An answer to a scurrilous pamphlet intituled, Observations upon a compleat history of the lives and reignes of Mary, Queen of Scotland, and of her son, King James ... the libeller, without a name, set out by G. Bedell and T. Collins, two booksellers / but the history vindicated by the authour William Sanderson, Esq.

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[The Arraignment is in Print, he saies,] where those Authors speak more against him say I. [But he will yet demand of me,

• 1. Why Cobham was not brought face to face?
• 2. VVhat it was that ever Cobham accused Raleigh of.
• 3. VVhether ever any man was condemned by a single witnesse?]

1. I answer to the First, The Court and Judges gave it for Law and Reason, that it was not necessary in Treason: So the Prisoner may outbrave any Witnesse, and cause him to change his Confession, as might be suspected Cobham would do, in compassion to Raleigh, being himselfe condemned, and willing no doubt now to save the other.

3. And to the Last, I say, That it was most usuall and Legall, where many Circumstances, as here, do conduce to the truth. It was Raleighs policie to have but one Witnesse in the Conspiracie; thereby he meant to escape, either that Cobham must accuse him, or none can, and he but One, Raleigh might be safe. If A. conspire a Treason only with B. and he with C. and he with D. who can prove this Trea∣son, if not by One of them, and Circumstances also? If any one of these confesse it, need we more Witnesse to accuse himselfe and the other? A▪ Murtherer is met with a bloody sword, comming forth of the Kings Chamber, and he kill'd: is not one Witnesse sufficient? Cobham accuseth Raleigh, and he denies it: In Star-chamber, then, and Chancery, now; for matters of Tittle, his Deniall or Oath does not acquit him, in propria Causa, much lesse in Treason.

2. And to the Second, see Brooks, and Cobham's, and others Con∣fessions, which confirme him a Traitor throughout; concluding, that Raleigh was the instigator to the Treason, Fol. 285.

The first of Edward the sixt, which requires two Witnesses, was repealed by the first and second of Philip and Mary, reducing all to the Common-Law, which is by one Witnesse.

[But he assures us of a Letter of Cobhams,* 1.1 written to Raleigh the n••ght before his Tryall, to clear him from Treason; which Letter, he saies, was produced at a Committee of Parliament, by Mr. Cary Raleigh.]

I answer, That all the severall Letters were read contradicting themselves, and each the other (as Delinquents in Treason use to do) and therefore were adjudged not satisfactory, as to acquit•• either of them then. And for this pretended Letter shewed to the Committee, you should have inserted here, if not ashamed of it: But to do you Justice, I will set it down, as it was offered in the Tryall, which was not needfull in my History; nor now, but to convince your ignorance.

Seeing my selfe (saies Cobham) so neer my end, and for the dis∣charge of my owne Conscience from the blood, which else would cry for vengeance against me: I protest, upon my salvation, I never pra∣ctised with Spain by your procurement. God prosper me in this my affliction, as you are a true Subject, for any thing that I know. I will say with Pilat, Purus sum à ••anguine hujus: So God have mercy on my soul, as I know no treason by you.

This is somewhat satisfactory untill you hear more: But, you are mistaken▪ to say▪ it was the last Letter, the night before the Tryall: I will clear your intelligence with a truth, and with the very last Letter

indeed, which he writ to the Lords Commissioners, the night before Rale••gh's tryall.

I have thought ••it (saies Cobham) to set down this to my Lords; wherein I protest; on my soul, to write nothing but the truth. I am now to come neer the period of my time, therefore I protest the truth before God and his Angells. Raleigh, four daies before I came to the Tower, caused an Apple to be throwne in at my window, the effe••t thereof was, to intreat me, to right the wrong I had don him, in saying, that I should come home by Jersey, which under my hand to him, I have re∣tracted. His first Letter which was throwne in, in the same manner, wherein he prayed me write to him a Letter, which I did. He sent me word, that the Iudges were at Mr. Aturney's house, and there was good hope, that the proceedings against us should be stayed. At Arem∣burgh's comming, Raleigh dea••t with me, to procure a Pension of 1500l. a year, for which he promised, that no action should be done against Spain, but he would give knowledge before hand. He told me, that the States had audience with the King. He hath been the Origi∣nall cause of my ruine, for I had no dealing with Aremburgh, but by his instigation. He hath been the cause of my discontentment. He ad∣vised me not to be overtaken with Preachers, as Essex was, and that the King would better allow of a constant deniall, than to accuse any.

And now Raleigh being asked what he could say to this last Let∣ter, writ with his own hand over night, from a dying condemned man; He answered, I say, that Cobham is a base, dishonorable, poor soul.

I have been told, that Mr. Cary upon some pretence, was a suitor to the Parliament for somwhat of Sr. VValters (no matter now for what: I shall have time to tell him that, and more also, in another place hereafter) and Mr. Cary was like to carry it, when a worthy Member stept up, and laid in his way a Bar in Law, That Treason taints the Issue: upon which, came out a Letter to the Committee, which could never clear him, nor the Treason: If I be mistaken, let him help me hereafter, when he shall hear more of that in due place and time.

But wherein [may one perceive my spleen against Sir Walter Ra∣leigh.]

For I remember, the first time that Mr. Cary Raleigh came to Court, commended by Mr. Lessells, and called mostly Mr. Cary; to whom I was very civill; for Mr. Lessells called him my Cosin: And afterwards, an occasion was offered for me to do him kindenesse:

One Saintravy, a Frenchman, had affronted him at Court, which by means of my noble friends, was examined, where Saintravy utterly refused to submit, about the boxing. It was urged besides, that Saint∣ravy called him, The Son of a Traitor: The Lords laughed (for Mr. Lessells was by, who was said to be like him) and Saintravy being rounded in the ear▪ smiled, and said, That he was sorry to be mistaken; and so made it the worse, and the wound wider, to those that were told the meaning: However, my respects and service appeared to Sir VValters Kinsman, which approves me without spleen.

Notes

• * 1.1

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