Lord Russell, on receiving the paper, went into an inner room, and, after staying some time, upon his return, told the Dean he had read the letter, and was willing to be convinced, but could not say he was so; and hoped God would forgive him, if he were in error. Dr. Tillotson said, he hoped so too, and soon went away. Meeting Dr. Burnet as he came out, he desired him either to prevail upon Lord Russell to go farther, or to strike out the whole paragraph, above cited, from his speech. He went himself to Lord Halifax, to whom he gave his letter, and expressed his regret for having engaged him to make a wrong statement to the King. Upon Dr. Burnet's entering upon the subject, Lord Russell answered, that he could not tell a lie; and if he went farther, he must needs lie. He said, he had not leisure then to study politics. The notion he had of laws, and of the English government, was different from theirs; yet, he said, so far did he submit to them, and to the reasons they had offered him, that he was willing to go so far as he had done, but could not go further without being disingenuous. When Dr. Burnet proposed striking out the whole paragraph, he was very well satisfied to do so, and said his chief reason for putting it in, was to prevent any inconvenience that might come to Tillotson and him. But he often said, that, whatever his opinion might be, in cases of extremity, he was against these ways, and ever thought a parliamentary cure was the proper remedy for all the distempers of the nation; and protested that he, and a few more, had taken much pains to moderate people's heats for three years together, and had ever persuaded their friends to be quiet, and wait for a parliament.*

It will not now be denied, that the opinion which Lord Russell entertained of the duty of a subject, was more correct than that of the two worthy and respectable clergymen who attended him, and his asserting that opinion at a moment so solemn, when a different conduct might perhaps have saved his life, ought to make his memory dear to every friend of freedom.

Birch's Life of Tillotson. - Burnet's Journal.

CHAP. XVII.

E

THE LAST WEEK OF LORD RUSSELL'S LIFE. HIS EXECUTION.

We have now to detail the last, but not the least glorious circumstances of Lord Russell's life. During the week which elapsed between his condemnation and his execution, he had full opportunity to exercise the most remarkable virtues of his character,—patience, fortitude, affection to his family, love of his country, piety to his God. Perhaps there never was a period in the life of any man, in which so much resignation at the prospect of approaching death was combined with such a zealous consideration of every circumstance which might affect the happiness of mankind. From his first coming to the Tower, he had considered that the sheriff would take care to return such a jury as would condemn him, if the King's counsel should bid them. He had also reflected, that it was probable there might be such a noise at his execution, that he would not be able to say much. So he employed his leisure in framing a paper, to leave behind him, which should contain a large avowal of his sentiments, principles, and conduct. This occupation took up all the hours he was alone, and even induced him to forego, several times, the society of his wife. He discussed the heads of this paper with Dr. Burnet, and afterwards wrote them out fully, with a critical exactness in the choice of every word. Dr. Burnet, who was much with him, has also drawn up a very copious journal of his conversation.

Of his own death, he spoke with calmness and deliberate resignation. He often said that he had passed over the best part of his life, for he had lived two parts in three; and he could not think that the remaining third would have been as comfortable as the two former had been. He told his wife, that he was so willing to leave

1683.]

the world, he was even willing to leave her. Yet, upon receiving a letter from her, when he first went to the Tower, concealed in a cold chicken, he had said that he was at that moment above all earthly things; above Lieutenant, Constable, King, or Duke. *

ness.

appre

When alone with Dr. Burnet, he spoke with the greatest seriousHe said, that, as for death, he thanked God that, as a man, he never was afraid of it; and did not consider it with so much But he said he found the courage hension as the drawing of a tooth. of a man that could venture, in the heat of blood, was very different from the courage of a dying Christian, and dying in cold blood. That must come from an inward peace of conscience, and assurance of the mercy of God; and he had that to such a degree, that though, from the first day of his imprisonment, he reckoned he was a dead man, it had never given him any sort of trouble. He added, that God knew the trouble he had been in some weeks before, when his son was ill, had gone nearer his heart, and taken more of his rest from him, than his present condition had done; and that he had had a cholic a little while before, which had so oppressed his spirits, that he saw how little a man could do, if he came to die in such a manner: whereas he had now all his thoughts perfectly about him, and had no other apprehensions of death than being a little gazed at by his friends and enemies, and a moment's pain. Though he had been guilty of many defects and failings (amongst which he reckoned the seldom receiving the sacrament), yet, he thanked God he had a clear conscience, not only in relation to the public (in which he had gone so sincerely that he was sure he had nothing to answer for but sins of ignorance, and some indecent discourses, in which he had been generally more guilty by hearing them, and being pleased with them, than by much speaking), but in relation to all his other He had spent much, but it was in no ill He could never limit his bounty to his condition; and all the thoughts he had of the great estate that was to descend upon him, was to do more

concerns.

* Woburn MSS.

F F

way.

good with it;

was then at.

for he had resolved not to live much above the pitch he He thanked God, that

He thanked God, that now, for these many years, he had

made great conscience of all he did; so that the sins of omission were the chief things he had to answer for. God knew the sincerity of his heart, that he could not go into a thing he thought ill, nor could he tell a lie.

He asked Dr. Burnet if the scorn he had of some ill men, particularly the Lord Howard, was inconsistent with a perfect forgiveness. He said, he heartily prayed God to touch his heart; and was sure, that, if it was in his power, he would do him no hurt, but good; but he could not forbear thinking very ill of him, and despising him. Dr. Burnet satisfied him on this head, by showing him, from the fifteenth Psalm, that a part of the character of one that shall dwell in God's holy hill, is he in whose eyes a vile person is despised.

He

Rumsey and Lord Howard were two men of whom he always had a secret horror. Sheppard he thought better of, till he was told he had betrayed Walcot. Then, he said, he wondered not he had sworn falsely of him; but till then he thought he had forgot himself. spoke of all who had appeared against him with great pity, but with no resentment. He spoke particularly of Lord Howard, and said, he had been well enough known before, but was now so much better, that he could betray nobody any more. Lord Essex had forced him to admit Lord Howard to a meeting at his house: for when he saw Lord Howard, Sydney, and Hampden coming in, he said to Lord Essex, "What have we to do with this rogue?" but Lord Essex forced him to stay: having that mistrust, however, he said very little. At another time, Lord Essex himself said to Lord Russell, upon his mentioning his suspicions of Lord Howard, "If you should betray me, every body would blame you, and not me; but if Lord Howard should betray us, every body would blame us as much as him.” Lord Russell told Dr. Burnet many particulars, in which Lord Howard had sworn falsely against him, but which Burnet, unfortunately, omits to mention. He said he could not complain of Pemberton for any thing but this,—that, in summing up the evidence, he had taken

no notice of the witnesses he had brought, to show that no credit was due to Lord Howard.

He felt no difficulty in writing a letter to the King; for, he said, though he never did any thing he thought contrary to his interest, yet many railleries, and other indecent things, had passed, for which he prayed God to forgive him, and resolved to ask the King's pardon: and he said, he thought he must likewise let the King know that he forgave him; and for this purpose he hit on the expression, "I forgive all concerned in my death, from the highest to the lowest." He was very careful to say nothing which might appear offensive. He would not say to the King, he had been devoted to his true interest and service; for, he said, the King will say I declined to serve him when I left the council. Nor would he subscribe himself a loyal subject; for, he said, that would not look well in a man attainted of treason, and would seem an impeachment of the senThe letter, when finished, was as follows:

tence.

"Since this is not to be delivered till after my death, I hope Your Majesty will forgive the presumption of an attainted man's writing to you. My chief business is, humbly to ask your pardon, for any thing that I have either said, or done, that might look like want of respect to Your Majesty, or duty to your government. In which, though I do to the last moment acquit myself of all designs against your person, or of altering of the government, and protest I know of no design, now on foot, against either; yet I do not deny but I have heard many things, and said some things contrary to my duty; for which, as I have asked God's pardon, so I humbly beg Your Majesty's. And I take the liberty to add, that though I have met with hard measure, yet I forgive all concerned in it, from the highest to the lowest ; and I pray God to bless both your person and government, and that the public peace, and the true Protestant religion, may be preserved under you. And I crave leave to end my days with this sincere protestation, that my heart was ever devoted to that which I thought was your