Great Ralegh

This book has been written for the general reader. Caveat scholasticus. My aim has been to make the character of Ralegh live again, and to draw a picture of the times in as lively a manner as I see it. England in Elizabeth's maturity touched greatness; in Elizabeth's old age and during the reign of King James, England declined. Ralegh embodied the greatest qualities of the great days, and survived to carry on the Elizabethan tradition when the great Elizabethans had passed away.

The books to which reference has been made are too many to need mention in a book of this kind: dramatists, poets, pamphleteers, memoirists have been freely pillaged. But I should like to acknowledge here my extreme indebtedness to the works of Major Martin Hume, Mr. T. N. Brushfield, and the late Mr. Edward Edwards, and to thank again Miss Janet Wheeler for her kind help, notably in that arduous task--the making of an Index.

H. DE S.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I BIRTH PAGE

The spread of news--Birth--Influence of birthplace--His father--His mother 1

CHAPTER II EARLY DAYS

His early going to Oxford--Old Ascham on quick wit and education--Life at a University--The Queen at Oxford--To the wars in France--Henry Champernoun--Stories of the wars 11

CHAPTER III TOWARDS MANHOOD

Friendship with George Gascoyne--Its importance--Ralegh in London--The arch-gossip Aubrey--Elizabethan London-- Ralegh and Sir Humfrey Gilbert--The beginning of the great enterprise 21

CHAPTER IV THE ARRIVAL

In Ireland--The state of the country--Cruelty of the wars--At Rakele--Illustrative anecdotes--Smerwick-- Ralegh's initiative--Lord Grey de Wilton--Exploit at Bally--In touch with the home authorities 33

CHAPTER V QUEEN'S FAVOURITE

Court life--The Queen's position--Her character--She takes notice of Ralegh--Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester--Sir Philip Sidney--Burghley, the Lord High Treasurer, and Walsingham--Robert Cecil--The dress of the courtier--The language of the courtier--The other side, and the other Queen--Mary, Queen of Scots--The great intrigue--Its discovery--Death of Queen Mary 44

CHAPTER VI THE GREAT ENTERPRISE

Scheme of colonization--Preparation--The sailing--Queen's interest--Death of Sir Humfrey Gilbert--Another charter obtained--King Wingina--Hospitality--Sir Richard Grenville--Difficulties of first colonists--Personal outfit--Misfortune 71

CHAPTER VII BUSINESS MAN

The Stannaries--His grasp of detail--"Do it with thy might"--Estimate of squadron--Scheme of coast defence-- The clash-mills of Mr. Crymes--Irish plans 88

CHAPTER VIII AGAINST SPAIN

Spain's enmity--The Armada--Ralegh's opinion of tactics-- With Sir Francis Drake and Sir John Norreys--The privateers 97

CHAPTER IX RALEGH AND SPENSER

Rise of Essex--Ralegh retires to Ireland--At Kilcolman-- At Youghal--Friendship with Spenser--Brings Spenser to Court--Their dreams 106

CHAPTER X EVIL TIMES

Ralegh and the Puritans--John Udall--Blount--Ralegh's marriage--Queen's anger--In the Tower--His sincerity--The Episode in the "Faerie Queene"--Madre de Dios--Robert Cecil--Sherborne 114

CHAPTER XI THE KINGDOM IN GUIANA

Ralegh leaves England--Arrives at Trinidad--Taking of S. Joseph--Interviews with Berreo--Dealings with natives-- Starts up the river in boats--Dangers overcome-- Adventures--They reach River Amana--Indian village-- Within sight of Guiana--Toparimaca--Beauty of the land-- Falls of the Caroli--The return--Voyage home--Arrival in England 127