manders-The sudden Friendship struck up between Ralegh

and Cecil and the Earl of Essex-Alarm of a fresh Invasion

by Spain-The "Feather Triumph of Essex"-The Return of

that Nobleman from his Command in Ireland, and his Insur-

rection-Ralegh a Free-Trader-He is Challenged by Sir Amias

Preston-His celebrated Essay on Duelling-He Institutes the

Literary Club at the Mermaid-The Earliest Members of that

Society-The Death of Queen Elizabeth.

CHAPTER V.

Accession of James I.-The Prejudice of that Monarch against

Ralegh-How caused-Accused of being Engaged na Plot

against the King-A brief Account of the Alleged Plot-Lord

Cobham-Trial of Ralegh at Winchester-The Conduct of Sir

Edward Coke on the Trial-Ralegh found guilty-The Sen-

tence of Sir John Popham, the Chief Justice-Some Notice of

that Judge-Demeanour of Ralegh on and after his Trial-His

Letter to Lady Ralegh-His Advice to his Son and to Posterity

-His Two Poems, the "Pilgrimage" and the "Farewell "—

The King-craft of James I.-The Scaffold Scene at Winches-

ter-The Countess of Pembroke-Ralegh Imprisoned in the

Tower-Death of Lord Cobham

CHAPTER VI.

The Property of Sir Walter put in Trust for his Family and

Creditors-Ralegh in Prison-Two short Poems-His Chemical

Pursuits-His Sherborne Estate taken from Him-Appeal of

Lady Ralegh to James I.-Her Curse-The "Grand Cordial "

of Ralegh-Prince Henry and Sir Walter-The Death of the

Prince-Friendship of the Queen for Ralegh-His Political

Discourses-The "History of the World"-Mr. Isaac Disraeli's

"Discovery" in relation to it-The Preface and Conclusion.

Selections from the " History of the World."-The "Mind of

the Front," by Ben Jonson-The Judgments of the Almighty

-How Ahaziah perished with the House of Ahab-Of the

unwarlike Army levied by Darius against Alexander-

Of Alexander's Person and Qualities-Characters of Epami-

nondas and Agesilaus-A Chapter on Hannibal and the

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136

Romans-The great Similitude of worldly Events-Of our

base and frail Bodies, and that the care thereof should yield

to our Immortal Souls-The unalterable Law of God-The

Chastisements of the Almighty-Observations out of the Story

of Moses-Human Ambition-The Temptation of Satan-The

Seven Ages of Man-The Inviolability of an Oath-Detached

Observations, Maxims and Reflections

CHAPTER VII.

The Death of Cecil, Earl of Salisbury-Carr, Earl of Somerset,

committed to the Tower-Young Walter Ralegh, Anecdote of

him and Ben Jonson-The "History of the World" published

-Ralegh procures his Liberty, and proposes another Voyage

to Guiana-The Commission granted him by James I.—

Opinion of Lord Bacon as to the Expediency of procuring a

Pardon-Ralegh sails for Guiana-His Fleet-His Letter to his

Wife-The Conflict at St. Thomas with the Spaniards-Death

of young Ralegh-Suicide of Captain Keymis-Second Letter

of Sir Walter to Lady Ralegh-Count Gondomar-King James

and his Declaration-Return of Ralegh to England-His

Arrest by Sir Lewis Stukely-Attempt of Ralegh to Escape-

Treachery of Manourie and Stukely-Second Attempt of Ralegh

to Escape-Letter of the Queen to Buckingham-Ralegh

is brought up for Judgment-Address of the Chief Justice-

The Morning of Ralegh's Execution-His Appearance on the

Scaffold-His Speech-His Farewell-His Death-Verses found

in his Bible-Description of him by Aubrey-The End of Sir

Lewis Stukely-Two Anecdotes concerning him-Character

of Sir Walter Ralegh-Conclusion .

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174

277

List of Illustrations.

PAGE

THE CLUB AT THE MERMAID

To face the Title.

VIEW OF HAYES FARM, THE BIRTHPLACE OF RALEGH

SIR WALTER RALEGH, FROM THE PORTRAIT AT GREENWICH.
RALEGH'S SEAL AND AUTOGRAPH

PORTRAIT OF SIR PHILIP SYDNEY

V

1

5

10

PORTRAIT OF EDMUND SPENSER

PORTRAIT OF QUEEN ELIZABETH

25

27

PORTRAIT OF THOMAS RADCLIFFE, EARL OF SUSSEX
RALEGH SPREADING HIS CLOAK BEFORE THE QUEEN
PORTRAIT OF DUDLEY, EARL OF LEICESTER

29

32

37

PORTRAIT OF ROBERT DEVEREUX, EARL OF ESSEX.
PORTRAIT OF CHARLES HOWARD, EARL OF NOTTINGHAM

50

62

THE "OLD PIED BULL," AT ISLINGTON; A RESIDENCE OF SIR

ENGRAVED TITLE TO SIR WALTER RALEGH'S "HISTORY OF THE

PORTRAIT OF SIR WALTER RALEGH, FROM THE ENGRAVING IN THE

PORTRAIT OF ANNE OF DENMARK, QUEEN OF JAMES I.

296

THE LIFE AND TIMES OF SIR WALTER RALEGH.

CHAPTER I.

WE are told by Lord Bacon in his book of Apophthegms, "that when Queen Elizabeth had advanced Ralegh, she was one day playing on the virginals, and my Lord of Oxford and another nobleman stood by, when it happened that the ledge before the jacks was taken away, so that they were seen; whereupon that lord and the other nobleman smiled, and whispered a little. The Queen marked it, and would needs know what was the matter?

B