below the House. Fawkes came up to see whether there was any sign of danger; and he was caught just as he put his head out of the doorway, was tied with cords, and carried away to the King. 13. When they searched him, they found a watch, Nov. 5, some tinder, and a few matches; and in the 1605 cellar they found a lighted lantern. His courage never failed: although they put him to a very dreadful torture, he told nothing but what they knew already. A. D. 14. This arrest destroyed all the hopes of the plotters, the most daring of whom hurried away to a house in the country, where they stood a siege. During their resistance, as a quantity of gunpowder was drying at a fire, it exploded and burned some of them dreadfully-a remarkable punishment on men who had tried to commit a great crime with that very substance. Some of them were shot there; but most of them were 'executed with dreadful tortures in St. Paul's Churchyard. 1 Lord Mounteagle. He was a Ro- | he was afraid that some of his associates man Catholic peer, and brother-in-law might betray him, and that he had the of Tresham, one of the chief plotters. Mounteagle himself was concerned in the plot; and it has been suggested that letter sent to himself in order to remove suspicion from himself and to get credit for loyalty. (681) 3. SIR WALTER RALEGH. 1. There is no name in English history which appears in so many various scenes as the name of Walter Ralegh. He was born in Devonshire, and educated at Oxford. After fighting as a soldier both in France and in the Netherlands, he entered on the career of a sailor and colonizer. But a lucky meeting with Queen Elizabeth on a muddy road, over the worst part of which he spread his RALEGH SPREADING HIS CLOAK FOR QUEEN ELIZABETH. cloak, that she might not soil her feet, introduced him to the brilliant banquet-rooms of the Court. 2. Ralegh, having received a grant of land, went on an expedition to America, and founded the colony of Virginia.1 Three plants-tobacco, maize, and the potato-were introduced into Europe by the explorers on their return. 3. We find Ralegh also in Ireland, visiting the poet Spenser, and cultivating the acres which he had received in the conquered province of Munster. But he did not stay there, for there was great work to be done at home. The Armada was about to sail, and men like him could not be spared. And when it came into the English Channel, he had a glorious share in the operations which ended in its total defeat. 4. He fell in love with one of Elizabeth's maids of honour, and was put in prison by the jealous Queen. There, and in his quiet country-house among the trees of Sherborne in Dorsetshire, to which he retired after his release from confinement, he planned a voyage to the region of the Orinoco, where he expected to find gold and diamonds in great abundance. This voyage he actually made soon afterwards; but having been restored to favour at Court, he did not carry out his idea of colonizing Guiana. He spent his time in wearing magnificent dresses, and attending the splendid pageants for which the time was noted. 5. When Elizabeth died, the misfortunes of Ralegh began to increase. Disliking King James, he was accused of setting on foot a plot to dethrone the Scotsman, who was no favourite with his new people. For this he was brought to trial at Winchester, was convicted, and was sent to prison. 6. This confinement of nearly fifteen years (1603-1618) in the Tower proved to be the period of his life which produced his greatest fame. For he began in his cell to write a book called The History of the World, and with the aid of friends he carried it on to a considerable length. 7. But he did not lose the hope of getting out of prison. Choosing a favourable time, he sent a friend to tell a courtier about a gold mine in Guiana1 which he had discovered during his visit to that country some years before. This courtier told the King, who set Ralegh free on the understanding that the royal treasury was to receive the great bulk of what was found. 8. With thirteen ships, Ralegh set sail for Trinidad; and when he reached the Orinoco, being sick himself, he sent his son and a captain, whom he trusted, up the stream to attack the town of St. Thomas. In the fight that ensued young Ralegh was killed; and the captain, after telling the sad story to Ralegh, who heaped on him dreadful 'reproaches, went into his cabin and stabbed himself to the heart. 9. Ralegh then led his fleet, which was greatly reduced in strength by 'desertions, away to Newfoundland, in the hope of finding and plundering some of the Spanish silver-ships. But this hope also failed, and he steered his vessels for England. 10. At the urgent demand of the Spanish ambassador, he was arrested as soon as he landed, and was taken again to that Tower where he had spent so many weary years. The old sentence, pronounced against him so long before, was now revived, and under it he was ordered to be executed. 1618 11. When the morning of execution came, he took a good breakfast, smoked a pipe, and drank a cup of the wine called sack. So great was the crowd around the scaffold, that he was with difficulty forced through to the place where he was to die. He then made a speech, in the course of which he declared that he was to be put to death on a false accusation. A. D. 12. The Sheriff wanted him to come down and warm himself at a fire, as he seemed to be cold. "No, good Mr. Sheriff," said he; "let us be quick, for in a quarter of an hour my 'ague will come on me; and if I be not dead before then, my enemies will say that I quake for fear." 13. Then having prayed, and bidden farewell to the gentlemen around him, he took up the axe and balanced it in his hand, saying at the same time, as he ran his fingers along the edge, "This is a sharp medicine; but it will cure all diseases." 14. When his neck was placed on the block, the headsman delayed to give the blow; upon which he cried out, "What are you afraid of? Strike, man!" The words were scarcely uttered when the blow fell; and another following, sent the head of brave old Ralegh rolling in the dust. a-gue, sharp fever. ar-rest-ed, seized. col-o-niz-er, founder of colonies. court-ier, one who attends the court. |