Biography of Henry Yelverton 1566-1624

Letters of the Court of James I 1618. 3rd November 1618. London. Reverend Thomas Lorkin to Thomas Puckering 1st Baronet (age 26).

My last letter intimated a warrant that was formed for Sir Walter Raleigh's despatch. his end.

Upon Wednesday, therefore, he was brought to Westminster, to receive sentence anew from the lord chief justice, to comply with certain formalities, I hear, in law, for that those who pronounced it were dead. Being presented at the bar, he demanded for what offence he was proceeded against? Answer was made, it was his majesty's pleasure to take his life for the first; and that the cause of his coming again to the bar now was, to declare the former condemnation to stand still in force. He offered to speak somewhat for himself, but it was not permitted. The attorney (age 52) told him that he had lived like a star, and like a star must he fall, when it troubled the firmament. Then he was delivered into the sheriff's charge, and by him carried from thence to the Gatehouse; and the day following (which was, by all good tokens, the lord mayor's day), in the Old Palace Yard, executed. His warning was short; for he had no word to prepare himself for death, till that very morning he was convented before the judge. He sued for four or five days longer, under pretence of having somewhat to communicate with his majesty, in writing, for his behoof and service, which in so short a time could not be performed; and something, I hear, he hath written to the king to that purpose. Yet it was conceived as a device to gain time, that his friends might the more effectually intercede for his pardon, so that suit would not be granted. Whereupon he prepared himself for death. The Dean of Westminster visited him, and, after some · conference between them two, he, at his hands, received the sacrament; and, the night before his execution, made his own Epicedium, or funeral song, which I have here sent you.

He had the favour to die a gentleman's death, and to be beheaded. His end was, by the general report of all that were present, very Christian - like; and so full of resolution, as moved all men to pity and wonder. In going from the prison to the scaffold, amongst others that thronged about to see him, one old man, that was bald, pressed very forward, insomuch as Sir Walter Raleigh took notice of him, and asked him whether he would have aught of him. To whom the old man answered: " Nothing but to see him, and to pray to God to have mercy upon his soul." "I thank thee, good friend," replied Sir Walter; "and I am sorry I have no better thing to return thee for thy good will: but take this night-cap" (which was a very rich one, that he wore, for he had had two fits of a fever), " for thou hast more need of it now than I. "

Being come to the scaffold, he saw the lords seated in a place that was provided for them, somewhat far off, and, fearing lest his voice should not well reach them, desired them that they would approach, because what he had then to say, he wished the whole world should take notice of. And so they did, and heard a most grave, Christian, and elegant discourse, as they commonly qualify it. In it he laboured to clear himself from three main aspersions. The first, of atheism; which he did by a worthy profession of his faith, and profession of his hope to be saved thereby. The second was concerning my Lord of Essex's death, whom he was reported to have insulted upon at his death, taking tobacco in a bravery before his face and to have procured and practised his ruin. Against both which he solemnly protested; adding further, that he acknowledged himself to be, indeed, of a contrary faction, because my Lord of Essex had refused him, whom he first sought; but that he was so far from triumphing at his death, as he never was more affected with grief for any man's, and expressed the same with tears, to his prejudice, in the opinion and friendship, as it proved afterwards, of the adverse party. The third was concerning those last occasions wherein he stood charged with a disloyal intention in the voyage he undertook, and with further accusations since his return. The former seemed grounded upon a report that went, of great sums of money which he secretly transported with him to the value of £ 10,000, and the extraordinary provision of artillery he carried with him; both which he satisfied, by showing the falsehood of the first (all his own store not exceeding the sum of one hundred and fifty pieces, whereof he sent back part to his wife), and the necessity of the second, in regard of the Spaniard, upon whose friendship he had no occasion to presume.

Touching the other accusations, they all respected Sir Lewis Stukeley as their author (whom he professed to forgive, by the way, with all his heart, but yet thought fit to désagencer the world, both the better to justify himself, and to teach every man how to trust him). And, whereas, he first accused him to have practised with the French agent about his escape, he protested he never saw him but once, in the gallery at Whitehall, before he undertook his voyage; neither ever had aught to do with him since. Secondly, whereas, Stukeley charged him to have offered him £ 10,000 if he would consent to his escape; he likewise therein proclaimed him false, sith his largest promises in that kind never exceeded the payment of Stukeley's debts, which he confessed to have undertaken for him. Thirdly, whereas the said Stukely accused him to have laid to Sir Edward Parry's charge, where he was entertained in his coming up to London, the poisoning of him; he took his death upon it that it was most calumnious. He used, indeed, art to counterfeit a poisoning upon himself, ' which he thought was warranted by David's example, who feigned himself, in a case of like danger, mad; but that he had ever fathered it upon him, who had ever been his noble and worthy friend, he utterly disavowed it under a solemn execution. Lastly, whereas his accuser testified against him, that he had, for his encouragement to give way to his escape, assured him that my Lord of Doncaster and Lord Arran were privy to the design, and favourers of it, he assured the contrary under a deep oath; adding that he knew how fearful and dangerous a thing it was to call God to witness to a lie at any time, much more at the hour of a man's death, but he had herein satisfied the obligation of a good conscience.

This done, he embraced all the lords, and other of his friends there present, with such courtly compliments of discourse, as if he had met them at some feast. They then cleared the scaffold; which being done, he takes up the axe and feels the edge, and finding it sharp for the purpose, "This is that," saith he, "that will cure all sorrows;" and so kissing it, laid it down again. After that he went to three several corners of the scaffold, and, kneeling down, desired all the people to pray for him, and conceived a long prayer for himself. Then he began to fit himself for the block, without permitting any help, and first laid himself down, to try how the block fitted him. After rising up, the executioner knelt down, and desired him to forgive him; which, with an embrace, he protested he did, but entreated him not to strike till he gave a token, by lifting up his hand; "and then fear not," said he, "but strike home." So he laid himself down to receive the stroke, and the hangman directed him to lay his face towards the east. "No matter how the head lie," answered he, "so the heart be right." After he had lain a little while upon the block, conceiving some prayers to himself, he gave the watchword, and the executioner, it seems, not minding it, he called aloud unto him, asking him why he did not strike. "Strike man!" said he, and so in two blows was delivered from his pain.

In all the time he was upon the scaffold, nor before, there appeared not the least alteration in him, either in his voice or countenance, but he seemed as free from all manner of apprehension, as if he had been come thither rather to be a spectator than a sufferer. Nay, the beholders seemed much more sensible than did he; so that he hath purchased here, in the opinion of men, such honour and reputation, as, it is thought, his greatest enemies are they that are most sorrowful for his death, which they see is like to turn so much to his advantage.

Štukeley, notwithstanding, hath been at court since, offering to his majesty, by way of his own justification, to take the sacrament upon it, that what he laid to Sir Walter Raleigh's charge was true; and to produce two other witnesses, free from all exception, that would do the like. Why, then," replied his majesty " the more malicious he to utter those speeches at his death." But Sir Thomas Badger, who stood by and heard it, "Let the king," said he, "take off Stukeley's head, as he hath done the other's, and let him at his death take the sacrament, and his oath upon it, and I'll believe it; but otherwise I shall credit Sir Walter Raleigh's bare affirmative before a thousand of his oaths." And it is strange to see how every man at court declines that Stukeley's company, as treacherous.

Thus I have related at large the discourse at court; whereunto I shall briefly add, for farther news, that the prince, a little before they came from Royston, resigned up his pretensions to the Admiralty (whereof he had received a grant from the king long since) to the Marquis of Buckingham.