wards his own house, and Dr. Tillotson saw a tear drop from his eye. Just as they were entering Lincoln's Inn Fields, he said, "This has been to me a place of sinning, and God now makes it the place of my punishment." He wondered to see so great a crowd assembled. He had before observed, that it rained, and said to his companions, "This do you hurt that are bare-headed." After all was quiet, he spoke to the sheriff as follows: rain may "Gentlemen *, "I expected the noise would be such, that I should not be very well heard. I was never fond of much speaking, much less now; therefore I have set down in this paper all that I think fit to leave behind me. God knows how far I was always from designs against the King's person, or of altering the government. And I still pray for the preservation of both, and of the Protestant religion. Mr. Sheriff, I am told, that Captain Walcot yesterday said some things *The night before he died, he thought of the short speech he was to make on the scaffold. Instead of beginning, "Mr. Sheriff," he resolved to begin, "Gentlemen;" because, he said, he was not truly sheriff. He accordingly did so; but he did not think it worth while to make the same alteration in the paper that was to be printed. Burnet, MSS. concerning my knowledge of the plot: I know not whether the report is true or not." Mr. Sheriff. Lordship." "I did not hear him name your 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 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 punc tually 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. CHAP. XVIII. CHARACTER OF LORD RUSSELL.-SPEECH DELIVERED TO - LADY RUSSELL. VISIT OF THE SHERIFFS. RACTER OF LADY RUSSELL. THUS died William Lord Russell, on the 21st Few of July, 1685, in the 44th year of his age. 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 encroachment, 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 |