With a carefully selected jury present, the
trial began with reading of the indictment, which Ralegh had not
yet seen. He was charged with treason in plotting with Catholic
Spain to put Arabella Stuart on the throne. Arabella was to write
to Spain promising peace, toleration of Catholics in England, and
direction by Spain in her marriage choice. He pled not guilty and
took no exception to any jurors, stating that he knew them all to
be honest men. Next, Attorney General Edward Coke, his enemy and
rival, and he engaged in a debate about who was right, with Coke
outright bullying him. Coke then produced a signed confession by
Lord Cobham that implicated him in the alleged conspiracy and
accepting 10,000 crowns for his part. Ralegh was given permission
to speak. He said that Cobham had retracted his confession. He
ridiculed the idea that he would betray England to Spain for gold
after fighting against Spain, including risking his life three
times, and spending 4,000 pounds for the defeat of Spain. He
pointed to a treatise he had written to the king on the present
state of Spain and reasons against peace. Then there was a
discussion on the validity of Cobham's confession. Cecil gave an
oration of Ralegh. Coke gave a speech. Ralegh asked to have his
accuser brought before him face to face. He cited law that two
witnesses were necessary for a conviction for treason. Chief
Justice Popham replied that only one witness was necessary under
common law, which applied to his case, and that the trial was
properly by examination of the defendant.
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