RALEGH, Walter, Sir.

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. Though only a portion of the original project, this book enjoyed immense popularity for a century after its publication’ (Popper, pp.1-2). A temporary suppression ban was enforced in 1614, as James I was allegedly offended by the presence of Ralegh’s portrait on the title (Racin, p.199). The portrait reappeared in the 1617 edition. The initial poem, by Ben Jonson, explains the allegory of the engraved title. Book I covers the Creation to Abraham. Ralegh’s interest in antiquities and explorations surfaces in chapters on Semiramis’ expedition into India and the pyramids of Egypt. Book II spans the birth of Abraham and destruction of the temple of Solomon, with disquisitions on the law of nature, Moses, Hermes Trismegistus and Greek myths. Book III reaches the reign of Philip of Macedon, narrating the deeds of Nabuchodonosor, the Persian wars, Cyrus and Xerxes. The great protagonist of Books IV and V are Antigonus and Alexander the Great, until the final conquest by the Romans. Knowledge of history was considered paramount for a statesman to interpret political scenarios. Ralegh’s monumental work sought to re-establish himself in the eyes of a king who was both a fine scholar and shrewd political writer. For the wider readership, it was a fascinating encyclopaedia crammed with interesting stories.

Sir Thomas Littleton, 3rd Baronet (1647–1709), of North Ockendon, Essex and Stoke St. Milborough, Shropshire, was a lawyer and Whig politician. He sat in the House of Commons and was Treasurer of the Navy (as specified in this bookplate). Rebecca (1740-1818), née Bowles, was wife of the Whig politician John Rushout, 1st Baron Northwick.