CECIL's Correspondence with King James-Rivalship with Ralegh- King James prejudiced-Ralegh neglected-Conspiracy-Cecil's Let- ter-Ralegh examined-His Letter to the Commissioners-Indicted- Cecil's second Letter-Carleton's two Letters-Brooke's Recantation- Savoy- Savoy-His Letter to Prince Henry-The Prince wishes to restore Sherborne-Dies—Anecdote of his last Illness-His Loss to Ralegh- Death of Cecil-Ralegh obtains the Liberty of the Tower-His Son Walter obliged to Fly-His History of the World published-The King consents to his Freedom-Ralegh's Letter to Villiers-His Release- Anecdote-Ralegh's Correspondence with Guiana-His Letter to IVin- wood-Prepares for a new Voyage-Spanish Politics-Gondomar_ His Practices-Buckingham's Letter--Ralegh is offered a Pardon -Dissuaded by Bacon-Force for Guiana-Fourth Voyage thither- His Letter thence to his Wife-Death of his Son IValter-Betrayed- His Letters to Winwood and his Wife from St. Christophers-His Howel's two Letters-Ralegh's Return-Spanish Match-Gondomar's Persecution-King's Proclamation-Lord Carew's Assiduity-King's Reply-Ralegh Surrenders himself-Feigns Illness-Meditates his Escape-Overture of French Agent-Ralegh Betrayed by Stukely- Re-committed to the Tower-His Letters to the King and Buckingham -Gondomar goes to Spain-His Parting Injunctions-Ralegh ex- amined-The Commissioners' Letter to the King-Ralegh told to pre- pare for Death-Brought to the King's-bench-Proceedings-Taken to the Gatehouse-Petitions for him—Queen's Letter-His Firmness- His Verses before Death, and Answer to some Imputations-Behaviour on the Scaffold-Speech-Death-Tounson's Letter-His Execution Sir Walter's History of the World-His Letter to Sir R. Cotton- - page 183. APPENDIX. No. V. Ralegh's Deed of Assignment, respecting Virginia, No. VI. Abstract from Spaniards' Letters, relative to Guiana, &c. No. VII. Address to the Favourers of the Voyage for Guiana, and No. VIII. Names of Rivers, Nations, &c. relative to Guiana, p. 46. No. IX. Sir Walter's Patent for the Government of Jersey, p. 53. No. X. Carew Ralegh's brief Relation of his Father's Troubles, p. 57. No. XI. The Grant of Sir Walter's Goods and Chattels to John Shel- THE LIFE OF SIR WALTER RALEGH. CHAP. VII. WITH the reign of Queen Elizabeth the good fortune of Sir Walter Ralegh sank to rise no more; and those talents, which, under the smiles of a female sovereign of singular penetration, had been called forth and directed to the noblest ends, were doomed to fade and wither under the frowns of her successor. In no instance was the policy of Cecil more remarkable, than in the part which he acted with King James toward the close of Queen Elizabeth's reign. No sooner was the blow struck against Essex, than the secretary thought it prudent to cultivate the favour of a prince who was likely so soon to become his sovereign. Sensible, however, that an intercourse with him might prove highly dangerous under a mistress whose natural jealousy was daily strengthening with age, he carried on the correspondence into which he entered with all the secrecy and caution necessary to his situation and peculiar to his charac ́ter'. The letters were for the most part conveyed by the way of Ireland; and those from this side were written by Lord Henry Howard, under the inspection of Cecil, in a style affectedly obscure. Not 4. 4 See Robertson's Scotland. VOL. II. B 2 Birch's Life of Prince Henry, p. 232. Cecil's corre- spondence with |