CHARLES II.

43

prisoner , besides bis secret designs , bad alwaysbeen carried to the highest extremity of oppositionin parliament. Russel had even adopted a senti-ment, similar to what we meet with in a letter ofthe younger Brutus. Had his father, he said,advised the king to reject the exclusion - bill, hewould be the first to move for a parliamentaryimpeachment against him. When such determinedresolution was observed , his popularity , hishumanity, his justice, his very virtues became somany crimes, and were used as arguments againstsparing him. Charles therefore would go nofarther than remitting the more ignominious partof the sentence, which the law requires to bepronounced against traitors. “ Lord Russel,”said he, “shall find, that I am possessed of that“ prerogative, which, in the case of lord Stafford,“ he thought proper to deny me.” As the furyof the country-party had rendered it impossiblefor the king, without the imminent danger ofhis crown, to pardon so many catholics, whomhe firmly believed innocent, and even affectionateand loyal to him; he probably thought, that,since the edge of the law was now ready to fallupon that party themselves , they could notreasonably expect , that he would interpose tosave them.

Russel’s consort, a woman of virtue, daughterand heir of the good earl of Southampton , threwherself at the king’s feet, and pleaded with manytears the merits and loyalty of her father , as anatonement for those errors, into 'which honest.

CHAP

IXIXv

1683 .