Article by Kayleigh Swart, MA student of Professor Ayesha Mukherjee’s course ‘Global Voices: Shakespeare and the Early Modern World’
While locked away in the Tower of London for treason, Sir Walter Raleigh composed a dialogue to discuss the role parliament should play alongside the monarchy. Various copies of this work still exist in the original manuscript form, one of these copies is currently preserved in the University of Exeter’s Special Collections (EUL MS 98).
The copy in question was created in 1615, the same year as the text was written. The document is currently labelled a ‘copy of the manuscript’, so it is not clear if this particular version was written by Raleigh himself or somebody else. Various manuscripts of this text were circulated around shortly after its creation. A few of these other copies are in the British Library as well as other archives.
The exact journey this manuscript took to end up in the collection is not entirely known but we do have some information on it. In 1953, the manuscript was sold by Maggs Bros. of London, bookdealers to Agnes Latham. It was then given to the University’s library in 1991 by Joyce Youings on Latham’s behalf. Latham was an academic and best known for her work on editing Sir Walter Raleigh’s letters, which explains her ownership of this manuscript.
The manuscript itself can only be described as delicate. Even in the above photo, it is clear that the book looks fragile and flimsy. The text is bound in soft vellum; which is another name for animal skin or membrane. Additionally, attached to the cover are two strings which would have been used to tie the manuscript. Both the cover and the strings have started to erode away and appear quite stained. However, the condition of the manuscript is expected for its age. The title on the cover has partly faded, especially over Raleigh’s name; however, it reads: A Dialogue Betweene a Councellor of State and a Justice of Peace Written by Sir Walter Raleigh. The text inside is very neatly handwritten; it could be assumed some form of line guide was used in its creation. The neatness and the binding of the text points to the possibility that this particular copy was recreated to be read by someone other than Raleigh himself. The manuscript also includes a copy of a letter addressed to the King, James I, from Raleigh. After Raleigh’s death, the text found its way into print. It was published in 1628 under the new title: The Prerogative of Parliaments in England: Proved in a Dialogue (pro & contra) betweene a Councellour of State and a Justice of Peace. Whilst the text does not significantly change between manuscript and print form, there are a few word changes or reshuffling of sentences, probably for ease of reading.
The text itself follows a conversation between the Justice and Councillor about the current problems facing the court and debates if a parliament would be able to solve them. Whilst the form of dialogue does suggest that the text is structured as a debate, the majority of the conversation is dominated by the Justice and his pro-parliament views. Raleigh structures the work to move in a chronological way: firstly, the text begins with recounting the previous Kings and their position within the structure of power in the country. There is strong emphasis on how the Magna Carta played a role in the history of Kings. The text then moves into the contemporary world and discusses present-day problems. Additionally, the two characters debate if calling for a parliament will help or hinder existing issues. An agreement between the two characters is not reached, the councillor saying: “I conclude where I began, these parliaments are dangerous for a king,” while the Justice continues to argue for a parliament. In the final lines the Justice proclaims: “But I only seek to satisfy his majesty”. This suggests that regardless of the political position the text aligns with, it is still shaped by the idea that the King would read and respond to it. So, while Raleigh wants to make his pro-parliament views clear he also has to balance this by proving his loyalty to the crown.
Understanding Raleigh’s personal situation also helps unlock the deeper meanings embedded in the text. In 1603, Raleigh was arrested for treason and sentenced, where he was kept imprisoned in the Tower of London for almost fourteen years (Oxford DNB). During his imprisonment he began to write another text: The History of the World. This text was printed and published in 1614, however a few weeks after its publication, the work was supressed by the Archbishop Abbott on royal command (Beer 60). This was likely due to the anti-monarch views allegedly expressed in the book. The Dialogue can therefore be seen as a response to this, having been written only a few months later. In the text, the Justice notes how freedom of speech is necessary to have a successful parliament.
There is a lot to be learnt from a primary source such as this manuscript that goes beyond simply what it is or what it says. The ability to view and access these pieces of history help progress research in a range of subjects and disciplines. This particular manuscript is a remarkable clue for understanding the political contexts that confronted Raleigh, and the decisions he made in light of them.
Works cited:
Beer, Anna. R, Sir Walter Ralegh and his readers in the Seventeenth Century. Macmillan, 1997;
“James VI and I, King of Scotland, England and Ireland”, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford UP, 2014. Accessed 8 Nov 2025, https://www.oxforddnb.com/display/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-14592?rskey=PfoJle&result=7#odnb-9780198614128-e-14592-div1-d2270e3993
Raleigh, Sir Walter, Dialogue between a Councillor of State and a Justice of the Peace. 1615, (EUL MS 98);
“Ralegh [Raleigh], Sir Walter”, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford UP, 2022, Accessed 8 Nov 2025, https://www.oxforddnb.com/display/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-23039?rskey=AhaqFA&result=4