SIR WALTER RALEIGH
A. D. 1570 TO 1583.
1570. The sixteenth century of the Christian era was one of the most
wonderful periods in the world's history. The recent invention
of the printing-press had scattered books and knowledge over
Christendom, a larger liberty in religions matters had been
achieved by the Reformation, and daring navigators sailed with
their ships into many regions never before visited by civilized
men.
2. The Portuguese and Spaniards sent expeditions to many lands.
In America, thousands of men and women were living who had come
from Europe, or had been born of white parents since the first
settlements in the West Indies, Mexico and Peru. As Columbus had
discovered the new world with Spanish ships, the kings of Spain
laid claim to all the continent.
3. England, in that time, was ruled by Queen Elizabeth, who began
her reign in 1558. Ireland and the small islands in the British
Channel were the only dependencies of the Crown. Scotland was
still an independent monarchy. With a few millions of subjects,
and this small territory as her realm, this queen was in great
danger of dethronement and death. The Pope, the Catholic kings
and her own people belonging to the Church of Rome denied her
title to be queen and sought her overthrow and that of the
Protestant religion she upheld.
4. Amid so many dangers and difficulties, Queen Elizabeth, by
wisdom and prudence, not only managed to defend herself, but
became one of the greatest rulers of any age. She devoted her
energies to the government of her people, and, though courted by
many princes, would never marry, for fear such a relation would
impair her usefulness as a queen.
5. Among her greatest gifts as a ruler was her clear insight into
the characters of men. She knew whom to employ as her agents,
and was rarely deceived as to how far she could trust them in a
season so full of treason and danger. But this great queen, who
humbled the most powerful monarchs, and in whose presence the
sternest men would sometimes tremble, was, after all, a very vain
woman. Nothing pleased her more, even in her old age, than
praise of her personal appearance.
6. One evening she was walking at the head of a procession
composed of ladies and gentlemen of her court, when she
encountered a muddy place in her pathway. The stately queen
paused a moment, seeming in doubt as to whether she should step
in the mud or pass around. A handsome young man, who was
standing near by, snatched a velvet cloak from his shoulders,
and, throwing it in the mud for Her Majesty to step upon, she
passed over with dry feet.
7. Queen Elizabeth was charmed with the ready gallantry of the
youth. She made inquiries concerning him, and found that it was
young Walter Raleigh, who had just come to London from his home
in the country. It was the beginning of his fortunes at court,
and he soon won the queen's confidence and respect.
8. Walter Raleigh had many noble and generous qualities. He was,
by nature, brave, ambitious and enterprising, and soon became a
great and learned man. He was a gallant soldier, a skilful
navigator and the statesman who first conceived the plan for
extending the British Empire. While serving as a soldier in
behalf of the French Protestants, on the continent of Europe, he
heard and read so much of the wondrous lands across the Atlantic
Ocean that he resolved that England should share in the glory and
profit of future discoveries.
1578-83.
9. When Raleigh went back to England he communicated his desires
and feelings to his half-brother, Sir Humphrey Gilbert, who had
made reputation as a commander of ships. In the year 1578, the
queen granted leave to these two men to sail in search of lands
yet undiscovered by civilized nations. In 1583 they sent out a
large vessel called the Raleigh, [It is said that the vessel was
commanded by Sir Walter Raleigh in person, and this was the only
attempt ever made by him to visit the shores of North America. ]
which was compelled to return in a few days, on account of
disease among the crew.
10. English sailors, at that time, were easily discouraged in
efforts to navigate the Atlantic Ocean. They had never crossed
it, and were full of superstition concerning that unknown and
mysterious sea.
11. Again, in 1583, Sir Humphrey Gilbert, with three ships,
ventured out upon the waste of waters that lay to the west of
their island homes. He discovered the island of Newfoundland,
and thence sailed southward. Off the coast of Maine he was
overtaken by a storm which sunk one of his ships. This disaster
induced him to turn his prows for the voyage homeward; but the
storm continued, and the darkness and horrors of the sea grew
tenfold worse when they found themselves amid drifting icebergs.
Brave Sir Humphrey, from the deck of his ship, the Squirrel, to
the last cheered the men of her consort, crying out, "Cheer up,
my lads! We are as near heaven at sea as on land."
12. When the terrible night had passed, it was found that Sir
Humphrey Gilbert and his crew had perished, and only the Hind was
left to carry back the disheartening tidings to Raleigh and the
English queen. The vessel which carried Sir Humphrey Gilbert and
his crew was of only ten tons burden, and very poorly able to
stand the gales along the American coast. The Delight, another
one of the fleet, had gone down a few days before the loss of the
Squirrel.
[NOTE--In the year 1520 a Spanish vessel, commanded by Vasques de
Ayllon, was driven by a violent storm upon the coast of Carolina.
The commander was kindly treated by the natives, and, in return,
he enticed a number of them on board his ship and tried to carry
them to Hispaniola. But the Indians preferred death to
captivity; they all refused to partake of any food, and thus died
of voluntary starvation. The scene of this occurrence is within
the present borders of South Carolina.]
QUESTIONS.
1. What is said of the sixteenth century of the world's history?
2. What was the condition of the "new world"? What people laid
claim to the American continent, and why?
3. Who was Queen of England, and what was the condition of her
kingdom? What was Queen Elizabeth's trouble with the Pope of
Rome?
4. What is said of Queen Elizabeth as a ruler?
5. What other traits of character did she possess?
6. What interesting circumstance is relayed of the queen?
7. Who was the young man, and what did the queen think of him?
8. What was the character of Walter Raleigh?
9. To whom did he communicate his plans? What did the queen
grant to these two men? When was the first expedition started,
and with what result?
10. How did sailors of that period regard the Atlantic Ocean?
11. What occurred in 1583? What island was discovered? What
disaster befell the expedition?
12. What did daylight reveal? Give the names of the three ships.