Judicious and Select Essayes and Observations. By that renowned and learned knight. Sir Walter Raleigh. Upon the first invention of shipping. The misery of invasive warre. The Navy Royall and sea-service. With his apologie for his voyage to Guiana

by RALEIGH, Sir Walter (1552?-1618)

Price: $3,200.00
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London: T. W. for Humphrey Moseley, 1650. 4 parts in one volume (as issued), small 8vo. (5 1/2 x 3 1/4 inches). Title, three section titles, with blank G8 at the end of the second section. Engraved portrait frontispiece by Robert Vaughan. (Some light old marginal dampstaining, lacking 4 advertisement leaves as usual). Expertly bound to style in 17th century calf, covers ruled in gilt, spine with raised bands in six compartments and elaborately stamped in gilt. First edition of this important collection, including his famous Apologie, and complete with the frontispiece portrait engraved by Vaughan. The most important and evocative section is undoubtedly the final part: Apologie for his voyage to Guiana. This essay concerning his disastrous voyage to Guiana was written at Salisbury (where Raleigh halted on his return to London) in an effort to refute the charge that in his dealings in the Americas he had displayed a level of self-interest which bordered on treason. Raleigh's hope was that he would be able to persuade James I to treat him leniently. He begins his defence with a frank admission that he had failed, but blames the total inadequacy of the members of the expedition "who for the most part had nether seen the Sea nor the Warres, who, some forty Gentleman excepted, [were] ... the very scumme of the World: Drunkards, Blasphemers and such other as their Fathers, Brothers and freinds [sic.] thought it an exceeding good gaine to be discharged of them with the hazard of some thirty forty or fifty pounds...' (pp.3/4 of Apologie). Nevertheless, Raleigh was arrested, sent to the Tower of London and eventually executed for treason. Alden 650/176-177; Brushfield Raleigh 218; ESTC (RLIN) R9599; Lowndes III, p.2040; Pforzheimer 822; Sabin 67561; Wing R170.

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