CHAP.

XXX.

ISL 5 .

anti exe-cuted.

15 th July.

88 HISTORY OF GREAT BRITAIN.

situations; much more, the temper of a man,softened by early prosperity, and accustomed tovalue himself solely on military bravery. He burstinto tears when seized by his enemies; and heseemed still to indulge the fond hope and desireof life. Though he might have known, from thegreatness of his own offences, and the severity ofJames’s temper, that no mercy could be expected,he wrote him the most submissive letters, andconjured him to spare the issue of a brother,■who had ever been so strongly attached to hisinterest. James, finding such symptoms of depres-sion and despondency in the unhappy prisoner,admitted him to his presence, in hopes of extort-ing a discovery of his accomplices: But Monmouthwould not purchase life, however loved, at theprice of so much infamy. Finding all efforts vain,he assumed courage from despair, and preparedhimself for death, with a spirit, better suited tohis rank and character. This favorite of thepeople was attended to the scaffold with a plenti-ful effusion of tears. He warned the executionernot to fall into the error, which he had com-mitted in beheading Russel, where it had beennecessary to repeat the blow. This precautionserved only to dismay the executioner. He strucka feeble blow on Monmouth, who raised hishead from the block , and looked him in theface, as if reproaching him for his failure. Hegently 'laid down his head a second time; andthe executioner struck him again and again tono purpose. He then threw aside the ax , and