State Trials, Political and Social. Volume 1 (of 2)
History
State Trials, Political and Social. Volume 1 (of 2)
Trials -- Great Britain
He then goes on to point out the inherent improbabilities of Cobham's
story; he himself had no means for persuading the King of Spain to
disburse money, having lost his wardenship of the Stannaries; he knew
England to be stronger and Spain to be weaker than they had been; the
Spanish fleet had been ruined, and the trade with the Indies had fallen
off. Cobham had no money of his own. When Raleigh was examined, he had
£40,000 worth of Cobham's jewels which he had bought of him. 'If he had
had a fancy to run away he would not have left so much as to have
purchased a lease in fee-farm. I saw him buy £300 worth of books to send
to his library at Canterbury, and a cabinet of £30 to give to Mr.
Attorney for drawing the conveyances; and God in Heaven knoweth, not I,
whether he intended to travel or not. But for that practice with
Arabella, or letters to Aremberg framed, or any discourse with him, or
in what language he spake unto him; if I knew any of these things, I
would absolutely confess the indictment, and acknowledge myself worthy
of ten thousand deaths.'
_Cobham's second Examination read._
The lord Cobham being required to subscribe to an Examination,
there was shewed a Note under sir Walter Raleigh's hand; the
which when he had perused, he paused, and after brake forth into
those Speeches: Oh Villain! oh Traitor! I will now tell you all
the truth; and then he said, His purpose was to go into
Flanders, and into Spain, for the obtaining the aforesaid Money;
and that Raleigh had appointed to meet him in Jersey as he
returned home, to be advised of him about the distribution of
the Money.
LORD CHIEF-JUSTICE POPHAM--When Cobham answered to the
Interrogatories, he made scruple to subscribe, and being urged
to it, he said, if he might hear me affirm, that if a person of
his degree ought to set his hand he would: I lying then at
Richmond for fear of the plague was sent for, and I told he
ought to subscribe; otherwise it were a Contempt of a high
nature: then he subscribed. The lords questioned with him
further, and he shewed them a letter, as I thought written to
me, but it was indeed written to my lord Cecil; he desired to
see the Letter again, and then said, 'Oh wretch! oh traitor!'
whereby I perceived you had not performed that trust he had
reposed in you.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account