given equally to the leading men of both religions. Had the catholics accepted the spoils of their own church, it is evident they would have become attached to the government from which they had obtained them. On the accession of James, he was created Baron Russell of Thornhaugh. He died in 1613, leaving an only son, Francis, who, fourteen years afterwards, succeeded to the title of Earl of Bedford.

Francis, Earl of Bedford, engaged, in 1630, in the great work of draining the fens, in the counties of Northampton, Cambridge, Huntingdon, Norfolk, and Lincoln: these fens have since been called from him the Bedford Level.

He was the first of the peers who signed the famous petition in 1640, setting forth "the apprehensions they had of the dangers of the church and state, and to his person, and the means to prevent them; and advised the King to call a parliament, whereby the causes of their grievances may be taken away, and the authors and counsellors punished."

When parliament met he was the leader, in the House of Peers, of those who were for asserting the liberty of the subject; but at the same time, he would not consent to many of the vio

Whitelocke, p. 35.

lent measures proposed.

Mr. Pym, who was member for the borough of Tavistock, followed a similar line in the Commons.

When the King admitted some of the popular leaders to his councils, he resolved to make the Earl of Bedford Lord High Treasurer, and Mr. Pym Chancellor of the Exchequer; but Lord Clarendon says the Earl was determined not to enter into the Treasury, till the bill for tonnage and poundage was granted for life; and he, with the rest of those who were first offered places, declined to take them, till the rest of their party should also be admitted to the confidence of the King.

When a discovery was made to the Earl of Bedford, Lord Say, and Lord Kimbolton, of a design, real or pretended, to bring the army from the North to London, such was their temper and moderation that they did not publish it; but contenting themselves with preventing its execution, the whole plot was kept secret till long after the Earl of Bedford's death.

And when Lord Strafford was tried, the Earl of Bedford told Lord Clarendon, that it was the rock upon which they should all split: that he had in vain endeavoured to prevail upon his friends to accept the King's offer, that Lord Strafford should be banished for life and that he did not see how the King, who was firmly

convinced of the injustice of the condemnation, could ever give the royal assent to the act of attainder. The Earl of Bedford died on the 9th of May, 1641. His character is thus drawn by Clarendon, a political enemy, at a time when these enmities were sharpest.

He

"The other accident that fell out during the time that the business of the Earl of Strafford was agitated, and by which he received much prejudice, was the death of the Earl of Bedford. This lord was the greatest person of interest in all the popular party, being of the best estate, and best understanding, of the whole number; and therefore most like to govern the rest. was besides of great civility, and of much more good-nature than any of the other. of the other. And therefore the King, resolving to do his business with that party by him, resolved to make him Lord High Treasurer of England, in the place of the Bishop of London; who was as willing to lay down the office, as any body was to take it up. And to gratify him the more, at his desire, intended to make Mr. Pym Chancellor of the Exchequer, as he had done Mr. Saint-John his Solicitor-general; as also, that Mr. Hollis was to be Secretary of State, the Lord Say Master of the Wards, and the Lord Kimbolton to be Lord Privy Seal after the death of his father, who then held that place. Others were to be placed

about the prince, and to have offices when they fell.

"The Earl of Bedford secretly undertook to His Majesty, that the Earl, of Strafford's life. should be preserved; and to procure his revenue. to be settled, as amply as any of his progenitors; the which he intended so really, that, to my knowledge, he had it in design to endeavour to obtain an act for the setting up, the excise in England, as the only natural means to advance the King's profit. He fell sick within a week after the bill of attainder was sent up to the Lords' House; and died shortly after, much afflicted with the passion and fury which he perceived his party inclined to: insomuch as he declared, to some of near trust to him, “ that " he feared the rage and madness of this Par"liament would bring more prejudice and mis"chief to the kingdom, than it had ever

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sustained by the long intermission of parlia "ments." He was a wise man, and would have proposed and advised moderate courses; but was not incapable, for want of resolution, of being carried into violent ones, if his advice were not submitted to: and therefore many, who knew him well, thought his death not unseasonable, as well to his fame, as his fortune; and that it rescued him as well from some possible guilt, as from those visible misfortunes,

which men of all conditions have since undergone."

William, the father of Lord Russell, succeeded to the earldom. The situation of affairs at this time might have disturbed the resolu tions of the wisest heads. On the one hand, the King had provoked a civil war, and had he gained the victory, would undoubtedly have crushed for ever the rights and privileges of the people. On the other side, the parliament was becoming more and more averse to the kingly form of government. Between the two dangers with which the constitution was threatened, the Earl of Bedford seems to have steered a wavering and unsteady course.

He was at first Master of the Horse to the Parliament, and was greatly instrumental in gaining the battle of Edgehill, where he commanded the reserve.

But in 1643, being desirous of being desirous of peace, he agreed with the Earl of Essex, the Earl of Clare, and the Earl of Holland, to make an effort for that purpose. They obtained a vote of the House of Lords, desiring a conference with the Commons, and declaring they were resolved to send propositions to the King. But the Commons refused to agree to their propositions, and such tumults were raised, that they did not consider it safe to remain in London. Upon