vnto vs, as by the discourses that followe shall appeare most plainely. Yea, if wee woulde beholde with the eye of pitie howe al our Prisons are pestered and filled with able men to serue their Countrie, which for small roberies are dayly hanged vp in great numbers, euen twentie at a clappe out of one iayle (as was seene at the last assises at Rochester), wee woulde hasten and further euery man to his power the deducting of some Colonies of our superfluous people into those temperate and fertile partes of America, which being within sixe weekes' sayling of England, are yet vnpossessed by any Christians, and seeme to offer themselues vnto vs, stretching neerer vnto her Maiestie's Dominions then to any other part of Europe. ENGLISH AND SPANISH But besides the foresaid uncertaintie, into what dangers and difficulties they plunged themselues, I tremble to recount. For first they were to expose themselues unto the rigour of the sterne and uncouth Northern seas, and to make triall of the swelling waues and boistrous winds which there commonly do surge and blow; then were they to saile by the ragged and perilous coast of Norway, to frequent the unhaunted shoares of Finmark, to double the dreadfull and misty North Cape, to beare with Willoughbie's land, to run along within kenning of the Countreys of Lapland and Corelia, and as it were to open and unlocke the seuenfold mouth of Duina. Moreover, in their Northeasterly Nauigations, unto what drifts of snow and mountaines of yce euen in June, July, and August, unto what hideous overfals, uncertaine currents, darke mistes and fogs, and diuers other fearefull inconueniences they were subiect and in danger of. And here by the way I cannot but highly commend the great industry and magnanimity of the Hollanders, who within these few yeeres haue discouered to 78, yea (as themselues affirme) to 81 degrees of Northerly latitude; yet with this prouiso: that our English nation led them the dance, brake the yce before them, and gaue them good leaue to light their candle at our torch. But nowe it is high time for us to weigh our ancre, to hoise up our sailes, to get cleare of these boistrous, frosty, and misty seas, and with all speede to direct our course for the milde, lightsome, temperate, and warme Atlantick Ocean, over which the Spaniards and Portugales haue made so many pleasant, prosperous, and golden voyages. And albeit I cannot deny, that both of them in their East and West Indian nauigations haue indured many tempests, dangers, and shipwracks; yet this dare I boldly affirme: first that a great number of them haue satisfied their fame thirsty and gold-thirsty mindes with that reputation and wealth, which made all perils and misaduentures seeme tolerable unto them; and, secondly, that their first attempts (which in this comparison I doe onely stand upon) were no whit more difficult and dangerous then ours to the Northeast. For admit that the way was much longer, yet was it neuer barred with yce, mist, or darkness, but was at all seasons of the yeere open and Nauigable; yea and that for the most part with fortunate and fit gales of winde. Moreouer, they had no forren prince to intercept or molest them, but their owne Townes, Islands, and maine lands to succour them. And had they not continuall and yerely trade in some one part or other of Africa, for getting of slaues, for sugar, for Elephants' teeth, graines, siluer, gold, and other precious wares, which serued as allurements to draw them on by little and little, and as proppes to stay them from giuing over their attempts? But nowe let us leaue them and returne home unto ourselues. SIR WALTER RALEGH RALEGH IN DISGRACE My heart was never broken till this day, that I hear the Queen goes away so far off, whom I have followed so many years with so great love and desire, in so many journeys, and am now left behind her in a dark prison all alone. While she was yet nigher at hand, that I might hear of her once in two or three days, my sorrows were the less; but even now my heart is cast into the depth of all misery. I that was wont to behold her riding like Alexander, hunting like Diana, walking like Venus, the gentle wind blowing her fair hair about her pure cheeks, like a nymph, sometime sitting in the shade like a goddess, sometime singing like an angel, sometime playing like Orpheus; behold the sorrow of this world! once amiss hath bereaved me of all. O glory, that only shineth in misfortune, what is become of thy assurance! all wounds have scars, but that of fantasy; all affections their relenting, but that of womankind. Who is the judge of friendship but adversity, or when is grace witnessed but in offences? There were no divinity but by reason of compassion; for revenges are brutish and mortal. All those times past, the loves, the sighs, the sorrows, the desires, can they not weigh down one frail misfortune? Cannot one drop of gall be hidden in so great heaps of sweetness? I may then conclude, spes et fortuna, valete. She is gone in whom I trusted, and of me hath not one thought of mercy, nor any respect of that that was. Do with me now therefore what you list. I am more weary of life than they are desirous 1 should perish, which if it had been for her, as it is by her, I had been too happily born. RALEGH TO HIS WIFE I was loath to write, because 1 know not how to comfort you, and God knows, I never knew what sorrow meant till now. All, that I can say to you is, that you must obey the will and providence of God, and remember, that the Queen's Majesty bare the loss of Prince Henry with a magnanimous Heart, and the Lady Harrington of her only Son. Comfort your Heart (dearest Bess), I shall sorrow for us both; and I shall sorrow the less, because I have not long to sorrow because not long to live. I refer you to Mr. Secretary Winwood's Letter, who will give you a Copy of it, if you send for it; therein you shall know what hath passed; which I have written by that Letter, for my Brains are broken, and it is a torment to me to write, especially of Misery. I have desired Mr. Secretary to give my Lord Carew a Copy of his Letter. I have cleansed my Ship of sick Men, and sent them home; and hope that God will send us somewhat before we return; commend me to all at Lothbury. You |