man of the name of Miles Morgan." The ships were preparing for this expedition late in the summer of 1578, and probably sailed in the early part 1579. of the following year. The important period between seventeen and twenty-seven was employed by Ralegh in that laborious diligence which all must use who would reach the eminence acquired by him. Of the twenty-four hours, only five, we are told, were allowed for sleep, and four were devoted to study; while, conscious that a good general is seldom made from a bad soldier, he voluntarily shared, in his land and sea expeditions, the labours, hardships, and hazards, of the meanest of his companions. This was the proper foundation which he laid for that surprising k h See Capt. E. Haies' Report of Sir Humphrey Gilbert's voyage to Newfoundland, &c. in Hakluyt's Voyages, vol. iii, p. 143, folio, 1600. A subsequent adventure to Newfoundland, undertaken by these brothers-in-law, has been confounded with this unfortunate one,-but from the second Sir Humphrey returned no more; and the course of that voyage is so particularly described, that we may assert, no such sea-fight, or any desertion of adventurers, occurred therein. i In the dedication to W. Fleetewood, Esq. recorder of London, of an old dramatic piece, by Geo. Whetstones, Gent. entitled, the History of Promos and Cassandra, the author writes,he resolved to accompany that excellent captain, Sir Humphrey Gilbert, in this honourable voyage; and concludes with his prayers, that God would preserve him in it; 29 July 1578. * See Ralegh's Life, published by Shirley and Tonson; and Lloyd's State Worthies. combination of talents which afterward so remarkably distinguished him. The Roman catholics in Ireland, excluded from offices under the government, instigated by popish priests, and encouraged by foreign potentates, were at this period on the eve of a general revolt.' At the same time, Philip II of Spain, although he had not yet come to an open rupture with Queen Elizabeth, was daily more exasperated against her from the injusies which he had committed and suffered. James Fitzmorris, repairing at this time to Rome, undertook to reduce the kingdom of Ireland to the obedience of the holy see, and was furnished by the pope with a small sum of money, a consecrated banner, and letters of recommendation to Philip; who, eager to retaliate for the assistance which Elizabeth had given to his rebels in the Low countries, supplied Fitzmorris with 700 Spaniards and Italians, and three ships, which were sent into Ireland in the name of the pope, under the Spanish general San Josepho, accompanied by two priests, one of whom was dignified with the title of Nuncio. Landing at 1 Oppressed by the authority of the several chiefs, (who considered all improvements of industry and arts, and the introduction of a purer religion, as destructive of their own power over their vassals), Ireland could scarcely be esteemed subject to the government of England, which they were alway ready to disturb by insurrections and rebellions, and to concur in any designs of the pope or king of Spain. Smerwick in Kerry, they built a fort," and the Irish rebels, under Sir John and James, brothers to the earl of Desmond, speedily resorted hither to join, as did the English forces to oppose, them. Holinshed's celebrated chronicles make very honourable mention of Ralegh's services in this rebellion, for which we are indebted to John Hooker, the augmenter and continuer of that part of them which relates to Ireland. The first notice we have of him is on occasion of Sir James of Desmond, who, in 1580. August, 1580, had seized some property belonging to the sheriff of Cork, and in the retaliation made by the sheriff's party, was wounded and taken prisoner. Upon which the lord-justice Pelham, and the council, ordered him into the custody of Sir Warham Saintleger and Captain Ralegh, by whom, in virtue of the commission directed to them, he was tried and executed as a traitor." Lord Grey came over to Ireland as Deputy, August 12th, 1580, and received the sword from Pelham about a month later. He had been instructed to shorten the Irish wars by an effectual prosecution, and agreed in sentiment with a succeeding deputy, that, like nettles the Irish make those smart who handle them gently, and to prevent stinging they must be crushed. Joined at Rekell by the earl of Ormond, and having now about 800 horse and foot Fort del Ore. "See Holinshed's Chronicles, folio, 1586. Ireland, p. 168. with him under captains Ralegh, Zouch, Denny, Mackworth, and others, he decamped and marched for the fort which the Spaniards had built. Here Hooker relates the following anecdote.-Captain Ralegh, notwithstanding that the Lord Deputy had raised his camp at Rekell, and was gone toward the fort, yet he tarried and staid behind, minding to practice some exploit. For it was not unknown unto him, that it was a manner among the Irish kerns," that whensoever any English camp was dislodged and removed, they would after their departures come to those camps to take what they there found to be left. Thus, therefore, lying and keeping himself very close, tarried and abode the coming of the said kerns; who, suspecting no such trap to be laid for them, came after their manners and old usages to the said place, and there took their pleasure, who, when they were in their security, the Captain and his men came upon them, and took them all. Among them there was one' who carried, and was laden with withs, which they used instead of halters; and being demanded what he would do with them, and why he carried them, gave answer that they were to hang up English churls, for so they call Englishmen. Is it so? quoth the Captain; well, they shall now serve for an Irish kern, and so commanded him to be hanged up with one of his own withs. The residue he handled according to their deserts." P Foot soldiers. 'Holinshed, Ireland, p. 170. • Willows. Meanwhile captain Bingham, and soon afterward Sir William Winter, arrived in the bay of Smerwick with fresh supplies, upon which Lord Grey resolved to besiege the fort by land, while admiral Winter should attack it by sea. The Spaniards were then summoned to declare, who they were? what they had to do there? who sent them thither? and why they made fortifications in her Majesty's dominions? with requisition to surrender the Fort. Their answer was, we are sent, some from the Holy Father, who has given this reaim to King Philip, and some from King Philip, who is to receive and recover this land to the holy Church of Rome, which, by her Majesty's means, is become schismatical, and out of the Church, with other reproachful speeches; and that, therefore, they were in that respect to keep what they had, and to recover what they had not. They, moreover, took the opportunity of this parley to make a sally upon the English, but were so harassed by the vigilance and valour of Ralegh's and Denny's companies, that those who were not killed, were compelled to retreat with great precipitation. When completely prepared for the attack, the Deputy gave the enemy another summons by cannon-shot, to surrender, and receive mercy; but they repeated only their first answer. The artillery was now ordered to attack the fort both by sea and land, and Ralegh, having the command on the opening of the trenches, forced the Spaniards to several excursions. After a siege of five days San Josepho |