Heading: (Raleigh, Sir Walter)
Author:
Title: The Arraignment and Conviction of Sr Walter Rawleigh, at the Kings Bench-barre at Winchester. on the 17. of November. 1603. Before the right Honorable the Earle of Suffolke, Lord Chamberline, the Earle of Devon-shire... Coppied by Sir Tho: Overbury
Place Published: London
Publisher:Printed by William Wilson, for Abel Roper
Date Published: 1648
Description: [2], 38 pp. (4to) 18.5x13 cm (7¼x5¼"), 18th or 19th century polished tan calf ruled in gilt, rebacked in matching 20th century calf, spine lettered in gilt, later endpapers. First Edition.Rare printing of the court proceedings in the 1603 trial of Sir Walter Raleigh for conspiring with Baron Cobham to facilitate a Spanish invasion to prevent James Stuart from inheriting Elizabeth's throne. Raleigh was persuasive enough in his oratory to avoid execution, but not imprisonment in the Tower. He was not so lucky at his second trial, recorded here beginning on p.26, "Proceedings against Sir Walter Rawleigh knight, at the Kings Bench-barre, in Westminster, the 28. of October, 1618," for an unauthorized attack on the Spanish New World outpost on San Tomas following his release from the Tower in 1616. Though himself not directly responsible for the attack, the offending troops were led by one of his subordinates and he was brought up on charges, convicted, and duly executed on Oct. 29, 1618. With early ink ownership inscription of W. Bayntun, Gray's Inn, to title page and his ink initials on last page. Pencil note by former owner W. Stirling Maxwell to rear pastedown indicating his purchase at Sotheby's in 1978.

Minor and expected shelf wear to covers, edges of title page with faint darkening and minor fraying, very good or better condition, quite clean and fresh internally.