The other was intended to attack the Spanish settlements in America; and Drake was appointed to the command. Sir John Hawkins, who had seen nearly fourscore years, resolved to share the voyage of his old naval comrade.

Drake sailed from Plymouth in August, 1595; and late in September his fleet reached the West Indies. But he soon discovered that the Spaniards were somewhat better prepared to defend themselves and hold their own than they had been in the days of his youth. Every place into which he looked was armed to the teeth, and frowned a stern defiance. Attacks were made on several Spanish forts in the Gulf of Mexico, but without success. Everywhere the Spaniards were on the alert, and prepared to welcome Drake back to the scenes of his celebrated exploits with discharge of cannon. One of his vessels was taken by the Spaniards off Porto Rico; and, while Drake sat one day in his cabin drinking a cup of beer, a ball killed two of his officers before his eyes, and knocked the stool on which he sat from under him.

This change of fortune saddened the soul of the old sea king. Ere long, Hawkins died of a broken heart; and Drake, growing quite desperate, made an attempt to march to Panama. The attempt utterly failed, and he suffered grievously from mortification. While he was in this state, Drake was attacked by a fever, which rapidly overpowered his constitution, and compelled him to keep his cabin. On the morning of the 28th of January, 1596, however, he insisted on rising and dressing himself. But his condition was feeble: his language was incoherent; and death was written on his face. His officers, shocked, doubtless, at the spec

tacle of a man who had been the pride of the proudest of nations, and the terror of an empire on which the sun never sct, reduced to such a plight, recognised the necessity of carrying the old hero back to bed; and within an hour he breathed his last.

The corpse of Drake was placed in a leaden coffin ; and his obsequies were performed with ceremonies befitting the occasion. The seamen were assembled; the service of the Church was read; the appointed signal was made; and amidst a volley of musketry and a discharge from all the guns of the fleet, the mortal remains of England's maritime hero were committed to the deep.

SIR WALTER RALEIGH.

ONE day, in the eighth decade of the sixteenth century, when Queen Elizabeth, in her splendid barge, surrounded by ladies of honour, lords of high degree, and officers of the household, was taking an airing on the Thames, the weather suddenly broke, and a shower of rain fell. After landing at Westminster, and proceeding from the wharf towards Whitehall, the Queen found the ground somewhat moist, and at length her path was crossed by a pool of water, at which she hesitated and halted.

It was an awkward moment for the courtiers of the haughty Princess, and each stood irresolute. But at the instant, a young man of a most noble aspect stepped forward, and taking off his richly-embroidered cloak, spread it, with singular grace, on the spot of ground that was wet. Elizabeth, both surprised and pleased at so loyal and chivalrous an action, slightly coloured, walked over the mantle, and proceeded to the palace. But the comely face, the handsome figure, and the courtly air of the young gallant, had caught her eye and captivated her fancy. Without delay, therefore, she summoned him to her presence and took him into her service. It then became known that his name was Walter Raleigh, and that he was

of the ancient gentry of Devon, a body of whom the Queen used to remark, "that they were all born courtiers with a becoming confidence.”

In Devon, during the year 1552, about the time when Edward the Sixth was on his death-bed, and at a place named Hayes, Raleigh first saw the light. The father of Raleigh having figured with some distinction as a naval officer during the reign of Queen Mary, the embryo hero is supposed to have inherited a love for the sea; and the circumstance of Hayes being within a short distance of the coast, is believed to have fostered his hereditary passion for the salt

water.

It does not appear, however, that Raleigh was destined by his father for maritime affairs. After having been initiated into ancient learning, either at home or at a school in the vicinity, he was sent, when still very young, to pursue his studies at Oriel College, Oxford, and there attracted notice by the wit and brilliancy he displayed. But Raleigh soon tired of the cloisters of a college; and, prompted by an ardent genius, he at the age of seventeen buckled on his and sought distinction in military life.

armour,

Nor was there at that time any lack of opportunity. It was the year 1569, and the war then raging in France between Catholics and Huguenots excited considerable interest in England. The struggle enlisted the sympathy of the pious, and roused the spirit of the adventurous. Elizabeth, though at that time struggling with many difficulties, showed her sympathy with the French Protestants; and while advancing them money, and taking the jewels of the Queen of Navarre as security, she authorised Henry

Champernon to lead a troop of horse, consisting of a hundred gentlemen-volunteers, to their assistance.

It was in France, as one of this body of gentlemenvolunteers, that Raleigh became familiar with scenes of war, and won a place among men of courage. After having fought for years in France, he enlarged his experience by serving against Spain in the Netherlands; and then returning from the Continent, took part in the suppression of a rebellion in Ireland. When little more than five-and-twenty, Raleigh appeared in London with laurels on his brow, and with a reputation for valour and experience, but with little prospect of having any early opportunity of realising his ambitious aspirations.

Fortune, however, proved more favourable than such an adventurer could have anticipated even in his most sanguine moments. After the sacrifice of his gorgeous cloak, Raleigh rose rapidly at court; and when Lord Grey de Wilton was sent to Ireland as Lord-deputy, Raleigh accompanied him to fight against the Spaniards, who had effected a landing. After signalising his prowess against the enemy, he had the honour of being sent home by the Lord-deputy as the bearer of despatches, and admitted, at Christmas, 1581, to the royal presence, to deliver them into the Queen's hands.

But Raleigh derived from the rebellion in Ireland advantages more substantial than the pleasure of fighting and the honour of carrying despatches. In 1582, the last Fitzgerald who figured as Earl of Desmond, after making himself formidable to the government of Elizabeth, was caught hiding in a cottage, and slain on the spot. His head was brought to England to be placed over London Bridge, and his immense possessions were