CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

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Origin of the Family of Russell. - The First Earl of Bedford. Francis, Earl of Bed-

ford. William, Earl of Bedford

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Page 1

CHAPTER II.

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Birth and Education of William Russell.—Letters written in his Travels. Letter to his

Brother. Fights a Duel. His Marriage

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9

CHAPTER III.

The Restoration. - Clarendon and Southampton's Administration.-The Characters of

the King, the Duke of York, and the Cabal.-Designs of the King and Duke. -

Treaties with France. Mistake of Mr. Hume.- Beginning of the Second Dutch

War. Opposition in Parliament.Test Act. - Shaftesbury joins Opposition. -

His Character. -War becomes unpopular.

War becomes unpopular. - Peace with Holland. Ruin of the

Cabal

22

CHAPTER IV.

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Prorogation for Fourteen Months. - Temple's advice to the King. A Parliament.

Lord Russell moves an Impeachment against Lord Danby. - Nonresisting Test Bill.

-Motion for a Dissolution of Parliament. Fails of Success. Another Long Pro-

rogation. - Motion on the Danger of Flanders.-Letter of Lady Vaughan to Lord

Russell. Address from the Commons. Angry answer of the King. Prorogation.

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-

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43

--

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CHAPTER V.

Marriage of the Prince of Orange. Mission of Lord Duras to Paris. Meeting of Par-

liament. Speech of Mr. Sacheverel. - Motion of Sir Gilbert Gerrard, seconded by

Lord Russell. - Hesitation of the King.

Hesitation of the King. He concludes a Secret Treaty with France.

General Peace

Page 54

CHAPTER VI.

Discoveries of Dalrymple. - Rouvigny's interviews with Lord Russell

CHAPTER VII.

64

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Popish Plot. Coleman's Letters.—Motions against the Duke of York. - Impeachment

of Lord Danby. Prorogation and Dissolution of Parliament.-Letter of Lord

Russell

72

CHAPTER VIII.

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Elections.- Meeting of Parliament. - Choice of a Speaker. - Impeachment of Lord

Danby. He surrenders himself. - Quarrel between the Houses. - Character of

Danby's Administration. - New Council. Lord Russell a member of it. Its inef-

ficacy. Limitations on a Popish Successor proposed by the King. Exclusion Bill.

Prorogation. Habeas Corpus Act passed

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85

CHAPTER IX.

Insurrection in Scotland. Parliament dissolved. - Execution of Langhorne. - Trial of

Sir G. Wakeman. King's Illness. — Return of the Duke of York. - Disgrace of

Monmouth and Shaftesbury. - Prorogation of Parliament. - Meal-Tub Plot. - Re-

tirement of Essex and Halifax. - Their Characters. - Petitions for the Meeting of

Parliament.-Abhorring Addresses.- Whigs and Tories.- Character of the Parties

so called

96

CHAPTER X.

Charge against the popular Party, of receiving Money from France. -Algernon Sydney.

112

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CHAPTER XI.

Lord Russell leaves the Council.-Black Box. Election of Sheriffs. - Duke of York

indicted as a Recusant. He goes to Scotland.-Monmouth's Progress.- Meeting of

Parliament. Violence against those who had promoted the Abhorring Addresses. —

Lord Russell seconds a Motion for bringing in the Exclusion Bill.-Reasons in favour

of it.-Debates in the Commons.-The Bill passes through a Committee.—Message

from the Crown.-Exclusion Bill passed by the House of Commons, and carried up

by Lord Russell to the House of Lords. It is thrown out.-Observations on

Mr. Fox
Page 120

CHAPTER XII.

En-

Disappointment of the Commons.-Address to the Throne.-Trial of Lord Stafford.---

Doubts started by the Sheriffs respecting his Execution.-Bill of Association moved

by Lord Cavendish.—The King asks for Supplies.—Answer of the Commons.

quiry into the Conduct of the Judges.—Impeachment against Chief-Justice Scroggs.-

Disputes between the King and the House of Commons, on the Subject of the Ex-

clusion Bill.-Prorogation and Dissolution.—Elections

136

CHAPTER XIII.

Parliament summoned to Oxford.-King's Speech.-Fitzharris's Plot.-Exclusion Bill.

-Dissolution.—King's Declaration.-Answer of the Whigs.-Prince of Orange

comes to England. - Execution of Fitzharris

153

CHAPTER XIV.

Letter of Lady Russell.-Projects of the Court.-Trial of Colledge.—Indictment against

Shaftesbury thrown out by the Grand Jury.-Quo Warranto.-System of arbitrary

Government.- Election of Sheriffs.-Wild Schemes of Lord Shaftesbury.- Inform-

ation of Keeling.-Lord Russell sent to the Tower.-Death of Lord Essex

164

Trial of Lord Russell

CHAPTER XV.

184

CHAPTER XVI.

The illegal Construction put on 25 Edward III.-Perjury of the Witnesses.-Lord

Russell's Sentence.-Attempts made to save his Life. - His Petition to the King, and

Letter to the Duke of York.-His Refusal to abjure the Right of Resistance

CHAPTER XVII.

The last Week of Lord Russell's Life.-His Execution

Page 201

216

CHAPTER XVIII.

Character of Lord Russell.-Speech delivered to the Sheriffs.-Lady Russell.-Visit of

Dyckvelt. Patent of the Duke of Bedford.-Lady Russell's Character

228

CHAPTER XIX.

Trials of other Persons for the Plot.-Enquiry into the Reality of the Rye-House Plot

247