Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-06

manuscript OF Edward Sponsors "Fairie
Queene." which had been submitted for
his criticism by its author. A consider
able part OF the fourth book of the poem
was written at Myrtle Lodge while Spen-
ser was Sir Walters guest, and the re-
Blackwater. The poem was never fin
ished. but i,s publication is due to Sir
Walter. who took the manuscript to
London. placed it with the printer and
He thought SO highly Of the poem that,
in a noble sonnet composed while Spenser
was visiting him at Youghal. he says:
All suddenly ! saw the fairie queene.
At whose approach the soul Of Petrarch wept.
1t Is therefore very natural that Spen-
ser should reply in these lines:
Thou only. At this argument to write.
And dainty love learnt sweetly to indite.
Raleigh as Poet and Author.
Spenser was a man of delicate sensibili-
ties and great refinement Of character,
but lacked the masterful spirit. the ambi-
ton. the energy and the dominating Will
literary taste. He is better known as
soldier. advepturer, sailor and explorer.
Spenser called him the Shepherd OF the
Seas, but some Of his sonnets are inn
mortal. They rank with those of Shake
speare in poetic fancy, delicacy Of ex-
preston and sublimity of thought, and
his prose work, especially his History OF
the World, which was begun at Myrtle
Lodge and finished while he was prison
er in the Tower of London, ranked among
the literary triumphs of his day and gen.
Grafton.
Sir John Pope Hennessy. to whom I
have already referred as the former
owner Of the home of Raleigh at Yong
hal, spent several years in an investiga-
ton OF state papers and other historical
material relating to the administration OF
Irish affairs during the reign OF Queen
Elizabeth. He has written book en-
titled Raleigh In Ireland" which is be-
gun and finished in an unfriendly spirit,
and holds Raleigh responsible for all the
troubles that occurred in Ireland at his
time and since. He does not leave a
fragment of Raleigh's reputation as a
man OF honor.
Raleigh's Cruelty.
He insists that the cruel and pnreason-
able policy of the queen toward her Irish
subjects was dictated very largely by
him, and says: I'm addition to the women
and children there were helpless and in
nocent objects to be rooted out as enc
mics to Queen Elizabeth, and no man cut
down and destroyed more than Raleigh.
He admits Raleigh's bravery and en-
ergy. and describes fight which took
column of Spanish soldiers at bay. He
gives other incidents to show Raleigh 8
personal courage, but accuses him OF
wholesale assassinations. and In support
capture OF smerwick Castle. which sur
rendered on the 10th Of November. 1880:
When the captain had yielded himself
and the fort appointed. Capt. Raleigh. to-
gether with Capt. Mackworth, entered
into the castle and made great slaugh-
ter. the most part of them being put to
tthe sword. All the Irish men and women
were hanged and more than foure hundred
Spaniards. Italians and Biscaies put to
death. the coronell. captains. secretarie
and others to the number of tWentie be-
ing saved for ransome."
II one half that Hennessy tells of Raj
eigh's work In Ireland Is true. he was
man OF treachery. untruth. unbrldled pas
sion and monetrous cruelty. But this Is
no place to discuss that question. Raleigh
was q prisoner in the Tower Of London
with James, Earl OF Desmond. successor
of the man whose estates he conf1scated
and occupied The death of the earl
prompted Raleigh in q letter from the
wee shall be judged as wee Judge
and bee dealt withal. as we deal with
others in this life-if wee believe God
Hymesealf."
No Change Since Raleigh's Time.
Myrtle Lodge remains very much as 1t
was when Raleigh lived there. Few his
torical houses have been altered SO little
or have been preserved with greater care.
Sir Walters study" is hung with an
original painting Of the first governor OF
Virginia. and a contemporary engraving
Of Elizabeth, Queen of Virginia. There
are the long table at which he wrote, an
oak chest In which he kept his papers. a
little Italian cabinet filled with old deeds
and parchment, some bearing his seal.
two book cases Of vellum-bound volumes
Of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries
and all of the furniture dating from his
time. We are assured that there is moth
Ing in the room that was not In the house
at the time he occupied 1t. The dining
room is one Of the choicest examples of
fifteenth century domestic architecture
that can be found. 1t has deep project
ing bay window and porch. an orieled
closet. a wide, arched fireplace. and walls
wainscoted with rich. ripe Irish oak. The
drawing room has a carved oaken man.
telpiece which rises to the ceiling. The
cornice rests upon three figures repre-
adjoining bedroom is another mantel-
piece Of oak, and the fireplace Is lined
with old Dutch tiles. Behind the VAIN
scoting of this room, while repairs were
being made fifty years ago. an ancient
monkish library was found. which. 1t
was thought. was hiden there to escape
the covenanters at the time Of the refor-
nation.
Raleigh Patron Of Foreign Missions
A gentleman on the train coming
down made the interesting statement
that Sir Walter Raleigh was the first
patron Of Protestant foreign missions.
He contributed flO0 to start the Society
for the Propagation Of the Gospel In