260. Ex tract from Raleigh's History of the World Reflections on human ambition Since the fall of the Roman Empire (omitting that of the Germanes, which had neither greatnesse nor continuance) there hath beene no State fearfull in the East, but that of the Turk; nor in the West any Prince that hath spred his wings farre over his nest, but the Spaniard; who since the time that Ferdinand expel'd the Moores out of Grenado, have made many attempts to make themselves Masters of al Europe. And it is true, that by the treasures of both Indies, and by the many kingdoms which they possesse in Europe, they are at this day the most powerfull. But as the Turke is now counterpoysed by the Persian, so instead of so many millions as have been spent by the English, French, and Netherlands in a defensive warre, and in diversions against them, it is easie to demonstrate, that with the charge of two hundred thousand pound continued but for two yeeres, or three at the most, they may not onely be perswaded to live in peace, but all their swelling and overflowing streames may bee brought backe into their naturall channels and old bankes. These two nations, I say, are at this day the most eminent, and to be regarded; the one seeking to roote out the Christian religion altogether, the other the truth and sincere profession thereof; the one to joyne all Europe to Asia, the other the rest of all Europe to Spaine. For the rest, if we seeke a reason of the succession and continuance of this boundlesse ambition in mortall men, we may adde to that which hath beene already said; that the Kings and Princes of the world have alwaies laid before them the actions but not the ends of those great ones which preceded them. They are alwayes transported with the glorie of the one, but they never minde the miserie of the other, till they finde the experience in themselves. They neglect the advice of God, while they enjoy life, or hope it; but they follow the counsell of Death, upon his first approach. It is hee that puts into man all wisedome of the world, without speaking a word, which God with all the words of his law, promises, or threats, doth not infuse. Death, which hateth and destroyeth man, is beleeved; God, which hath him and loves him, is alwaies deferred. I have considered (saith Solomon) all the workes that are under the Sunne, and behold, all is vanitie, and vexation of spirit: but who beleeves it, till Death tells it us? It was Death, which opening the conscience of Charles the Fifth, made him enjoyne his sonne Philip to restore Navarre ; and King Francis the First of France to command that justice should be done upon the murderers of the Protestants in Merindol and Cabrieres, which til then he neglected. It is therefore Death alone that can suddenly make man to know himselfe. He tells the proud and insolent that they are but abjects, and humbles them at the instant; makes them crie, complaine, and repent, yea, even to hate their forepassed happinesse. He takes the account of the rich, and proves him a beggar; a naked beggar, which hath interest in nothing, but in the gravell that fills his mouth. He holds a glasse before the eyes of the most beautiful, and makes them see therein their deformitie and rottenesse; and they acknowledge it. O eloquent, just, and mighty Death! whom none could advise, thou hast perswaded; what none hath dared thou hast done; and whom all the world hath flattered, thou only hast cast out of the world and despised: thou hast drawne together all the farr stretched greatnesse, all the pride, crueltie, and ambition of man, and covered it all over with these two narrow words, Hic jacet. The two letters that follow show another side of Raleigh's character, his active interest in practical matters, like shipbuilding, and his experiences in exploration. Most Excellent Prince : If the ship your highness intends to build be bigger than the Victorie, then her beams which are laid overthwart from side to side will not serve again, and many other of her timbers and other stuff will not serve; whereas if she be a size less, the timber of the old ship will serve well to the building of a new. If she be bigger she will be of less use, go very deep to water, and of mighty charge, our channels decaying every year; less nimble; less manyable; and seldom to be used. "Grande navio, grande fatica," saith the Spaniard. 261. Raleigh to Prince Henry (from the Tower) The best way to build and arm a war ship 262. Raleigh to his wife, Lady Raleigh A ship of six hundred tons will carrie as good ordinance as a ship of twelve hundred tons; and where the greater hath double her ordinance, the less will turn her broadside twice before the great ship can wind once, and so no advantage in that overplus of guns. The lesser will go over clear, where the greater shall stick and perish; the lesser will come and go; leave or take; and is yare, whereas the greater is slow, unmanyable, and ever full of encumber. In a well conditioned ship these things are chiefly required: (3) (1) That she be strong built; - (2) Swift in sail; Stout-sided; (4) That her ports be so laid, as she may carry out her guns all weathers; (5) That she hull and trie well; (6) That she stay well, when boarding or turning on a wind is required. . . . ... Two decks and a half is enough, and no building at all above that but a low master's cabbin. Our masters and mariners will say, that the ships will bear more well enough; and true it is, if none but ordinary mariners served in them. But men of better sort, unused to such a life, cannot so well endure the rowling and tumbling from side to side, where the seas are never so little grown, which comes by high charging. Besides those high cabbin works aloft are very dangerous in fight, to tear men with their splinters. Above all things, have care that the great guns be four foot clear above water, when all lading is in; or else these best pieces are idle at sea: for if the ports lie lower and be open, it is dangerous; and by that default was a goodly ship and many gallant gentlemen lost in the days of Henry the Eighth, before the Isle of Wight, in a ship called by the name of Mary Rose. Sweet Heart: I can yet write unto you with but a weak hand, for I have suffered the most violent calenture [fever] for fifteen days, (from Guiana) that ever man did, and lived: but God that gave me a strong heart in all my adversities hath also now strengthened it in the hell-fire of heat. We have had two most grievous sicknesses in our ship, of which fourtie-two have died, and there are yet many sick; but having recovered the land of Guiana, this 12 of November, I hope we shall recover them. We are yet two hundred men; and the rest of our fleet are reasonably strong; strong enough, I hope, to perform what we have undertaken, if the diligent care at London to make our strength known to the Spanish king by his ambassadour have not taught the Spanish king to fortifie all the enterances against us. Howsoever, we must make the adventure; and if we perish, it shall be no honour for England, nor gain for his Majestie, to loose, among many other, one hundred as valiant gentlemen as England hath in it. . . . To tell you that I might be here king of the Indians were a vanitie; but my name hath still lived among them. Here they feed me with fresh meat and all that the country yields; all offer to obey me. Commend me to poor Carew, my son. From Galliana in Guiana, the 14th of November, 1617. There is in existence an interesting series of letters, from which the following extracts are taken, written by Lord George Carew, a courtier, to Sir Thomas Roe, then in India on a mission to the Great Mogul. The letters recount the gossip of court at the time, and mention the escapades of Sir Walter Raleigh's son Walter, his own movements, the rising influence of Buckingham, the increasing activity of Star Chamber, the settlement of Virginia, and other matters of current interest. letters of Aprill, Yonge Walter Ralegh in duel hathe wounded Robert 263. Extracts Tirwett, my Lord Threasurer's servant. Raleghe fled into the from the Low Countries, where he is entertayned by the Prince Maurice. Carew to Roe Sir Walter Raleghe hathe the libertie of the Tower. Your old friend Sir William Lower is dead. Mr. George Villers is knighted by his Majestie, and sworne April, 1616 a gentleman of his bed chamber, and as like to prosper in the way of a favorite as any man that hathe preceded him; and to beginne withall he hathe £1,000 a year pention payed him out of the Court of Wardes. The Lord Knowles and the Lord Pocahontas in August 27, 1616 Fenton were made Knights of the Garter, and they rode to Windsor as well accompanied with lordes and gentlemen as any which you have seene. Sir Julius Cæsar, the new Master of the Roles, hathe married the widdow Hungatt, sister to the younge Ladie Killygrew, of Hanworthe. Black Oliver St. John, who was prisoner in the Tower when you left England, about a lettre by him written to the Mayor of Marleboroughe, is sentenced in the Starre Chamber to pay unto his Majestie £5,000, imprisonment during life, and to acknowledge his fault publiquelye in all the courtes in West minster. . . . The 20th the Kinges Majestie in person satt in the Starre Chamber, where he made a longe speeche, to the admiration of the hearers, speakinge more like an angell than a man, and he promises to frequent thatt place oftener. Sir Thomas Dale retourned frome Virginia; he hath brought divers men and women of thatt countrye to be educated here and one Rolfe, who married a daughter of Pohetan (the barbarous prince), called Pocahuntas, hathe brought his wife withe him into England. The worst of thatt plantation is past, for our men are well victualled by their own industrie, but yett no profit is returned. In the Bermudas little good is expected; they make some tobacco, but of other industrie I know nothinge. Since our plantation there the ratts are so multiplied, whereof that island was free, as thatt they destroyed whatsoever is planted. . . . The 27. of this monethe Sir George Villiers att Woodstocke was created Baron of Whaddon, (which was the Lord Grayes house,) and Viscount Villiers: he was formerlye Master of the Horse when the Earl of Worcester was made Lord Privie Seale, which, as I remember, I related unto you in my last lettre; and about the same tyme, by the resignation of the Lord Chancelor, he was made Lord Lieutenant of the countie of Buckingham.... Sir Walter Raleghe hathe built a goodlye shipp of 500 tonnes; in this monethe she was lanched, and is called the Destinye. God graunt her to be no lesse fortunatt unto her owner than |