BACON, Francis, 1st Viscount St. Albans. / JAMES I. and others A declaration of the demeanor and cariage of Sir Walter Raleigh, Knight as well in his voyage, as in, and sithence his returne; and of...
BACON, Francis, 1st Viscount St. Albans. / JAMES I. and others A declaration of the demeanor and cariage of Sir Walter Raleigh, Knight as well in his voyage, as in, and sithence his returne; and of the true motives and inducements which occasioned His Majestie to proceed in doing justice upon him, as hath bene done - London: 1618. 4to. pp. [ii], 64. A very good copy in modern full calf. STC 20653. Exceedingly rare. COPAC locates 4 copies only.
Raleigh’s execution had aroused considerable public feeling - though not in Ireland where memories of his brutal actions in the Desmond wars were still vivid - and within a month the commissioners who had conducted the trial rushed out this exculpatory account defending the King. James I himself had a hand in it as Bacon noted in a letter to the duke of Buckingham: “We have put the declaration touching Raleigh to the press with his Majesty’s additions, which were very material.” Sweeney 267 quoting the 1st edition.