In the Tower

Abstract

The duel with King James now continued, in one form or another, all the rest of Ralegh’s life and beyond it. Never was there a more active prisoner within the walls of the Tower, one who was more alive and kicking. Once he had recovered from the shock of the catastrophe and, after a time, given up his sanguine hopes of a speedy release, he kicked back the whole time. He never gave up the struggle; he never would admit guilt. If only he had been willing to, if he had been ready to bow the head and submit, he might have made some sort of peace with the Stuart Court. But that would not have been like Ralegh.