Chapter I: Preface

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

CHAPTER XII
CADIZ AND FAYAL

Division of command--Ralegh's delay--Unwillingness of men
to serve--Disputes--Ralegh's wise plan of action--The
attack--The sack--Ralegh wounded--His small share of
spoil--Return home--Sends ship to Guiana--Death of Lady
Cecil--Robert Cecil's policy--Expedition to Azores--
Fayal--Quarrel with Essex 150

CHAPTER XIII
THE UNDERMINING

Robert Cecil in power--Downfall of Essex--Ralegh's opinion
of Essex--Governor of Jersey--Peril imminent 167

CHAPTER XIV
SUCCESSION PLOTS

Possible successors to Elizabeth--Lord Henry Howard--
Spies--Ralegh's position--The net is drawn round him--
Letter of Cecil--Last illness and death of Elizabeth--
Carey's ride to the North 178

CHAPTER XV
THE TRIAL

Arrival of James VI. of Scotland--Ralegh in immediate
disfavour--Gondomar comments on James--Ralegh accused of
treason--Cobham and Brooke--Ralegh attempts suicide--
Cobham's retractions--November 17--And the trial's infamy 195

CHAPTER XVI
THE KING'S FARCE

Comments on Ralegh's fall--In the prison at Winchester--
Ralegh begs mercy--His attitude explained--The King's own
farce--Ralegh removed to London 227

CHAPTER XVII
THE LONG IMPRISONMENT

Ralegh's efforts to avert complete ruin--True greatness--
Keeps in touch with life--First two years--The history--
The first sentence--Reasons for incompleteness--James's
dislike of the work--Its greatness 238

CHAPTER XVIII
THE LAST JOURNEY

Ralegh's influence with Queen and Prince Henry--Death of
Robert Cecil--Rise of Villiers--Liberty--The undying
endeavour--Anecdote--Preparations for expedition--Delays
and uncertainty--The King's treachery--The expedition
starts--Further delays--Storms--Captain Bailey--Ralegh's
illness--At Terra de Bri--His son's death--Return of
Keymis--Suicide of Keymis--Mutiny--The return 253