The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1823-06-17
mo. 90.


! SURF 10 have place. IL gang from tls..
prison Ia the seallut, among others who
were pressing hard To- see him, one old
rnan, whose head was bald, came vers
forward. insomuch that Raleigh noticed
him, aud uskrd !" whether be would haze
augld Of him :" The old man answered,
g" Nothing but 10 see him, aud To pray 10
God for him" Raeigli replied, ~ thank
thee, good friend, and ! i..., sasr,i have no
brlter Thing To return thee for thy good
will" Observing bis bald head, be eonti-
nued " bal takc this nighf.cap, (which
was very rich wrought one hal he noreD
for thou hast more need of il now than /
have
| lis dress, rs WINS usual with him, was
elegant, II mol rich. Oldys describes IL,
but mentions that he Ind wrought
night-eap under his hat which we hive
otherwise disposed of his ruff bind, n
black wrought velvet night.gown over
hair-colored satin doublcf, aud II black
wrought waisicoat black eat ia'Tety hreech-
ss, and ash eoiored silk stockinrs.
lie assembled fhc scalluld with the same
cheer iulness be had pnssed 10 il and OBJ
serving the lords seated III u distance, some
at windows, he requested they would APP
proach him, M hr wished what hn had 10 I.
say they should NIL witness This request
wascampied with by several. His speech IS
well known bul some copies contain mat
ters not IN others, When he finished he
requested lord Arundel that the king would
not suffer any libelers 10 dclarne him after
hraih--" Aud now have Il long Journey
to so, and must take my leave" /. lie
embraced MI the lurds and other friends
with such courtly compliments Ms il he hnd
mel them ut some FEAST says letter wri-
ter Having taken oil his gown, he called
To the heads man 10 show him the axe,
which not being instantly done, be repeat
I'd prilhee let me see il Iosi thou think
thai am afraid OF il = he passed the edge
lightly over his lingtr, aud smiling, ol,@ery-
ed 10 the sheriff, "'fhis Is sharp incd-
cine, bat u sound cure for nl Diseases and
kissing II, laid down. Another writer has.
F." This Is that, that will cure all sorrows" -
After this he went la three several corners
of the scallold, and kneoIing down, desired
all the people 10 pray for him, and re-
cited \ lobg prayer to himself when he
began In III himself for the block, he first
lad himself down To uy how The block 1T.
tea MN alter rising up, the executioDers
kneeled down Ia ask lorgiYrnss ~, which
lthlelsh with an embrace did, hui entreaf-
cd INN not Ia strike I'LL he gagca token by
'iltihg up ms baud, F." and then fear not but
strike home u When he lhia his head down
10 receive has stroke, the exccuiioner des.
red him 10 hay his face towards the east
IL was no great matter whch way n
mans mead stood, 81 the heart lay right
sad Haleiph but these were aoi his last
words. lie was once more Ia speak in this
world with the same intrepidily he had
lived ~ ll-stor, having iain some minutes
on the block ~ prayer, hc gave the signal :.
hui The exec,loncf, either uunindful or in
fear, failed To strike, aud Raleigh, after
once or twice putting forth his hands, was
compelled To ask him. Why dost thon
not strike Strike man !" H. two blows
he was beheaded bni from the first, his
body never shruDk from the spot by ans
dscomposnre Of his posture, Which, Ike bis
mind, was mmovahlc.
! In all the time be was upon tire scnf.
fold, aud before" says one Of the man,l-
script letter writers, there appeared not
the least alteration in him, either in his
voice or counlcnancc bul he seemed ~
| free from all manner of apprehension as IL
he had come thither rather 10 be Il specia-
| }
seemed much more sensible than did ne.
50 that he hath purchased here, IN tho
opinion of men, such honor aud reputation
as II is thought his greatest enemies are
they, that they are most sorrowlul for bis
death, which they see Is like to turn SO
much 10 his advantage
| The people we're deeply affected at the
| sight, aud so much that one said that " we
had not such another head To cut of !" and
another wished the head and brains 10 be
upon Secretary Naunton's shoulders.n---
The observer suffered for this, he was n
wealthy citizen, and great newsrnonger,
and one who haunted Paula Walk. Com
plant was made, and the citizen summon
ed 10 the priyy cpunci. lie blended that
he inlendcd no dlsrespect to Mr.. Secreta-
ry but only spake in reference 10 the old
! Provrrb, thai" two heads were better than
one His excuse was allowed at the mo
mcnt hut when afterwards called on for
a contribution to ST. Paal's cathedral, and
having subscribed hundred pounds, the
Secretary observed 10 him, that two are
better than one, Mr.. Wiemark I" either
from fear or charity the witty citizen dou-
bled his subscription.
Thus did this GLORIOUS and gallant caya-
Her OF whom Osborne says, /" his death was
managed by him with 50 high and religious
u resolution, MS If Roman had acted a
Christian, or rather Christian Roman
After having read the preceding article,
we are astonlshed at the greatness and the
variable nature of this extraordinary man
and this happy genius. With Gibbon who
once mcditated TO write his life, we may
pause, and pronounce "his character as
ambiguous y but we shall pot hesitate 10
decide, that Raleigh knew better how to