Cxlvi LIFE OF BACON, 



as an atheist and a traitor, reproached him, with the usual 

 antipathy of a contracted mind to superior intellect, for 

 being a genius and man of wit. (c) 



(c) Raleigh. To whom speak you this? You tell me news I never 

 heard of. 



Attorney. Oh, sir, do I ? I will prove you the notoriest traitor that ever 

 came to the bar. After you have taken away the King, you would alter 

 religion : as you, Sir Walter Raleigh, have followed them of the bye in 

 imitation ; for I will charge you with the words. 



Raleigh. Your words cannot condemn me ; my innocency is my defence. 

 Prove one of these things wherewith you have charged me, and I will con 

 fess the whole indictment, and that I am the horriblest traitor that ever 

 lived, and worthy to be crucified with a thousand thousand torments. 



Attorney, Nay, I will prove all: thou art a monster; thou hast an 

 English face, but a Spanish heart. Oh sir! I am the more large, because 

 I know with whom I deal ; for we have to dnd to-day with a man of wit. 



Raleigh. If truth be constant, and constancy be in truth, why hath he 

 forsworn that that he hath said? You have not proved any one thing 

 against me by direct proofs, but all by circumstances. 



Attorney. Have you done ? The King must have the last. 



Raleigh. Nay, Mr. Attorney, he which speaketh for his life must speak 

 last. False repetitions and mistakings must not mar my cause. You 

 should speak secundum allegata et probata. I appeal to God and the King 

 in this point, whether Cobham s accusation be sufficient to condemn me. 



Attorney. The King s safety and your clearing cannot agree. I protest 

 before God, I never knew a clearer treason. 



Raleigh. I never had intelligence with Cobham since I came to the Tower. 



Attorney. Go to, I will lay thee upon thy back, for the confidentest 

 traitor that ever came at a bar. Why should you take eight thousand 

 crowns for a peace ? 



Lord Cecil, Be not so impatient, good Mr. Attorney ; give him leave to 

 speak, 



Attorney. If I may not be patiently heard, you will encourage traitors, 

 and discourage us. I am the King s sworn servant, and must speak : if 

 he be guilty, he is a traitor: if not deliver him. 



Note, here Mr. Attorney sat down in a chafe, and would speak no more, 

 until the Commissioners urged and intreated him. After much ado he 

 went on, and made a long repetition of all the evidence, for the direction of 

 the jury : and at the repeating of some things, Sir Walter Raleigh inter 

 rupted him, and said he did him wrong. 



Attorney. Thou art the most vile and execrable traitor that ever lived. 



Raleigh. You speak indiscreetly, barbarously, and uncivilly. 



Attorney. I want words sufficient to express thy viperous treasons. 



