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that Almighty God which is goodness itself, mercy itself, the true life and light, keep thee and thine, have mercy on me, and teach me to forgive my persecutors and false accusers, and send us to meet again in his glorious kingdom! My true wife, farewell: bless my poor boy, pray for me, and let my good God hold you both in his arms.

Written with the dying hand of sometime thy husband, but now (alas!) overthrown.

Yours that was, but now not my own,

WALTER RALEGH.

To Sir Robert Car, after Earl of Somerset.
SIR,

AFTER many losses, and many years' sorrows, of both which I have cause to fear I was mistaken in their ends, it is come to my knowledge that yourself (whom I know not but by an honourable fame) hath been persuaded to give me and mine my last fatal blow, by obtaining from his majesty the inheritance of my children and nephews, lost in law for lack of a word. This done, there remaineth nothing with me but the name of life; his majesty, whom I never offended, (for I hold it unnatural and unmanlike to hate goodness,) stayed me at the grave's brink; not that I thought his majesty thought me worthy of many deaths, and to behold all mine cast out of the world with myself, but as a king, who knowing the poor in truth, hath received a promise from God that his throne shall be established for ever.

And for you, sir, seeing your fair day is but in the dawn, mine drawn to the setting; your own virtues and the king's grace assuring you of many good fortunes and much honour; I beseech you begin not your first building upon the ruins of the innocent, and let not mine and their sorrows attend your first plantation. I have ever been bound to your nation, as well for many other graces as for the true report of my trial to the king's majesty; against whom had I been found malignant, the hearing of my cause would not have changed enemies into friends, malice into compassion,

and the minds of the greatest number then present into the commiseration of mine estate. It is not the nature of foul treason to beget such fair passions; neither could it agree with the duty and love of faithful subjects (especially of your nation) to bewail his overthrow that had conspired against their most natural and liberal lord. I therefore trust that you will not be the first that shall kill us outright, cut down the tree with the fruit, and undergo the curse of them that enter the fields of the fatherless: which, if it please you to know the truth, are far less in value than in fame. But that so worthy a gentleman as yourself will rather bind us to your service, (being six gentlemen not base in birth and alliance,) which have interest therein and myself with the uttermost thankfulness will remain ready to obey your commandments.

WALTER RALEGH.

To the Duke, 12th of August.

IF I presume too much, I humbly beseech your lordship to pardon me, especially in presuming to write to so great and worthy a person, who hath been told that I have done him wrong. I heard it but of late, but most happy had I been, if I might have disapproved that villainy against me, when there had been no suspicion that the desire to save my life had presented my excuse.

But, my worthy lord, it is not to excuse myself that I now write: I cannot, for I have now offended my sovereign lord for all past, even all the world, and my very enemies, have lamented my loss, whom now if his majesty's mercy alone do not lament, I am lost. Howsoever, that which doth comfort my soul in this offence is, that even in the offence itself I had no other intent than his majesty's service, and to make his majesty know that my late enterprise was grounded upon a truth, and which, with one ship speedily set out, I meant to have assured, or to have died: being resolved (as it is well known) to have done it from Plymouth, had I not been restrained. Hereby I hoped not only

to recover his majesty's gracious opinion, but to have destroyed all those malignant reports which had been spread of me. That this is true, that gentleman whom I so much trusted, (my keeper,) and to whom I opened my heart, cannot but testify, and wherein, if I cannot be believed living, my death shall witness: yea, that gentleman cannot but avow it, that when we came back towards London, I desired to have no other treasure than the exact description of those places in the Indies. That I meant to go hence as a discontented man, God, I trust, and mine own actions, will dissuade his majesty ; whom neither the loss of my estate, thirteen years' imprisonment, and the denial of my pardon, could beat from his service. And the opinion of being accounted a fool, or rather distract, by returning as I did unpardoned, balanced with my love to his majesty's person and estate, had no place at all in my heart.

It was that last severe letter from my lords, for the speedy bringing of me up, and the impatience of dishonour, that first put me in fear of my life, or enjoying it in a perpetual imprisonment, never to recover my reputation lost, which strengthened me in my late, and too late lamented resolution, if his majesty's mercy do not abound: if his majesty do not pity my age, and scorn to take the extremest and utmost advantage of my errors: if his majesty in his great charity do not make a difference between offences proceeding from a life-saving, natural impulsion, without ill intent, and those of an ill heart; and that your lordship, remarkable in the world for the nobleness of your disposition, do not vouchsafe to become my intercessor, whereby your lordship shall bind an hundred gentlemen of my kindred to honour your memory, and bind me for all the time of that life, which your lordship shall beg for me, to pray to God that you may ever prosper, and ever bind me to remain Your most humble servant,

From the tower this 12 of August.

WALTER RALEGH.

ADDITIONAL CORRESPONDENCE.

To the Earl of Leicester.

I MAY not forget continually to put your honour in mind of my affection unto your lordship, having to the world both professed and protested the same. Your honour having no use of such your followers hath utterly forgotten me; notwithstanding, if your lordship shall please to think me yours, as I am, I will be found as ready, and dare do as much in your service as any man you may command; and do neither so much despair of myself, but that I may be some way able to perform as much. I have spent some time here under the deputy in such poor place and charge, as were it not for that I knew him to be as if yours, I would disdain it as much as to keep sheep. I will not trouble your honour with the business of this lost land; for that sir Warram Sentleger can best of any man deliver unto your lordship, the good, the bad, the mischiefs, the means to amend, and all in all of this common-wealth, or rather common-woe. He hopeth to find your honour his assured good lord, and your honour may most assuredly command him. He is lovingly inclined toward your honour, and your lordship shall win by your favour toward him, a wise, faithful, and valiant gentleman, whose word and deeds your honour shall ever find to be one. Thus having no other matter, but only to desire the continuance of your honour's favour, I humbly take my leave. From the camp of Kismore in Ireland, August the 25th.

Your honour's faithful and obedient,

WALTER RALEGH.

I am bold, being bound by very conscience, to commend unto your honour's consideration the pitiful estate of John Fitz-Edmonds of Cloyne, a gentleman, and the only man untouched and proved true to the queen both in this and the last rebellion. Sir Warram can deliver his services, what he is, and what he deserveth.

BROTHER,

To Sir Humphrey Gilbert.

[No date, but written in 1583.]

I HAVE sent you a token from her majesty, an anchor guided by a lady as you see; and further, her highness willed me to send you word, that she wished you as great good hap and safety to your ship, as if herself were there in person, desiring you to have care of yourself as of that which she tendereth; and therefore, for her sake, you must provide for it accordingly. Further, she commandeth that. you leave your picture with me. For the rest I leave till our meeting, or to the report of this bearer, who would needs be the messenger of this good news. So I commit you to the will and protection of God, who send us such life or death as he shall please, or hath appointed. Richmond, this Friday morning.

Your true brother,

WALTER RALEGH.

To the Earl of Leicester.

MY VERY GOOD LORD,

You wrote unto me in your last letters for pioneers to be sent over; whereupon I moved her majesty, and found her very willing, insomuch as order was given for a commission; but since, the matter is stayed, I know not for what cause. Also, according to your losdship's desire, I spoke for one Jukes for the office of the back-house, and the matter well liked. In ought else your lordship shall find me most assured to my power to perform all offices of love, honour, and service toward you. But I have been of late very pestilent reported in this place to be rather a drawer-back, than a furtherer of the action where you govern. Your lordship doth well understand my affection toward Spain, and how I have consumed the best part of my fortune, hurting the tyrannous prosperity of that estate, and it were now strange and monstrous that I should become an enemy to my country and conscience. But all that I have desired at your lordship's hands is, that you will evermore deal directly

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