhelm the prisoner with odious epithets, each of which stung Ralegh into a hotly indignant retort. "You are the most notorious traitor," said Coke, shaking his finger violently, ''that ever came to the bar." "Your words cannot condemn me," was the reply; " my innocence is my defence." " Nay," returned Coke, " I will" prove all. Thou 200 RALEGH : art a monster ; thou hast an EngHsh face, but a Spanish heart. All Cobham did was at thy insti- gation, thou viper. I will prove thee the rankest traitor in all England." " No, no, master attorney," said Ralegh, " I am no traitor. Whether I live or die, I shall stand as true a subject as ever the king hath." Finally Ralegh insisted on replying to some of Coke's charges. Rising in his seat, and sweeping the intently listening throng with a rapid glance, he launched forth into a speech so earnest and eloquent that every heart was thrilled by it. He showed that he did not know of Cobham's plot, and had no share in it ; and explained why Cobham had made his false accusations against him. And he went on thus : " It is very strange that I should be thought to plot with Lord Cobham, knowing him to be a man that hath neither love nor following. I was not so bare of sense but I saw that, if ever this state was strong, it was now that we have the kingdom of Scotland united, whence we were wont to fear all our troubles ; Ireland quieted, where our forces were wont to be divided ; and instead of a lady whom time had surprised, we had now an active HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 201 king, who would be present at his own business. For me, at this time, to make myself a Robin Hood, a Watt Tyler, or a Jack Cade, I was not so mad ! I knew the King of Spain well ; his weak- ness, his poorness, his humbleness, at this time. I knew that six times we had repulsed his forces ; thrice at sea, — once upon our coast, and twice upon his own. Thrice had I served against him myself at sea, wherein, for my country's sake, I had ex- pended, of my own property, forty thousand pounds. I knew that where, beforetime, he was wont to have forty great sail, at least, in his ports, now he hath not past six or seven. I knew that of twenty- five millions which he had from the Indies, he had scarcely any left. Nay, I knew his poorness to be such at this time, that the Jesuits, his imps, begged at his church doors. And to show that I am not Spanish, as you term me, at this time I had written a treatise to the king on the state of Spain, and reasons against making peace." As Ralegh, growing more and more earnest, went on, murmurs of approval and admiration buzzed through the hall. His erect figure, his handsome face, now flushed with animation, his flashing bright eye, his musical voice trembling 202 RALEGH : with emotion, heightened the powerful effect pro- duced by his glowing words. After showing how absurd the charge against him was, Ralegh turned suddenly to the bench of judges, and said : — " My lords, I claim to have my accuser brought here, to speak face to face. The law saith that no man shall be condemned of treason, unless he be accused by two lawful accusers. If you condemn me by bare inferences, without an oath, without witnesses, you try me by Spanish inquisition. If my accuser were dead, or abroad, it were some- thing ; but he liveth, and is in this very house. Consider, it is no rare case for a man to be falsely accused, aye, and falsely condemned, too. I be- seech you, then, my lords, let Cobham be sent for ; let him be charged, upon his soul, upon his alle- giance to the king ; and if he will then maintain his accusation to my face, I will confess myself guilty." Although Cobham was at that very moment guarded in one of the rooms of the castle, Ralegh's demand that he should come into court and be confronted with him, was refused by the judges.' It became more and more evident, as the trial went on. that the judges were against the prisoner, and HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 203 were as eager that he should be condemned as was Sir Edward Coke himself. Hour after hour the trial went on. The duel of words between Ralegh and Coke ever and anon rose to a fierce conflict. Nor did the judges them- selves hesitate to launch reproaches at the pris- oner. He defended himself against all these assaults, solitary and alone ; and at every opportu- nity vehemently declared his innocence of the crime which they were trying to fasten upon him. At last the speeches and witnesses came to an end. Ralegh calmly took his seat, and awaited the issue. The audience sat breathlessly in suspense. Then the jury were ordered to retire and consider their verdict. As the twelve men upon whom Ralegh's fate depended filed out of their box and across the hall, every eye was anxiously fixed upon them. The minutes seemed hours while they were out. A buzz of whispered conversation was heard through the hall. The judges put their heads to- gether, and talked in subdued tones. The oflficers moved on tiptoe through the room. Ralegh's face was tranquil, and slightly pale ; its expression was firm and resolute. In about a quarter of an hour, the steps of the jury were heard returning to the 204 RALEGH : hall. Instantly breathless silence reigned again, in the midst of which the jury resumed their places, standing, in the box. In a solemn voice the clerk of the court addressed them : — " How say you, gentlemen, is the prisoner guilty or not guilty of high treason against our sovereign lord, the king .? " The foreman, in a low, distinct voice replied, — " Guilty." The word sent a shudder through the listen- ing multitude. But no man had time to exchange his thoughts with his neighbor; for no sooner had the verdict been rendered, than Sir John Pop- ham, Chief Justice of England, prepared to deliver the sentence of the court. Ralegh stood, pale and erect, in his box. Asked if he had anything to say, he replied, in firm tones, " My lords, the jury hath found me guilty. They must do as they are directed. I can say nothing why judgment should not proceed. You see whereof Cobham hath ac- cused me ; you remember his declaration that I was never guilty. I desire that the king should know the wrong I have suffered since I came hither." HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 205 The Chief Justice then ordered Ralegh to remain standing, and to receive the sentence of the law. In delivering judgment, Popham was quite as violent as Coke had been. He insulted the pris- oner with many outrageous epithets, and in one part of his address was so abusive that Coke him- self hung his head with shame, and the spectators boldly hissed. At the end, in a tone of voice that betrayed his satisfaction, Popham sentenced Ralegh to death. All through the judge's tirade Ralegh stood with silent dignity. His condemnation to death did not excite a quiver or a tremor. He quietly resumed his seat until the marshal of the court came and conducted him out of the hall. But if Ralegh himself remained serene under the awful sentence, the spectators were one and all intensely excited by it. Ralegh's bearing throughout the trial had won the hearts of all who had witnessed it. The audience had come, entertaining hostile feelings towards him, and indulging the hope that he would be condemned. They departed full of admiration and sympathy for him, bewailing his doom, and uttering loud and bitter denunciations against the judges. One of these spectators afterwards said, 206 RALEGH : " When I saw Sir Walter Ralegh first, I was so led with the common hatred, that I would have gone a hundred miles to see him hanged. But ere we departed, I would have gone a thousand to save his life." The gross injustice and unfairness of the trial were condemned on every hand, and while many had before believed Ralegh guilty of treason, the opinion now generally prevailed that Cobham had falsely accused him, and that he was entirely innocent. History has confirmed this judgment. It was not true that Ralegh conspired to depose King James, and to place Arabella Stuart on the throne ; nor was it true that he, who had been all his life an inveterate foe of Spain, had resolved to betray England in order to favor the interests of the Spanish king. But it is probable that he knew something about Cobham's plot ; that he may for a moment have weakly listened to Cobham's appeal to join him ; and that he failed to expose, at the right time, a conspiracy aimed at the sovereign to whom he professed to be loyal. The other prisoners — the priest Watson, George Brooke, Sir Philip Markham, Lord Cobham, and Lord Grey de Wilton — were duly tried and found HJS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 20/ guilty ; and they were all condemned to suffer the same fate as Ralegh. Early in December Watson was executed at Winchester, expressing on the scaffold deep remorse for his crime. George Brooke met his doom a few days after, with humility and resignation. As for Markham, Cobham, Grey, and Ralegh, they were imprisoned in the Castle, preparatory to being beheaded a few days later. Lady Ralegh, overwhelmed with grief at her hus- band's cruel sentence, and in the desperate hope of saving his life, threw herself with sobs and tears at Cecil's feet, and implored him in touching accents to save his old friend's life. Ralegh himself wrote piteously to the king, declaring his innocence, and saying that " a greater gift none can give, none receive, than life." But these prayers seemed to make no impression either on the king or on Cecil, his minister. The king sent two clergymen to the prisoners, bidding them to cherish no hope of being pardoned. He told those who pleaded with him for mercy that his mind was made up that the prisoners should suffer death. Then a message was sent to Cobham, Markham and Grey, telling them to prepare to meet their doom on the morning of Friday, Dccem- 208 RALEGH : ber loth. Ralegh's life was spared for three days longer. He was to die on the morning of Monday, the 13th. The day of the execution of the three conspirators came all too speedily. On the morning of the loth a large crowd gathered in the courtyard of the Castle, where the scaffold had been set up. Down to the last moment, the three condemned men had hoped against hope that the king might relent and spare them. But as the morning sun of the final day shone in on their cells, and no tidings of reprieve arrived, they yielded to despair. Markham was the first to be led forth to the scaffold. There stood the executioner, grim and mysterious in his black mask. Sir Benjamin Tichborne, the high sheriff, slowly led Markham up the steps. The prisoner's expression was pale and sorrowful. A friend, standing by, offered him a handkerchief to cover his face. " No," replied Markham, shaking his head, " I can look upon death without blushing." He knelt in prayer, and then embraced those of his old comrades who stood in a sad group around him. All this time Ralegh, the window of whose cell overlooked the courtyard, HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 2O9 watched the tragic scene with eager eyes and beating heart. Just as Markham was approaching the execu- tioner, who stood all ready to do his bloody work, a sudden movement in the crowd attracted the high sheriff's attention. A man was frantically pushing his way toward the scaffold. He breath- lessly ascended the steps, and whispered to Sir Benjamin Tichborne. The latter then turned to Markham, and said that the execution would be delayed a little while. The spectators looked on this mysterious scene with puzzled faces. The prisoner was led down from the scaffold, and locked up in the great hall of the Castle. What could all this mean .'* It was not long before the sheriff again made his appearance, this time conducting Lord Grey to the scaffold. This brave young noble wore a cheerful, smiling countenance. He was ignorant of what had just taken place, and thought that he was about to die ; but he bore himself like a true cavalier After a long prayer, he walked with erect form and brisk step to the side of the executioner. But instead of giving the executioner the signal to pro- ceed, the sheriff at this last moment turned to Lord 2IO RALEGH : Grey, and told him also that his execution would not take place until after that of Cobham ; and he thereupon led Grey, as he had done Markham, into the Castle hall. The mystery was growing deeper and more perplexing every moment. The crowd was puzzled more than ever. With increasing amazement they saw the sheriff reappear, bringing with him Lord Cobham, the last of the three pris- oners whose execution had been set for that day. Cobham advanced boldly, and ascended the scaffold with resolute tread. He went through the same preparations as Markham and Grey before him. When he rose from praying, Sir Benjamin Tichborne walked up to him, and said, — " There yet remains something to be done. You are now to be confronted with the other pris- oners." Leaving Cobham standing and staring with won- der on the scaffold, the high sheriff repaired to the hall, and presently returned, leading Markham and Grey. He stationed them at Cobham's side, and then, standing before them, addressed all three with these questions, — " Are not your offences heinous ? Have you not been justly tried, and lawfully condemned ? Is HIS EXPLOITS AND VOVAGES. 211 not each of you subject to due execution, now to be performed ? " One after another, the prisoners bowed their heads to each question, in token of assent. *' Then," said Tichborne, in a loud voice, " behold the mercy of your sovereign, who of himself hath sent hither a countermand, and hath given you your lives." A thrill of excitement and delight passed through the crowd of spectators. The faces of the prisoners were lit up with a sudden joy. The people burst into applause, and the three reprieved men embraced each other. Ralegh, looking from his grated window, saw what had happened, and heaved a deep sigh of relief. *' If ever I prove a traitor," exclaimed Cobham, " I will not so much as beg my life." " Since the king hath given me my life," cried Grey, " without my begging, I will deserve life." Ralegh was soon gladdened by the welcome news that he, too, was to be spared. But neither one of the prisoners was awarded his liberty. They had escaped death, but were still to remain in confinement. In a few days they were con- ducted to London, and found themselves the occu- pants of cells in the Tower. 212 RALEGH CHAPTER XIV. TWELVE YEARS IN THE TOWER. T was with a weary sigh that Ralegh once more entered the dismal portals of the Tower of London. He knew well what a cheerless abode it was, for he had already been imprisoned there for several months by the an- gry caprice of Queen Elizabeth. Nevertheless he rejoiced that King James had so far relented as to spare his life, and looked forward with hope to a turn of events which would also, ere very long, restore to him his liberty. He little knew that years would elapse before he would walk the earth a free man asrain. He soon found himself placed in -a cell in the building called the ** Bloody Tower," — the same grim edifice where the young princes had been murdered centuries before. This Bloody Tower overlooked the river Thames on one side, and on the other was bounded by a small but pretty and HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 21 3 well-kept garden, which was occupied by the lieu- tenant of the prison. Above this garden stretched a broad, lofty wall, which served as a sentinel's beat, and was also now and then used by the pris- oners for walking in the open air. Ralegh therefore found his quarters in the Tower in some respects far from unpleasant. It happened that the lieutenant at that time was an old friend of his, named Sir George Harvey, who was dis- posed to treat him with every kindness and indul- gence. Harvey not only often invited Ralegh to dine with him, but allowed him to receive frequent visits from his many friends, who still clung to him in spite of his misfortunes. At first, Ralegh's wife and young son were allowed to live with him in his quarters, and he was permitted to have the service of three of his family servants. With such privileges, the imprisoned cavalier was able to pass his time in something like comfort and ease. Many of the favors which relieved the tedium of his imprisonment he doubtless owed to Sir Robert Cecil, then the all-powerful adviser of the king ; who, although he had been one of Ralegh's judges, was as kindly disposed to him as he thought it for his own interest to be. Soon after his arrival 214 RALEGH: at the Tower, Ralegh wrote to Cecil, "Good my lord, remember your poor and ancient friend, that I perish not here, where health wears away, and whose short times run fast on in misery only. Those who plotted to surprise and assail the per- son of the king are at liberty. Do not forget me, or doubt me." This pathetic letter seems to have created a deep impression upon Cecil's heart. But though Cecil could soften the bitterness of imprisonment, he could not procure Ralegh's re- lease ; and Ralegh soon perceived that he was des- tined to spend a long period in the Tower. Before many weeks had passed away, a new danger threat- ened the unhappy prisoner and his family. The terrible plague, which had been raging in London, made its appearance among the Tower prisoners. It soon crept to the very room next to that occu- pied by the Raleghs. They were in serious peril of perishing by this dreadful distemper. With heavy heart, Ralegh was forced to part, for a while, from his wife and child, who took lodgings in a street not far from the Tower, so as to at least be near him. Soon after this, Lady Ralegh gave birth to their second son, who was named Carew. Scarcely had the danger from the plague disap- HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 21 5 peared when, one morning, Ralegh's jailor abruptly informed him that he was to be removed at once from the Tower to the yet more dismal prison of the Fleet. At first Ralegh could not understand the reason of this strange and sudden proceeding. But it soon transpired that King James was about to come to the Tower with his court, to witness a bull-fight. Now it was the custom, when the sov- ereign held one of these festivities at the Tower, that he should mark the occasion by releasing all the prisoners within its walls. This custom King James proposed to follow ; and so, in order that Ralegh might not share the clemency granted to his fellow-prisoners, he was removed for the while to the Fleet. Cobham and Grey were, for the same reason, sent to the Fleet with him. The king accordingly held the bull-fight without being disturbed by the presence of these prisoners. ''On Monday, March 26th," it is related, "the king, queen, and prince, together with the council and the whole court, went down the river to the Tower, in long and gay procession. The crowd of Londoners who had flocked to see the sight was so great that the king and his courtiers could only with difficulty ascend the stairs. Bulls and 2l6 RALEGH : Other animals were baited, and many minor amuse- ments added their attractions to the scene. The king then caused all the prisons of the Tower to be opened, and all the prisoners then within them to be released." When these festivities had come to an end, Ralegh was brought back again to his old quarters in the Bloody Tower. It was a welcome change, for the miserable cells of the Fleet had made him ill. Sir George Harvey, the lieutenant, continued to treat his prisoner with the most thoughtful kindness. He offered Ralegh the use of his pleasant little garden, — an offer which filled Ra- legh with gratitude, and which he promptly ac- cepted. His happiest hours were spent, for a long time, in this garden. He found, in one corner of it, a hen-house. This he speedily converted into a still. Then he caused a laboratory and a furnace to be built ; and having thus provided himself with the proper conveniences, he passed a great deal of his time making experiments in chemistry. Ralegh had always, through his stirring career, kept up with ardor the studies which he loved ; and now, in his imprisonment, instead of moaning and bewailing his loss of liberty, he set cheerily to HIS EXPLOITS AND VOVAGES. 2\J work on intellectual tasks. He had been an en- thusiastic student of chemistry ; and now, every morning, as soon as he had finished his bath and his breakfast, he hurried down to his little labora- tory, and was soon deeply absorbed in assaying metallic ores, concocting elixirs for medicine, and amusing himself with experiments. The many rare and curious plants which were cultivated in the garden afforded Ralegh an oppor- tunity to pursue another science which had lono- interested him — that of botany. When he was tired of his laboratory, it was always a relief to set to analyzing the stems, leaves, and flowers. Or, if he was in pensive mood, he would lay aside these tasks, and pace up and down the garden, with bowed head and hands clasped behind him, and indulge in reveries of the eventful past, or perhaps dreom of ambitions still to be fulfilled. He soon became known as a skilful chemist, and the ladies of the court began to apply to him for nostrums to cure their aches and ills. On one occasion the queen herself, having fallen dangerously ill, applied to him for medicine. He sent her a bottle of cor- dial, which she took ; and she always declared afterwards that she believed that Ralegh had thus 2l8 RALEGH: saved her life. Another time, the Countess of Beaumont, wife of the French ambassador, went herself to the Tower, to beg of him a box of his balsam, of whose virtues she had heard high praises. Unfortunately for Ralegh, Sir George Harvey was after a while removed from his office as lieu- tenant of the Tower, and was succeeded by Sir William Waad. This man had been one of Ra- legh's judges on his trial, and unlike Harvey, was very unfriendly in his feeUngs towards him. Waad began to deprive him of some of the privi- leges which Harvey had amiably granted. Ralegh was a very celebrated man, and every day many people came to the Tower to see him. Crowds would sometimes gather on the hill, and gaze over the wall at him, as he walked in the little garden. All this aroused Waad's anger and jealousy ; he disliked to have one of his prisoners made more of than he himself was. So he wrote to Cecil, who had now become Earl of Salisbury : *' Sir Walter Ralegh hath converted a little hen-house in the garden into a still, where he doth spend his time all the day in his distillations. I desire not to remove him, though I want, by that means, the HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 219 garden. If a brick wall were built, it would be more safe and convenient." But Cecil did what he could to preserve to Ralegh such few privileges as he had, and refused to have the brick wall built. Besides the garden, Ralegh had the broad wall for a promenade ; and here he often paced up and down, in full view of the public. Thus the wall came to be known as *' Ralegh's Walk ; " and so it is called to this day. Waad liked these prom- enades before the people as little as Ralegh's oc- cupancy of the garden. " He doth show himself on the wall," wrote Waad, again, to Cecil, " to the view of the people who gaze upon him ; which made me bold in discretion and conveniency to restrain him again." Waad was also much annoyed by the frequent visits which Lady Ralegh made to her husband, coming thither in a coach ; and by the servants whom Ralegh had about him. So he ordered that after five o'clock in the afternoon the servants should all go and stay in their quarters for the night ; and that wives of prisoners should not lodge in the Tower, or come thither in coaches. Under the many restrictions and vexations which Waad imposed upon him, Ralegh's health broke down, and he became, as was natural, very despon- 220 RALEGH : dent. His cell in the Tower was damp and cheerless, and he was finally allowed to live, for a while, in the airy and pleasant little laboratory which he had caused to be erected in the garden. All this time, Ralegh's friends at court were ceaseless in their efforts to obtain his liberty. The obstinate king remained deaf to their earnest appeals ; but there was one person, very high in rank, who not only listened to them with friendly ear, but became as ardent as any of them in Ralegh's behalf. This was young Henry, Prince of Wales, King James' eldest son and heir. Prince Henry was then in the full beauty and vigor of youth. He was brave and bold, warm-hearted, impulsive, and generous. He was fond of adventure and enter- prise, and was wise and thoughtful beyond his years. In person, he was tall, handsome, and noble-looking. By his character and actions, he had won the love not only of the courtiers, but of the masses of the people. His accession to the throne was looked forward to with the brightest hopes. It was not long before Prince Henry learned to admire and esteem the famous prisoner in the Tower. Ralegh's adventurous and checkered career deeply interested him; and his manners and tern- HIS EXPLOITS Ax\D VOYAGES. 221 perament won the Prince's warm affection. Henry left untried no effort to secure Ralegh's liberty ; and more than once scolded King James angrily for not setting him free. But the king was not to be persuaded. The prince then took pains to pay Ralegh frequent visits, both to show the world how warm his sympathies were with him, and to enjoy his attractive society. He would sit with Ralegh for hours, and ask him questions about ship-building and the art of navigation, and about Ralegh's expe- dition to South America. Whenever Henry was troubled about any matter, Ralegh was the first person to whom he repaired for comfort and counsel. When it was proposed that he should marry a princess of Savoy, he hurried to Ralegh for advice ; and when Ralegh opposed it, Henry promptly gave up the plan. Ralegh was very much pleased to have won the affection of this noble and charming young prince, and warmly reciprocated it. He loved the prince for his many fine qualities ; and he knew that, should Henry succeed to the throne, he himself would not only become free, but would at once assume a high place in the councils of the nation. He would pass from a prison cell to the very height 222 RALEGH : of power. All these bright visions were doomed to a sad and sudden ending. In May, i6i2, Sir Robert Cecil, Earl of Salisbury, died on a journey from Bath to London. This was a severe blow to Ralegh ; for, although Cecil had taken part in his trial, and had been one of the judges who con- demned him, he had in many ways since shown that his old friendship for Ralegh still survived. A greater misfortune soon succeeded this event ; for young Prince Henry, who was always very reckless of himself, and rashly exposed himself in all kinds of weather, was suddenly seized with a violent fever, and, to the grief of the entire nation, died on the 6th of November. With these two deaths, Ralegh's hopes of freedom once more vanished. And now yet other troubles sadly oppressed him. His fair and beautiful domain of Sherborne, where he had spent so many happy days, where his young son Walter had been born and reared, and where his faithful wife had awaited his coming from strange lands across the great deep, was taken from him by King James, and given to Robert Carr, the young Scotch adventurer who had now become the king's favorite. As long as Cecil lived Sherborne had been preserved to him ; but Carr's rapacity HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 223 overcame all obstacles. No more would Ralegh saunter through those cool groves, or sit on the old stone seat near the house and meditate new ambitions. No more would he rejoice in the growths of the gardens and orchards which he him- self had planted with loving care. No more would he wander in the spacious deer park, or gaze on \he lovely prospect which spread out before him in Hanover Wood. But Ralegh in prison had one resource of which the cruelty of kings and the greed of parasites could not easily deprive him. In the companion- ship of his books, and the charming and engrossing occupations of his pen, he found a consolation for all his griefs. He set bravely to work on various literary schemes, which had long been forming in his mind. He varied the pleasant tasks of the laboratory and the garden, by sitting for hours together at his desk, poring over his volumes and planning his projected books. It was fortunate for his renown that he devoted himself to these labors ; for the works which he wrote while a prisoner in the Tower won him a high place among the writers of his age. The book which most of all redounded to his fame was his " History of the World ;" upon 224 RALEGH : which he was engaged for several years. Although this history was never finished, it is still read with interest and profit, and is one of the finest literary remains of the period at which it was written. Ralegh also wrote essays about the politics of the day, a book on the invention of ships, and one on the art of naval warfare. Other hours he beguiled by describing his voyage to Guiana, and describing that country in all its aspects. Singu- larly enough, instead of winning King James' favor by these literary works, he only increased his dislike. The king thought he discovered in "The History of the World " treasonable doctrines ; and this caused him to resolve more firmly than ever that Ralegh should remain a prisoner. All this while Ralegh's wife lived outside the Tower with her two boys ; and it was seldom that she w^as permitted to visit her husband's cell. The loss of Sherborne, and much of his other property, had left Ralegh very poor ; and it made his heart bleed to think of his wife living in cheap lodgings, and deprived of the many luxuries to which she had been accustomed from childhood. Ralegh begged, in vain, that his family might be allowed to dwell with him in the Tower, as they Kalkgh in Prison. Piic;e 224. HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 225 had formerly done. " My wife being now divided from me," he wrote piteously to a friend, " I am driven to keep two houses, to my great impoverish- ing. It is no great matter to desire that my wife may live with me in this unsavory place, though a cruel destiny has made it so to me." For years one of Ralegh's fellow-prisoners in the Tower had been that bright young Arabella Stuart, with whose beauty and intelligence he had once been so much charmed, and in whose behalf he had been accused of plotting against King James. He had sometimes seen and talked with her, and a warm friendship had grown up between them. Arabella was imprisoned simply because she was of royal blood, and because a few rash men had plotted to put her on the throne. She lingered long a prisoner in the gloomy Tower. At last her confinement and privations undermined her health, and one morning, in the autumn of 1615, Ralegh was shocked to hear that this cruelly persecuted woman had died in her cell. His thoughts must have reverted to the day long before, when he first saw her, radiant in her girlhood, at Lord Burleigh's house ; and of all the stormy and tragic events which had since happened to them both. 226 RALEGH : This sad occurrence only preceded by a few months Ralegh's sudden release from his twelve years' imprisonment in the Tower, — an event which, at the time of Arabella's death, he did not in the least foresee. HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 22/ CHAPTER XV. ralegh's second voyage. ROBERT CARR, the young Scotchman who succeeded in winning King James's favor after Cecil's death, had long ruled the royal councils with absolute will. His beauty, grace, and courtliness of bearing had completely won the king's heart. Besides showering upon this new favorite ample wealth in money and broad estates (among them Ralegh's manor of Sherborne), James had created Carr Earl of Som- erset. But in course of time, Carr's conduct be- came so arrogant, and his acts so arbitrary, that the king began to weary of him ; and the ruin of the favorite was completed by the discovery of his having murdered a knight whom he thought to be in his way. Carr was thrown into the Tower, and tried ; and though he was pardoned, he never enjoyed the king's favor again. Meanwhile, a brilliant young cavalier named 228 RALEGH : George Villiers won King James's affection, and not long after Carr's disgrace, was installed in his stead as the royal favorite. It was this event which indirectly brought about Ralegh's release from the Tower. Carr, as long as he had been in power, had favored a friendship of England with Spain. But Villiers was very hostile to Spain, and desired the English influence, on the other hand, to be thrown against Spain, and in favor of the Netherlands, which Spain was oppressing. Among those who were eager advocates of this policy v;as a generous and patriotic statesman, named Sir Ralph Winwood. It happened that Winwood and Ralegh had long been warm friends. Winwood had often visited the famous prisoner in the Tower, and had talked much with him about the politics of the day, and especially about Ralegh's travels in Guiana. He knew that Ralegh was now, as he had ever been, the inveterate foe of Spain ; and he saw that, in the struggle which was now going on at the Eng- lish court between the partisans of the Dutch and those of Spain, Ralegh might become of great use to the former. Ralegh impressed Winwood with the advantage HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 229 which England would acquire over the Spaniards if Guiana could be conquered and colonized. He dilated upon the riches of the South American country, and spoke especially of a vast gold mine which he believed to exist in Guiana, and which would, if worked, yield great wealth to the English king. Winwood related all these things to Villiers, the new favorite ; and Villiers, who had no reason to be hostile to Ralegh, at once caught at the idea, and lost no time in urging King James to set Ra- legh at liberty, and to dispatch him once more to Guiana, in search of the promised treasures. King James had become very much inclined towards Spain under Carr's influence ; and there was now at the English court a very shrewd and subtle Spanish statesman, the Count of Gondomar, who was exerting himself to the utmost to cherish the king's friendly feeling for his country. But the power which Villiers had obtained over the king's mind at last prevailed. It was determined that Ralegh should be set free, on condition that he w^ould make another voyage to Guiana, and, if possible, take possession of the country in the name of the English crown. But the king insisted that he should on no account do anything, while 230 RALEGH : on his expedition, to injure Spain, or any Spaniards whom he might meet. Accordingly, on the morning of March 19, 1616, the lieutenant of the Tower entered Ralegh's cell and apprised him that he was no longer a prisoner. Ralegh's heart leaped for joy. He had been de- prived of his liberty for twelve weary years, at the most vigorous period of his life, and he was glad enough to breathe the free air again on any terms. He had entered the portals of the Tower a hale and stalwart cavaliei- of fifty-two. Now, as he left it, his hair and beard were grizzled, his face was worn and wrinkled, his body was somewhat bent, and his features were grave and sorrowful. With what tearful joy he clasped to his breast his ever faithful wife, and his two young sons ! Indeed, at the age of sixty-four, his brave spirit was still un- shaken ; the long captivity had not quenched his ardent and restless ambition. He went forth from his prison with the sentence of death still hanging over his head ; for King James, although he had grudgingly consented to his release, had refused to pardon him. But Ralegh kept up a stout heart, and cheerily set to work upon his preparations for the coming vo)age. HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 23 1 It was many months, however, after his leaving the Tower, before these preparations were com- pleted. Every obstacle was thrown in his way by the Spanish envoy, the vigilant Count of Gondomar, who exerted all his resources to persuade King James to withdraw his consent to the expedition. It was not so easy, moreover, for Ralegh to raise the necessary funds to defray the expenses of his new venture. He was now far from being a rich- man. He had been stripped of his profitable posts and ofifices, and his properties in Ireland and in England had melted away. But what little was left him from the money given to him in payment for Sherborne, he freely laid out on his fleet ; and his devoted wife cheerfully gave up an estate which she had saved from the wreck of their fortune, to complete the equipment of the vessels. A royal grant was also wrung from the king by Villiers. With these resources, a fleet was finally got ready in the Thames. It consisted of a new flag- ship, named *' The Destiny," which Ralegh had caused to be built for himself ; eleven other good sized vessels, two fly-boats, and a caravel. Ralegh resolved to take with him his eldest son, Walter, now a fine and spirited young man of twenty-three ; 232 RALEGH : and his company consisted of two hundred volun- teers, of whom sixty were gentlemen of rank and education. Among this company were quite a number of Ralegh's relatives, eager to share his perils and triumphs. While the ships lay in their docks in the Thames, a great many people visited them with much curiosity. Every day a crowd gathered on the wharves ; and among these spec- tators were statesmen, courtiers, and nobles, as well as those of inferior condition. Before setting sail, Ralegh issued some rules by which the company was to be guided. He enjoined upon them that each day must be opened and closed with religious services, " praising God every night with singing of a psalm at the setting of the watch." Other rules compelled the men to take certain precautions to preserve their health. It was on an April day in 161 7, a little more than a year after his release from the Tower, that Ralegh, accompanied by his son Walter, set sail down the Thames with a part of his fleet. The rest of the ships joined him at Plymouth, on his way through the Channel. The first days of the voyage were very unpropitious. The fleet was assailed by fierce tempests ; and before Ralegh had lost sight of land. HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 233 one of his vessels sank before his eyes, and two others were sadly disabled. He found it necessary to put in at the harbor of Cork, and to await the subsidence of the storm. Then he set forth again, and now made his way without disaster to the Canary Islands. Here he tarried some time, taking in water and provisions ; nor did he get away from the Canaries before his sailors had had some altercations with the Spaniards there. One of his ships, moreover, deserted him ; and sickness broke out among the crews. Among his company, as it turned out, were many reckless and insubordinate adventurers ; and it was no easy task to preserve discipline on board the ships, and to prevent the men from acting violently when ashore. To add to these misfortunes, the fleet was again and again overwhelmed by pitiless storms. At last Ralegh himself was taken ill and lay in his berth helpless and in danger of death for many weary days. As, after leaving the Canaries and the Cape de Verde islands, the " Destiny," followed by the other ships, ploughed her difficult way across the tem- pestuous Atlantic, the stout-hearted commander lay tossing in his close and narrow quarters, burning with fever, and stifling for want of air. But amid ^34 RALEGH : all his pain, he never lost his old-time courage, and never once gave up his projects in despair. Toward the latter part of the voyage he was able to sit up on deck, attended by his loving son and devoted companions. Wan and wasted, he gazed yearningly toward the west, hoping daily to see the dim outline of the coast of Trinidad appear in the horizon. At last, his eager longing was gratified. There was the land, like a cloud rising in the far distance ; and in no long time the fleet was anchored securely in the same bay where, twenty years before, Ralegh had greeted the new continent. Ralegh was still so feeble, however, that he was carried on shore in a chair. He soon recovered health in the thrilling prospect before him. Many of his fellow-voyagers had died on the way ; but he found that he still had two hundred men to accompany him into the interior. No sooner did he find himself well again, than he wrote to his wife and told her of his illness. " But God," he reverently added, ** that gave me a strong heart in all my adversities, hath also now strength- ened it in the hell-fire of heat." On landing on the main coast, Ralegh was delighted to find that the grateful natives, after so HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 235 long a time, had not forgotten him, but still held his name in cherished affection. They crowded the shores, and brought a large quantity of provisions and fruit for the adventurers ; and showed in a hundred ways their delight at Ralegh's long looked- for return. " To tell you," he wrote to his wife, "that I might be here king of the Indians, were a vanity. But my name hath lived among them ; here they feed me with fresh meat, and all that the country affords. All offer to obey me." Ralegh's first step, after resting and refreshing his company, was to dispatch several reconnoi- tring parties, in five small ships, up the Orinoco, to search for the great mine of which he had heard so much, and which he had gone thither to find. These ships were commanded by his old friend, Captain Keymis, young Walter Ralegh, and George Ralegh, nephew of the admiral. These companies had not gone far, however, when they came upon a new town named St. Thomas, which had recently been built by the Spaniards on the river bank. An Indian had warned the Spaniards who lived thereof the approach of the £ngHsh ; and no sooner had Keymis and his comrades moored their boats near the town, and begun to land, than the Spanish 236 RALEGH : settlers poured a volley of musketry upon them from an ambush. The English retired to their boats in disorder. Ralegh had warned them, before parting from them, by no means to inflict any injury on the Spaniards they might encounter. But now the Spaniards had attacked them first ; and Keymis, young Ralegh, and the other leaders were resolved that, in spite of the admiral's orders, the Spaniards should be punished for their unprovoked assault. The next morning, therefore, the adventurers fiercely attacked St. Thomas. It contained about one hundred and fifty dwellings, which were mostly rude huts. It was defended by rude palisades, and in its centre was a small open square, upon which stood a church and a convent. The English, being more numerous than the Spaniards, soon succeeded in entering the town ; and then there ensued a bitter and bloody struggle. The assailants, under Keymis and young Walter Ralegh, fought their way step by step towards the little square. The narrow street was soon choked up with the bodies of the killed and wounded. Just as the conflict was raging most hotly, young Ralegh staggered and fell. He had received a HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 23/ severe wound. But he soon sprang to his feet again, and waving his sword, with a clear voice urged his men on. Scarcely had he gone a yard further, when a blow from a Spanish musket once more felled the valiant youth to the earth. This time he was fatally wounded. He gasped and struggled on the ground, and raising himself for an instant on his elbow, he cried, in a choking voice, " Go on. May the Lord have mercy upon me, and prosper you ! " Thus died, fighting with impetuous valor, and in the flower of his sturdy youth, Ralegh's eldest son and brightest hope. While the battle raged on, a few devoted adherents tenderly raised young Wal- ter, and carried him to the rear. Ere long, the square had been taken, and the Spaniards had fled into the huts, firing thence upon their foes. From the huts they were soon driven into the forest, and the English found themselves in complete posses- sion of the town. The next morning, a sad and solemn procession of the English soldiers, with reversed arms, drooping flags, and muffled drums, slowly proceeded across the square to the humble church which stood upon it. Borne in their midst was the lifeless body of young Walter^ Ralegh, 238 RALEGH : He was laid, with many sobs and tears, in a grave near the high altar of the church. That same day, two more of Ralegh's vessels reached them from Trinidad, bringing a reinforce- ment of men. At the same time, the terrible news of his son's sudden death was sent to the bereaved father. Keymis, now the superior officer, lost no time in going with two launches up the Orinoco, m search of the reputed mine ; but this expedition met with nothing but disaster. An ambuscade of Spaniards and Indians, some distance up the river, so suddenly and fiercely assailed the first launch, that nine of the men were killed or wounded in a few moments. This reverse so dismayed Keymis, that he returned with downcast heart to St. Thomas. George Ralegh's ambition was now aroused, and he resolved to try to succeed where the gallant old Keymis had failed. He selected a force of picked men, and himself ascended the Orinoco some three hundred miles. But he had no better fortune than Keymis in searching for the mine ; while day by day he lost some of his com- rades by the attacks of Spaniards and natives, and by the pestilence which spread among them. In no long time George Ralegh returned in HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 239 despair to St. Thomas, with the sad remnant of his force. The English who had remained in the town had also suffered from the assaults of the enerqy, hunger, and disease. Scarcely half of the men whom Ralegh had sent forward from Trinidad still survived. Perils increased every hour. It was evident to Keymis that he could not much longer hold St. Thomas. The only thing left to do was to return sorrowfully down the Orinoco to the fleet. Setting fire to the town, and carrying off every article of value which they found there, the disheartened company boarded their boats, and in a few days had rejoined their fellow-adventurei's on the coast. Keymis found Ralegh still feeble from his long illness, and overwhelmed with grief at the death of his gallant and beloved son. With tearful eyes, Keymis told his chief the sad story of this event in all its particulars, and added the account of his own failure to find the so ardently wished-for mine. In his irritation and disappointment, Ralegh an- grily upbraided his old comrade for not pursuing his search further ; and told him, in a stern voice, that he should answer for his failure to the king. Poor Keymis was completely overwhelmed by the 240 RALEGH : weight of the misery caused by his commander's reproofs. He shut himself up in his cabin, and wrote a long letter, accounting for his failure, and giving all the excuses he could for it. This letter he brought and read to Ralegh, and asked him to approve and support it. For once, Ralegh was hard-hearted. He coldly refused Keymis's eager request. " Is that your resolution ? " asked the old voy- ager, with trembling voice. " It is," responded Ralegh, sternly. " I know, then, sir," was the sad reply, " what ':x)urse to take." Ralegh too soon learned what Keymis meant. In a few moments, Ralegh heard a pistol-shot on the vessel. He told a boy to go and see what it meant. The boy soon came back, and said that Keymis, who was in his cabin, had called out, " I have fired the pistol because it has been too long charged." Soon after, the boy went again to Key- mis's cabin, and on opening the door, found the brave old man lying dead on the floor. Failing to kill himself with the pistol, he had stabbed him- self to the heart. He preferred death to disgrace, and to the reproaches of the commander whom he HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 24I loved. Ralegh's remorse at having so severely reproved his faithful comrade knew no bounds ; it added all the greater gloom to his already broken heart. Other troubles hastened Ralegh's decision to return home without making any further effort to discover the great mine. It was now evident to him that the Spanish king had sent word to the Spaniards in Guiana to attack him, and prevent his obtaining possession of the country. He knew that they were much more numerous than his own force, and that another expedition up the Orinoco would probably end, as the others had done, in wretched failure. Besides, his men had now be- come thoroughly disheartened, and were clamor- ing angrily to go back to England. He found it impossible to keep discipline on board the ships. Reluctant as he was to go back without achieving his object and fulfilling his promise to the king, he saw that there was no alternative. While he was hesitating, moreover, two of his vessels deserted the fleet, and sailed away across the Atlantic. This misfortune seems to have at last settled his purpose to return. Old and ill, bereft of that son who had been the pride and joy of his later years, 242 ' RALEGH : saddened by the suicide of Keymis, harassed by his discontented company, and forced to carry home the news of a terrible failure, Ralegh set sail for home in March, 1618. It was not without the darkest forebodings that he slowly approached his native shores. He knew that watchful and trium- phant enemies would gloat over his ignominious return, and would make the most of his misfor- tunes. These forebodings were only too soon to be realized. HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 243 CHAPTER XVI. ralegh's return. ISASTER followed Ralegh all the way across the Atlantic. The voyage was pursued during the stormy season, and tempest after tempest broke upon the little fleet. In mid-ocean, a storm of such terrific force struck the ships, that they were scattered, and each was forced to make its way alone towards the English coast. Several of the vessels were so badly dam- aged, that it was with infinite difficulty that they could proceed on their way. Ralegh's ship, the " Destiny," fortunately escaped serious injury, al- though she did not reach England as soon as did one or two of her sister vessels. It was not until the middle of June that the old hero was relieved by seeing the dim cliffs of Devon rising in the horizon. He made straight for Plym- outh, and moored the " Destiny " in that familiar harbor. 244 RALEGH : No sooner had Ralegh landed than he was ap- prised by some of his devoted friends, who had hastened to welcome him home, of news which startled and amazed him, and which seemed the crowning blow to his previous crushing misfor- tunes. Each of the captains of his fleet, as they had reached harbor, had been arrested and impris- oned, and the ships Jthemselves had been seized by order of the king. Many events of grave moment to Ralegh had happened during his absence. The Count of Gon- domar, the Spanish envoy, had continued to use every effort to excite the king's mind against him. Several of the vessels in Ralegh's fleet had re- turned to England in May, and had brought the intelligence of the fights between the English and the Spaniards on the Orinoco, of the capture of St. Thomas, and of its sacking and burning. Gondomar had eagerly caught at this news to de- nounce Ralegh to King James as a pirate and a traitor. He reminded the king that Ralegh had been commanded in no way to injure the Spaniards in South America, and that Ralegh had solemnly promised to obey. Another circumstance had yet more influenced HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 245 the king in favor of the Spaniards, and therefore against Ralegh, who was Spain's irreconcilable enemy. Prince Charles was now the king's eldest son, and the heir to the crown ; the same Charles who was destined afterwards to become king, and to suffer death on the scaffold. Gondomar cun- ningly proposed that a marriage should be arranged between Prince Charles and the second daughter of the Spanish king. He promised a brilliant dowry with the young princess, and the close alli- ance and friendship of Spain in England's future career. This proposal at once attracted King James, and he entered into the plan of the marriage with great earnestness. Villiers, the favorite, who had be- come Marquis of Buckingham, also strongly ap- proved of it. But Gondomar made it appear that, unless Ralegh were punished for his treatment of the Spaniards on the Orinoco, the marriage would not suit the dignity of the King of Spain. The negotiations about this marriage were at their height, when Ralegh sailed into Plymouth harbor. It was not long after Ralegh's arrival, that he war once more clasped in his wife's loving arms. On hearing that the ^'Destiny" had returned, 246 RALEGH : she hurried down to Plymouth. The joy of meet- ing, after so long and painful a separation, was checked by the afflictions through which Ralegh had passed, and scarcely less by the dark out- look which lay before him. His wife told him in broken tones what his enemies were saying and doing against him, and he could not but foresee that his misfortunes had not yet reached their end. After remaining a week or two at Plymouth, to settle up the affairs of his fleet, Ralegh and his wife set out together for London. He was resolved to face his enemies, and learn his fate. He never once thought of shrinking from the ordeal before him. As, one afternoon, he was approaching the village of Ashburton, he saw a cavalcade ap- proaching. Presently he recognized, at the head of the horsemen, his relative, Sir Lewis Stukeley, the vice-admiral of Devon. Stukeley came up to Ralegh, and saluting him with a bow, said, — '• Sir Walter, I have the king's orders to arrest both you and your ships." Ralegh heard this with a calm countenance, and gave himself up to Stukeley's custody. He was escorted by Stukeley's retinue back to Plymouth, followed by his grief-stricken wife. Ralegh was HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 24/ lodged in the house of Sir Christopher Harris, and remained there while Stukeley examined the fleet, in the hope of seizing its cargo, and himself get- ting possession of it. During these weary days, Ralegh's wife never ceased her entreaties to him to try to escape. In these she was seconded by a faithful old family servant, who had accompanied her when she went to meet her husband on his return. Perplexed and wearied, Ralegh, in a thoughtless moment, yielded to these repeated and touching appeals. He asked Captain King, one of his friends, to procure a boat to take him to France. Captain King succeeded in getting one, and had it anchored out in the harbor, beyond the range of the guns in the fort. Very late one night, Ralegh slipped out of the house, and was soon seated in the boat with his faithful friend. A French ship lay at some distance in the channel. The boat- men vigorously plied their oars, and the boat was soon within a quarter of a mile of the vessel. Safety was now within Ralegh's reach. In a few minutes he might defy the worst plans of his ene- mies. Freedom would be his, in a land where he would surely be protected. 248 RALEGH : But at this last moment, he bravely and sternly changed his mind. To fly was cowardice and dis- honor. His name and fame, more precious to him than life, were at stake. In a resolute voice, he commanded the boatmen to turn and row back to the harbor again. Captain King's protests fell on deaf ears. Ralegh repeated his command. The boat swung around, and Ralegh was soon ashore again, and returned to Harris's house, to await his jailer's movements. It was not long after this courageous act of self- devotion, that Stukeley was ordered by the king's council to lose no more time in bringing Ralegh to London. Stukeley made haste to sell out as much of the cargo of Ralegh's fleet as he had been able to lay his avaricious hands on, and to prepare for departure to the capital. On the 25th of July, he set out with his prisoner, who was still accompa- nied by his ever-devoted wife. On the way, Ra- legh's health gave way, and the cavalcade was obliged to go by slow stages. It then occurred to Stukeley to do a perfidious thing. He had with him a French doctor, whom he ordered to prescribe for Ralegh. At the same time, he bribed the doc- tor to play the spy upon the prisoner. Ralegh, HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 249 who liked and trusted Frenchmen, at once fell into the trap set by his mean and treacherous cousin. He talked freely with the doctor, who repeated all that he said to Stukeley. Captain King, who was also in the party, made a confidant of the French- man, and conversed freely with him about Ralegh's chances of escaping to France. All this was re- peated to Ralegh's enemies. As the cavalcade advanced, it happened that they passed within full sight of Ralegh's old and beautiful domain of Sherborne. In all his travels and vicissitudes, the old cavalier had never given up the hope of one day again becoming its possessor. That hope seemed now forever vanished. He looked with longing and sorrowful eyes on the spacious park, the long reaches of luxuriant lawn, and the towers of the house, peeping above the trees. That night was spent at a manor-house near Sherborne, and when Ralegh's old servants heard that he was in. the neighborhood, they flocked about the mansion where he was staying, hoping to catch a glimpse of their former beloved master. The cavalcade set out early the next morning, on its way to Salisbury. After riding an hour or two Ralegh dismounted and walked along the road. 250 RALEGH : The French doctor, whose name was Manourie, walked by his side. Ralegh seized this opportunity to carry out a project which he had just been re- volving in his mind. He saw but too clearly that he was about to be kept a close prisoner and that he would perhaps suffer death. Above all things, he cherished his good name and his fame. He was unwilling that the story of his last Guiana expe- dition should go down to posterity as told by his bitter enemies. He therefore resolved that he would himself write it out, and leave his narrative in such a manner that it would surely reach the public eye. He was being hurried as fast as possible to London. His object was to procure a delay of two or three days on the journey, that he might have time to write his account before being shut up and jealously guarded in the Tower. So now, as he walked along with Manourie, he persuaded the doctor to aid him in his design, by giving him an emetic. If he could feign illness, and if Manourie would declare that he was unfit to proceed on the journey, he would gain the delay he so much wished for. The plan succeeded perfectly. Ralegh became, HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 2$l apparently, very ill. On reaching Salisbury, he staggered and fell against a post. On being carried to his chamber, Manourie declared that he would be unfit, for several days, to proceed on his way. Thus Ralegh obtained the opportunity to write his narrative, and to make a complete defence of his conduct in Guiana. It happened that King James was at this time on one of his progresses ; and was on the point of arriving at Salisbury. Scarcely, therefore, had Ralegh completed his writing, when Stukeley hur- riedly ordered the cavalcade to set out again. He was afraid lest Ralegh should get access to the king, and try to secure his release ; he suspected, too, that the king would be annoyed to find the prisoner there when he came. As the party passed along through different towns, crowds came out to see the famous captive ; and he received many marks of the affection of the people, and of their grief at his misfortunes. Ralegh's fate now seemed so certain to be a speedy death at the hands of the headsman, that his faithful friend. Captain King, and his devoted wife, renewed their supplications to him to endeavor to make his escape once more ; and so desperate 252 RALEGH : seemed his situation, that Ralegh was at last induced to lend his ear to these urgent appeals. An event which soon occurred rather confirmed this incUna- tion. When the party reached Brentford, not far from London, an agent of the French envoy man- aged to speak unobserved to Ralegh. He told him that the French were his friends and were anxious to aid him in escaping. Ralegh was advised to bide his time, and a chance of regaining his freedom might soon occur. On reaching London, Stukeley, instead of carry- ing his prisoner at once to the Tower, proceeded to Ralegh's own house in Broad Street. There Stukeley took up his quarters, and to Ralegh's surprise, gave him a great deal of liberty of action. Ralegh was allowed to have his own servants about him, and to retain in the house his ever faithful friend, Captain King. His old friends came to see him, and thought that he was really a free man. But all the while, Stukeley kept a keen and sleep- less watch upon his prisoner. The more Ralegh reflected on his position, the more firmly convinced he became that his only hope lay in a successful escape. He soon learned that the French envoy had arranged to get him HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 253 away, and had secured a barque for the purpose. Meanwhile Captain King had been busy, and had found a small boat, commanded by one of his old boatswains. This boat lay at Tilbury awaiting King's orders. Ralegh was still further encouraged by Stukeley's conduct. The perfidious man now pretended to be Ralegh's friend, and to be willing to help him escape. Ralegh promised him a large sum of money if he would do so, and Stukeley with feigned eagerness yielded to the bribe. It only remained to complete the preparations for the escape. This was appointed for the even- ing of Sunday, August 9th, 161 8. Hart, the boat- swain in command of the boat which King: had secured, was ordered to moor it at Gravesend. At the designated hour Ralegh, King, Stukeley and his son. Hart, and a page got into two small wherries to go to the boat. They had just launched into the stream, when Ralegh saw another boat push out from the bank and follow them. He called Stukeley's attention to this, but only received an impatient oath in response. The faster the men rowed, the more rapid be- came the movements of the plirsuing craft. The tide was going out, and it became doubtful whether 254 RALEGH : the boats could reach Gravesend under the protec- tion of the darkness. At last, in despair, the wherries were forced to turn and retrace their passage. The pursuing boat instantly turned also. When the wherries reached Greenwich, Stukeley, who had been loudly professing his affection and fidelity to Ralegh, stood up and appeared in his true colors. Laying a hand on Captain King's shoulder, and with a deep frown on his face, he cried, — " I arrest you in the name of the king." Ralegh looked around in angry surprise. He perceived that Stukeley had basely betrayed him ; and it was not long before Hart, the boatswain, showed that he, too, had been bribed to be false. " Sir Lewis," said Ralegh to Stukeley, sternly shaking his head, " these actions will not turn out to your credit." No wonder the people of that time learned to call this traitor " Sir Judas Stukeley." He ordered the boatmen to row directly to the Tower, which was but a short distance away ; and the boat which had pursued the wherries, and which contained a courtier named Herbert, to w^hom Stukeley had betrayed the projetted escape, escorted them to the grim old prison. HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 255 Arrived at the water-gates of the Tower, Ralegh parted with much emotion from his faithful adherent, Captain King. Warmly embracing him, Ralegh said in sorrowful tones, — " You need be in no fear of danger. It is I only that am the mark shot at." Ralegh was now led into the Tower by his per- fidious keeper, and delivered to the lieutenant ; and soon found himself once more confined in a low, dark cell, within those dreary walls where he had already spent twelve long years of his life. The traitors, Stukeley and Manourie, received in due time the reward of their treachery. The French doctor only got twenty pounds. Stukeley received a thousand. But the latter lived to be universally despised and neglected, and finally died a wretched and disgraceful death. About a week after Ralegh's return to the Tower, his wife, who was living in great sorrow at their house in Broad street, was also arrested, and taken to the house of a certain London merchant, who was appointed her jailer. It was feared that she might in some way effect her husband's escape. Nor was this the only indignity which was visited upon her ; for her furniture, and even her household 256 RALEGH : linen, were seized, and she was forbidden their use. All these proceedings only showed too dearly that the hostility of the king and his court to Ralegh was implacable, and would only be coiit^it with the shedding of his blood. HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 257 CHAPTER XVII. THE FINAL SCENE. ALEGH'S enemies had at last succeeded in their combined efforts to destroy him. Once more a prisoner, the outlook before him was quite hopeless. The king had always believed Ralegh to be disloyal to him at heart. Besides, James was at this time slavishly submissive to the influence of the King of Spain ; and that monarch recognized in Ralegh a relentless, and, it might be, powerful enemy. One sturdy friend Ralegh had long had at court. This was the queen, Anne of Denmark ; and now, at the last moment, she exerted all her efforts to procure his pardon and release. But Queen Anne's influence over her husband's mind had long since vanished ; and she could not hope to p'revail against so many formidable foes as now rose up to hurry Ralegh on to his death. King 258 RALEGH : James was so firmly resolved to please the Span- iards, that he offered to send Ralegh to Spain, to be there tried and executed, if the King of Spain so wished. But the latter preferred that King James should do the bloody work himself. After some delay, Ralegh was subjected to a kind of examination before the Royal Council, and he then learned upon what charges it was intended to convict him. He was accused of being disloyal, and a secret enemy of the king ; and of having made treasonable remarks about him. Ralegh replied that he had once said, " My confidence in the king is deceived;" but that, besides this remark, he had never uttered a disrespectful word about James. He was next accused of going to Guiana on the pretence of finding a rich mine, but without really ever intending to seek for it ; and also of having caused the massacre of Spaniards there. His refutation of these charges was complete, but he spoke to deaf ears. On being remanded to the Tower, Ralegh was subjected to another indignity. A creature of the court, named Wilson, was set to watching him as a spy. Wilson was ordered to report all that Ra- legh said in unguarded moments ; and he used HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 259 every cunning device to induce Ralegh to say something which might be used against him. He told Ralegh that if he would disclose all he knew, he would receive the king's pardon. Wilson de- scended to the meanness of opening and reading the letters which passed between Ralegh and his sorrow-stricken wife. Shortly after, Lady Ralegh was herself brought to the Tower ; but she was speedily released again. Among Ralegh's earliest and most affectionate friends was the famous Lord Bacon. This great man had at last attained the summit of his ambi- tion, and was now Lord High Chancellor. In Bacon, at least, Ralegh hoped to find a brave and eloquent defender. But if he had called to mind how Bacon, who owed his rise to the Earl of Essex, had turned on that generous benefactor in his day of trouble, and had been his most virulent assailant, such a hope should have been banished from Ralegh's heart. Bacon now appeared as Ralegh's foremost accuser. He cudgelled his subtle brain for a legal way to secure Ralegh's condemnation to death, and reported to the king the result of his deliberation. Bacon decided that Ralegh might be executed under his conviction for 26o RALEGH : treason fifteen years before, but advised the king to bring him to trial in the court of the King's Bench. The judges would declare Ralegh amena- ble to death because of the old and almost for- gotten offence. It was on the morning of October 28, 161 8, that Ralegh was summoned by his jailer to proceed to his trial. The prisoner was ill, but was forced to rise as best he could, and appear before the judges. As, walking feebly and half supported by an attendant, he was walking through the corridor, a faithful old domestic of his, who clung to him more eagerly than ever in his misfortunes, was standing there to see him pass. Addressing Ralegh, he said to him that his head had not been combed. " Let those comb it," replied Ralegh, with a sad smile, *' who are to have it." Then, after a mo- ment's pause, he added, " Dost thou know, Peter, of any plaster that will set a man's head on again, after it is off .'' " Taken hastily to Westminster, Ralegh soon found himself confronting the judges, who sat on their bench in their wigs and long robes, glowering sternly upon him. 'He was not permitted even the pre- HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 261 tence of a regular trial. The judges began at once to ask him a series of questions, and each time that he tried to respond, they gruffly contra- dicted him. The old conviction of high treason was brought up against him, and he was asked what he had to say in reply. " All I can say," replied Ralegh, '' is this. The judgment I received to die, so long since, will not, I hope, be strained. I undertook a voyage to do honor to my sovereign, and to enrich his kingdom with gold, of the ore whereof this hand hath found and taken in Guiana. But the enterprise, notwith- standing my endeavors, had no other issue than what was fatal to me, — the loss of my son, and the wasting of my whole estate." Montagu, the chief justice, sternly interrupted him by saying that the Guiana expedition had nothing to do with the matter. " Treason," he added, '* is a crime which must be pardoned by express words, not by implication. The king has never pardoned you." " If that is your opinion," replied Ralegh, *' I can only put myself on the mercy of the king." The judges then declared that Ralegh should be executed on the old conviction. 262 RALEGH : Rising, and bowing with an air of sorrowful dignity, the prisoner said, — " My lords, I desire this much favor, that I be not cut off suddenly, but may have some time granted me before my execution, to settle my affairs and my mind. I have something to do in discharge of my conscience ; and I have somewhat to satisfy his .Majesty in. I would beseech the favor of pen, ink, and paper ; and I now beseech your lordships that, when,! come to die, I may have leave to speak freely at my farewell. And here I take God, before whom I shall shortly ap- pear, to be my judge, that I was never disloyal to his majesty ; which I shall justify when I shall not fear the face of any king on earth. And I beseech you all to pray for me." On being led out of Westminster Hall, Ralegh was surprised to find that, instead of being taken back to the Tower, he was lodged in the gate- house of Westminster Abbey. This was an old, low building, the upper story of which had long been used as a prison. Ralegh was conducted into one of its cells. His petition for pen and paper was refused ; nor could he now doubt that his other prayer, that time might be given HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 263 to him to prepare for death, was also to be de- nied him. Even before his appearance before the judges, indeed, the warrant for his execution had been drawn up by the false hand of Bacon, and had been signed by King James. The king had left London, so that he might not be annoyed by the commotion which the coming tragedy would excite. A scaffold was erected in haste in the old Palace Yard, near by, as soon as Ralegh had entered his prison door. The next day was Lord Mayor's day, and the great multitude of Londoners would flock to the other end of the town, to witness the civic pageant. It was just the time to put Ralegh out of the way without interruption or disturbance. All these things showed that the time of Ra- legh's doom was fixed for an early hour on the morning of October 29, 161 8, and that every pre- caution had been taken to dispatch him immedi- ately after his fate had been sealed by the judges. Meanwhile, Ralegh spent his last evening and night on earth in preparation for his doom. De- spite the secrecy with which the coming event was kept, news of it spread quickly through the royal court, and among the upper classes. A number 264 RALEGH : of Ralegh's friends hastened to the gate-house to bid him farewell. They found him calm, almost cheerful. To one of them, an old friend from the country, he quietly asked, — " You will come to-morrow morning ? " ** Certainly," said his friend. "But," replied Ralegh, •' I know not whether you will get a place. You must take your chance. For my part, I am sure of one." A relative, Francis Thynne, observing how buoyantly Ralegh bore himself, said to him, '* Do not carry it with too much bravery. Your enemies will complain of it if you do." " It is my last mirth in this world ; " rejoined Ralegh, *' do not grudge it to me. When I come to the sad parting, you will see me grave enough." Among those who visited the doomed hero on that last night, was Dr. Tounson, Dean of West- minster ; who naturally asked about his spiritual state. The Dean thus relates the conversation : — " When I began to encourage him against the fear of death, he seemed to make so light of it that I wondered at him. When I told him that the dear servants of God, in better causes than his, had shrunk back and trembled a little, he denied it not. HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 265 But yet he gave God thanks that he had never feared death. I wished him not to flatter himself; for this extraordinary boldness I feared might come from some false ground. If it sprung from the love and favor of God, and the hope of his salvation by Christ, and his own innocence, then he was a happy man. But if it was out of any humor of vain glory, or carelessness of death, or senselessness of his own state, then were he much to be lamented. He satisfied me then ; as I think he did all his spectators at his death. He was the most fearless of death that ever was known, and the most resolute and confident ; yet with reverence and conscience." Later in the night, when Ralegh was left alone, he employed himself in writing some verses on scraps of paper which his jailer had been indulgent enough to give him. At the midnight stroke, the saddest trial of all took place. The time had come when Ralegh was to sec his faithful and beloved wife for the last time. With heroic resolution, he steeled himself to go bravely through this most sorrowful ordeal. When his weeping wife entered his cell, Ralegh received her with kind, firm voice, and for a moment held her close to his breast. Then, seating 266 RALEGH : himself beside her, and taking her hands in his, he tried to cheer and console her. Even at that terrible hour, his mind was still intent upon pre- serving his good name and fame, and justifying himself in the eyes of future generations. He forced his wife to listen, while he told her of the means by which, after his death, she might restore his renown. Then the poor wife broke down, and began to talk about their little son, Carew, who would still remain to her. At the mention of Carew's name, Ralegh was for a moment overcome. He told his wife, in broken accents, not to speak of the boy, for he could not bear to think of him. All too soon, the turnkey came to conduct Lady Ralegh out of the gate-house. Straining her to his breast, and showering upon her his farewell kisses, Ralegh bade her good-by. Lady Ralegh had obtained permission to receive her husband's body, and bury it where she wished ; and at this last moment, she told him of this sad consolation. "It is well, dear Bess," said Ralegh, with a sorrowful smile, '' that thou mayest dispose of that, dead, which thou hadst not always the disposing of when alive." HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 26/ In another instant, the heavy door of the cell was swung to and locked, and had parted husband and wife forever. The rest of the dark hours were spent in writing additions to his will, and giving directions as to the management of such little property as he still had left. It was scarcely dawn when the venerable Dean of Westminster again entered his cell, attired in the robes of his sacred office. With grave voice and manner, he gave Ralegh the final sacra- ment, which the prisoner took with cheerful seren- ity. The Dean then spoke to him of the treason which he had been accused of committing ; and at this solemn moment, Ralegh once more, with great earnestness, declared his innocence. Soon after the Dean's departure, an attendant brought Ralegh a cup of sack, which he drank with evident relish. The attendant asked him if it was to his liking. " I will answer you," said Ralegh, " as did the fellow who drank of St. Giles's bowl, as he went to Tyburn : ' It is good drink, if a man might but tarry by it.' " At an early hour the sheriffs, with the Dean of Westminster, entered Ralegh's cell. They told 268 RALEGH : him that the time had come for him to proceed to the scaffold. Without hesitation or tremor, the old hero grasped his hat and put it on, and said, — ** Sirs, I am ready to follow you." The scene, as Ralegh, between the two sheriffs, emerged from the gate-house, and with firm step crossed the street towards the scaffold, was one which, even at that dread hour, must have at- tracted his attention. Around the scaffold, which rose grimly in Old Palace Yard, a barrier had been erected ; within this barrier, the space was packed with people. In the street around it was collected a multitude of courtiers and noblemen on horse- back; while from the balconies of the houses near by, other persons of rank and distinction looked down upon the sombre spectacle. As Ralegh was crossing the street, he observed an old man standing there with a very bald head, which had no covering. Taking off a lace cap which he wore under his hat, Ralegh tossed it to the old man, saying, — " You need this, my friend, more than I do." On entering the barrier, the crowd was so dense and so excited, that Ralegh for a moment was hustled to and fro. But he firmly kept his footing, HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 269 and the placid smile with which he had made his appearance never left his face. With knightly bearing and erect form he ascended the narrow steps of the scaffold. There stood the headsman, tall, gaunt, and grim, with a black mask over his face, leaning upon the glittering, deadly axe. By his side stood the Dean of Westminster, ready to perform the last sacred offices. On either side of Ralegh were stationed the sheriffs, watchful lest, at the last moment, a rescue might be attempted ; for the sympathies of the crowd were strongly in Ralegh's favor. Ralegh turned to the spectators, and began to speak the last words he would utter on earth. " I have had fits of ague," said he, " for the last two days. If, therefore, you perceive any weakness in me, ascribe it to my sickness, rather than to myself. I am infinitely bound to God that he hath vouchsafed me to die in the sight of so noble an assembly, and not in darkness, in that Tower where I have suffered so much adversity and a long sickness." He then went on to defend himself, with earnest and eloquent words, from the charges which had been made against him ; and then, after alluding 2/0 RALEGH ! to the treachery of Stukeley, and the French doc- tor, Manourie, he declared that he freely forgave them both. After concluding his defence of the Guiana expedition, and denying that he had ex- ulted in Essex's death, he said, — '' I have many, many sins for which to beseech God's pardon. For a long time, my course was a course of vanity. I have been a seafaring man, a soldier, and a courtier ; and in the temptations of the least of these there is enough to overthrow a good mind and a good man. I die in the faith professed by the Church of England. I hope to be saved, and to have my sins washed away by the precious blood and merits of our Saviour, Christ." Ralegh then begged for the prayers of those who heard him, and himself knelt in prayer. No sooner had Ralegh risen to his feet again, than, turning to the headsman, he said, — " Show me the axe." The headsman hesitated a moment, then lifted the axe so that Ralegh could take hold of it. He tried its edge, to see whether it was sharp enough to do its work and holding up the glittering blade, kissed it. HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 27 1 "This," said he, "gives me no fear. It is a sharp and fair medicine, to cure me of all my troubles." Then, turning to the headsman, and giving him back the axe, Ralegh added, — " When I stretch forth my hands, despatch me." He again faced the spectators, and said, "Give me heartily your prayers." The doomed man knelt at the block, and his lips were seen moving in silent prayer. He sud- denly lifted his hands, as a signal for the exe- cutioner to strike. But the headsman, for once confused by the scene before him, lost his presence of mind, and did not at once obey the signal. Ralegh, seeing that the blow did not fall, cried out, — " What dost thou fear ? Strike, man, strike ! " The headsman now nerved himself, and swung the axe aloft. It fell with a tremendous blow upon Ralegh's neck, and in another instant had fallen a second time. But the first blow had done its work. The kneeling form was headless. The executioner grasping the bleeding head by the hair, lifted and showed it to the spectators. Sir Walter Ralegh was no more ! 2/2 RALEGH : A quick shudder ran through the multitude, and many groaned at the horrible sight. One man cried out, angrily, " We have not such another head to be cut off." The crowd separated slowly, muttering and crying out against Ralegh's ene- mies ; while his friends who were present departed with tearful eyes. The remains of the stout old hero, who had achieved and had suffered so much, and had met, at the age of sixty-three, the unmerited doom of a traitor, were duly delivered to his sorrowing widow. The same day, they were reverently and tenderly laid in a tomb in St. Margaret's Church, just beside Westminster Abbey, and in sight of the scene of his execution. Years after, a tablet of brass was erected in the church, near the spot where Ralegh was laid ; and upon this was engraved the following inscription: — " Within the chancel of this church was interred the body of the great Sir Walter Ralegh, on the day he was beheaded, in Old Palace Yard, Westminster, October 29th, 1618. Reader, should you reflect on his errors, remember his many virtues; and that he was a mortal." Thus lived and died one who played a famous and heroic part in his time ; and whose fame, which HIS EXPLOITS AND VOYAGES. 273 grew ever brighter after his death, is still green at a distance of more than two and a half centuries. Posterity has awarded him the justice which, while he was living, was denied to him by ungrateful monarchs and relentless enemies. He served Eng- land well, and was an honor to his age ; he was a pioneer of the English settlement on the American continent ; and whatever part he chose to play in the world's afifairs, he played resolutely, bravely, and with all the might of mind and hand. ... ... ,j p OOKS OF PflRTICULflR INTEREST * * • * yOUNG MEN RND WOMEN TO HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW His Life, His Works, His Friendships. By George Lowell Austin. Profusely illustrated. Cloth, $2.00. New edition. Formerly published by subscription. . , , , ,. ■•/• " We have here a clear and popular presentation of the poet s literary lite. 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Cloth, illustrated. $1.50^ " The history is like a novel, increasing in interest to the very end, and ierminating at the most interesting period of the whole; and the reader la* down the book a moment in enthusiastic admiration for a people who ha?e endured so much, and yet have retained so many admirable characteristics." — JV.y-. IVorhi. Soltf by all booksellers, and sent by mail, postpaid, on receipt of price LEE AND SHEPARD Publishers Boston 6 POPULAR • ' ,^ TTOM ' » READING '°^ il ' ' OME AND SCHOOl BY POPULAR AUTHORS JANE ANDREWS' BOOKS ):iE SEVEN LITTLE SISTERS WHO LIVE ON THE ROUND BALL THAI FLOATS IN THE AIR New edition, with an introduction by Louisa Parsons Hopkins Illustrated School edition cloth 50 cents Library edition cloth 80 cents THE SEVEN LITTLE SISTERS PROVE THEIR SISTERHOOD (Former title EACH AND ALL) Illustrated School edition cloth 50 cents Library edition cloth 80 cents FEN BOYS WHO LIVED ON THE ROAD FROM LONG AGO TO NOW 20 illustrations Cloth 80 cents GEOGRAPHICAL PLAYS FOR YOUNG FOLKS AT SCHOOL AND AT HOME Price each play in paper 15 cents postage paid i United States 2 Europe 3 Asia 4 Africa and South America 5 Australia and Isles of the S€a 6 The Commerce of the World The above bound in one volume Cloth $1.00 postage paid GRADED SUPPLEMENTARY READING For use in schools By Professor Tweed, late Supervisor of Boston Public Schools 12 parts ready: Nos. i, 4, 7 and 10, ist year primary; Nos 2, 5, 8 and 11, 2d year primary; Nos. 3, 6, 9 and 12, 3d year primary In brown paper covers 4 cents each; by mail 5 cents The four parts for each year bound together in boards 20 cents each First year primary in one volume boards 20 cents Second year primary in one volume boards 20 cents Third year primary in one volume boards 20 cents HISTORICAL READINGS YOUNG FOLKS' HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES By Thomas Wentworth Higginson With over 100 illustrations $1.— YOUNG FOLKS' BOOK OF AMERICAN EXPLORERS By Thomas Wentworth Higginson Illustrated $1.20 HANDBOOK OF ENGLISH HISTORY Based on Guest's " Lectures on English History," and brought down to the year 1880 With a Supplementary Chapter on the English Literature ot the 19th Century By F. 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