time, should be thought to plot with the Lord Cobham, knowing him a man that had neither love nor following in England, and myself at this time having just resigned a place of very best command, the Wardenship of the Stannaries in Cornwall. Moreover, I was not so bare of sense but I saw, that if ever this State was strong and able to defend itself, it was now. The kingdom of Scotland united, whence we were wont to fear all our troubles; Ireland quieted, where our forces were wont to be divided; Denmark assured, whom before we were wont to have in jealousy; the Low Countries, our nearest neighbours at peace with us; and instead of a Lady, whom time had surprised, we had now an active King, a lawful successor to the Crown, who was able to attend to his own business. I was not such a madman as to make myself in this time a Robin Hood, a Wat Tyler, or a Jack Čade. I knew also the state of Spain well; his weakness, and poorness, and humbleness, at this time. I knew that he was discouraged and dishonoured. I knew that six times we had repulsed his forces, thrice in Ireland, thrice at sea, and once at Cadiz on his own coast. Thrice had I served against him myself at sea, wherein for my country's sake I had expended of my own properties 4000l. I knew that where before-time he was wont to have forty great sails at the least in his ports, now he hath not past six or seven; and for sending to his Indies he was driven to hire strange vessels;-a thing contrary to the institutions of his proud ancestors, who straitly forbad, in case of any necessity, that the Kings of Spain should make their case known to strangers. I knew that of five-and-twenty millions he had from his Indies, he had scarce any left; nay, I knew his poorness at this time to be such that the Jesuits, his imps, were fain to beg at the church-doors; his pride so abated, as, notwithstanding his former high terms, he was glad to congratulate the King, my master, on his accession, and now cometh creeping unto him for peace. Then, was it ever read or heard of that any Prince should disburse so much money without sufficient pawn? and whoso knows what great assurances the King of Spain stood upon with other States for smaller sums, will not think that he would so freely disburse to my Lord Cobham

600,000 crowns. And if I had minded to set the Lord Cobham to work in such a case, I should surely have given him some instructions how he should persuade the King of Spain and answer his objections; for I know Cobham to be no such minion as could persuade a King, who was in want, to disburse so great a sum without great reason and some assurance for his money. I know the Queen of England lent not her money to the States, but had Flushing, Brill, and other towns, in assurance for it; she lent not money to France, but had Newhaven for it. Nay, her own subjects, the merchants of London, did not lend her money without having her lands in pawn. What pawn had we to give the King of Spain? What did we offer him? And to show I was not Spanish, as you term me, I had written at this time a Treatise to the King's Majesty of the present state of Spain, and reasons against the peace. For my inwardness with the Lord' Cobham, it was only in matters of private estate, wherein he communicating often with me, I lent him my best advice. And he being a Baron of this realm, upon whom all the honour of his house rested, his possessions great and goodly, his houses worth at least 5000l. a-year's revenue, his plate and furniture as rich as was any man's of his rank; is it likely I should employ a man of these fortunes to enter into such gross treasons, when I knew that Westmoreland and Bothwell, men of better understanding than Cobham, were ready to beg their bread. And for further argument that he was not desperate in estate nor poor in purse, he employed me to deal with the Duke* for him to purchase a fee-farm from the King, for which he offered 40,000l.; and when I was first examined I had about me in my bosom, for this purchase, 4000l. worth of his jewels. Not three days before his apprehending he had bestowed 1507. in books, which he sent to his house at Canterbury. He gave 30l. for a cabinet which he offered to you, Mr. Attorney, for the drawing of his conveyances. Think now if it be likely this man, upon an idle humour, would venture all this. Whether he intended to travel to Spain or no, God in Heaven knoweth, not I. But for my knowing that he had conspired all *The Duke of Lennox is here alluded to.

those things with Spain for Arabella against the King, I protest, before Almighty God, I am as clear as whosoever here is freest.

Popham, L. C. J. My Lords, when Lord Cobham was first examined upon interrogatories, he denied every thing, but he refused to sign his Examination, standing upon it as a matter of honour, that being a Baron of the realm, his declaration was to be accepted without subscription. Notwithstanding, he said at last, that if I would say he was compellable and ought to do it, then he would sign. Whereupon I, then lying at Richmond for fear of the plague, was sent for, and I came to the Lord Cobham, and told him he ought to subscribe, or it would be a contempt of a high nature; which presently after he did. Afterwards the Lords showed him a letter, written by Sir W. Raleigh to my Lord Cecil, and on reading it he exclaimed, "That wretch! that traitor, Raleigh! hath he used me thus? Nay, then, I will tell you all:" and thereupon delivered his accusation; and surely the countenance and action of my Lord Cobham much satisfied me that what he confessed was true, and that he surely thought Sir W. Raleigh had betrayed him.

Then was read the Lord Cobham's second Examination*, wherein he saith that he was to return home from Spain by Jersey, where Sir W. Raleigh and he appointed to meet to confer about the distribution of the money in England: Further, he says that he was afraid that if he returned by Jersey, Raleigh would then have had him in his power, and have delivered him and the money to the King.'

This Examination was not subscribed by Lord Cobham. Sir Walter Raleigh. My Lords, I take it, that he that has been examined, has ever been asked at the time of his Examination if it be according to his meaning, and then to subscribe.

Attorney-General. Being taken in the presence of so many Privy Councillors, to whom faith must be given, the Declaration is of like force as if it had been subscribed.

Sir Walter Raleigh. Surely, Mr. Attorney, you would not allow a bare scroll to have credit with a jury. Foreman of the Jury. I desire to understand of the This Examination is not to be found.

Court the time of Sir W. Raleigh's first letter to the Lords, and whether it was written before the time of the Lord Cobham's accusation?

Lord Cecil. I am divided in myself, and in great dispute what to say of this gentleman at the bar; for it is impossible, be the obligations never so great, but the affections of nature and love will show themselves. A former dearness betwixt me and him, tied upon the knots of his virtues, though slacked since by his actions, I cannot but acknowledge, and the most of you know it. I protest, did I serve a King that I knew would be displeased with me for speaking in this case, I would speak, whatever came of it; but seeing he is compacted of piety and justice, and one that will not mislike any man for speaking the truth, I will answer your question. Sir W. Raleigh was stayed by me at Windsor, when the first discovery came from Copley of the "surprising" treason; when found that Brooke was in it, I suspected Lord Cobham. I doubted also that Sir W. Raleigh was partaker therein; wherefore, after such time as the King at Windsor had received the first letters of discovery, his Majesty making haste to go abroad, Sir W. Raleigh also hasted to follow him, but I then required him, as from the King, to stay; and then he was examined, but not concerning the Lord Cobham, but concerning the " surprising" treason. The Lord Gerard was then presently sent to apprehend the Lord Grey, and Sir Thomas Vavasor for Mr. Brooke. Presently afterwards we understood by Mr. Brooke, that he had opened the purpose of surprising the King unto the Lord Cobham; whereupon the Lord Cobham was sent for. At first he stood much upon denial*; yet afterwards set down a Confession, but refused to subscribe it of a good while. Afterwards, being urged by my Lord Chief Justice, he at length yielded to subscribe it. For Sir W. Raleigh, I must say that there was a light given by him to me, that La Rensy had dealt betwixt Count Aremberg and the Lord Cob ham; but that Sir W. Raleigh at that time knew of the Lord Cobham's accusation, I cannot say; for I think he was not then examined touching any matter concerning

See ante p. 402, note.

my Lord Cobham; for only the "surprising" treason was then in suspicion.

Attorney-General. Sir Walter, you say the Lord Cobham's accusing you was upon heat and passion; this is manifestly otherwise; for after that the Lord Cobham had twice called for the letter, and twice paused a good while upon it, and saw that his dealing with Count Aremberg was made known, then he thought himself discovered, and after said, "O, wretch and traitor, Raleigh!" And as to improbability, is it probable that my Lord Cobham would turn the weapon against his own bosom, and overthrow himself in estate, in honour, and in all his fortunes, out of malice to accuse you? It will be plainly proved that the Lord Cobham, conferring with his brother Brooke two months before, said to him, "You are but fools; you come upon the bye; Sir W. Raleigh and I are upon the main to take away the King and his cubs." You say that the Lord Cobham distrusted you, and therefore that it is not likely that you confederated; but mark what Cobham saith: he saith he was a long time doubtful of Raleigh that he would betray him, and send him and the money to the King; now, if he feared that you would betray him, there must of necessity be a trust between you. No man can betray another but he that is trusted, to my understanding. Next, Sir Walter Raleigh, you discoursed largely on the poverty of Spain; methinks it had been better for you to have stayed in Guiana than to have been so well acquainted with the state of Spain; and as to the six overthrows of the King of Spain, I answer, he hath the more malice, because repulses breed desire of revenge. As for your writing against the peace with Spain, you sought but to cloak a Spanish traitor's heart; to all that you have said about the King being wise and politic, and therefore that you could have no hope to succeed, I answer, there is no king so active, wise, and politic as to be always safe against secret treason. But you seek to wash away all that is said, by affirming the evidence against you to be but a bare accusation, without circumstances or reason to confirm it. That I will fully satisfy; for as my Lord Cobham's Confession stands upon many circumstances, and con