Meanwhile Sir Walter Raleigh (S392) had been executed on a charge of
treason. He had been a prisoner in the Tower for many years
(1603-1616), accused of having plotted against the King.[3] Influenced
by greed for gain, James released him to go on an expedition in search
of gold to replenish the royal coffers. Raleigh, contrary to the
King's orders, came into collision with the Spaniards on the coast of
South America.[1] He failed in his enterprise, and brought back
nothing. Raleigh was especially hated by Spain, not only on account
of the part he had taken in the defeat of the Armada (S400), but also
for his subsequent attacks on Spanish treasure ships and property.
[3] At the beginning of the reign two plots were discovered: one,
called the "Main Plot," aimed to change the government and perhaps to
place Arabella Stuart, cousin of James, on the throne. The object of
the second conspiracy, called the "Bye Plot," was to obtain religious
toleration. Raleigh was accused of having been implicated in the Main
Plot.
[1] It is said that James had treacherously informed the Spanish
ambassador of Raleigh's voyage, so that the collision was inevitable.
The King of that country now demanded vengeance, and James, in order
to get a pretext for his execution, revived the sentence which had
been passed on Raleigh fifteen years before. He doubtless hoped that,
by sacrificing Raleigh, he might secure the hand of the daughter of
the King of Spain for his son, Prince Charles. Raleigh died as Sir
Thomas More did (S351), his last words a jest at death. His deeper
feelings found expression in the lines which he wrote on the fly leaf
of his Bible the night before his judicial murder:
"Even such is Time, that takes in trust
Our youth, our joys, our all we have,
And pays us but with age and dust;
Who in the dark and silent grave,
When we have wandered all our ways,
Shuts up the story of our days.
Buy from this earth, this grave, this dust,
My God shall raise me up, I trust!"