RALEGH, Walter, Sir.

by Walter, Sir Ralegh

£5,250 · Offered by Sokol Books

.A most attractive copy of the fifth edition of Sir Walter Ralegh s hugely successful world history the first of its kind in English illustrated with 8 double-page engraved maps of the ancient empires, here in fresh impression. One of the most renowned English commanders and explorers, Ralegh (1552-1618) played a major role in the colonization of North America and Ireland under Elizabeth I, and served against the Spanish Armada. For his secret marriage to Elizabeth Throckmorton, the Queen s lady-in-waiting, they were sent to the Tower. From the 1590s, he explored South America, in search of El Dorado, including Guyana, and sought to establish the first (and short-lived) North American English colony, on Roanoke Island. First published in 1614, Historie was completed during his second imprisonment in the Tower in 1603, on suspicion of plotting against the English succession of James VI. Ralegh was eventually executed in 1618. . . .. In the Tower, [Ralegh] received visitors, set up a still, and, aided by the collection of over 500 books in his chambers, began working on a universal world history. As was customary, he began with the Creation, intending to proceed to his present in three lengthy volumes. In 7 years of work, he produced only one volume, a massive 1500-folio tome that examined nearly four millennia from the Creation to 168 BC. In 1614, sensing the volatility within James s regime offered the hope of restoration to the king s favour, he rushed the History into print

• Binding: Hardcover

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