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Primary sourceSpeech29 October 1618

The Tryal of Sir Walter Raleigh, With His Speech on the Scaffold

Walter Raleigh · 29 October 1618

A printed record of Raleigh's final speech given on the scaffold before his execution in 1618, where he defended his loyalty.

This is Raleigh's own final speech, given moments before his execution, defending his loyalty and reputation.

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Title page of a printed book reading 'THE TRYAL OF Sir Walter Raleigh Kt. WITH HIS' in large serif type, with a partly visible word 'SPEECH' at the bottom, on an aged, speckled page.
The Tryal of Sir Walter Raleigh Kt. With His Speech on the Scaffold, printed book.

About this source

What it is

This is the title page of a printed book recording the trial of Sir Walter Raleigh and the speech he gave on the scaffold on 29 October 1618, shortly before his execution. The speech was recorded by witnesses present at Old Palace Yard.

Why it matters

In his last speech, Raleigh defended his loyalty and named Lewis Stucley, saying he forgave him. Together with his reported final words, this speech helped shape Raleigh's heroic reputation after death, turning his execution into a dramatic and memorable final act that was remembered for generations.

Look closer

  • Why might a condemned man's last words be especially carefully chosen and widely reported?
  • How could naming and forgiving someone in public affect how Raleigh was remembered?
  • What does the survival and printing of this speech tell us about how people wanted to remember Raleigh?

This speech is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Sir Walter Raleigh on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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