I HAVE thought that a selection from Sir Walter Ralegh's great work, "The History of the World," would not prove unacceptable at the present day, and that there is room for another Life of that illustrious man. Of the many biographers of Sir Walter, a few have been, perhaps, indiscreetly panegyrical, whilst some, (Hume and Southey for instance), have attacked his fame with a virulence, for which an envy of his extraordinary abilities can alone account. I must not disguise it from myself, that my admiration of Ralegh may have led me to take a favourable view of his character upon some points on which others have put an ungenerous, or at least, an unwarranted construction; but I do not hesitate to say, that my high estimate of Sir Walter is founded upon a more intimate knowledge of his life and actions than can be pleaded in justification of their malice by those, or the friends of those, who have traduced him. I have endeavoured to render a faithful picture of the man as he lives in history, and I have striven with some diligence, to show him to the best advantage in his writings. Those who are familiar with the "History of the World," will readily believe me when I confess, that I have not altogether pleased myself with the selections from it that I have made. They will remind themselves of many passages, full of learning and genius, which they will not discover in this publication. But the operation here, has not been of compression, but of extract; and I trust that they, and the rest of my, or rather of his, readers, will find enough to assure them, that of the three great men of Elizabeth and James's time, Walter Ralegh was one, and that the companion of Shakspeare and the friend of Bacon, can neither be depressed by malignity, nor exalted by praise. LONDON, APRIL, 1854. C. W. Contents. The Genealogy of Sir Walter Ralegh-His Estimate of the Claims of Nobility-His Birth-His Education at Oxford-Anecdote of him at that University-His Military Service in France -His Experience as a Soldier in that Country-His Sojourn in the Middle Temple-He serves against the Spaniards in the Netherlands-Sir Humphrey Gilbert-Ralegh joins him in an Expedition to explore the Northern Parts of America- He serves in Ireland under Lord Grey of Wilton-His exploits there-The Miseries of War-Ralegh, David Lord Barry, Fitz- Edmonds, and Sir John Desmond-A Chapter on the Valour of the English Nation-Ralegh is made Governor of Munster- The Letter of Ralegh to the Earl of Leicester-A Question whether He is chosen a Member of Parliament-Sir Adrian Gilbert and the North-West Passage-The Second Virginia Voyage-Sir Richard Grenville - Thomas Hariot, the Mathematician Ralegh's Munster Plantation-The Third Virginia Voyage- The Introduction of Tobacco into England-Two Anecdotes in relation to that Herb-Its Popularity-Advancement of Ralegh -Introduction to the Queen of the Earl of Essex-His Character -Tarleton the Jester-The Fourth Virginia Voyage-Anxiety of Ralegh respecting the Colonists-The Impending Spanish Armada - Reflections of Ralegh on a Possible Invasion of England-The Destruction of the Armada-Honours bestowed on Ralegh-His Opinion as to the Affluence of Gold in Ame- rica and other Parts of the World-His Service in Portugal with The Earl of Essex in favour with the Queen-Ralegh "chased" from the Court-His Intimacy with Edmund Spenser in Ireland -He introduces the Poet to Elizabeth-His Expedition against the Spanish Plate Fleet-The Gallant Naval Action of Sir Richard Grenville-The Capture of the Madre de Dios-Rapa- city of the Queen-Sir Martin Frobisher and Sir John Haw- kins-Amour of Ralegh with Elizabeth Throgmorton-He is Committed to the Tower-His mad Pranks there-His Marriage -He Retires to Sherborne-Calumnies against him-His Two Country Poems-His Policy to Retain the Favour of the Queen -He fits out a Fleet and sets sail for Guiana-His Account of that Country on his Return-Its Reception by the Public-The Ralegh, a Rear-admiral in an Expedition against Spain-The Siege |