| Sir Walter Raleigh dropped anchor in so many ports, | | | | attempt of settlement. He spoke fondly of his self |
| pulled up alongside so many Spanish galleons to | | | | named new land, Virginia, for his Virgin Queen. With all |
| ensure the booty was either unloaded or the larger | | | | her other great glories, this land would yet become |
| Spanish galleon obediently followed under tight escort | | | | filled with people who speak the English as spoken by |
| to a safe port to exchange goods. Or sometimes, an | | | | the Queen. And if not in 1580, then soon, surely. This |
| English flag would be hoisted, Spanish disposed of | | | | new Virginia was swampland down at the coast, and |
| kindly, on a tropical beach, and off went the Raleigh | | | | that may have caused many of the deaths at |
| men to another pirating raid, as Spain called them. | | | | Roanoake, with the bugs and mosquitoes, and the first |
| Raleigh and his men would call it many more kindly | | | | settlers had not been of the best health; let out of jail |
| words such as the honor of the Lord for their good | | | | for the experiment. As would be many others. That |
| behavior, or such. | | | | would be up to John Smith and the yet unborn |
| Raleigh was eventually separated from his head by | | | | Pocahantas, an entirely different story. We know the |
| the jealous next king after the death of Elizabeth at | | | | was some friendly contact with natives, and they may |
| the Tower, but that is the sad ending of a great man | | | | have exchanged more than peace pipes and tobacco, |
| who opened up the world, and in particular created | | | | tribal trinkets for gemstones. |
| such interest in America, with his smoking on the | | | | Meanwhile, after years in the Tower while Jamestown |
| streets of London and being doused by a kind minded | | | | tried to outdo Virginia, it was off with his head for Sir |
| man with a pail of water as he thought Raleigh was | | | | Walter, ordered by some pampered prince with an |
| on fire. Progress, if it was that, and we now know it | | | | inheritance. You know who you were. We are not to |
| was not, is slow. But Raleigh, as he returned from | | | | give bad names although I did mention his name, so I |
| more and more great raids with booty for his Queen, | | | | will not again. But shame, James, shame.At least you |
| grew in stature and legend in England. | | | | also pushed the Puritans out by 1620, and there was |
| All eyes were on the West Indies, and this vast new | | | | no stopping it then. Not then, not now, not ever. |
| land that had overwhelmed Sir Walter and his first | | | | |