RALEGH AND GUAYANA LA VIEJA 45 



place. Somewhere in the vicinity of this rugged hill 

 covered with boulders, had taken place on January 1, 

 1618, that I'atal encounter between the Spaniards and 

 Keymis in which young Ralegh lost his life. Edwards, 

 in his 'Life of Sir Walter Ralegh,' says that 'it was about 

 eleven o'clock on New Year's morning that the English 

 vessels hove in sight of Point Araya. They were still far 

 from the chosen landing-place, but the soldiers were 

 landed before sunset. They were, says Ralegh, as weak 

 men as ever followed valiant leaders ; yet there were 

 amongst them some twenty or thirty very adventurous 

 gentlemen, and of singular courage. He particularises 

 several, and amongst them one who bore the illustrious 

 name of John Hampden. Knevitt, Hammond, and 

 Plessington are also named with special commendation. 

 Part of the Spanish force already occupied an ambuscade 

 on some rising ground in advance of the village. These 

 men were under a certain Geronimo de Grades. 



The Englishmen had neither the design nor the 

 expectation of an immediate encounter. Their plan was 

 to encamp on the river's bank for the night, and to 

 prosecute the attempt on the following morning, leaving 

 part of the force to protect the ships and to watch the 

 town. Grados attacked them soon after nightfall and 

 took them by surprise. * The common sort,' says Ralegh, 

 * were so amazed, as had not the captains and some other 

 valiant gentlemen made a head and encouraged the rest, 

 they had all been broken and cut to pieces.' 



Suddenness of attack and knowledge of the ground 

 were the only advantages which the Spaniards possessed. 

 "Whatever the inferiority of the ' common sort ' of 

 Englishmen here present, they had pluck enough to fight 

 when rightly led. And on this occasion they were led 



