His
generous young heart grieved at the though of his friend's
misfortunes. "Who but my father would keep such a bird in such a
cage," he said with boyish indignation.
And it was for this boy friend that Raleigh began the book by
which we know him best, his History of the World. Never has such
a great work been attempted by a captive. To write the history
of even one country must mean much labor, much reading, much
thought. To write a history of the world still more. And I have
told you about Raleigh because with him begins an interest in
history beyond the bounds of our own island. Before him our
historians had only written of England.
It gives us some idea of the large courage of Raleigh's mind when
we remember that he was over fifty when he began this tremendous
piece of work for the sake of a boy he loved. Raleigh labored at
this book for seven years or more. He was allowed to have his
own books in prison. Sir Robert Cotton lent him others, and
learned friends came to talk over his book with him and help him.
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