A General History of the Lives, Trials, and Executions of All the Royal and Noble Personages, That Have Suffered in Great-Britain and Ireland for High Treason, or Other Crimes (Volume 3); From the Accession of Henry VIII. to the Throne of England, Down to th (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1760. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... General History, @V. THE History of the Life and Death o F Sir Walter Ralegh. HOUGH abundance of solid particulars are naturally funk in the rapid current of time, while many far less substantial are floating upon the surface, to the hand of every ordinary memorialist: and, though some shining circumstances, in the prosperous part of fir Walter Ralegh's life have been darkened through envy, as others, in the unfortunate period, by the age in which he lived -, nevertheless, his single life may perhaps be found more fruitful of memorable incidents, than many histories of entire ages: i ii.nuch, as I may be Vol. III. 8 more apprehensive, with a late collector of his memoirs, ** That the describing a person of so diffusive a "praise, so equally great in so many different parts ** of life, will be like attempting a landskip from a "hill, where the multiplicity and extent of "the prospects may rather distract the mind, than ** direct it; and call for judgment to restrain the ** fancy, which is apt to run riot, when employed ** upon too many objects." Many guides may indeed appear to lead iis through this wilderness; but, numerous as the authors are who mention him, they contain but fragments of his story; divers whereof, hitherto widely dispersed, have escaped not only our general historians, but the many compilers of distinct pieces on his actions. Even the moderns, who have treated of him with impartiality, have yet been deficient in point of industry, so as to prove no less injurious to his merits, than some who in his own age have conspired to depreciate them. Hence the generality, having been too superficial and undigested; having neither regarded doe choice and order or matter, proportion in the parts, - of connexion of the whole; nor yet discharged them...