concerning my knowledge of the plot: I know not whether the report is true or not."

Mr. Sheriff. "I did not hear him name your lordship."

Writer." No, my lord, your lordship was not named by any of them."

Lord Russell." I hope it is not true; for, to my knowledge, I never saw him, nor spake with him, in my whole life; and, in the words of a dying man, I profess I know of no plot, either against the King's life or the government. But I have now done with this world, and am going to a better I forgive all the world heartily, and I thank God I die in charity with all men; and I wish all sincere Protestants may love one another, and not make way for Popery by their animosities. I pray God forgive them, and continue the Protestant religion amongst them, that it may flourish so long as the sun and moon endure. I am now more satisfied to die than ever I have been."

Then he desired the Dean to pray. After that he spoke a word to the Dean, and gave him his ring, and gave Dr. Burnet his watch, and bid him go to Southampton-House, and to BedfordHouse, and deliver the commissions he had given him in charge. In these his last moments, one of his commissions was a message of kind remembrance to one who held the principles in

opposition to which he was about to sacrifice his life. This was Mr. Kettlewell, a clergyman, who, for his religious zeal, had been introduced as chaplain into the Earl of Bedford's family," but who held, to their farthest extent, the doctrines of unlimited obedience, and the illegality of resistance under any pretence whatsoever. And he lost no opportunity of explaining and defending these opinions to Lord Russell. "But," says his biographer," although this unfortunate Lord had no very favourable opinion of the English clergy in general, as thinking them, for the most part, a set of men too much bigotted to slavish principles, and not zealous enough for the Protestant religion, or the common interest of a free nation; yet it is worthy of observation, that the meek and Christian behaviour of Mr. Kettlewell would not suffer him not to have an esteem for him, which he failed not to express, even in his last moments, by sending a message to him from the scaffold, of his kind remembrance of him." *

He then knelt down and prayed three or four minutes by himself. When that was done, he took off his coat and waistcoat. He had brought a night-cap in his pocket, fearing his servant might not get up to him. He undressed himself,

* Memoirs of Mr. John Kettlewell, p. 59.

and took off his cravat, without the least change of countenance. Just as he was going down to the block, some one called out to make a lane, that the Duke of Albemarle might see; upon which he looked full that way. Dr. Burnet had advised him not to turn about his head when it was once on the block, and not to give a signal to the executioner. These directions he punctually attended to.

"When he had lain down," says Dr. Burnet, "I once looked at him, and saw no change in his looks; and though he was still lifting up his hands, there was no trembling, though in the moment in which I looked the executioner happened to be laying his axe to his neck, to direct him to take aim: I thought it touched him, but am sure he seemed not to mind it."

The executioner, at two strokes, cut off his head. *

* The greater part of this account is taken from Dr. Burnet's Journal, published in the General Dictionary, art. Russell, and in MSS. at Woburn. Other particulars are taken from notes in Lady Russell's and Dr. Burnet's hand-writing, also at Woburn. I have always preserved, as near as possible, the form of expression used in the original. For Dr. Burnet's Journal, see Appendix, where it is given at length.

CHAPTER XVIII.

CHARACTER OF LORD Russell, SPEECH DELIVERED TO THE SHERIFFS.- LADY RUSSELL. VISIT OF DYCKVELT.PATENT OF THE DUKE OF Bedford. CHARACTER OF LADY RUSSELL.

THUS died William Lord Russell, on the 21st of July, 1683, in the 44th year of his age. Few men have deserved better of their country. Though not remarkable for very brilliant talents, he was a man of solid judgment; and was never led astray, by any curious sophistry, to confound the perceptions of right and wrong; to mistake slavery for duty; or to yield to power the homage which is due to virtue. He was a warm friend, not to liberty merely, but to English liberty; a decided enemy, not only to regal incroachment, but to turbulent innovation. He was a good son, a good husband, a good father, and, like some others whom our own days have seen, united mildness of domestic affection with severity of public principle. His integrity was so conspicuous, as to gain him that ascendant over the minds of men, which is generally reserved for genius. And, although

Englishmen have not much reason to be proud of the reign of Charles the Second, they cannot fail to recognize the sound morality of their countrymen, in the respect and confidence which accompanied an honest man contending against the general corruption, even when surrounded and opposed by statesmen of conspicuous ability. It is gratifying to find that, even in the scale of popularity, eloquence and wit are outweighed by sense and integrity.

It must be owned, that few politicians have been so little swayed by interest as Lord Russell. Even Sprat, who wrote under the eye of James, for the purpose of defaming those who died for the Rye-House Plot, only attributes to him a too great love of popularity, and an idle fear of losing his abbey lands. And, after the Revolution, he eagerly retracted what he had said of the last speech of Lord Russell; declaring himself convinced of " that noble gentleman's great probity and constant abhorrence of falsehood." Evelyn, who was as likely as any man to speak the opinion of his time, says, "Every one deplored Essex and Russell, especially the last, as being thought to have been drawn in on pretence only of endeavouring to rescue the King from his present counsellors, and secure religion from Popery, and the nation from arbitrary government, now so much apprehended."