登陆注册
26300200000001

第1章 INTRODUCTORY NOTE

Sir Walter Raleigh may be taken as the great typical figure of the age of Elizabeth. Courtier and statesman, soldier and sailor, scientist and man of letters, he engaged in almost all the main lines of public activity in his time, and was distinguished in them all.

His father was a Devonshire gentleman of property, connected with many of the distinguished families of the south of England. Walter was born about 1552 and was educated at Oxford. He first saw military service in the Huguenot army in France in 1569, and in 1578 engaged, with his half-brother, Sir Humphrey Gilbert, in the first of his expeditions against the Spaniards. After some service in Ireland, he attracted the attention of the Queen, and rapidly rose to the perilous position of her chief favorite. With her approval, he fitted out two expeditions for the colonization of Virginia, neither of which did his royal mistress permit him to lead in person, and neither of which succeeded in establishing a permanent settlement.

After about six years of high favor, Raleigh found his position at court endangered by the rivalry of Essex, and in 1592, on returning from convoying a squadron he had fitted out against the Spanish, he was thrown into the Tower by the orders of the Queen, who had discovered an intrigue between him and one of her ladies whom he subsequently married. He was ultimately released, engaged in various naval exploits, and in 1594 sailed for South America on the voyage described in the following narrative.

On the death of Elizabeth, Raleigh's misfortunes increased. He was accused of treason against James I, condemned, reprieved, and imprisoned for twelve years, during which he wrote his "History of the World," and engaged in scientific researches. In 1616 he was liberated, to make another attempt to find the gold mine in Venezuela; but the expedition was disastrous, and, on his return, Raleigh was executed on the old charge in 1618. In his vices as in his virtues, Raleigh is a thorough representative of the great adventurers who laid the foundations of the British Empire.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • TFboys之我的天使安琪

    TFboys之我的天使安琪

    一个名叫凌安琪的女孩,不小心闯进了三个少年的世界。我爱的,一直是你,从不曾改变。即使时光变迁,即使岁月流转,即使斗转星移,我对你的深情只会加深不会变少。我爱你,直到老——王俊凯我不是一个怎样好的男孩,但我会等你,永远,如果你哪天累了,就回头看看那个关心你的我,我的怀抱永远为你敞开。——王源我不是不会对别人动心,而是已经对你动了心,我就觉得没必要再对其他人动心。——易烊千玺
  • 逗比来袭:艾米扬名记

    逗比来袭:艾米扬名记

    逗比,牛逼,傻逼,2B都是我艾米的代名词!!!一个家世复杂,混啊混啊混了多国血液的超级大美女,却是个大逗比...很无语对吧?可是她就是这么拽又能怎么样呢?!所以,还是忍吧...一群跟班,一堆死忠粉,一大批爱慕者...哎!~没办法,我艾米就是这么受欢迎!木哈哈哈哈哈哈!!!好吧,我就来看看这个臭屁的自大狂艾米是怎样扬名的吧。【艾米:叫我女王大人!跟班,死忠粉,爱慕者:好的,女王大人!小苼:...这样放任她猖狂真的好吗?】
  • 天酬

    天酬

    长生不老永远是玄阳大陆上的每一个修士掏空心思想要达到的境界,但通忘长生的路是却是湿滑的独木桥,争先恐后,好不容易踏上了这条桥,却还要随时面临从桥上摔下粉身碎骨的后果。修道之路逆天而上,一步出,不可退,一步错,不能悔,否则踏向的就不是长生一路,而是绝路。修者一面是畏惧着长生的那一边的未知因素,一条又追寻着长生,在修途上挣扎着,岂求可以于这苍天共寿。修士是可悲的,不管神通广大还是微不足道,不长生,叱咤风云又如何,到头来还不是白骨一堆,徒添叹耳。得长生者乃天地之逆者,劫数重重。那又如何,定要在这不公之下挣一线生机!
  • 木偶历险记

    木偶历险记

    从前,有一位木匠名叫安东尼奥。瞧,他的鼻尖又红又紫,在太阳照射下闪闪发光,简直就像一颗熟透了的樱桃。因此大家送了他一个非常好听的绰号:樱桃师傅。这天上午,樱桃师傅来到木匠铺,一边整理地上堆放的杂物,一边哼着不知名的小曲。突然,不知从哪儿飞来一根木头,擦着他的耳朵落在地上。“哎哟!”樱桃师傅惊叫一声,吓出一身冷汗。
  • 一世倾情:绝世墨王妃

    一世倾情:绝世墨王妃

    遇见你是我的一见倾情【1v1绝宠甜文】“言儿,在我面前,你不必带着你的面具,我是你的丈夫,是你的家人,是你的靠山,纵然你不是废物,纵然你能一飞冲天,我都会在你的身边,不希望你什么事都一人担着,希望你也能分与我一半,你是墨王妃,不只是空有头衔。”捧起宫汐言的脸,直视着她的眼睛,夜安墨一字一顿的说道。“好。”一番情绪在心中翻涌,奔腾,两世未曾尝试爱,如此男人,她为什么不放手一搏?她,宫汐言,不放手了。
  • TFBOYS之樱花柠蝶

    TFBOYS之樱花柠蝶

    当三位调皮可爱的女孩,碰撞上情窦初开的三只,会擦出怎样的火花呢?不管怎样,我都要和你在一起。------by小凯有你,真好!------by雨樱和你抢零食是件很美好的事!------by王源我会和你一直走下去,直到死去。------by柠悠不管你在哪,我都会找到你!------by千玺和你在一起,我很幸福!------by蝶汐
  • 寄陕州王司马

    寄陕州王司马

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 废材逆天之宁府大小姐

    废材逆天之宁府大小姐

    她,21世纪王牌杀手,却穿为宁府的废柴四小姐身上。他,帝国晋王殿下,冷酷邪魅强势霸道,武道天赋更是无与伦比。世人皆知她是草包废柴女,人人唯恐避之不及,唯独他强势霸道死命纠缠她,誓死不放手。且看他们如何坐拥天下
  • 合租一家人

    合租一家人

    有点像爱情故事,最后发现不过是一些生活的碎碎念
  • 超能学院之EXO

    超能学院之EXO

    我和你,是什么关系?当然是这种关系。我是可以的吧?S学院!一定是可以的!不会接受你。