and respect, to take his best advantage in dewe time, might have stedded him to the trapping in of those spider webbes, that were only spunn for rashe adventurors, that weire not masters of their own ability. It did my lord of Essex greate goode, as I conceave, that fury thrust out stronge passions upon a suddaine. It is true that thease weare greater men of worth and vallor, but not in opinion and guile; and, therefore, by how muche thease men want better helpes by nature, art, or industry, to countenance a pride above the greatest Lucifer, that hath lived in our age; for so muche shall he the sooner mire himselfe, and make the queen more sensible in scorning so great lameness, in so greate infirmity. Besides the sparkes and flames of fier that will breake out of conflict, assure yourselfe, it will enflame him with some violence, opon the suddaine, to shuffle the stocke; and, finding that his rest is sett upon so slender cardes, seeke all the wayes that he can for a better game, which will bringe him into that snare which he woulde shunn. Otherwise, if it were possible, to drawe the king to consent, that advantage might be taken of theire trafficke with his ministers, or by interception of meanes and instruments that concurr in termino. By making our satisfaction the rendezvous, it were not possible to make shorter, nor surer, workes, then by this overture. But as they will not write, without some stronge motive of confidence, and after suche a warrant is awarded, the king will not willingly permitt the cancelling or defacing of his owne workmanship; therefore, no good is to be brought to pass that circumference. Besides, it may be, that the king will be affraide, that suche a scandall, may discourage others from embarking out of feare.

A Letter of C. Gondamar to some secretary or minister of state concerning Sir Walter Raleigh's expedition to Guiana.

[From a transcript by Archbishop Sancroft among Bp. Tanner's MSS. in the Bodleian.]

MONSIEUR; mes maux m'ont pressé de façon ces jours, que non-obstant deux saignées, l'une sur l'autre, une autre apostume s'est descouvert, qu'on fit ouvrir avant hier; m'ayant tenu et me tenant encore fort travaillé en continuelles douleurs. Et certes je confesse que j'auroy besoin de medicines bien differentes des faicts, que W. Raleigh va exploitant, ja que j'ay si cordiallement desiré, et procuré la bonne correspondence entre noz maitres et leurs couronnes.

J'ay estimé, comme de raison, la faveur, que sa majesté votre maitre me fait en ce, que me dites de sa parte en la votre, que je viens de recevoir, touchant les procédures de Walter Raleigh; et vous supplie, qu'il vous plaise luy en baiser très-humblement les mains en mon nom, et que soies servy luy dire, que ce, que j'ay maintenant à luy dire sur ce subject est ce, que tant de fois auparavant je previns et dis en tant d'occasions à celle fin, que ce voyage fut destourné; representant pareillement le but, auquel visoient les malintentionnés, qui acheminoient cest affaire: tellement, que tout ce, qui en est reussi, et reussira, je l'ay ja dit, et en temps; et sa majesté aura experimenté, que j'ay tousjours dit la verité. Aussi l'on m'asseura plusieurs fois que, ou Walter Raleigh ne feroit pas le voiage, ou le feroit seulement avecq un vaisseau ou deux; un surintendant l'accompagnant affin de voir qu'il ne fit chose mal-faite: et monsieur le secretaire Winwood plusieurs fois tascha de me le faire croire. Je sceus par après, et vis, qu'il faisoit le voiage avecq une armade de navires, et gens, avecq plein commission et authorité de sa majesté; et mesmes le representay plus ouvertement et à plein tant par escrit, que de bouche: à quoy l'on me donna pour response celle qu'on m'avoit donné du premier. Aussi je n'y trouve qu'adjouster, sauf que, là où je sçavois auparavant, combien eût esté agre

able l'union des deux armades des rois noz maistres à l'encontre des pirates, Turcs et Mores; je ne m'estonneroy maintenant, si l'on se monstre plus retenu et reservé; attendu les exploits, que va faisant l'armade de Walter Raleigh.

Et veu que sa majesté le roy votre maistre me donne licence d'en dire mon opinion; je diray, monsieur, qu'à celle fin, que le roy mon seigneur, et tout le monde se satisface, comme cette armade, qui partit soubz Walter Raleigh pour general avecq la commission, qu'il en eut, n'estoit pour rompre la foy publique; il est nécessaire en faire icy de fort grandes demonstrations; et touts les delays et prolongations, qui s'apporteront en cecy, pourroient rendre les choses irremediables, et incurables; au rebours de ce, que vous et moy desirons pour le service de noz maistres, d'autant que nous devrons tousjours considérer, et peser en commun le bien de l'une et l'autre des parties: vous suppliant aussi mettre en considération l'obligation, avecq laquelle le roy mon seigneur se trouve de donner satisfaction à ses vassaux, et les defendre.

J'espere que sa majesté pourvoira icy du remede, qu'il convient, conforme à sa roialle intention et bonté; et que de votre party apporteres les bons offices, que j'offre y apporter de la mienne. A tant, monsieur, je prie Dieu vous donner tout heureux contentement. De Londres ce 3 Novembre 1617.

Votre tres humble et vray serviteur,
Le Conde de Gondomar.

Transscribed from the original

sign'd with his own hand.

Letter of Queen Anne to the Duke of Buckingham.
[Transcribed from the original by Archbishop Sancroft.]

ANNA R.

My kind dogge; if I have any power or creditt with yow, I pray you let me have a trial of it at this time in dealing

sincerely and ernestly with the king that sir Valter Raleigh's life may not be called in question. If you do it so that the success answer my expectation, assure yourself that I will take it extraordinarily kindly at your hands and rest one that wisheth you well, and desires you to continew still, as you have been, a true servant to your master.

To the Marquis of Buckinhame.

De Warranto speciali pro Decollatione Walteri Raleigh militis.

[From Rymer's Fœdera, vol. XVII. p. 115.]

JAMES, by the grace of God, king of England Scotland France and Ireland defender of the faithe &c. to our righte trustye and wellbeloved counsellor Francis lord Verulam our chancellor of England, greeting.

Whereas sir Walter Raleigh knighte late of the parishe of Saint Martyn in the Fields in the county of Middlesex, with others, hath been indicted of divers high treasons by him committed against us, and thereupon hath bin tryed and found guiltye of the same, before oure deare cousine and counsellor, Thomas earle of Suffolke then chamberlaine of oure household,

Gilbert late earle of Shrewsbury,

Charles late earle of Devon,

Henry lord Howard,

Robert Lord Cecill of Essingdon then our principall

secretary,

Edward lord Wotton then our comptroller of oure household,

And other our justices of Oier and Terminer at our citye of Winchester in our countye of Southampton, concerning treasons and other offences lately assigned, which said sir Walter Raleigh was for the same his treasons by them adjuged to be drawn hanged and quartered according to the lawes and customes of this our realme of England in that case provided; which said commission, with the said judgment indictment and the tryall and proceedings thereuppon

were retourned and doe remayne in our said court of Pleas before us to be houlden; and although the said sir Walter Raleigh be adjuged to dye as aforesaid; yet wee, mynding to dispence with that manner of execution of judgement, doe therefore by theis presents pardon remit and release the said sir Walter Raleigh of and from such execution of his judgement to bee drawne hanged and quartered as abovesaid, and insteede thereof our pleasure is to have the heade only of the said sir Walter Raleigh cut off at or within our palace of Westminster, in or upon some fitt and convenient place or scaffold to be provided in that behaulf, and that in such sort and order as in such cases have beene heretofore done the said judgment to be drawne hanged and quartered, or any lawe or other thing or matter whatsoever to the contrary notwithstanding; willing, charging, and hereby expressly commanding you our said chancellor that, uppon receipt hereof, you do forthwith direct under our greate seale of England, two severall writtes, one to the lieutenante of our Tower of London or his deputy there, for the delyvery of the said Walter Raleigh to the sheriffe of Middlesex, at or within our said palace of Westminster aforesaid, and another writt to the said sheriffe of Middlesex, for the receiving the said sir Walter Raleigh of and from the handes of our said lieutenante or his deputye, and for the executing of him there, at some fitt and convenient place to be there by our said shireff erected and provided for that purposè, in such manner and forme as in such cases hath heretofore bin done or used to bee done, and theis presents shall be your warrant and discharge for the same against us our heires and successors for ever.

Witness ourself at Westminster the eight and twentieth day of October. [1618.]

Per Breve de Privato Sigillo.