,r-> HISTORY OF GREAT BRITAIN.

chap. end to his unfortunate, however innocent, life,liv. and to quiet the tumultuous people by grantingthem the request, for which they were so im-- portunate". " In this, ” added he, “my consent“ will more acquit you to God than all the world“ can do besides. To a willing man there is no“ injury. And as, by God’s grace , I forgive allthe world with a calmness and meekness, of** infinite contentment to my dislodging soul;“ so , Sir , to you , I can resign the life of this“ world with all imaginable chearfulness , in the“ just acknowledgment of your exceeding fa-“ vors. " Perhaps , Strafford hoped , that thisunusual instance of generosity would engage theking still more strenuously to protect him : Per-haps he gave his life for lost; and finding himselfin the hands of his enemies, and observing thatBalfour, the lieutenant of the Tower, was de-voted to the popular party ** ; he absolutelydespaired of ever escaping the multiplied dangers,with which he was every way environed. Wemight ascribe this step to a noble effort ofdisinterestedness, not unworthy the great mindof Strafford; if the measure which he advised hadnot been , in the event , as pernicious to hismaster, as it was immediately fatal to himself *\After the most violent anxiety and doubt,Charles at last granted a commission to spur no-

** Clarendon, vol. i. p. 2?8. Rush. voL v. p. 2; 1.

" Whitlocke, p. 44. Franklyn, p. 8y6.

** See note CC] at the end of the volume.