many rival interests, some of which had perhaps to be conciliated, the
patent was confirmed.

It ought perhaps to be mentioned here that five of Gilbert's six years
having already expired without his obtaining success or possession,
several others, anticipating a forfeiture of the patent, began agitation
for rival patents in 1583. Carleil, Walsingham, Sidney, Peckham,
Raleigh, and perhaps others were eager in the strife. Mostof the papers
are given in Hakluyt's 1589 edition. The ' Golden Hinde ' returned in
September 1583 with the news of the utter failure of the expedition and
the death of Sir Humphrey. Raleigh succeeded in obtaining the royal
grant, and then all the rest joined him in getting the patent confirmed
by Parliament.

Raleigh was now thirty-three, a man of position, of large heart and
large income, a popular courtier high in royal favor, a man of foreign
travel, great experience and extensive acquirements. He had served under
Coligni with his protestant friends in France; subsequently served under
William of Orange in Flanders; had served his Queen in Ireland; under
Gilbert's patent, contemplated a voyage to Newfoundland in 1578; and in
1583 was ready to embark himself again, but by some happy accident did
not go, though he fitted out and sent a large ship at his own cost
bearing his own name, which ship however put back on account of the
outbreak of some contagion. Fully alive to the wants, plans, and desires
of the Huguenots, he had not only informed himself of their Florida
schemes, but had promoted the publication of their history, and secured
the interest and active co-operation of the most important survivor of
them all, Jaques LeMoyne, the painter, who having escaped landed
destitute in Wales, and subsequently entered the service of Raleigh who
had him safely lodged in the Blackfriars. He had also, how or when