labours of the New Record Commission, the freedom of consultation and transcription will be at length established, not only in the State-paper Office, but in the other great collections of the kingdom, many of which, as they at present exist, are not so much the repositories as the cemeteries of our national records.

TORQUAY, DEVONSHIRE,

December 15, 1832.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

FROM RALEIGH'S BIRTH TO HIS SETTLEMENT OF VIRGINIA.

Birth of Raleigh Early Education-Sent to Oriel College,
Oxford-Passes over to the War in France-State of that
Kingdom-His Return to England-Goes to the Netherlands
-Serves as a Volunteer under Sir John Norris-His Enthu-
siasm for Navigation-Embarks in the Expedition of his
Brother, Sir Humphrey Gilbert, to America-Its Failure-
Raleigh engages in the War in Ireland-State of that Country
-His eminent Services there-He returns to England-
Court of Queen Elizabeth-Character of Burleigh Of Lei-
cester Of Sussex-Of Sir Philip Sidney-First Introduction
to the Queen-Dispute with Lord Grey-Increases in Favour
at Court-Sir Humphrey Gilbert's Second Voyage of Dis-
covery-Raleigh's deep Interest in it-Its disastrous Issue
-Raleigh perseveres in his Schemes-He fits out two Ships
-The Voyage-Discovery of the Island Wokokon and Coast
of North Carolina-Return to England-The Queen calls the
Country Virginia-Raleigh knighted-He sends a Fleet to
Virginia under Sir Richard Grenville-Settlement of Virginia
--Difficulties of the infant Colony-Introduction of Tobacco

into England by Raleigh Raleigh's Irish Estate-Spenser

the Poet-Raleigh sends a new Fleet under Governor White

to Virginia,.......

Page 17

CHAPTER II.

FROM THE DEFEAT OF THE ARMADA TO RALEIGH'S IMPRISONMENT.

Expected Invasion of England by the Spanish Armada-

Conduct of Elizabeth-Consultations with Sir Walter Raleigh

and other experienced Officers-Preparations for Defence-

Drake, Hawkins, Frobisher, and Lord Henry Seymour-

Strength, Numbers, and Disposition of the English Navy,

shown from Original Documents in the State-paper Office-

Elizabeth visits the Army in the Camp at Tilbury—The Ar-·

mada sails from the Tagus-Dispersed and driven back-

Sails 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 Vic-

tory-Raleigh's Services rewarded by the Queen-He sails

with Drake and Norris in the Portuguese Expedition-Cha-

racter of the Earl of Essex-Raleigh's Journey to Ireland-

Visits 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 Throg-

morton-They are privately married-Elizabeth's Indigna-

tion, and Raleigh's Disgrace-Sent to the Tower-Singular

Conduct in Confinement-He recovers his Liberty,......................67

CHAPTER III.

DISCOVERY OF GUIANA BY RALEIGH.

Raleigh chosen a Member of the Parliament-Importance of

the Period-Philip resolves to make a second Attempt for

the Destruction of England-Speech of Lord Burleigh-Ra-

leigh's Plans for the Defence of England-He obtains a Grant

of Sherborne in Dorsetshire-Becomes a Planter and Horti-

culturist-His Project for the Discovery and Conquest of

Guiana-Resolves to conduct the Enterprise in Person-Fits

out a Fleet-Sails from Plymouth in 1595—Arrives at Trini-

dad-Expedition up the Orinoco-Description of the People

and the Country-They enter the Plains of Saima-Penetrate

to the Province of Aromaia-Forced to return-Arrive at

Wincapora-Return to Trinidad-Description of the Country

-Ungenerously treated-Raleigh's Dedication of his Discov-

ery of Guiana to the Lord-admiral Howard and Secretary

Cecil-Second Voyage under Captain Keymis--Researches

into the Country, and Return to England-He finds Raleigh

absent on the Cadiz Expedition-Account of this Enterprise

--Return of the Fleet-Encomiums on the Ability of Raleigh

-The Queen retains her Resentment-Essex's Displeasure at

the Preferment of Sir Robert Cecil-Character of Elizabeth-

Character of Cecil-Raleigh sends Captain Berrie in a Ship

of his own to Guiana-His Return to England,...... Page 123

CHAPTER IV.

FROM RALEIGH'S RESTORATION TO FAVOUR TO THE FALL OF

ESSEX.

Raleigh effects a Reconciliation between Cecil and Essex, and

is himself restored to Favour-Designs of Philip II.—Eliza-