An Elementary School History of England (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1856 Excerpt: ... It had, however, always been in an unsettled state. James, with the assistance of the great lord Bacon, devised a scheme for colonizing part of the country with English people. The lands of some Irish nobles having been confiscated, were granted to colonists in certain proportions, on condition that they cultivated the land, and put it in a proper state of defence. Much good arose from this measure, and the north of Ireland, where it was carried into effect, is to this day the most civilized, and the happiest part of that country. I must now relate some further particulars respecting sir Walter Raleigh. You will remember that he was confined to the tower, on account of the part he had taken in a conspiracy. During the thirteen years of his captivity he had devoted a great part of his time to literature, and had written several learned works. In 1616, he declared that he knew of the existence of a large gold mine in America; which he promised to find, and to work, if he were set at liberty, and allowed to fit out an expedition. The king, hoping to get a large share of the profits, granted his request. He was set at liberty, but was not pardoned, so that his old sentence was still hanging over him. In 1.617, he set sail with fourteen vessels, crossed the Atlantic, and sailed up the Orinoco. But his gold mine seems to have been a delusion. In passing the town of St. Thomas, some of his men came into collision with the Spaniards, and an action was fought, in which Raleigh's son, and the Spanish governor were killed. Raleigh was compelled to return home. He found the king much exasperated, not only on account of the failure of the expedition, but because of the offence given to the Spanish government, with which he was very anxious to be on friendly terms. Rale...