SIR WALTER RALEIGH

(A. D. 1552–1618.)

WALTER RALEIGH, soldier, statesman, explorer, colonizer, historian, poet, the typical man of the Elizabethan age, was born at Hayes, in South Devon, England, in 1552, the son of a poor gentleman of ancient stock. His scant schooling ended in a brief term at Oxford, and his life of adventure began at the boyish age of seventeen, when he went as a volunteer to fight under Condé and Coligny, for the Huguenots of France. From France he went fighting to the Netherlands, in aid of the Dutch against Spain, and nearly ten years pass before he is found once more in England. Then he starts with Humphrey Gilbert, his half-brother, on an exploring voyage to America, but is driven back by storms and hostile Spaniards. In 1580 he is soldiering again in Ireland; in 1582 he is winning the favor of Queen Elizabeth at the English court; in 1584 he sends out his first Virginia expedition; the next year he is knighted by the queen, and plants his unfortunate colony on Roanoke Island. In 1588 he is active and heroic in the defense of England against the Armada. The next year he is with Drake's expedition to Portugal, and afterwards with Edmund Spenser in Ireland, whence he brings the first three books of the "Faerie Queene' for presentation to Elizabeth. In 1590 he fits out a squadron and cruises with Frobisher in the West. Indies, missing the Spanish plate fleet, but capturing a rich prize at the Azores. On returning he is imprisoned in the Tower for seduction of one of the queen's maids of honor, whom he marries. Restored to favor, he enters Parliament, and acquires Sherborne Manor, where he "builds and beautifies." In 1595 he is at sea again, with an expedition which explores the Guiana coast and ascends the Orinoco, seeking Eldorado, and he publishes a narrative of his voyage. In 1596 he serves under Howard and Essex in the Cadiz expedition, and

The death of Queen

is at the taking of Fayal next year. Elizabeth and the accession of King James end his favor at court. Accused of complicity in the plot to raise Arabella Stuart to the throne, he is condemned to death, but remains for thirteen years a prisoner in the Tower, during which time his "History of the World" is written. Then, in 1616, he is released, to make his last ill-starred expedition to Guiana, reviving Spanish hatreds, which now pursue him to the death. King James, seeking a Spanish marriage for his son, thinks Raleigh's life a small price to pay for the good will of the court at Madrid. So Sir Walter returns to the Tower; the old sentence of 1603 is declared to be of force, and, on the 29th of October, 1618, he lays his head upon the block.

RALEIGH'S INSTRUCTIONS TO HIS SON AND TO

POSTERITY.

(From his Works, vol. viii.)

CHAPTER I.

There is nothing more becoming any wise man than to make choice of friends; for by them thou shalt be judged what thou art. Let them therefore be wise and virtuous, and none of those that follow thee for gain. . . If thy friends be of better quality than thyself, thou mayest be sure of two things: the first, that they will be more careful to keep thy counsel, because they have more to lose than thou hast; the second, they will esteem thee for thyself, and not for that which thou dost possess.... Let thy love therefore be to the best, so long as they do well: but take heed that thou love God, thy country, thy prince, and thine own estate, before all others, for the fancies of men change, and he that loves to-day hateth to-morrow: but let reason be thy schoolmistress, which shall ever guide thee aright.

CHAPTER II.

The next and greatest care ought to be in the choice of a wife, and the only danger therein is beauty, by

which all men in all ages, wise and foolish, have been betrayed.

CHAPTER III.

Take care thou be not made a fool by flatterers, for even the wisest men are abused by these. Know therefore, that flatterers are the worst kind of traitors; for they will strengthen thy imperfections, encourage thee in all evils, correct thee in nothing, but so shadow and paint all thy vices and follies as thou shalt never, by their will, discern evil from good, or vice from virtue. And because all men are apt to flatter themselves, to entertain the additions of other men's praises is most perilous. Do not therefore praise thyself, except thou wilt be counted a vainglorious fool, neither take delight in the praises of other men, except thou deserve it, and receive it from such as are worthy and honest, and will withal warn thee of thy faults.

CHAPTER IV.

Be careful to avoid public disputations at feasts, or at tables among choleric or quarrelsome persons; and eschew evermore to be acquainted or familiar with ruffians. . . .

Jest not openly at those that are simple, but remember how much thou art bound to God, who hath made thee wiser. . . . Remember the divine saying; He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life. Do therefore right to all men where it may profit them, and thou shalt thereby get much love; and forbear to speak evil things of men, though it be true, (if thou be not constrained,) and thereby thou shalt avoid malice and revenge.

Do not accuse any man of any crime, if it be not to save thyself, thy prince, or country; for there is nothing more dishonourable (next to treason itself) than to be an accuser. Notwithstanding, I would not have thee for any respect lose thy reputation, or endure public disgrace;

for better it were not to live, than to live a coward, if the offence proceed not from thyself; if it do, it shall be better to compound it upon good terms than to hazard thyself; for if thou overcome, thou art under the cruelty of the law; if thou art overcome, thou art dead or dishonoured. . . .

...

Speaking much also is a sign of vanity; for he that is lavish in words is a niggard in deeds; and as Solomon saith, The mouth of a wise man is in his heart, the heart of a fool is in his mouth, because what he knoweth or thinketh he uttereth. And by thy words and discourses men will judge thee: for as Socrates saith, "Such as thy words are, such will thy affections be esteemed; and such will thy deeds as thy affections, and such thy life as thy deeds." Therefore be advised what thou dost discourse of, and what thou maintainest, whether touching religion, state, or vanity; for if thou err in the first, thou shalt be accounted profane; if in the second, dangerous; if in the third, indiscreet and foolish. . . .

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CHAPTER V.

Amongst all other things of the world take care of thy estate, which thou shalt ever preserve, if thou observe three things; first, that thou know what thou hast, what every thing is worth that thou hast, and to see that thou art not wasted by thy servants and officers. The second is, that thou never spend any thing before thou have it; for borrowing is the canker and death of every man's estate. The third is, that thou suffer not thyself to be wounded for other men's faults, and scourged for other men's offences, which is the surety for another; for thereby millions of men have been beggared and destroyed, paying the reckoning of other men's riot, and the charge of other men's folly and prodigality; if thou smart, smart

for thine own sins; and, above all things, be not made an ass to carry the burdens of other men: if any friend desire thee to be his surety, give him a part of what thou hast to spare; if he press thee further, he is not thy friend at all, for friendship rather chooseth harm to itself than offereth it; if thou be bound for a stranger, thou art a fool: if for a merchant, thou putteth thy estate to learn to swim if for a churchman, he hath no inheritance: if for a lawyer, he will find an evasion, by a syllable or word, to abuse thee: if for a poor man thou must pay it thyself: if for a rich man, it need not: therefore from suretyship, as from a manslayer or enchanter, bless thyself. . .

CHAPTER VII.

Exceed not in the humour of rags and bravery, for these will soon wear out of fashion; but money in thy purse will ever be in fashion; and no man is esteemed for gay garments but by fools and women.

CHAPTER VIII.

On the other side, take heed that thou seek not riches basely, nor attain them by evil means; destroy no man for his wealth, nor take any thing from the poor, for the cry and complaint thereof will pierce the heavens.

CHAPTER IX.

Take especial care that thou delight not in wine; for there never was any man that came to honour or preferment that loved it; for it transformeth a man into a beast, decayeth health, poisoneth the breath, destroyeth natural heat, brings a man's stomach to an artificial heat, deformeth the face, rotteth the teeth, and, to conclude, maketh a man contemptible, soon old, and despised of all wise and worthy men.

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