The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-08-19
Sir Walter Raleigh Before His Exc
,rho o.entIeman,s Magazine.J

1.-THE Gentleman's MagaZlne.I
The eve OF the day fixed for his eXectl-
ton Raleigh had taken final farewell OF
his wife, and the interview between the
two had lasted until the abbey had tolled
the hour Of II. All business matters had
been settled, and there was nothing, there
fore. on the mind OF the condemned man
TO interfere with his hopes and Thoughts as
10 the unseen world into which he was
about TO enter. The King rs last favor
had granted the wife. speedily TO be-
made widow, permission to bury the body
OF her husband after the headsman bad
done his fell work. Z" Ii is well. dear BeS-
Sic" said Raleigh, pressing her in the
agony Of last embrace, "that thou may 81
dispose Of that dead which thou had'st not
always the disposing OF when alive" so
those two parted. never more to meet
on this side OF the "eternal silence.
God hold me IN my wits ~ sighed
the poor dame rs she entered her
coach. stationed under the very shadow
Of the scaffold, upon which IN few brlef
hours the blood OF her husband was 10 be
shed. As 3 o'clock struck Raleigh held
himself in readiness TO quit the Gate House
A cup OF excellent sack was now brought
him. which he drank at a quail. He was
asked how he liked il. "As the fellow,
he replied. "whO, drinking OF It. GileS'S
bowl on his way TO Tyburn, said, II was
good drink il Il man might tarry by it.
After this refreshment Il procession was
made to the scatiold. at the head OF which
walked the Dean OF Westminster. ON the
way to the Old Palace-Yard Raleigh met
Sir Hugh Brereton, IN old friend, whom
Ia. LoI aennsInllx ranIlpStp1 10 he
present at the execution. "Sir Hugh.
40 make sure work. got a letter
from Secretary Lake TO the sheriff to see
him placed conveniently, and meeting
them 1.-THE procession a. they came near to
the scailold, delivered his letter But the
sheriff by mishap had left his spectacles at
home, and put the letter in his pocket; IN
the mean time. Sir Hugh being thrust aside
by the crowd, Sir Walter babe him fare
well. saying know moi what shift You
will make. but am sure to have place. "
Il was a bitterly cold October morning.
rendered all the more sharp by a cutting
east wind. and as Raleigh assembled the
scailold and prepared to address the vast
mob that tbronged the palace-yard his
limbs, eniecbled by confinement and i'll
health. tremblcd so yisibly that he could
scarcely support himself. The sheriff, OBJ
serving this debility, offered To help his
Inflated charge down from the scailold
and take him to Il fire, so that being warmed
he might he the better able To deliver his
diving speech. "NO, good Mr.. Sheriff..
said Raleigh. "let Ills dispatch, for within
this quarter of an hour mine ague will come
upon me, and if ] be not dead before then
mine enemies will say that | quake for
fear" Then. holding on 10y the rail Of the
scaflold. he faced the crowd and thus be-
Gan IL thank God heartily that he hath
brought me into the light to die, and that
Ile hath not suffered me To die in the dark
prison OF the Tower, where have suffered
a great deal OF misery and cruel sickness;
aud | thank God that my fever hath not
taken me mt the time, as prayed TO God it
might not" After this preface he pro-
ceeded 10 deal with the charges brought
AGAINST him. He denied that he ever en-
tered into any plot with France. though he
admitted. to save his life, he attempted 10
escape into France. He denied that he had
ever been counseled by Lord Carew and
other Lords To fly the country, or that he
had ever offered Sir Lewis ShkelCy money
TO assist him i'm escaping. " Bat, indeed
he acknowledged. 81 showed him letter
that il he would 90 with me. there should
be order taken for his debts when he was
gone; neither had 100000 TO give him,
for il | had had so much. | could have
made nv peace better with il other ways
than in giving it to Stukeley." He declared
that his only object IN starting for
Guiane was to discover the mine which
really existed there. He denied that he
ever intended To desert his men when nj
Trinidad, as bad been alleged, or that be
had been forced to return home by his men
against his will. Nor was it true that he
had carried with him 10 sea numerous
pieces, and that the only object Of his yoy-
age was TO get money into his hands. He
had taken out but little money, and such
as he had taken out he had brought back.
These be the material points, he con-
cluded. ~ thought good to speak Of, and
| am now at this instant To render mp an
account to God; and | protest, as | shall
appear before Him, this that have spoken
| l. trup and 1 hone I shall hp believed -