who have put so many speeches into the mouths of others, now must needs put what should have been another man's speech into mine own. If it wanted nought but friendliness in the speaker, methinks I could not fail in the speech; for I will allow of no man acknowledging a greater regard for his truly famous virtues than do I. Then, at once, I will begin by saying, as the mouthpiece of all present, that the entertainment we have been furnished with hath been of that princely sort which could not come of a less prodigal disposition than the giver possesseth. But as I can never hope to do it justice, I will e'en let it alone, only saying, that like unto the bountifulness of his hospitality would we shew the bountifulness of our gratitude, could we express the one as well as he hath done the other.

"And now be it known unto you, that he of whom I have been speaking is inclined to play the part of Jason, and is about to set off in search of another golden fleece. Shall we not pray for him and his adventurous band of argonauts, and hope for them success in their efforts, and security in their perils? If, to have for their leader as skilful a commander as ever led men to victory is the properest thing to secure their, fortunate returning, they have it. If an honourable mind, a courageous spirit, and a heart well disposed towards every one who shareth with him in the dangers, are at all necessary for their succeeding, they have them. If knowledge in all things appertaining to matters of

warfare on sea or land is requisite for the complete realising of their hopes, out of all manner of doubt they have it. In short they have, in their commander, every one thing that could at all assist them in making success their own; and none of us are there here who feel not satisfied that such success will be theirs. This being our farewell of this heroic leader, we must not allow the night to wane without the taking of a parting cup. Therefore fill my masters, I pray you, every one his cup to the brim, and join with me in drinking, with a true heart, to the health of Sir Walter Raleigh, with our earnest wishes for the prosperity of his expedition in search of the famous El Dorado."

Master Shakspeare tossed off his draught in the instant, and he was quickly followed by the whole of the worshipful company amid a very uproar of applause, and then Sir Walter did rise, and spoke very much to the purpose concerning of his thankfulness for the honour that had been done him and the like, and he launched out into exceeding commendati of Master Shakspeare, which was well received on; and then he proposed his health, which was acceded to with great heartiness. And so they kept a drinking of healths till it grew into the morning; and at last separated every one with wonderful regret at the parting with Sir Walter Raleigh, but with an equal degree of satisfaction at the entertainment they had received.

CHAPTER VII.

Whene'er the skilful youth discoursed or writ,
Still did the notions throng

About his eloquent tongue,

Nor could his ink flow faster than his wit.

COWLEY.

Now, by the gods, I pity his misfortune,
And will awake him from his melancholy.

SHAKSPEARE.

I would leave kingdoms, were I queen of some,
To dwell with thy good father; for, the son
Bewitching me so deeply with his presence,
He that begot him must do't ten times more.
MASSINGER.

SIR WALTER RALEIGH sailed from Plymouth in the Lion's Whelp, accompanied only by a small bark, because of the other ships and pinnaces not being ready at the appointed time, and he stretched out to Teneriffe, giving orders they were to overtake him there. Among others who had come on board of Sir Walter's vessel was Simon Mainsail, as chief gunner, and between him and Harry Daring there was presently a huge liking, because of the boy's apparent great courage, and his eagerness to be taught of all matters relating to maritime affairs,

and of the old man's wonderful experience in such things. The former seemed of a sudden to lose his relish for mischief in the strictness of his attention to the gaining of this knowledge, and he would go over every part of the ship to know its use, and be familiar with it; then he would handle the ropes and the sails, till he was as well acquainted with their application as was any; and as for climbing, he had scarce been at sea a week before he would ascend to the topmast yards with such nimbleness and fearlessness that none would follow him, and all were in dread of his falling. He seemed to like nothing so much as to hear the old mariner tell of the dangers he had passed; of the terrible storms he had seen; and of the fearful fights he had been in; and it appeared as if Simon Mainsail liked nothing so much as to talk of them. Often and often would they two get togeti: mayhap sitting on the breech of a gun, as the go. y ship was a ploughing the waves in right admirable fashion, and whilst the boy, wrapt up in the very earnestness of his attention, gazed upon the veteran's honest weatherbeaten face, the latter would discourse in his homely yet stirring manner upon the great store of riches the Spaniards had acquired in the New World, and how many brave spirits had enriched themselves by plundering of their ships and sacking of their towns, till the boy, entering into the excitement of his companion, would cry out in the midst of the

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narration, By Gog and Magog, what exquisite fine fun!"

"You see, Harry," continued the chief gunner, "these same villain Spaniards are the most treacherous craft as you shall find anywhere-they be the savagest, rascalliest, falsest set of caitiffs that ever warped out of this world into t'other, and it be but the doing of God's good work to sink the whole crew, if peradventure they could be met with in one ship. There be no telling of what horrid cruelties they have practised upon the poor Indians when they came aboard of them in their own country, from the which, being but simple, and not having so much as an harquebus among the whole lot, much less any piece of ordnance, the poor Indians were soon driven out, and rifled of all their gold and of every one thing they possessed. in the wake of this the Spaniards built themselves fine towns along the coast of the Spanish main, which, what with the plunder they had of the natives, and what they got out of the mines-for I have heard it said that in those parts the earth be solid gold-they soon became so monstrous rich that they sent fleets of huge ships every year to Spain laden with bars of gold and silver."

Well,

"It would serve them but right, methinks, could any of our ships meet with such, and spoil them as they had done the Indians," observed Harry Daring.