THE VOYAGERS 



at his choice all remote and heathen lands not in the 

 actual possession of any Christian prince/ the expedi- 

 tion that he fitted out was, in point of fact, diverted 

 from peaceful purposes. He got together a fleet of 

 eleven ships, and enlisted the assistance of many- 

 gentlemen adventurers, the most notable among them 

 being his own step-brother, Walter Raleigh, who was 

 weary of land-service, and desired to try his fortunes 

 by sea. Feuds and divisions broke out at the begin- 

 ning of the voyage ; four ships refused the expedition ; 

 and Gilbert, intending an attack on the West Indies, 

 fell across some Spanish vessels, and was beaten in 

 fight. The second and more memorable adventure of His last 

 1583, in which he met his death, was of less ambitious ^-^^^ ' 

 design. Five vessels were equipped; the Delight^ of 

 120 tons, in which Gilbert sailed as Admiral, the Bark 

 Raleigh^ of 200 tons, with its owner as Vice-admiral, 

 the Golden Hind and Swallow^ of 40 tons each, and the 

 Squirrel^ of 10 tons. The purpose was to plant a 

 colony on some convenient site near Newfoundland. 

 The men proved disorderly and mutinous; Raleigh, Disasters. 

 who never took kindly to a subordinate command, 

 deserted the expedition for some reason unknown ; the 

 Swallow was employed by its crew in piracy, and was 

 ultimately sent back to England with the sick; and the 

 Delight^ after the failure of a three weeks' experiment 

 in colonisation at St. John's Harbour, struck on a rock, 

 and was lost with its men and cargo of mineral. But 

 these failures and disasters were destined to give Gilbert 

 his undying fame. Starting for home with his two 

 remaining ships, he chose to sail in the Squirrel^ which 

 he had made much use of to explore the coast. 'I 



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