of ships and traders, which he conducted to the Azores. This, which was a signal service (these vessels being on their way to England, not having found Essex at the rendezvous appointed by himself), was a proceeding of which the Earl did not know what to make. His creatures, of whom he had many, and to whom he always lent too ready an ear, had possessed him with the belief that Ralegh had inveigled these ships away, and that he had designed to desert him. On Ralegh's arrival, Essex seemed, says Arthur Gorges, "to be the joyfullest man living," protesting that "he never believed we would leave him, although divers persuaded him to the contrary," and acknowledging "that he was sorry for a letter which he had written, by Mr. Robert Knollys, into England against us," but promising "to make a despatch on purpose, contrary to the former." With what pity, and with a deal of that which is sometimes allied to it, must Sir Walter have regarded this "slight man," who now treated him with the greatest kindness and familiarity."* *"Though the earl had many doubts and jealousies buzzed in his ears against him (Ralegh), yet I have often observed," says Gorges, "that both in his In the council of war held before the isle of Flores, it had been decided that Essex and Sir Walter should jointly attack the island of Fayal. Here Ralegh waited some days for the Earl, but he did not arrive. Sir Walter deemed it high time to call a council of war, in which he proposed to attempt the town himself—a step which Sir Guilly Meyrick, Sir Nicholas Parker, and other creatures of Essex, strongly resisted, but which Gorges, Sir W. Brook, and Sir W. Harvey, with many other commanders and gentlemen of his own squadron, as warmly encouraged. Ralegh at length agreed to delay the enterprise one day longer, and if the Earl did not arrive, he resolved to take the island; which he did in the most gallant manner, with, as he has told us, and as the reader has seen (vide p. 59), none but men assured, commanders of my own squadron, with some of their followers, and a few other gentlemen volunteers, whom I could not refuse;" leaving Meyrick, Parker, and the other parasites, to prepare such colours for a picture to be presented to their master on his arrival, as should inflame him to madness.* greatest actions of service, and in the time of his chiefest recreations, he would ever accept of his counsel and company before many others who thought themselves more in his favour." *The taking of the fort was a desperate undertaking. Ralegh has generously omitted to notice in his account, that many of the soldiers, who had been brought from the Low Countries, and had for the most part lived in garrison, showed great irresolution, and positively refused to go forward to discover the way to the town, a piece of cowardice which excited his scorn and indignation. He told them, "that he would not offer that to any man which he would himself refuse; that though it were not the duty and office of a chief commander to undergo so ordinary a service, which duly appertained to the inferior officers and soldiers;" and "notwithstanding that I could therefore enforce others to it, they shall well perceive that I myself will do that which they dare not attempt; wherein I am ashamed in their behalf, that our general (Essex), and we are all thus abused in our opinion of those Low Country soldiers." Sir Arthur Gorges tells us,-"When I saw him resolved, I told him that I would, out of the love of a kinsman in particular, and also out of an honest regard, take such part as he did, from whom I had received many kind favours, and accompany him; but not out of any great desire I had to go about a piece of work which consisted of much danger, and little honour in the performance. He thanked me for the offer, but yet wished me not to go, if it were against my will; notwithstanding, I accompanied him, and so did some eight or ten more of our servants and followers. But I say truly, and so afterwards it was much spoken of, that there was not any one more of quality that did accompany him The next morning, before break of day, they discovered, bearing in with full sail towards the road of Fayal, the Earl of Essex and his fleet, he having been all this while making a wild goose chase after the Indian fleets, and the Adelantado, who, as he now understood, never stirred out this year. Being duly informed of the taking of Fayal, he broke out into fury, cashiering several of the officers who had conducted themselves gallantly under Ralegh. Some of the Earl's dependents even intimated that Ralegh deserved to lose his head for breach of the articles, in landing without his lordship's orders. When the two met, the Earl, after a faint welcome, began to accuse Ralegh of breach of orders, and being asked wherein he had been guilty of such breach, the other answered, "there was an article that none should land any of the troops without the general's presence or his order." Ralegh replied that there was indeed an order that no captain should do this under pain of death: "But I take myself," said he, "to be a principal commander under your lordship, and therefore not subject to that article, nor under the power of that law." Some more words passed, and Essex was apparently pacified, resting himself in Ralegh's lodging. Sir Walter invited the Earl to supper; but Sir Christopher Blount (the new stepfather of Essex), who brought back the answer, said, "he thought my lord would not sup at all." To which Ralegh replied, "That for his own appetite, he might, when invited, disable it at his own pleasure; but if the Earl would stay he should be glad of his company." On the next morning, the Lord Thomas Howard, who had been closeted with Essex on the night preceding, assured Sir Walter that the Earl only wanted some acknowledgment, because the rest would think him a weak and tame commander, if he had not satisfaction. Ralegh, (who, spite of the Earl's seeming content on the previous day, suspected some violence would be offered him, had designed in that business." Sir Arthur had his left leg shot through by a musket ball. He says "I was then hard by the rear-admiral, who also was shot through the breeches and doublet sleeves in two or three places. And still they plied us so fast with small shot, that, as I well remember, he wished me to put off a large red scarf which I then wore, being, as he said, a very fair mark for them. But I, not willing to do the Spaniards so much honour at that time, though I could have wished it had not been on, answered the rear-admiral again, that his white scarf was as eminent as my red, and therefore I would now follow his example." |