Page:Biographical catalogue of the portraits at Weston, the seat of the Earl of Bradford (IA gri 33125003402027).pdf/65

 too earnest, and his bias too virtuous to find any lasting satisfaction in a society so frivolous and immoral. An early attachment to a good and beautiful woman proved a strong safeguard to the young courtier, which was crowned about the year 1669, by a marriage, the happiness of which family and historical records can vouch. It was indeed a well-assorted union, the commencement of 'domestic bliss,' as the poet says, 'the only happiness which has survived the Fall.' William Russell's choice was Rachel, the daughter of the noble loyalist, Thomas Wriothesley, Earl of Southampton, and the daughter-in-law of the Earl of Carbery, being the widow of his eldest son, Lord Vaughan. We refer our readers to our sketch of Lady Russell's life, who retained her widowed title of Lady Vaughan until the death of William's elder brother. In the meantime he began his political career by a zealous and conscientious attention to his parliamentary duties, and was not long before he incurred the lasting animosity of the Duke of York, and indeed of the King himself, by his zealous opposition to many arbitrary measures proposed by the Court party, which, in Russell's opinion, were calculated to endanger 'the liberty of the subject, the safety of the kingdom, and the welfare of the Protestant religion.' In 1679 he was made a Privy Councillor, a dignity he did not long enjoy, for we read shortly after 'that the Lords Russell, Cavendish, and others, finding the King's heart and head were against popular councils, and that their presence in Council could no longer prevent pernicious measures, and not being willing to serve him against the interests of their country, went to him together, and desired him to excuse their attendance any more at Council.' The King gladly accepted their resignation, for he wanted men who would promote his arbitrary measures, and thus, says Smollett, 'Lord Russell, one of the most popular and virtuous men of the nation, quitted the Council Board.'

He was a prominent promoter of the Bill of Exclusion to