Among these were four letters, which difcevered not only Raleigh's whole enterprize to have been betrayed, but his life hereby put into the power of the Spaniards. Thefe letters alfo discovered the preparations made by the Spaniards to receive Raleigh.

To the juft indignation which he conceived upon this occafion, was added the mortification of finding that Keymis had made no trial of the mine. He reproached that captain with having undone him, and wounded his credit with the king paft recovery. This affected Keymis fo fenfibly, that he retired to his cabbin, where he fhot himfelf; but, finding the wound not mortal, he difpatched himself with a knife, which he thruft into his heart.

The ill ftate of Sir Walter's health would not fuffer him to repair Keymis's neglect. He was incapable of fuch a voyage, and, at the fame time, was in continual apprehenfion of being attacked by the Spanish armada, fent out on purpofe to lay wait for and destroy him; but the enemy missed him, by staying in the wrong place.

On Sir Walter's return home, he found that king James had published a proclamation declaring his deteftation of his conduct, afferting that his majefty had, by exprefs limitation, reftrained and forbid Raleigh, from attempting any act of hoftility against his dear brother of Spain; yet it is evident, that the commiffion contained no fuch limitation.

This

This proclamation, however, did not deter Sir Walter from landing, who refolved to furrender himself into the king's hands, to whom he wrote a letter in defence of himself. He was feized on the road to London, and returned with the officers to Plymouth.

On the seventh of Auguft, he arrived at London, where he was permitted the confinement of his own houfe; but having good rea-fon not to truft himself to the mercy of the court, he formed a defign to escape into France; which being difcovered, he was feized in a boat below Woolwich, and was, on the tenth of Auguft, committed to the Tower.

His death was now abfolutely determined, yet it was not eafy to find a method to compafs it, fince his conduct in his late expedition, could not be stretched in law to fuch a fentence; it was refolved therefore to facrifice him to Spain, in a manner that has justly exposed the court to the abhorrence of all fucceeding ages, by calling him down to judgment on his former fentence, paffed fifteen years before. Thus, by a strange contariety of proceedings, he, who had been condemned for being a friend to the Spaniards, now lost his life for being their enemy.

In confequence of this refolution, he, having the day before received notice to prepare himself for death, was, on the twenty-eighth of October, taken out of his bed, in the hot fit of an ague, and carried to the King's VOL. V. Bench

D

Bench bar, at Westminster, where the chiefjuftice ordered the record of his conviction and judgment in 1603, to be read; and then demanded, What he had to offer why execution fhould not be awarded against him? To this Sir Walter pleaded his commiffion for his laft voyage, which implied a reftoring life to him, by giving him power, as marshal, on the life and death of others. He then began to justify his conduct in that voyage; but the court refused to hear him, and he was ordered for execution the next day. He then defired he might not be cut off fo fuddenly, calling upon God to be his judge, before whom he fhould fhortly appear, That he was never difloyal to his majefty," which I will justify," faid he, "where I fhall not fear the face of any king on earth.”

The fame day a warrant for his execution was produced, though his majefty was retired into the country. Sir Walter eat his breakfast heartily that morning, fmoaked his pipe, and made no more of death than if he had been to take a journey, when, being conducted to the old, palace-yard, Weftminster, with a chearful countenance he faluted the lords, knights, and gentlemen there prefent. After which a proclamation was made for filence, and he addreffed himself to speak in this man

ner.

"I defire to be borne withal, for this is the third day of my fever; and, if I fhall fhew any weakness, I beseech you to attribute it to

my

my malady, for this is the hour in which it is

Then paufing a while, he fat, and directed himself towards a window, where the lords of Arundel, Northampton, and Doncaster, with fome other lords and knights, fat, and spoke as followeth :

"I thank God, of his infinite goodness, that he hath brought me to die in the light, and not in darknefs." But, by reason that the place where the lords, &c. fat, was fome distance from the fcaffold, that he perceived they could not well hear him, he faid, "I will strain my voice, for I would willingly have your honours hear me."

But lord Arundel faid, "Nay, we will rather come down to the fcaffold;" which he and fome others did. Where being come, he faluted them feverally, and then began again to speak as followeth.

"As I faid, I thank God heartily, that he hath brought me into the light to die; and, that he hath not suffered me to die in the dark prifon of the Tower, where I have fuffered a great deal of mifery and cruel fickness; and, I thank God that my fever hath not taken me at this time, as I prayed to God it might not. There are two main points of fufpicion that his majefty, as I hear, hath conceived againft me. To refolve your lordships wherein his majefty cannot be fatisfied, which I defire to clear, and to refolve your lordship's of:

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"One

"One is, That his majesty hath been informed, that I have often had plots with France; and his majesty hath good reafon to induce him thereunto. One reason that his majefty had to conjecture fo, was, that, when I came back from Guiana, being come to Plymouth, I endeavoured to go in a bark to Rochel; which was, for that I would have made my peace before I had come to England.

“ Another reason was, That, upon my flight, I did intend to fly into France, for the faving of myfelf, having had fome terror from above.

"A third reafon, that his majesty had reafon to fufpect, was, The French agent's coming to me. Befides, it was reported, that I had a commiffion from the French king at my going forth. Thefe are the reasons that his majefty had, as I am informed, to suspect

me.

"But this I fay, for a man to call God to witness to a falfhood at the hour of death, is far more grievous and impious; and that a man that fo doth cannot have falvation, for he hath no time for repentance. Then what fhall I expect, that am going inftantly to render up my account? I do therefore call God to witness, as I hope to be faved, and as I hope to fee him in his kingdom, which I hope I fhall within this quarter of this hour, I never had any commiffion from the French

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king,