Introductory discourse delivered before the Literary and Philosophical Society of New York, on the fourth of May, 1814 / By De Witt Clinton.

  • DeWitt Clinton
Date:
1815
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Introductory discourse delivered before the Literary and Philosophical Society of New York, on the fourth of May, 1814 / By De Witt Clinton. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    153/162 (page 145)
    oned in the tower during the king’s pleasure, rendered incapable of holding any office, place, or employment, and of sitting in parliament, or coming within the verge of the court. The king afterwards set him at liberty, and gave him a pen- sion. He lived obscurely in his chambers at Grass Inn, where his lonely and desolate condition so wrought upon his melancholy temper, that he pined away, and, after all his influence, he was reduced to so low an ebb as to be denied beer to quench his thirst; for, having a sickly stomach, and not liking the beer of the house, he sent now and then to lord Brook, who lived in the neighbourhood, for a bottle of his beer, and after some grumbling the butler had orders to deny him. He died on the 9th of April, 1626, in the sixty-sixth year of his age—a mel. ancholy example of great powers of mind connected with profligacy of heart. Sir Edward Coke was tainted with the scholastic learning of the times, and was scurrilous and malignant in the extreme. As attorney general he conducted the prosecution for high treason against the illustrious sir Walter Raleigh, in the most barbarous manner. Asa specimen of his manner [ have made the follow- ing extracts : ‘¢ Here is mischief, mischiefin summo gradu, exorbitant mischief, My speech shall touch these three points—-mutation, supportation, and defence.” ‘¢ There is treason in the heart, in the head, in the mouth, in consummation ; comparing that in the corde to the root of a tree ; in ore tothe bud ; in manu to the blossom ; and that which is in consummatione to the fruit.” In the course of the trial several altercations took place between him and the prisoner ; in one of which he thus addressed Raleigh : ‘*« Thou hast a spanish heart, and thyself art a spider of hell.” “At one time one of the court gently checked him, on which he sat down ina great rage, and would not proceed until after several urgent entreaties. Atthe repeating of some things Raleigh interrupted him and said he did him wrong, upon which the following curious dialogue took place, in which Raleigh handled him with great, butjust, severity. “ 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 treason. Ratleach. I aes vg want words indeed ; for you have spoken one thing half a dozen times. Attorney. Thou art an odious fellow ; thy name is hateful to al] the realm of. England for thy pride. is Raleigh. It will go near to prove a measuring cast between you and me, mr. Attorney.”’ Raleigh was condemned, and was imprisoned fourteen years in the tower, where he devoted himself tn stndy and writing. He was afterwards Hberated, ah i