A Very Bright, Clean Copy of a Defense of Walter Raleigh

THE LIFE OF THE VALIANT & LEARNED SIR WALTER RALEIGH : WITH HIS TRYAL AT WINCHESTER.

(RALEIGH, SIR WALTER). [SHIRLEY, JOHN].

(London: printed by J[ohn]. D[arby]. for Benj. Shirley, and Richard Tonson, 1677). 172 x 112 mm. (6 3/4 x 4 3/8"). 243, [1] pp. First Separate Edition.

Contemporary mottled sheep, very skillfully rebacked to style, spine with red morocco label. Front pastedown with armorial bookplate of Albert Julian Pell, Wilburton Manor; front free endpaper with faded ink signature of F. Tasburgh. Wing S-3495; ESTC R14700. A FINE COPY, the expertly repaired binding with just a few dings and slight crackling to the leather; the contents with a couple negligible stains, but clean and very bright throughout.

Originally penned as a preface to the folio edition of Raleigh's "History of the World," also published in 1677, this volume summarizes the life and adventures of the Elizabethan courtier and explorer in the first quarter of the book, and devotes the rest of the text to a transcript of his trial for treason. That transcript is "exactly and faithfully taken," according to Shirley--that the reader may judge how Raleigh (ca. 1553-1618) acquitted himself before the court, and whether he was, in fact, innocent of the charges, as our author clearly believed. At the time of Raleigh's final expedition--an effort to find gold along the Orinoco River in present-day Venezuela--England and Spain were at peace; James I, determined to make the peace last, had given Raleigh, an enemy of the Spanish to his last breath, strict orders, upon penalty of death, not to engage in any hostile acts against the Spanish. Unfortunately, when Sir Walter returned to England, he not only had empty hands, but there was blood on them, because his forces had attacked and burned a Spanish settlement in the course of their unsuccessful attempts to find a gold mine supposedly located in the region. Although not directly involved in the hostilities (having taken ill, having stayed behind, and having given over his command), Raleigh nevertheless was executed in keeping with the king's guarantees to the Spanish ambassador. Largely because of his antipathy toward Spain, Raleigh had been a prominent and popular figure, and the execution was felt by many to be unjust and to put James in a bad light. Our copy was once owned by Major Albert Julian Pell (1863-1916) an attorney who served as an instructor in musketry during the Great War. He lost his brother in battle, and he himself died (though not in combat) while still a member of the General Staff of the army. This "Life" is not especially rare, but copies as fine as the present one are very difficult to acquire. (ST21009)

Price: $750.00