There they set up
the arms of England, and named the new possession Virginia in
honor of the virgin Queen. This expedition was little more
successful than Sir Humphrey Gilbert's, but nothing seemed to
discourage Raleigh. He was bent on founding a colony, and again
and yet again he sent out ships and men, spending all the wealth
which the Queen heaped upon him in trying to extend her dominions
beyond the seas. Hope was strong within him. "I shall yet live
to see it an English nation," he said.
And while Raleigh's captains tried to found a new England in the
New World, Raleigh himself worked at home to bring order into the
vast estates the Queen had given to him in Ireland. This land
had belonged to the rebel Earl of Desmond. At one time no doubt
it had been fertile, but rebellion and war had laid it waste.
"The land was so barren both of man and beast that whosoever did
travel from one end of all Munster . . . . he should not meet
man, woman, or child, saving in cities or towns, nor yet see any
beast, save foxes, wolves, or the ravening beasts.
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