TEXT: Sir Walter Ralegh to Sir Robert Cecil, from Weymouth, 21 August 1602 (holograph, Cecil Papers vol. xciv, no. 160, Hatfield) -- on Samuel Mace's and Bartholomew Gilbert's return from Virginia, sassafras, and 'I shall yet live to see it an Inglishe nation'.
SOURCE EDITION: Edward Edwards, The Life of Sir Walter Ralegh... together with his Letters, vol. II (London: Macmillan, 1868), Letter CX, pp. 251-253. Uncorrected OCR.
URL FETCHED: https://archive.org/download/lifesirwalterra00edwagoog/lifesirwalterra00edwagoog_djvu.txt
DATE FETCHED: 2026-09-14
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Feb.  1 58 1  until  Hilary  Term  of  1593  ;  and  Chief  Baron  of  the  Excbeip*^ 
from  the  latter  date  until  Oct  1604. 


Continued  Efforts  for  the  Colonisation  of  Virginia. 


251 


ex. 


TO  SECRETARY  SIR  ROBERT  CECIL. 


Frum  the  Original.    Cecil  Papers,  vol.  xciv.  §  160  (flatfield)-    Holograph. 

Without  date  of  year. 

Sir, 

WlIERAS  as  I  wrate  unto  yow  in  my  last  that  I 
*as  gonn  to  Weymouth,  to  speake  with  a  pinnes  of 
njync  arived  from  Virginia,  I  found  this  bearer,  Cap- 
taync  GILBERT,  ther  also,  who  went  on  the  same  voyage. 
Butt  myne  fell  40  leaugs  to  the  west  of  it,  and  this 
bearer  as  much  to  the  east ;  so  as  neather  of  them  spake 
^  the  peopell.  Butt  I  do  sende  both  the  barks 
an-ay  agayne,  having  saved  the  charg  in  sarsephraze^ 
*'oode;  butt  this  bearer  bringing  sume  2200  waight* 
to  Hampton,'  his  Adventurers  have  taken  away  their 
parts,  and  brought  it  to  London. 

I  do  therforc  humblie  pray  yow  to  deale  withe  my 
Lord  Admiral!  for  a  letter  to  make  seasurc  of  all  that 
vhidi  is  cumc  to  London,  ether  by  his  Lordships  octo-  ' 
i^ye  or  by  the  Judge :   because  I  have  a  patent  that  1 
all  shipps  and  goods  arc  confiscate  that  shall  trade  ther, 
without  my  levc.     Aqd  whcras  sarsephraze  was  worth  j 
JOff.,  i2f.,  and  20s.  a  pound  before  GlLHKRT  returned, 
his  doying  of  the  market  will  overthrow  all  mync,  and 
his  ownc  also.     Hee  is  contented  to  have  all  staydc ; 
not  only  for  this  present :  butt,  being   to   go   agayne, 
others  will  also  go  and  distroy  the  trade,  which,  other- 


LKTTER 

ex. 

1602. 
Aug.  21. 

To  Sir  R. 

Cecil. 

From 

Wey. 

mouth. 

Continued 
efforts  for 
coloniza- 
tion of 
Virginia, 
and 

fecundation 
of  a  trade 
therewith. 
— Arrival 
of  some 
cargoes  of 
\as.sefras 
wowl,  &c. 


\ljyr/Ht\. 


-  2200 lb.  nr  22c\vt.,  a'^  llicn  (.oiiipulcd. 
'  St)iithaiii|il(>n. 


252 


Letters  of  Ralegh, 


LETTER 

ex. 


1602. 
Aug.  21. 


wize,  would  yeild  8  or  10  for  on/  in  certenty,  and  a 
returne  in  xx  weekes. 

I  desire  butt  right  herein ;  and  my  Lord  Admirall,  I 
hope,  will  not  be  a  hinderance  to  a  matter  of  trade 
graunted  by  the  Great  Seale  of  Inglande ;  his  Lordship 
havinge  also  freedome  and  an  interest  in  the  oountrye. 
A  man  of  my  Lord's,  of  Hampton,  arested  part  of 
Gilbert's,  for  the  tenths.  I  hope  my  Lord  will  not 
take  it ;  belonging  not  unto  hyme ;  having  also  hymc 
sealf  poure  to  trade  ther*  by  his  interest.  And  it  were 
pitty  to  overthrow  the  enterprize ;  for  I  shall  yet  live  to 
sec  it  an  Inglishe  nation. 

Ther  was  also  brought  26  sedar  trees  by  GILBERT, 
which  one  Staplyne  of  Dartmouth  hath.  If  my  Lord 
will  vouchsauf  to  write  to  C.  HARRIS*  to  seaze  them,  we 
will  part  them  in  three  parts, — to  seele*  cabineats,  and 
make  bords^  and  many  other  delicate  things.  I  besddi 
yow  vouchsauf  to  speak  to  my  Lord.  I  know  his  Lord- 
ship will  do  mee  right  herein.  I,  for  hast,  have  not 
written.  For,  if  a  stay  be  not  made,  it  wilbe  spent,  and 
sold  into  many  hands. 

This  bearer,  Captayne  GILBERT — who  is  my  Lord 
Cobhame's  man — will  find  out  wher  it  is.  Hee  amc 
to  mec  with  your  post  letter.  It  is  he, — ^by  a  good 
token, — that  had  the  great  diamonde. 

I  beseich  yow,  favor  our  right ;  and  yow  shall  sec 
what  a  prety,  honorabell,  and  sauf  trade  wee  will  make- 

Your's  ever  to  serve  yow, 

W.  RALEGH. 

[Postscript.] — I  hope  yow  will  excuse  my  cumber- 
some letters  and  sutes.     It  is  your  destney  to  be  trobled 


one.  •  /.  t\  to  Vii^ginia. 

Christopher  Harris,  an  officer  of  the  Admiralty. 

*  bonis  *  is  pn>bal)ly  licrc  used  in  ihc  sense  of  *  tables.  * 


^  (id. 


News  of  the  Spanish  Fleet 


253 


»ur  frindsy  and  so  must  all  men  bee.  Butt  what 
inck  unfitt  to  be  dun  for  mee  shall  never  be  a