The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1884-06-18
Last Hours Of Sir Walter Raleigh.

hu hAltC4C III "A llVAtL otAtdats y
Nicholas Quackenbos, has the following
sketch OF the last hours OF Sir Walter
Raleigh. of whom he says 1T Is doubt
tul il We shall ever see again such another
man a soldier. sailor. couruer, poet,
statesman and sage a man nj rare In-
tellect and untiring energy, who concen-
trated 10 his own person the material OF
a dozen modern celebrities. For Raleigh
was one OF the giants Of the Eizabethan
age one OF those geuiuses who carried
within themselves an almost universal
excellence Of gifts. As the friend aud
associate of Spenser, of Ben Johnson
and Of Shakespeare-the favorite Of a
great queen = he is famous IN song aud
story as a representative OF the faults
and the virtues of his time u lmagina
ton dwells on his character with uuweary-
ing interest.
This great man, after a quarter ot a
century of the most distinguished service
for his country and for the world, falling
under the suspicious OF King James. was
condemned TO death. and cast into prison.
But after lying ia prison thirteen years
he was 10 1915 set at liberty. His SEN
tence of death still hanging over him he
projected a second expedition to Guiana,
and the king hoped TO replenish his cot
fers by it. Raleigh's design was To colo
nize the country and work gold mines.
With the wreck of his fortune be equipp-
ed a feet Of twelve armed vessels, and in
l6i7, the year following the death Of
Shakespeare. sailed, with . band OF adj
venturers, TO found a new western empire.
But the ruin OF the enterprise was pre-
pared, even before the English coast was
/ 1t. go IT, ,lorr h. ba1 ,l.El1N
TO the king were treacherously commuui-
Gated to the Spaniards, aud the scheme
was miserably thwarted. His son, who
the hostile strand his confidential right
hand man, Keymis, killed hims,l If in des-
air, and Raleigh returned to England
broken-hearted. His letters to his wife
at this period cannot be read without
tears. He knew what was awaiting him;
he knew that the cowardice of James the
First had sacrificed him to Spanish
hatred and vengeance, and that the exc
cution othis sentence was no., inevitable.
lie landed in the native county Of Devon-
shire, and was soon after arrested and
conducted to London twice, on the way,
he might have escaped, but be resisted
the temptation.
IL WAS again COlHUullttu W the lower,
one morning he was taken from his bed,
i'll with fever, to hear his sentence of
death. with a voice grown weak by
sickness he used every means to avert
his fate. 1t is a relief to know that his
judges were not as brutal as Coke had
been fifteen years before. The Attorney
General Yelverton said, Sir Walter Rail
eigh hath been a star at which the world
tna rn1n1 hnt - Gil ranl
fall, when they trouble the sphere where
they abide" The Lord Chief Justice
spoke of Raleigh's great works, 81 know
that you have been valiant and wise. and
doubt not but that you retain both these
virtues, for now you shall have occasion
to use them. Your book is an admirable
work | would give you counsel, but |
know that you can apply it unto yourself
far better than | am able to give you"
But the judge ended with saying, Tx
~ecutiOn is granted
On Ralelgh's return to prison while
some of his friends were deploring his
fate, he remarked that 1.-The world itself
is but a larger prison, out of which some
are daily selected for execution"
He passed the last night of his life in
writing what he called "a remembrance
to be left with his lady," to let the world
know his sentiments should he be forbid
den to speak on the scaffold. His wife
visited him that sad night, and told him
weeping, that she had obtained a favor
Of disposing his body. He answered,
smiling, 1T is well, Bess, that thou
mayst dispose of that dead thou hadst
not always the disposing Of it when
alive !"
At midnis ht h, entreated her to leave
him. and then, with mistaken fortitude,
he composed these lines
Even such is Time, that takes on trust
Our youth, our joys, our all we have,
And pays us but with age and dust
Who, in the dark and silent grave,
When we have wandered all our ways,
Shuts up the story of our days
But from this earth, this grave, this dust,
My God shall raise me up, | trust"
On the same night, the dim light of
his long wick candle suggested this cou-
plet:
towards fear to die; but courage stout,
Rather than live in snuff, will be put
out"
His cheerfulness and evident fearless
ness of death, excited the rebuke of the
Dean OF Westminster, who attended him.
Raleigh in reply thanked God that he had
never feared 10 die the horror of death
he said, was but an OPTION and an i'm
agination. Not added he, ''but that
| am a great sinner, for | have been a
soldier, a sailor and a courtier. The Dean
afterward declared that be found him O
man as ready to receive instruction as he
was able to give it, and that he died like
a true Christian.
He displayed his usual elegance of dress
on the morning of the execution, and Oh
his way to the scaffold presented his rich
ly-embroldered cap to a bald headed old
man who asked hIm to pray u cd for him.
With a step and couDtenance of serene
dignity, he assembled the fatal platform
and made a short speech to the numerous
assembly gathered round it. Then taking
off his velvet gown, he desired that the
axe might be brought to him. Passing
his finger lightly over the edge, he smil-
ingly observed, This is a sharp medicine,
bat a sound cure for all diseases"-he
kissed it, and laid it down. After en-
braclng the executioner who begged his
forgiveness. Raleigh entreated him not to
strike until he himself gave the signal,
and then fear not but strike ~ When
his head was on the block the executIoner
babe him to turn his face toward the East.
1T Is no great matter which way the
head lies SO that the heart be right"
said Rllelgh After some minutes pass
ed in prayer, he gave the signal the ex
ecutioner, perhaps frighted, did not
strike, and Raleigh at last asked him,
why dost thou not strike? Strike
man - in two blows his head fell-his
body, like mind, remaining steadfast, un-
shrinkirg. If his life was not faultless,
bis end was nobls-the people were much