The Sun.
London, England, 1823-01-18 00:00:00

SIR WALTER RAWLEIGIL

The character of this distinguished. Statesman,
profound and elegant Historian, who fella, vict.ll4
to the policy of a worthless Court, stands so. de-
servedly high in the annals of this Country, that
we feel pleasure iii extracting the following, acs
count of his death, as stated by the industrious
and intelligent pen of Mr. D'lsnacta
" Rawleigh's cheerfulness was so remarkable, and his fear.
hasness of death so marked, that the Dean of WeSteninster, who
attended him, at first wondering at the hero, reprehended the
lightness of his manner : but Itawleigh gave fled thanks that
he had never feared death, for it was but an opinion and an
imagination and as for the manner of death, he had rather
die so than of a burning fever; and that ante might have.r ade
shows outwardly, but he felt the. joy within. The 'Dean says,
that he trtae no more of his death than if he had been to-take
ajourney:. Not,' said he, but that lam a great
,eiriner, for
1 have been a soldier, a seaman, and a courtier.' Vie writer
of a manuscripl letter tells as, that the Dean declared he died
not only religiously, but he found him to be a'man as ready and
as able to give as to take instructjon.
"On the morning of his de.atli'he smoked, as usital, his fa-
vourite tobacco, and when they brought him a cup of excellent
sack, being asked how he liked it, Itawleigh answer d, "As the
fellow, that, drinking of St. Giles's bowl, as he went to Tyburn,
said, that was good drink if a man might tarry by it.' " The day
before, in passing from NVestininster.hall to the Gate-house, hie
eye had caught Sir Hugh Deeston in the throng, and, calling
on him, requested that' he would see him-die to-morrow. Sit
Ilugh, to secure himself a seat on the scaffold, had 'providod
himself with a letter to the Sheriff, which was not read at the
time, and Sir Walter found his friend thrill't by, lamenting
that he could not get there. Farewell I' exclainied
I know not what shift you will make, but I am sure to have
a place.' In going from the prison to the scaffold, among
others who were pressing hard to see him, one old man, Whose
head was bald, came very forward, insomuch that Rawleigh
noticed him, and :asked, 'whether he would have aught of hint
The old man answered, Nothing but to see him, sod to pray
to God for him.' Rayleigh rePlied, ' I thank -thee, .00d
friend, and lam sorry I have no better thing to return thee
for thy good Observing his bald bead, he continued,
but take this night-cap, (which was a very rich wrought ene
that he wore,) .for thott.ha.st more need of it now than
" His dress? as was usual with him,, was elegant, if not
rich. Qldye describes it, but mentions, that ,‘ he had. a
wrought night-cant under his hat,' which we have titi:igrarise
posed of; his ruff-band, a black wrought velvet night-gewn
over a hair-coloured satin doublet, and a black wrought waist.,
coat; black cut tatTety breeches, an ash.coloured silk stock-
:- --

•
ings.
" Helascended the scaffold with the same cheerfulness hehad
passed to it; and observing the Lords seated at adietance, so ne
atwindows, he requested they would approach hint, as be wished
what ho bad to say they should all witness. This request was
complied with by several. His' speech is well known : but
some copies contain matters not in others. When he finished,
he requested Lord Arundel that the King would not suffer aby
libels to defame him after death-4 And now I have a I,mg
journey to go, and must take my leave. 'He oribraced
all
the Lords and other friends with such courtly compliments, as
if he had met them at same (cut,' says s lett,,r.writer. /laving
taken off his gown, he called to the headt,.man to show hint
the axe. which not being instantly done, he repeated, " I pri.
thee let m see it. Dost thou think that lam afraid of it','
He passed the edge lightly over his finger, and smiling, ob.
served to the sheriff, • Tine is a sharp medicine, but a sot:est
cure fur all diseases,' and kissing it, lain it down —Aeother
writer has,' This is that, that will cure all son.ows.' ..After this
lte went to the three several corners of the scaffold, end isnerling
down, desired all the people to pray for him, and reeittda,long
prayer to himself. ,When he began to fit himself, for thr block,
he' first laid himself down to try how the block fitted him ; after
rising up,,theexecutioner kneeled down to ask histergiveness,
which Rtswleigh with an embrace did, bat *rested him not to
strike till he gave a token by lifting up his hand,-' and Mee
fear not, but strike hi me 1' When' he laid his head down to
receive the stroke, the executioner desired .him to lay his face
towards the east. It was no great matter which way a man's
head stood, so the heart lay right;' 'said Rewleigh ; but these
were not MI last words. He was once more to speak in this
world with the same intrepidityhe had lived in it.—for, /giving
lain some minutes on the block in prayer, he gave the signal;
but the executieder, either ureisindful, or in fear, failed to
strike, and Rawleigh, after once or twice putting forth his
bands, was compelled to ash him,' Why Most thou not strike ?
Strike, Man !' In two blows he. was liehe;wded but from the
drat, his body never shrunk from the spot; by any diseuniiosure
of his posture, which, like his mind, WWI immoveable'. •

' In all the time he was upon the scaffold, and before,' says
one of the manuscript letter-writers, ' there apPeared not the
least alteration in him, either in his voice or countetiore ; but
he seemed as free from all manner of apprehension if he
been come thither rather as a spectator than a starer ; nay, the
beholders seemed much more sensible than did he; 40 ttiattie
ha* purchased here in the opinion of men such honour and re-
putation, as it Is thought his greatest enemies are 641 tat are
most sorrowful kir hie death, which they See is like to turn so
much to his advantage..'

" The people were deeply affected at the sirld, and so flinch,
that one said, that ' wt had not such another head to e.t.a elf ;)
and another ' wished the head and brains to be upon Serrerary
rslaunton's shoulders.' The observer suffered for
.tarn
he was a wealthy citi:reti„and great newstoonger,, and one w!eJ
haunted Paul's 'Walk.. Complaint was made, rind the eitiy, n
souttnoned to the Pr . Ile pleaded that he intended
no disrespect to'Mr. &nretary but Oaly spalte tai referenre to
the old proverb, that two beads were bttter that one r flux
excuse was Plowed At thn intungut 1 but wht rt aro. rieards -rail-
ed on for a fon4bUtioa to :it. Paul\4 cathedral, and,
buying'
subscribed a the Seeretary abservcd to liini„.that two
nee better than one, 34r. Wirtusxit is tither flow, fear or charity
the witty eititto doubledhis subscription.
" Thus died this glorious and gal sot cavalier, of when' Vs-
ingne m,YR, Ilia death was routitageettry high arid
religious a resolution, as if a Roman had :sled Cnristant or
rather a Christian a Rowan.'
" After haviog veil the precedinv article, we are it'stonished
at the greatness, and the variabbr-psitore of this extraordinary
titan, arid, this
-happy getting. 'WP4;ol),...liva. who once eaol.,
toted to write his life, we no pettee, 114 q pronounce 'his cha-
racter Is arnbiguass hut we Itriall not besit4te to &Care, that
Itairleigh knew better how to die then to live. !r- Iduripuot
hours, bay.% a eoteekpOtary, were his art-signal and execu-
tion but never wia be fatiotten the interruedis reorionda
lettered imprisonment i"