302 



HISTORY OF THE SEA. 



mon delights of hunting, hawking, fishing, fowling, and the rest,, 

 than Guiana does. I am resolved that, both for health, good 

 air, pleasure, and riches, it cannot be equalled by any region 

 in the East or West. To conclude: Guiana is a country that 

 hath yet her maidenhead, never sacked, turned, nor wrought. 

 The face of the earth hath not been torn, nor the virtue and salt 

 of the soil spent ; the graves have not been opened for gold, 

 the mines not broken with sledges, nor the images pulled down 

 out of their temples. It hath never been entered by any army 

 of strength, nor conquered by any Christian prince. . . . 

 I trust that He wiio is Lord of lords will put it into her heart 

 who is Lady of ladies to possess it. If not, I will judge those 

 most worthy to be kings thereof that by her grace and leave 

 will undertake it of themselves." 



Raleigh ascended the stream nearly two hundred miles, when 

 the rapid and terrific rise of its waters compelled him to re- 

 turn. He took formal possession of the country, and made the 

 caciques swear allegiance to Queen Elizabeth. He returned to 

 England during the summer, having been but five months ab- 

 sent. It was then that he published the narrative from which 

 we have quoted. 



His restoration to favor precluded any further prosecution of 

 his designs on Guiana during the reign of Elizabeth. He was 

 imprisoned for thirteen years during the reign of James, her 

 successor, for the crime of high-treason and supposed participa- 

 tion in the plot to place Lady Arabella Stuart on the throne. 

 In 1617, he equipped a fleet of thirteen vessels in which to pro- 

 ceed to Guiana for the purpose of again seeking El Dorado. 

 The fleet arrived in safety, but Raleigh was too unwell to ascend 

 the Orinoco in person. Captain Keymis led the exploring 

 party, and, upon being compelled to return to the ship without 

 success, and with the news of the death in battle of Sir Walter's 

 eldest son, committed suicide. Raleigh sailed to Newfoundland 

 to victual and refit ; but a mutiny of the crews forced him to re- 



