Raleigh’s Discovery of Guiana.

Raleigh was ready to set off again at once to discover more of Guiana.  But instead he joined the Fleet and went to fight the Spanish, who were once more threatening England, and of all enemies Raleigh considered the Spaniards the greatest.

Once again the English won a splendid victory over Spain.  Before the town of Cadiz eight English ships captured or destroyed thirty Spanish great and little.  They took the town of Cadiz and razed its fortifications to the ground.  Raleigh bore himself well in this fight, so well, indeed, that even his rival, Essex, was bound to confess “that which he did in the sea-service could not be bettered.”

And now after five years’ banishment from the Queen’s favor, Raleigh was once more received at court.  But we cannot follow all the ups and downs of his court life, for we are told “Sir Walter Raleigh was in and out at court, so often that he was commonly called the tennis ball of fortune.”  And so the years went on.  Raleigh became a Member of Parliament, and was made Governor of Jersey.  He fought and traveled, attended to his estates in Ireland, to his business in Cornwall, to his governorship in Jersey.  He led a stirring, busy life, fulfilling his many duties, fighting his enemies, until in 1603 the great Queen, whose smile or frown had meant so much to him, died.

Then soon after the new king came to the throne, it was seen that Raleigh’s day at court was indeed at an end.  For James had been told that Sir Walter was among those who were unwilling to receive him as king.  Therefore he was little disposed to look graciously on the handsome daring soldier-sailor.

One by one Raleigh’s posts of honor were taken from him.  He was accused of treason and once more found himself a prisoner in the Tower.  He was tried, and in spite of the fact that nothing was proved against him, he was condemned to die.  The sentence was changed, however, to imprisonment for life.

Raleigh was not left quite lonely in the Tower.  His wife and children, whom he dearly loved, were allowed to come to live beside him.  The governor was kind to him and allowed his renowned prisoner to use his garden.  And there in a little hen-house Raleigh amused himself by making experiments in chemistry, and discovering among other things how to distill fresh water from salt water.  He found new friends too in the Queen and in her young son Henry, Prince of Wales.  It was a strange friendship and a warm one that grew between the gallant boy-prince of ten and the tried man of fifty.  Prince Henry loved to visit Raleigh in the Tower and listen to the tales of his brave doings by sea and land in the days when he was free.  Raleigh helped Prince Henry to build a model ship, and the Prince asked Raleigh’s advice and talked over with him all his troubles.  His generous young heart grieved at the though of his friend’s misfortunes.