ger brother to Henry lord
Darnly, and son to the duke of Lenox. She was afterwards married to
William Seymour, son to lord Beauchamp, and grandson to the earl of
Hertford; and both were confined for the presumption of marrying
without his majesty's consent, from which they made their escape, but
were again retaken. Lady Arabella died of grief, and Mr. Seymour lived
to be a great favourite with Charles I. Raleigh persisted in avowing
his ignorance of the plot, and when he came to his trial, he behaved
himself so prudently, and defended himself with so much force, that
the minds of the people present, who were at first exasperated against
him, were turned from the severest hatred to the tenderest pity.
Notwithstanding Sir Walter's proof that he was innocent of any such
plot, and that lord Cobham, who had once accused him had recanted, and
signed his recantation, nor was produced against him face to face, a
pack'd jury brought him in guilty of high treason. Sentence of death
being pronounced against him, he humbly requested that the king
might be made acquainted with the proofs upon which he was cast. He
accompanied the Sheriff to prison with wonderful magnanimity, tho'
in a manner suited to his unhappy situation. Raleigh was kept near
a month at Winchester in daily expectation of death, and in a very
pathetic letter wrote his last words to his wife the night before he
expected to suffer[11], in which he hoped his blood would quench
their malice who had murdered him, and prayed God to forgive his
persecutors, and accusers. The king signed the warrant for the
execution of the lords Cobham and Grey, and Sir Griffin Markham, at
Winchester, pretending, says lord Cecil, to forbear Sir Walter for
the present, till lord Cobham's death had given some light how far he
would make good his accusation. Markham was first brought upon the
scaffold, and when he was on his knees, ready to receive the blow
of the ax, the groom of the bedchamber produced to the sheriff his
Majesty's warrant to stop the execution; and Markham was told that he
must withdraw a while into the hall to be confronted by the Lords.
Then Lord Grey was brought forth, and having poured out his prayers
and confession, was likewise called aside, and lastly Lord Cobham was
exposed in the same manner, and performed his devotions, though we do
not find that he said one word of his guilt or innocence, or charged
Raleigh with having instigated him; all which circumstances see