Courtier,
philosopher, soldier, man of letters and man of action alike,
Ralegh was at once the greatest prose-writer, and one of the
greatest captains of his age, the last survivor of that glorious
company--whose other members were Drake and Frobisher and
Hawkins--that had given England supremacy upon the seas, that had
broken the power and lowered the pride of Spain.
His was a name that had resounded, to the honour and glory of
England, throughout the world, a name that, like Drake's, was a
thing of hate and terror to King Philip and his Spaniards; yet
the King of Scots, unclean of body and of mind, who had succeeded
to the throne of Elizabeth, must affect ignorance of that great
name which shall never die while England lives.
When the splendid courtier stood before him--for at fifty Sir
Walter was still handsome of person and magnificent of Apparel--
James looked him over and inquired who he might be. When they had
told him:
"I've rawly heard of thee," quoth the royal punster, who sought
by such atrocities of speech to be acclaimed a wit.
It was ominous of what must follow, and soon thereafter you see
this great and gallant gentleman arrested on a trumped-up charge
of high treason, bullied, vituperated, and insulted by venal,
peddling lawyers, and, finally, although his wit and sincerity
had shattered every fragment of evidence brought against him,
sentenced to death.
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