Note 1 — 1618, June 9.

Raleigh's voyage for the discovery of gold mines in Guiana (the modern Venezuela) was projected in 1616. He was released from the Tower in March of that year and sailed from Plymouth with a fleet of fourteen ships in June, 1617. The expedition seemed doomed to failure from the start, and after St. Thomas was attacked and burned in December, 1617, Raleigh was compelled to return to England without having attained his object. He landed at Plymouth in June, 1618, and after the due form of trial was executed, although upon a sentence of 1603, on October 29, 1618 (Dictionary of National Biography, vol. 47, pp. 197-200, where authorities are cited). Raleigh's commission for undertaking the voyage, dated August 26, 1616, is printed in Rymer's Fœdera, xvi, 789.