Letter to James I Before his Trial Sir Walter Raleigh Noah Millstone Principal Investigator MPESE Sebastiaan Verweij Co-Investigator MPESE Richard Bell Research Associate Victoria Anker BRIHC Research Impact Fellow Mike Jones Research Software Engineer Manuscript Pamphleteering in Early Stuart England (MPESE) 2017 United Kingdom London British Library Additional MS 11600

British Library, Additional MS 11600

 United Kingdom London British Library Harley MS 39 United Kingdom London British Library Sloane MS 3520 Divers Letters wrytten by Sir Walter Rawleigh United Kingdom London British Library Egerton MS 3876 United Kingdom London British Library Harley MS 6242 United Kingdom London British Library Harley MS 4761 United Kingdom London British Library Harley MS 1576 United Kingdom London British Library Additional MS 4108 United Kingdom London British Library Additional MS 25707 United Kingdom London British Library Additional MS 40838 United Kingdom London British Library Additional MS 44848 United Kingdom London British Library Additional MS 69394 United Kingdom London British Library Additional MS 73087 British Library, Additional MS 40838, ff. 31v–32r British Library, Additional MS 4108, f. 114r British Library, Additional MS 44848, ff. 166r–166v British Library, Additional MS 69394, ff. 64r–v British Library, Additional MS 73087, ff. 24v–25v British Library, Egerton MS 3876, f. 215r British Library, Harley MS 1576, f. 209v British Library, Harley MS 1576, f. 212v British Library, Harley MS 39, ff. 353r–353v British Library, Harley MS 4761, ff. 18r–19r British Library, Harley MS 6242, ff. 88v–89r British Library, Sloane MS 3520, ff. 10v–12r Beinecke Library, Osborn fb243 Bodleian Library, MS Ashmole 781, f. 92 Bodleian Library, MS Ashmole 830, f. 113 Bodleian Library, MS Tanner 217, ff. 5r–6r Bodleian Library, MS Tanner 82, ff. 240v–241v Cambridge University Library, MS Ee.5.23, pp436–437 Folger Shakespeare Library, MS G.b.9, ff. 136v–137v Gonville & Caius College, MS 73/40, f. 215r Hatfield House, CP 102, item 67 Huntington Library, HM 36836, ff. 118–120 Inner Temple Library, Petyt MS 538/36, ff. 78r–79v London Society of Antiquaries, MS 291, ff. 35r–36r Queen's College, MS 121, f. 500 Queen's College, MS 130, ff. 139–140 Queen's College, MS 32, ff. 16v–17r University College, MS 152 [on deposit at the Bodleian], ff. 43–45

1603 English Latin letter execution law Roman history Sir Walter Ralegh

Sir Walter Rawleigh to his Majestie before his tryall./

It is one part of the office of a iust & worthy prince to heare the complaints of his uassals, especially of such as are in greate misery I knowing it among many other presump= sions gathered against me your Majestie hath beene perswaded that I was one of them who were greate and therefore the more likely to proue disloyall but the great god so releiue me in both worlds as I was the contrary & I tooke as great comforte to behould your Majestie & alwayes learning some good & bettring my knowledge by hearing your Majesties discourse. I doe therefore humbly beseech your souerayne Majesties not to beleeue any of those in perticular who under pretence of offences to the king doe easily worke there perticular revenges. I trust noe man vnder the color of making examples shall perswade your Majestie to leaue the word mercifull out of your stile for it will noe lesse profitt your Majestie and become your greatnes then the word inuincible it is true that the lawes of England are noe lesse iealous of the kinge then Cæsar was of Pompeia his wife for not= withstanding that she was cleared of hauing accompanied with Clodias yet for being suspected he condemned her. for my selfe I protest before the euer liuing god, and I speake it to my Master & soueraigne that I neuer inuented treason concented to treason nor performed treason against him, and yet I know I shall fall in manibus eorum a quibus non possum euadere non possum euadere unlesse by your Majesties great compassion I be susteyned our lawe therefore (most mercifull Prince) knowing her owne crueltie and knowing that she is wonte to compound treasons out of presumptions and circumstances, doth giue this charitable aduice to the king her superior: non solum sapiens esse rex sed et misericors, vt cum sapientia misericor= detur quam iudicij: I doe therefore one the knees of my heart beseech your Majestie to take counsell from your owne sweet & comfortable disposition and remember I haue serued your Majestie 20 yeares for which your Majestie hath giuen mee noe rewarde and it is more fitt I should be in debted vnto my soueraigne lord then the king vnto his poore vassall saue me therefore (most mercifull prince) that I may owe your Majestie my life it selfe then which there cannot be a greater debte lend it me at least (soueraigne lord) that I may pay it for your seruice when your Majestie shall please if the law destroy mee you Majestie shall put me out of your power and I shall haue none to feare but the king of kings./