66 nington, and serjeant Maynard. Yet, did the prisoner, under all these disabilities, make a "better defence than was expected, either by his "friends or his enemies. The unequal contest, " in which he was engaged, was a plentiful source "of compassion to every mind, seasoned with hu"manity. He remarked the infamy of the wit66 nesses, and the contradictions and absurdities of "their testimony;-and with a simplicity and "tenderness, more persuasive than the greatest "oratory, he made protestations of his innocence, "and could not forbear every moment expressing "the most lively surprise and indignation at the . "audacious impudence of the witnesses. ८८ "It will appear," continues Hume," astonishing to us, as it did to Stafford himself, that the peers, after a solemn trial of six days, should, by "a majority of twenty-six voices, give sentence "against him. He received, however, with resig "nation, the fatal verdict. "berville would have aggravated those censures, and very "much blasted him.-In opposition to all this, here was jus"tice to be done, and a service to truth, towards the saving a "man's life; and the question was very hard to be determined. "He advised with all his friends, and myself in particular. The "much greater number was of opinion that he ought to be "silent. I said, my own behaviour in Staly's affair showed "what I would do in that case; but his circumstances were 66 very different: In perusing this passage, the reader will probably be at a loss, whom most to admire, bishop Lloyd, who withheld from lord Stafford the benefit of a testimony, which, at least, might have saved his life, or the cool indifference with which bishop Burnet relates the strange event, and his share in it. "He prepared himself for death, with the intre"pidity which became his birth and station; and "which was the natural result of the innocence " and integrity which, during the course of a long life, he had ever maintained. His mind seemed even to collect new force, from the violence "and oppression under which he laboured. "When going to execution, he called for a cloak "to defend him against the rigour of the season. Ferhaps,' said he, 'I may shake with cold; but "I trust in God, not for fear.' On the scaffold, he "continued, with reiterated and earnest assevera❝tions, to make protestations of his innocence. All "his fervour was exercised on this point. When "he mentioned the witnesses, whose perjuries "had bereaved him of life, his expressions were "full of mildness and of charity. He solemnly "disavowed all those immoral principles, which 66 6 66 66 over-zealous protestants had ascribed, without "distinction, to the church of Rome. And he hoped, he said, that the time was now approaching, when the present delusion would be dis"sipated; and when the force of truth, though late, would engage the whole world to make reparation to his injured honour. 66 66 "The populace, who had exulted at Stafford's "trial and condemnation, were now melted into "tears, at the sight of that tender fortitude, which "shone forth in each feature, and motion, and "accent of this aged noble. Their profound "silence was only interrupted by sighs and groans. "With difficulty they found speech to assent to "those protestations of innocence, which he fre 66 quently repeated: We believe you, my lord! "God bless you, my lord!' These expressions, "with a faultering accent, flowed from them. The "executioner himself was touched with sympathy. "Twice, he lifted up the axe, with an intent to "strike the fatal blow; and, as often, felt his re"solution to fail him. A deep sigh was heard "to accompany his last effort, which laid Stafford, "for ever, at rest. All the spectators seemed to "feel the blow: and when the head was held up "to them, with the usual cry, 'this is the head of a traitor,' no clamour of assent was uttered. Pity, remorse, and astonishment, had taken possession "of every heart, and displayed itself in every "countenance." 66 66 It should be mentioned, that, to vindicate the principles of his faith from the heavy and injurious aspersions, thrown out against them, lord Stafford referred to a short treatise, written by priest of the church of Rome, intituled, "Ro"man Catholic Principles, in reference to God and "the King*." It is to be observed, that, in the following reign, a bill was brought into the house of lords to reverse the attainder of lord Stafford, and passed the house of lords; but failed in the house of commons. It has been often reprinted, and recently, by the reverend John Kirk, with an elaborate inquiry respecting the previous editions, and the author;-8vo. 1815.-See Appendix, Note I. Surely, the reversal of it, is an act of justice due from the public to his posterity. "The blood of lord Stafford was," says Hume, "the last which was shed on account of the popish "plot:-an incident, which, for the credit of the "nation, it were better to bury in eternal oblivion ; "but which it is necessary to perpetuate, as well "to maintain the truth of history, as to warn, if "possible, their posterity and all mankind, never 66 again to fall into so shameful and so barbarous a "delusion." With these reflections, Hume concludes his account of this wonderful event. For many persons, otherwise truly respectable, who suffered themselves to be carried away by the general delusion, some excuse, perhaps, may be found. But, for the judges, who presided at the trials; or, for the law officers, who conducted the prosecutions, none, certainly, can be offered. All these must have known, that in the trials of men, accused of treason, the only circumstances to be considered, are,-whether the act, on which they are indicted, be treasonable;-and whether there be legal evidence to convict them of it. Now, it was absolutely impossible, that either the judges, or the officers of the crown, should not have been completely sensible of the total want of legal evidence of guilt, in every case that was brought before the court. In his assertion, that "the blood of lord Stafford "was the last that was shed on account of the popish 'plot," Hume was mistaken; as the execution of Dr. Oliver Plunkett, the catholic archbishop of Armagh, took place in the following year. Several protestant writers, as Burnet*, Echard †, and Baker, speak of this prelate in terms of great respect." In the mean time," says the last of these writers," came on the trial of Dr. Oliver Plunkett, a "popish titular bishop of Armagh, who called him"self primate of all Ireland. He was a worthy and "a good man; in low circumstances, living quietly "and contentedly, meddling with nothing but the "concerns of his function; and dissuading all about "him from entering into any turbulent or factious "multitude. But, while the popish plot was "warm, some lewd Irish priests, and others of "that nation, hearing that England was disposed "to hearken to good swearers, thought themselves "qualified for the employment. So they came over, with an account of a plot in Ireland ; and "were well received by lord Shaftesbury."-The archbishop was sent over, and brought to trial. "The evidence swore, that, upon his being made primate of Ireland, he engaged sixty thousand or 46 seventy thousand Irish to be ready to join with "the French, to destroy the protestant religion; "and to get Dublin, Londonderry, and all the sea"ports into their hands." He was first arraigned, and brought to trial in Dublin; and then, contrary to every formality of law, sent over to England; and, after six months close confinement, brought to * History of his own Times, vol. i. p. 502. + History of England, vol. iii. p. 631. |