The next laymen was Sir Walter Raleigh, who was also beheaded.
At the death of Raleigh, James I. seized on the lands, and conferred them on Car, earl of Somerset, who died prematurely. His younger son, Carew, was attainted, committed to the Tower, and lost his estates by forfeiture.
*** James I. was no exception. He lost his eldest son, the prince of Wales, Charles I. was beheaded, James II. was forced to abdicate, and the two Pretenders consummated the ill luck of the family.
Sherborne is now in the possession of Digby, earl of Bristol.
(For other possessions which carry with them ill luck, see Gold of Tolosa, Gold of Nibelungen, Graysteel, Harmonia’s Necklace, etc.)
Sheridan’s Ride, the story of the brilliant dash of Sheridan upon Winchester, that turned the fortunes of the day in favor of the Federal forces. Early, in command of the Confederates, had driven the United States troops out of the town. When Sheridan met them, they were in full retreat.
“Hurrah! hurrah for horse and man,
And when their statues are placed on high,
Under the dome of the Union sky,
The American soldier’s Temple of Fame,
There, with the glorious General’s name
Be it said, in letters both bold and bright:—
Here is the steed that saved the day
By carrying Sheridan into the fight,
From Winchester—twenty miles away!’”
Thomas Buchanan Read, Sheridan’s Ride.
Sheva, the philanthropic Jew, most modest, but most benevolent. He “stints his appetite to pamper his affections, and lives in poverty that the poor may live in plenty.” Sheva is “the widows’ friend, the orphans’ father, the poor man’s protector, and the universal dispenser of charity, but he ever shrank to let his left hand know what his right hand did.” Ratcliffe’s father rescued him at Cadiz, from an auto da fe, and Ratcliffe himself rescued him from a howling London mob. This noble heart settled £10,000 on Miss Ratcliffe at her marriage, and left Charles the heir of all his property.—Cumberland, The Jew (1776).
*** The Jews of England made up a very handsome purse, which they presented to the dramatist for this championship of their race.
Sheva, in the satire of Absalom and Achitophel, by Dryden and Tate, is designed for Sir Roger Lestrange, censor of the press, in the reign of Charles II. Sheva was one of David’s scribes (2 Sam. xx. 25), and Sir Roger was editor of the Observator, in which he vindicated the court measures, for which he was knighted.