that accompanied me alway, as my serjeant-major, George Ralegh, and divers others (whom he named) that knew my intent was nothing so.

• Also it hath been said, that I stinted them of fresh water. To which I answer, every one was, as they must be in a ship, furnished by measure and not according to their appetites; this course all seamen know must be used among them, and to this straight were we driven.

my

• Another opinion was, that I carried to sea 16,000 pieces; and that was all the voyage intended, only to get money into my hands, and that I had weighed my voyage before. As I shall answer it before God, I had not in all the world in hands, or others to my use, either directly or indirectly, above £100! whereof, when I went I gave my wife about £45. But the error thereof came, as I perceive, there was entered £20,000, and but £4,000 in the surveyor's book; the rest had my hand to the bills for divers adventures. But I protest I had not a penny of money more than £100, as I hope to be saved!

• And these be the material points I thought good to speak of. I am now at this instant to render my account to God, and I protest, as I shall

fore him, this that I have spoken is true!

.

appear be

Only I will borrow a little time more of Mr. Sheriff, for I may not detain him too long. And herein I shall speak of the imputation laid upon me that I should be a persecutor of my lord of Essex,

that I rejoiced in his death, and stood in a window overagainst him when he suffered, and puffed out tobacco in disdain of him. Whereas, God I take to witness, I shed tears for him when he died! And, as I hope to look God in the face hereafter, my lord of Essex did not see my face at the time of his death! for I was afar off in the armory, where I saw him, but he saw not me. I confess indeed I was of a contrary faction; but I knew my lord of Essex was a noble gentleman, and that it would be worse with me when he was gone. For I got the hate of those who wished me well before; and those that set me against him, afterward set themselves against me, and were my greatest enemies. And And my soul hath many times been grieved, that I was not nearer him when he died; because, as I understood afterward, he asked for me at his death, to have been reconciled unto me.

And now I entreat you all to join with me in prayer to the great God of heaven, whom I have grievously offended, being a man full of all vanity, and have lived a sinful life in all sinful callings; for I have been a soldier, a captain, a sea-captain, and a courtier, which are courses of wickedness and vice; that God would forgive me and cast away my sins from me, and that he would receive me into everlasting life. So I take So I take my leave of making my peace with God."

you all,

I believe there is not a sentence in this speech, wherein any two copies of it, printed or MS. completely agree. The

Order was now given that the scaffold should be cleared, and Sir Walter prepared himself for his execution. His hat, money, and other trifles, he gave to some attendants who stood near him. When he took leave of his friends, he requested Lord Arundel to entreat the king that no writings defamatory of him might be published after his death;, and concluded, I have a long journey to go, and therefore I will take my leave. Having taken off his gown and doublet, he asked the executioner to shew him the axe; which not being immediately complied with, he said, Iprithee let me see it, do'st thou think I am afraid of it? He took hold of it, felt the edge, and smiling, said to the sheriff, this is a sharp medicine, but it is a physician for all diseases. He then went to all parts of the scaffold, and desired the company to pray God to assist and strengthen him in this severe trial. The executioner kneeling to ask his forgiveness, he laid his hand on his shoulder, and said he forgave him. Being asked which way he would lay himself on the block, he answered, so the heart be right it is no matter which way the head lies; and reclining with his face toward the east, the executioner spread his own cloak under him. After a short pause, he

endeavour here has been, to select, from the most authentic sources, the most probable language of the age. See the Harleian and other collections; Overbury's Arraignment of Ralegh; Ralegh's Remains; Oldys' Life; and Dr. Birch's Works of Ralegh,

gave the signal that he was ready, by lifting up his hand; and was beheaded at two strokes, without the least shrink or motion of his body. The extraordinary efflux of blood astonished the spectators, who were impressed with the idea that Sir Walter had vigour of constitution to have survived many more years, though already sixty-six.

The head, after being shewn on either side of the scaffold, was put into a red leathern bag, over which Sir Walter's gown was thrown, and the whole conveyed away in a mourning coach appointed by Lady Ralegh." It was preserved by her in a case during the twenty-nine years which she survived her husband; and afterward with no less piety by their affectionate son Carew, with whom it is supposed to have been buried at West Horsley in Surry. The body was interred in the chancel near the altar of S'. Margaret, Westminster.

૧

P For the account thus far of Sir Walter's execution, see the above-mentioned pieces. In the Appendix (N°. XX.) will also be found a letter descriptive of the same from Mr. Thomas Lorkin to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart. preserved in the Harleian Collection, and now first published.

4 Such a tradition prevails at Horsley, (formerly Carew's seat) in opposition to Anthony Wood's assertion, that he was buried in the same grave with his father. Oldys informs us he had seen a letter from William Nicholas, Esq. (then resident on that estate) wherein that ingenious gentleman does verily be lieve, the head he saw dug up there in 1703, from the side of a grave where a Carew Ralegh had been buried, was that of Sir Walter Ralegh; there being no bones of a body to it, nor room

for

Dr. Robert Tounson, at that time dean of Westminster, and afterward bishop of Salisbury, attended Sir Walter in his last hours. A letter of his to a friend, descriptive of the knight's behaviour, has been preserved, and is here presented to the reader.

DR. TOUNSON TO SIR JOHN ISHAM, OF LAMPORT, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE.

Westminster College, November 9 1618.

SIR-The last week was a busy week with me, and the week before that was more. I would gladly have writ unto you, but could find no time. Yet I hope you had the relation of Sir Walter Ralegh's death, for so I gave order, that it should be brought' unto you.

for any, the rest of that side of the grave being firm chalk. While on the subject of Sir Walter's head, the following story occurs in Fuller and Osborn.

Mr. Edward Wiemark, a wealthy citizen, great newsmonger, and constant Paul's walker, hearing there of Sir Walter's death on the day he was beheaded, and remarking that his head would do very well on Sir Robert Naunton's shoulders, (then secretary of state), was informed against, and summoned to the privy council. Pleading that he intended no disrespect to Mr. Secretary, but spoke only in reference to the old proverb, that two heads are better than one, he was dismissed. Shortly afterward, when a contribution was raising to St. Paul's cathedral, Wiemark at the council table subscribed £100. Upon which the secretary remarked, two hundred are better than one you know, Mr. Wiemark; which sum, between fear and charity, he subscribed.