^{page 139 note a} See Churchyard's “True Discourse Historical of the succeeding Governors in the Netherlands,” &c. from 1565 to 1598. London, imprinted for Mathew Lownes, &c. 1602, p. 28 It is somewhat remarkable that the name of Raleigh does not appear in this narrative; but he was much junior to Churchyard, Gascoigne, and Whetstone, and younger even than Rich and Breton: he therefore, no doubt, held a subordinate rank. A copy of this tract, now before me, has several blanks filled up in MS.; and what renders it more remarkable is that at the back of the Table of Contents are written twenty lines by Churchyard, celebrating the lives and deaths of Sir John Norris and Sir Philip Sidney: they must have been composed by the veteran soldier and rhymer subsequent to 3d Sept. 1597, because Sir John Norris died on that day. They are well worth preserving, and I insert them, precisely as they stand:–

On Sir John Norris and Sir Philip Sidney.

What greater guerdon can we give to Norris his hie name,

Then that it shall, while time shall last, have ever-during fame?

In Portingall, in royall France, and eke no lesse in Spaine,

In Nederlands with hie renowme, in Ireland and Britaine,

He lawrells wonne for Victories with manye a grieslye wound.

His lawrell crowne can thunder stroke nor lightning ere confound.

The thrones of Kings may bee cast downe by Time, alike to all,

But under stroke of balefull Time his fame shall never fall.

It is of that immortall stuffe which ever must remaine,

When brazen Towres and marble Tombes doe prove themselves but vaine.

With him renowmed Sidney, too, shalbe recorded hie,

Who over death, victorious still, hath wonne the victory.

Unequall'd in the royall Court, or field with martiall power,

When Death him strucke with bullet foule, Death was not conquerour.

Now to what loftyer height of fame can these great worthies clime,

Victorious over enemies, victorious over Time?

Though age and sickness me assaile, I feele againe returne

The ardent fires wherewith erewhile I did full fiercely burne.

Why could not Churchyarde die with them, he still doth sore complaine,

Not creepe into his lonesome grave made welcome by his paine ?

Th. Ch.

The old versifier, who thus feelingly laments his age and sufferings, only survived the publication of his historical tract two years.

^{page 140 note a} Chalmers's Biographical Dictionary, vol. xxv. p. 501. P. F. Tytler, speaking of this period, says merely, “Raleigh's military experience now entitled him to promotion, and we find him commanding a company in Ireland.” Life of Raleigh, 12mo, 1844, p. 26.

^{page 140 note a} See Cunningham's “Extracts from the Accounts of the Revels” (printed for the Shakespeare Society in 1842), Introduction, p. xxxi. At this date such seems to have been a usual mode of distinguishing and rewarding meritorious officers.

^{page 143 note a} Raleigh ultimately (perhaps by royal command) remained in England. Caley, i. 31; Tytler, p. 41.

^{page 145 note a} Biographical Dictionary, vol. xxv. p. 502.

^{page 145 note b} Life of Raleigh, p. 49.

^{page 145 note c} Lives of British Admirals, iv. 230, 231.

^{page 146 note a} The original draft, preserved in the State Paper Office, tallies in every respect with the copy of the instrument in my possession. An instance of an opposite kind occurs in 1585, where Raleigh is spoken of only as “Mr. Raleigh,” in the indorsement of a commission, while in the body of it he is invariably called either “Sir Walter Raleigb,” or “Sir Walter Raleigh, Knight.”

^{page 146 note b} Worthies, i. 262. It was not unsuccessfully (in all senses of the word) imitated in our own day. When Queen Victoria returned from opening the new Hall of Lincoln's Inn, she had to pass down the steps covered with carpeting, but with a small interval before she reached the carriage. To cover this interval an Irish student stripped off his gown, and laid it under her Majesty's feet.