disgrace both to me and to my sister; which was only to please that knave Raleigh, for whose sake I saw she would both grieve me and my love, and disgrace me in the eye of the world. From thence she came to speak of Raleigh, and it seemed she could not well endure any thing to be spoken against him; and taking hold of one word, disdain, she said there was no such cause why I should disdain him. This speech troubled me so much, that as near as I could I did describe unto her what he had been, and what he was; and then I did let her see, whether I had cause to disdain his competition of love; or whether I could have comfort to give myself over to the service of a mistress that was in awe of such a man. I spake what of grief and choler as much against him as I could: and I think he standing at the door might very well hear the worst that I spoke of himself. In the end, I saw she was resolved to defend him, and to cross me. From thence she came to speak bitterly against my mother;† which, because I could not endure, to see me and my house disgraced (the only matter which both her choler and the practice of mine enemies had to work upon), I told her, for my sister, she should not any longer disquiet her; I would, though it were almost midnight, send her away that night: and for myself, I had no joy to be in any place, but loth to be near about her, when I knew my affection so much thrown down, and such a wretch as Raleigh highly esteemed of her. To this she made no answer but turned her away to my lady of Warwick. So at that late hour I sent my men away with my sister; and after, I came HITHER myself. This strange alteration is by Raleigh's means: and the queen, that hath tried all other ways, now will see whether she can by these hard courses drive me to be friends with Raleigh; which rather shall drive me to many other extremities. If you come hither by twelve of the clock I would fain speak with you. My resolution will let me take no longer time. I will be this night at Margett, and if I can I will ship myself for +Lettice, daughter to Sir Francis Knolles, and then Countess of Leicester. Flushing. I will see Sluse lost or relieved, which cannot be yet, but is now ready to be done. If I return I will be welcomed home. If not, una bella morier is better than a disquiet life. This course may seem strange; but the extreme unkind dealing with me drives me to it. My friends will make the best of it; mine enemies cannot say it is unhonest; the danger is mine, and I am content to abide the worst. Whatsoever becomes of me, God grant her to be ever most happy. And so in haste I commit you to God.-Yours assured, "This 21st of July. "R. ESSEX. "If you show my letter to any body, let it be to my mother and Mr Secretary.*" It was now time to think of his Virginian colony, the failure of which, as already noticed, was rather owing to the precipitate desertion of Lane than to any fault in the original plan; and he determined to make a new attempt for the settlement of a country which held out so many encouragements from its salubrious climate and fertile soil. Hariot, who accompanied Lane, had by this time published his True Report of the New Found Land of Virginia, which created much speculation; so that he experienced little difficulty in procuring 150 settlers. He appointed as governor Mr John White, with twelve assistants, to whom he gave a charter, incorporating them by the name of the Governor and Assistants of the City of Raleigh in Virginia. These, in three vessels, furnished principally at his own expense, sailed from Portsmouth on the 26th of April 1587, and on the 22d of July anchored in Hatorask harbour. White, with forty men, proceeded in the pinnace to Roanoak to confer with the fifteen colonists left by Sir Richard Grenville; but to his dismay found the place deserted, and human bones scattered on the beach,-the remains, as was afterwards *This curious letter was discovered by my learned friend Mr Brewer of Queen's College, Oxford, amongst the valuable MS. Collections of Archbishop Sancroft, vol. lxxiv. p. 46.It is now printed for the first time. discovered, of their countrymen, all of whom the savages had slain. A party then hastened to the fort on the north side of the island. But here the prospect was equally discouraging. No trace of a human being was to be seen; the building was rased to the ground, and the wild deer were couching in the ruined houses, and feeding on the herbage and melons which had overgrown the floor and crept up the walls. Although the governor held Raleigh's written orders to make the settlement on the Bay of Chesepiock, he was obliged to abandon that plan, and commenced repairing the buildings at Roanoak. But disaster attended all their proceedings. Dissensions broke out among them; and White, either from want of firmness or not being intrusted with sufficient authority, found it impossible to carry on operations with success. The natives of Croatoan were friendly; those of Secota and Aquascogok, who had murdered the former colonists, completely hostile; but all were clothed alike, and before going to war the Croatoans anxiously begged for some badge by which they might be recognised. In the confusion this was neglected, and it led to unhappy consequences. Howe, an English sailor, who had gone a-fishing, was slain by the savages, being pierced with sixteen arrows; and White having in vain attempted to open a pacific communication with the weroanees or chief men of Secota and Pomeiock, determined not to delay his revenge. Guided, therefore, by Manteo, he set out at midnight with Captain Stafford and twenty-four men, and stealing in the dark upon the natives as they sat around a fire, shot some of them dead on the spot, while others fled shrieking into a thicket, and one savage who knew Stafford rushed up, calling out his name and embracing his knees. To the grief and horror of the governor it was then discovered that they had attacked a party of friends instead of enemies. Soon after, Manteo, in obedience to Raleigh's directions, was christened, and created Lord of Roanoak and Dasamonwepeuk; whilst Mrs Eleanor Dare, the wife of one D of the assistants, having given birth to a daughter, the infant was named Virginia, being the first Christian born in that country.* White was now anxious to fulfil Sir Walter's instructions; but disputes arose with renewed bitterness among the settlers. Though they were not in want of stores, many demanded permission to go home; others violently opposed this; and at last, after stating a variety of projects, all joined in requesting the governor to sail for England, and return with all the supplies requisite for the establishment of the colony. To this he reluctantly consented; and departing from Roanoak on the 27th of August 1587, where he left eighty-nine men, seventeen women, and eleven children, he arrived in England on the 5th of November.t CHAPTER II. From the Defeat of the Armada to Raleigh's Expected Invasion of England by the Spanish ArmadaConduct of Elizabeth-Consultations with Sir Walter Raleigh and other experienced Officers-Preparations for DefenceDrake, Hawkins, Frobisher, and Lord Henry SeymourStrength, Numbers, and Disposition of the English Navy, shown from Original Documents in the State-paper OfficeElizabeth visits the Army in the Camp at Tilbury-The Armada sails from the Tagus-Dispersed and driven backSails the Second Time-Its Arrival off the Lizard-Cautious Tactics of the English-Their Success-Fight on the 22d, 23d, 25th, and 26th July-The Armada makes its Way up Channel to Calais-Its Discomfiture-Rejoicings for the Victory-Raleigh's Services rewarded by the Queen-He sails with Drake and Norris in the Portuguese Expedition-Character of the Earl of Essex-Raleigh's Journey to IrelandVisits Spenser at Kilcolman-Their Friendship-First Three Cantos of the Fairy Queen completed-Spenser returns with Raleigh to England-Introduced to the Queen-Raleigh's Defence of Sir Richard Grenville-Character and Fate of this great Officer-Raleigh's Amour with Elizabeth Throgmorton-They are privately married-Elizabeth's Indignation, and Raleigh's Disgrace-Sent to the Tower-Singular Conduct in Confinement-He recovers his Liberty. THE governor of Virginia could not have returned home at a moment more unpropitious to the interests of the infant colony. The mind of the whole nation was engrossed with one great subject,-the expected invasion of England by the fleet so proudly described as the In |
