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LETTER TO HIS WIFE.

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goes on to say: "But God hath prevented all my determinations-the great God that worketh all in all. If you can live free from want, care for no more; for the rest is but vanity. Love God, and begin betimes to repose yourself on Him; therein shall you find true and lasting riches and endless comfort. For the rest, when you have travelled and wearied your thoughts on all sorts of worldly cogitations, you shall sit down by sorrow in the end. Teach your son also to serve and fear God while he is young, that the fear of God may grow up in him." He then speaks about various moneys which were owed to him, and adds, "And howsoever, for my soul's health, I beseech you pay all poor men." By this time he repented bitterly for the unworthy way in which he had sued for life. He bids his wife, "Get those letters, if it be possible, which I wrote to the lords, wherein I sued for my life; but God knows that it was for you and yours that I desired it; but it is true that I disdain myself for begging it. And know it, dear wife, that your son is the child of a true man, and who in his own respect despiseth death, and all his misshapen and ugly forms. I cannot write much. God knows how hardly I steal this time when all sleep; and it is time to separate my thoughts from the world. . . . I can write no

more.

Time and death call me away. The everlasting, infinite, powerful, and inscrutable God— that Almighty God that is goodness itself, mercy itself, the true life and light-keep you and yours,

and have mercy on me, and teach to me to forgive my persecutors and false accusers, and send us to meet in his glorious kingdom. My true wife, farewell. Bless my poor boy; pray for me. My true God hold you both in his arms.

“Written with the dying hand of some time thy husband, but now, alas, overthrown!

Yours that was, but now not my own,

"W. RALEGH.”

Lady Ralegh herself was doing all that she could to save her husband's life. She wrote to Cecil: "If the grieved tears of an unfortunate woman may receive any favour, or the unspeakable sorrows of my dead heart may receive any comfort, then let my sorrows come before you, which if you truely knew, I assure myself you would pity me, but most especially your poor unfortunate friend, which relyeth wholly on your honourable and wonted favour." Her mental sufferings seem to have broken down her health; for she concludes her letter by saying, "I am not able, I protest before God, to stand on my trembling legs, otherwise I would have waited now on you, or be directed wholly by you."

On the 10th of December all was ready for the execution of Markham, Grey, and Cobham. From the window of the room where he was confined, Ralegh could see the scaffold, and watched the strange scene which went on. made himself ready for the there was a stir in the crowd

Markham had just executioner, when of bystanders. An

1603]

SCENE ON THE SCAFFOLD.

177

unknown Scotchman had arrived in great haste. He spoke a few words with the sheriff, who then, turning to Markham, told him he was to have two hours' respite, and had him led away.

Next Grey was brought on to the scaffold. He was a very popular man, and his friends were there in great numbers to give him courage to the last. He had never demeaned himself by asking for life, and now seemed calm and cheerful. He made a long prayer, but no confession of importance. Then again the sheriff approached, said Grey was to have a little respite, and had him also led away. Cobham next appeared, and the same scene was acted over again. From him too no new confession was extorted, and he only repeated his former accusations against Ralegh. He seemed prepared to meet death with boldness and contempt. Whilst he still remained upon the scaffold Markham and Grey were sent for, and the sheriff then told them that the King had given them their lives; this information was greeted by the spectators with much applause. Ralegh was also told that he was reprieved; and then he, Cobham, and Grey were all removed to the Tower. Markham and some others of the conspirators were ordered to leave the kingdom.

Even before Ralegh's trial his offices of Governor of Jersey, Lord Warden of the Stannaries, and Lieutenant of Cornwall, had been declared forfeited, and had been awarded to others. Now his wine patent was taken away; and he would probably

N

have been left destitute but for Cecil's kindly offices. Cecil seems to have acted the part of a true friend, and to have earned the gratitude of both Sir Walter and Lady Ralegh. He saved Ralegh's manor of Sherborne from confiscation, though many were eager in their suits for it. Cecil says there were no fewer than a dozen asking for it. All that Ralegh lost at present with regard to it was his life interest. He had executed a conveyance in the last days of Elizabeth, in which he made over the estate to his wife and son after his death. This he trusted would still hold good. We shall see in the future how his wish to hand down to his son the beautiful estate, which he had planted with such care and loved so dearly, was to be disappointed with all his other hopes.

SIR

CHAPTER XIII.

Ralegh in the Tower.

IR WALTER RALEGH expressed his gratitude to James I. for saving his life, in two letters, which seem to us unworthy of their writer on account of the high-flown and exaggerated language in which they are written. But we must remember that this was the fashion of the day; and that what appears to us absurd, and almost revolting, was then looked upon as quite natural. To Cecil also Ralegh expressed his gratitude, and added entreaties that he would go on exerting himself in his favour. "Good my Lord," he writes, "remember your poor ancient and true friend, that I perish not here, where health wears away, and whose short times run fast on in misery only. Those which plotted to surprise and assail the person of the King, those that are Papists, are at liberty. Do not forget me, nor doubt me."

"

During the first year of his imprisonment he seems to have still cherished the hope that he might be allowed to leave the Tower, if not to