Woburn, a note from the elder, not the younger, Rouvigny, to Lady Russell, dated Paris, 4 July, 1683, in which he says:-"J'ai une grande impatience, ma chere niece, d'etre prés de vous; il y a trois jours que le Roi est arrivé; il a eu le bonté de consentir a mon voyage." But he does not mention a word of a letter from Lewis; which is almost in itself a contradiction of the story. The importunity of his friends, and the deep distress of a wife, whom he so tenderly loved, prevailed upon Lord Russell to take another step to save his life. This was, to write petitions to the King, and to the Duke of York, offering to live abroad, and never more to meddle in the affairs of England. He left it to his friends how the petitions were to be worded. If there was some weakness in thus asking for mercy, there was nothing degrading to his honourable character. Indeed, he does not seem to have entertained any expectation of saving his life; but he did not choose to afflict his wife by the appearance of a haughty silence towards his sovereign. The following are the petitions of the Earl of Bedford and Lord Russell, to the King, and Lord Russell's letter to the Duke "To the King's most Excellent Majesty. "The humble Petition of William Earl of Bedford: But "That could your Petitioner have been admitted into your presence, he would have laid himself at your royal feet, in behalf of his unfortunate son, himself and his distressed and disconsolate family, to implore your royal mercy; which he never had the presumption to think could be obtained by any indirect means. shall think himself, wife, and children, much happier to be left but with bread and water, than to lose his dear son for so foul a crime as treason against the best of Princes, for whose life he ever did, and ever shall pray more than for his own. May God incline Your Majesty's heart to the prayers of an afflicted old father, and not bring grey hairs with sorrow to my grave. "BEDFORD." "To the King's most Excellent Majesty. "The humble Petition of William Russell: "Most humbly sheweth ; "That your Petitioner does once more cast himself at Your Majesty's feet, and implores, with all humility, your mercy and pardon, still avow ing that he never had the least thought against Your Majesty's life, nor any design to change the government: but humbly and sorrowfully confesses his having been present at those meetings, which he is convinced were unlawful and justly provoking to Your Majesty; but being betrayed by ignorance and inadvertence, he did not decline them as he ought to have done, for which he is truly and heartily sorry; and therefore humbly offers himself to Your Majesty to be determined to live in any part of the world which you shall appoint, and never to meddle any more in the affairs of England, but as Your Majesty shall be pleased to command him. May it therefore please Your Majesty, to extend your royal favour and mercy to your Petitioner, by which he will be for ever engaged to pray for Your Majesty, and to devote his life to your service. WILLIAM RUSSELL." * The following letter of Lord Russell to the Duke, was delivered by Lady Russell to the Duchess of York: 66 May it please Your Highness; "The opposition I have appeared in to Your Highness's interest, has been such, as I have * In the State Paper Office there is another petition from Lord Russell to the King, but it is merely the common petition of a condemned person, and of no interest whatever. : scarce the confidence to be a petitioner to you, though in order to the saving of my life. Sir, God knows what I did, did not proceed from any personal ill-will, or animosity to Your Royal Highness; but merely because I was of opinion, that it was the best way for preserving the religion established by law in which, if I was mistaken, yet I acted sincerely, without any ill end in it. And as for any base design against your person, I hope Your Royal Highness will be so just to me, as not to think me capable of so vile a thought. But I am now resolved, and do faithfully engage myself, that if it shall please the King to pardon me, and if Your Royal Highness will interpose in it, I will in no sort meddle any more, in the least opposition to Your Royal Highness; but will be readily determined to live in any part of the world, which His Majesty shall prescribe, and will never fail in my daily prayers, both for His Majesty's preservation and honour, and Your Royal Highness's happiness; and will wholly withdraw myself from the affairs of England, unless called by His Majesty's orders to serve him, which I shall never be wanting to do to the uttermost of my power. And if Your Royal Highness will be so gracious to me, as to move on my account, as it will be an engagement upon me, beyond what I can in reason expect, so it will make the deepest impressions on me possible; for no fear of death can work so much with me, as so great an obligation will for ever do upon, May it please Your Royal Highness, Your Royal Highness's most humble and most obedient servant, WILLIAM RUSSELL." Newgate, July 16, 1683. As he folded up this letter, which was written at the earnest solicitation of his wife, he said to Dr. Burnet, “ This will be printed, and will be selling about the streets, as my submission, when I am hanged." He was, however, by no means disposed to. yield in a single article of his opinions, with the wish of saving his life. Dr. Tillotson and Dr. Burnet were in hopes, that if he could be brought to allow that resistance was unlawful, the King would grant him a pardon. With this view, they both used all their influence to persuade him to retract his well-known sentiments on the right and duty of a subject. On the Monday, which was the first day on which Burnet saw Lord Russell after his trial, he spoke to him on this subject, and though he found him perfectly prepared and steady in his opinion, yet that opinion was so moderate, as to give Dr. Burnet hopes of prevailing with him to allow the absolute illegality of resistance. As he came away, he met Dr. Tillotson, and told him that he believed he had brought Lord Russell to |