Publisher's Synopsis
Excerpt from The Gallery of Portraits, Vol. 6: With Memoirs
Very little is known Concerning the youth of Sii Walte1 Raleigh. He was a younge1 son, descended of an ancient family, and was b01n at a farm called Hayes, nea1 the mouth of the 1iver Otter, in Devon shire, in the year 1552. He went to Oriel College, Oxford, at an early age, and gained 'high praise for the quickness and, precocityof his talents. In-1569 he began his military career in the-civil wars of France, as a volunteer in the Protestant cause. It is conjectured that he remained in France for more than six years, and returned to Eng land in 1576. Soon after, he repaired to the Netherlands, and served as a volunteer against the Spaniards. In such schools, and under such leaders as Coligni and the Prince of orange, Raleigh's natural apti tude for political and military science 1eceived the best nurture-z but he was soon drawn f1om the war in Holland by a pursuit which had captivated his imagination from an early age - the prosecution of dis covary in the New World. In conjunction with his half-bi othe1 Sll Humphrey Gilbert, 3 man of courage and ability, and a skilful sailor, he made an unsuccessful attempt to establish a colony ln no1 th Ame rica. Returning home in 1579, he immediately entered the Queen's army in Ireland, and served with good esteem for personal courage and professional skill, until the suppression of the rebellion in that country. He owed his introduction to court, and the personal favour of Elizabeth, as is traditionally reported, to a fortunate and well-im proved accident, which is too familiar to need repetition here. It is probable, however, that his name and talents were not unknown, for we find him employed almost immediately in certain matters of diplomacy.
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