The Arraignement and Conviction of Sr Walter Rawleigh, At the Kings Bench-Barre at Winchester on the 17. of November 1603

At the Sun over against St Dunstan's Church in Fleetstreet: Printed by William Wilson, for Abel Roper, 1648 A fair copy of an extremely scarce work. Thomas Overbury (1581-1613) is best known for the scandal surrounding his death by poisoning in the Tower, and the trial that followed it some 2 years later. He studied Law in 1598, was knighted in 1608 and was known as a writer and poet. His account of the arraignment and trial of Raleigh is assumed to be written as an eye-witness. Raleigh was tried in 1603 and convicted of treason. His sentence of death was commuted to imprisonment and he was later briefly released, before being imprisoned and retried in 1618. This trial reinstated his death sentence, albeit by less gruesome means. The book contains Overbury's account of the first trial; an account of the second trial (no author named); and Raleigh's letters to the King and to his wife before his death. The binding is more recent full panelled calf with title label to spine, matching a contemporary design. There is a bookplate of Col William Allen Potter to the front pastedown. Col Potter was a High Sherriff of Nottinghamshire and President of the Thoroton Society. Newer endpapers and 2 initial and final blanks have been added. Contents: title page; blank, text with decorative headpiece and initial capital pp 1-25; proceedings against Sir Walter R 1618 pp 26-34; Letter to the King pp 35/6; Letter to his Wife 37/8; Finis. The binding is in fine condition. The contents are fragile: the paper is very browned at points and the side margins have been reinforced, probably when the book was rebound. It has also been trimmed at both top and bottom. P 7 has a couple of small holes next to the side margin and P 9 is particularly browned. Small parts of text are affected but the text can be read. Please ask for more images if you want to further assess condition. Size 13.5cm wide; 17.9cm high.