to another, the executioner threw downe his own cloake, because he would not spoile the prisoner's gown; and he laid himselfe along thereon, and soe the executioner at two blowes, presently struck of his head, his body never shrinking, nor moving. His head was shewed, on each side, to the people, and then putt upp into a redd lethren bagg, and his wrought velvett gowne cast over his body, which was afterwards carried away in a black mourning coach of his ladies.

A Letter relating to the last Behaviour of Sir Walter Rawleigh, written by Dr. Rob. Tounson, Dean of Westminster, and afterwards Bp. of Sarum, to Sir John Isham.

SIR,

[From Hearne's Hemingford, App. p. clxxxiv.]

THE last weeke was a busy weeke with me, and the weeke afore that, was more. I would gladly have writt unto you, but could find no time: yet I hope yow had the relation of sir Walter Rawleigh's death; for so I gave order, that it should be brought unto yow. I was commaunded by the lords of the counsayle to be with him, both in prison and att his death, and so sett downe the manner of his death as nere as I could: there be other reports of itt, but that which yow have from me is trew: one Craford, who was sometimes Mr. Rodeknight's pupil, hath penned it pretily, and meaneth to putt itt to the presse, and came to me about it, but I heare not that it is come forth. The summe of that, which he spake att his death, yow have I suppose, already: when he never made mention of his offence for which he dyed, namely his former treason; but only desired to cleare himself of new imputations, there mentioned: privately he told me in prison, that he was charged to have broken the peace with Spaine, but he putt that, he sayd, out of the count of his offences: saving that he heard, the king was displeased att it; for how could he breake peace with him, who within these 4 yeares, as he

sayd, tooke diverse of his men, and bound them backe to backe and drowned them; and for burning the towne, he sayd, it stood upon the king's owne ground, and therefore he did no wrong in that. He was the most fearlesse of death that ever was knowen; and the most resolute and confident, yet with reverence and conscience. When I begann to incourage him against the feare of death, he seemed to make so light of itt, that I wondered att him, and when I told him, that the deare servants of God, in better causes than his, had shrunke backe and trembled a litle, he denyed not, but yet gave God thankes, he never feared death, and much lesse then, for it was but an opinion and imagination, and the manner of death though to others might seeme greevous, yet he had rather dye so then of a burning fever: with much more to that purpose, with such confidence and cheerfullnesse, that I was faine to divert my speach another way, and wished him not to flatter himselfe, for this extraordinary boldnesse, I was afrayd, came from some false ground: if it sprong from the assurance he had of the love and favour of God, of the hope of his salvation by Christ, and his owne innocency, as he pleaded, I sayd he was an happy man, but if it were out of an humour of vainglory or carelessnesse or contempt of death, or senslessnesse of his owne estate, he were much to be lamented &c. For I told him, that heathen men had sett as litle by their lives as he could doe, and seemed to dye as bravely. He answered, that he was perswaded, that no man, that knew God and feared him, could dye with cheerefullnesse and courage, except he were assured of the love and favour of God unto him; that other men might make shewes outwardly, but they felt no joy within: with much more to that effect, very christianly, so that he satisfyed me then, as I thinke he did all his spectators att his death. After he had received the communion in the morning, he was very cheerfull and merry, and hoped to perswade the world, that he dyed an innocent man, as he sayd; thereat, I told him, that he should doe well to advise what he sayd, men in these dayes did not dye in that sort innocent, and his

pleading innocency was an oblique taxing of the justice of the realme upon him. He confessed justice had bene done, and by course of law, he must dye, but yet, I should give him leave, he sayd, to stand upon his innocency in the fact; and he thought, both the king, and all that heard his aunsweres, thought verily he was innocent for that matter. I then pressed him, to call to mind what he had done formerly, and though perhaps in that particular, for which he was condemned, he was cleare, yet for some other matter, it might be, he was guilty; and now the hand of God had found him out, and therefore he should acknowledge the justice of God in itt, though att the hands of men he had but hard measure: and here I putt him in mind of the death of my lord of Essex, how it was generally reported, that he was a great instrument of his death, which if his hert did charge him with, he should hertily repent, and aske God forgivenesse: to which he made aunswere, as is in the former relation, and sayd moreover, that my lord of Essex was fetcht of by a trick, which he privately told me of. He was very cheerefull that morning he dyed, eate his breakefast hertily, and tooke tobacco, and made no more of his death, then if he had bene to take a journey, and left a great impression in the minds of those that beheld him, in so much that sir Lewise Stukely and the French man grow very odious. This was the newes a weeke since: but now it is blowen over, and he allmost forgotten. The newes which I heare is, that the promoter of Kowel hath gotten his charges of sir Thomas Brookes, and sir Thomas much cheeled, and hath entred into bond of a 100l. to the promoter, never to molest or trouble him againe, and the promoter is as cranke and triumpheth in his victory very much, and sir Thomas glad he hath escaped so. I once saw Henry Tremill, and that is all. What is become of Robin Dallison, I cannot tell, but he was here in great expectation of a place, which I thinke now he is fallen from; for all of ficers here are much younger then himselfe. The businesse of the treasurer sleepeth; and that of my lord of Exceter and sir Thomas Lake will not be called upon this terme.

There be, as I heare, 17000 sheets of paper in that booke, which, upon ordinary account, cometh to eight hundred and fifty pound, the very writing. The king and prince, thankes be to God, are very well. The queene is still at Hampton-court, and crazy they say. Yow will remember me kindly to my lady and your mother, and if yow have any imploiment for me here, yow shall find me allwayes Att your service

Westminst. Coll.

Novemb. 9. 1618.

ROBERT TOUNSON.

Superscribed, To the right worshipfull my very loving frend sir John Isham, att his howse in Langport in Northamptonshire

This.

Sir Lewise Stukelye's Appollogie writte with his owne

hand.

[MS. Ashmole 830. 20.]

I KNOW full well that all actions of men, of whatsoeuer condition, in these censurious tymes shal be scanned, as alredy I am informed mine haue bine in the execution of my souuerains late commands: euen since yesterday that I parformed the same, committinge sir Walter Rawligh, and some of his adherants and instruments to his intended scape from out of my custody to the Tower. I haue bine accused for conspiracy and falshood towards him, I therefore held it bee hooffull for me to recollect the passages of my imployment where with I desier to satisfy all good and honest men.

By a letter bearing date the 12th of June from the right honorable the lord high admirall of England I had the first commaundment giuen me for the apprihention of sir Walter Rawligh knight whose shippe formerly had bine by Thom. Hardinge, a publick notary and my deputy at Plimoth, by my commaund arrested.

After which I receaued a letter from sir Robert Naunton principal secretary to his majeste where in was incerted a commaund from the kings majeste that I should bringe him to appeare before the lords.

That I strained my commission to all the libertie I could for his aduantage both in giuinge him time and trust; himselfe hath often acknowledged: and it doth, if he would do otherwise, appeare by the next letter which I receaved from the lordes, of the 23d of July last, rebukinge me of delaies and vaine excuses.

That at Salsbury I did him all the best offices I could, I referre me to his owne conscience and to the testimony of those of the lords that I feare me I halfe weried with sollisitinge ther lordshipps aboue good manners for the accomplishment of all his desiers. Nor had he euer an ill retorne or negative aunswere to any request I made in his behalfe.

Namly to both his sutes the one by Mr. Secritary presented to his majestie the other by Mr. Viz Chamberline, the one for his retiringe to his brothers house neer Salsbury to reccuer helth, the other for proceedinge onne towards London to his house in Brodstreete, and for leaue to remaine there in my custody for 5 daies.

I omitt to repeate ouer the trauell, paines, and care I had in all his sicknesse, and I appeale to his conscience, and the testimony of his owne people, whither I declared my selfe freindly and louingly or not: nay I protest I could not haue pittied those afflictions more then I did had they befallen the sonne my owne bodie, or my selfe.

of

At Andeuor I first discouered he had a designe a hatchinge, and that he had not omitted to make use as he thought to aduantage of all his supposed sufferings and Mr. Viz Chamberline's pittie who gat him from his majesty leaue to haue 5 daies liberty to execute what he had plotted for his escape in stead of his pretentions.

A perfect light whereof I haue not yet, but credable information I had, as the euent hath manifested.

Sure I am so easie a man, and so good natured did he find me, as hee assaid to allure me to giue condicent to his