me; for myself, I avow upon my allegiance that I never either knew or suspected either the man or the new intention. To me it was but once propounded, and in three weeks after I never heard more of it; neither did I believe it, that he had any commission to offer it, as the everlasting God doth witness. For, if that word (amity) had been used to me colourably, I must have been also made acquainted with the true end for which it should have been given, which it seemeth was for the surprise: but of any such horrible and fearful purpose if ever I had so much as a suspicion, I refuse your lordship's favours and the king's mercy. I know that your lordships have omitted nothing to find out the truth hereof. But as you have not erred, like ill surgeons, to lay on plaisters too narrow for so great wounds, so I trust that you will not imitate unlearned physicians, to give medicines more cruel than the disease itself.

For the journey into Spain, I know that I was accused to be privy thereunto: but I know your lordships have a reputation of conscience as well as of industry. By what means that revengeful accusation was stirred, you, my lord Cecil, know right well, that it was my letter about Kemish; and your lordships all know whether it be maintained, or whether, out of truth and out of a Christian consideration, it be revoked. I know that to have spoken it once is enough for the law, if we lived under a cruel prince; but I know that the king is too merciful to have or suffer his subjects to be ruined by any quick or unchristian advantage, unless he be resolved or can persuade his religious heart of the equity: I know that the king thinks (with all good princes) satius est peccare in alteram partem. God doth know, and I can give an account of it, that I have spent forty thousand pounds of mine own against that king and nation; that I never reserved so much of all my fortunes as to purchase forty pounds per ann. land; that I have been a violent persecutor and furtherer of all enterprises against that nation; I have served against them in person; and how, my lord admiral and my lord of Suffolk can witness. I discovered myself the richest part of all his Indies: I have planted in

his territories: I offered his majesty, at my uncle Carew's, to carry two thousand men to invade him without the king's charge. Alas! to what end should we live in the world, if all the endeavours of so many testimonies shall be blown off with one blast of breath, or be prevented by one man's word; and in this time when we have a generous prince, from whom to purchase honour and good opinion I had no other hope but by undertaking upon that cruel and insolent nation. Think therefore, I most humbly beseech you, on my great affliction with compassion, who have lost my estate and the king's favour upon one man's word; and as you would that God should deal with you, deal with me; you all know that the law of England hath need of a merciful prince, and if you put me to shame, you take from me all hope ever to receive his majesty's least grace again. I beseech you to be resolved of those things of which I am accused, and distinguish me from others. As you have true honour, and as you would yourselves be used in the like. Forget all particular mistakes, multos clementia honestavit, ultio nullum. Your lordships know that I am guiltless of the surprise intended: your lordships know, or may know, that I never accepted of the money, and that it was not of fered me for any ill; and of the Spanish journey I trust your consciences are resolved. Keep not then, I beseech you, these my answers and humble desires from my sovereign lord, qui est rex pius et misericors, et non leo coronatus. Thus humbly beseeching your lordships to have a merciful regard of me, I rest

Your lordships' humble and miserable suppliant,
WALTER RALEGH.

To the King, after his condemnation at Winchester, 1603. THE life which I had (most mighty prince) the law hath taken from me; and I am now but the same earth and

dust out of which I was first framed. If my offence had any proportion with your majesty's mercy, I might despair; or if my deserving had any quantity with your majesty's

unmeasurable goodness, I might yet have hope; but it is your great majesty that must judge of both, and not I. Blood, name, gentry, or estate have I (now) none, no, not so much as a being, no, not so much as vita plantæ. I have only a penitent soul in a body of iron, which moveth towards the loadstone of death, and cannot be withheld from touching it, except your majesty's mercy turn the point towards me which repelleth. Lost I am for hearing a vain man, for hearing only, and never believing or approving; and so little account I made of that speech of his, which was my condemnation, (as the living God doth truly witness,) that I never remembered any such thing, until it was at my trial objected against me. So did he repay my care who cared to make him good, which (now too late) I see no care of man can effect. But God (for mine offence towards him) hath laid this heavy burden upon me, miserable and unfortunate wretch that I am; but not for loving you (my sovereign) hath God laid this sorrow on me; for he knoweth (with whom I may not dissemble) that I honoured your majesty by fame, and loved and admired you by knowledge; so as whether I live or die, your majesty's true and loving servant, and loyal subject, I will live and die. If I now write what doth not become me (most merciful prince) vouchsafe to ascribe it to the counsel of a dead heart, and a mind which sorrow hath broken and confounded; but the more my misery is, the more is your majesty's mercy, if you please to behold it; and the less I can deserve, the more liberal your majesty's gift shall be. God only your majesty shall imitate herein, both in giving freely, and by giving to such a one as from whom there can be no retribution, but only a desire to repay a lent life with the same great love which the same great goodness shall please to bestow it. This being the first letter that ever your majesty received from a dead man, I humbly submit myself to the will of my supreme lord, and shall willingly and patiently suffer whatsoever it shall please your majesty to lay upon me.

WALTER RALEGH.

To his Wife, the night before he expected to be put to death at Winchester, 1603.

You shall now receive (my dear wife) my last words in these my last lines. My love I send you, that you may keep it when I am dead; and my counsel, that you may remember it when I am no more. I would not, by my will, present you with sorrows, (dear Bess,) let them go to the grave, and be buried with me in the dust: and seeing it is not the will of God that ever I shall see you more in this life, bear it patiently, and with a heart like thyself.

First, I send you all the thanks my heart can conceive, or my words can express, for your many travails and cares taken for me; which though they have not taken effect as you wished, yet my debt to you is not the less; but pay I never shall in this world.

it

Secondly, I beseech you, for the love you bear me living, do not hide yourself many days, but by your travail seek to help your miserable fortune and the right of your poor child thy mourning cannot avail me, I am but dust.

Thirdly, you shall understand that my land was conveyed (bona fide) to my child; the writings were drawn at midsummer was twelvemonths; my honest cousin Brett can testify so much, and Dalberie too can remember somewhat therein and I trust my blood will quench their malice that have thus cruelly murdered me; and that they will not seek also to kill thee and thine with extreme poverty. To what friend to direct thee I know not, for all mine have left me in the true time of trial: a and I plainly perceive that my death was determined from the first day. Most sorry I am, (as God knows,) that, being thus surprised by death, I can leave you no better estate; God is my witness, I meant you all my office of wines, or that I could have purchased by selling it; half my stuff and all my jewels, but some one for the boy; but God hath prevented all my resolutions, even that great God that worketh all in all; but if you live free from want, care for no more, for the rest is but vanity; love God,

and I-first day] Not in MS. Ashm.

and begin betimes to repose your trust on him; therein shall you find true and lasting riches, and endless comfort. For the rest, when you have travailed and wearied your thoughts over all sorts of worldly cogitation, you shall but sit down by sorrow in the end. Teach your son also to serve and fear God whilst he is yet young, that the fear of God may grow up with him; and then will God be a husband unto you, and a father unto him; a husband and a father which can never be taken from you. Bayly oweth me two hundred pounds, and Adrian Gilbert six hundred pounds. In Jersey also I have much money owing me; besides, the arrearages of the wines will pay my debts; and howsoever you do, for my soul's sake pay all poor men. When I am gone, no doubt you shall be sought to by many, for the world thinks that I was very rich: but take heed of the pretences of men and their affections, for they last not but in honest and worthy men; and no greater misery can befall you in this life than to become a prey, and afterwards to be despised. I speak not this (God knows) to dissuade you from marriage, for it will be best for you, both in respect of the world and of God. As for me, I am no more yours, nor you mine, death has cut us asunder; and God hath divided me from the world, and you from me.

Remember your poor child for his father's sake, who chose you and loved you in his happiest time. Get those letters (if it be possible) which I writ to the lords, wherein I sued for my life. God is my witness, it was for you and yours that I desired life: but it is true that I disdain myself for begging it, for know it (dear wife) that your son is the son of a true man, and one who in his own respect despiseth death, and all his misshapen and ugly forms. I cannot write much; God he knoweth how hardly I steal this time while others sleep; and it is also high time that I should separate my thoughts from the world. Beg my dead body, which living was denied thee, and either lay it at Sherborn, (if the land continue,) or in Exeter church by my father and mother; I can say no more, time and death call me away. The everlasting God, infinite, powerful, and inscrutable;