Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 49.djvu/490

Russell and justice' is summarised by Fox in the introductory chapter to his History of the Early Part of the Reign of James II).

On 14 July Russell, after a final protest against the illegality of his condemnation, was sentenced to death by the recorder, Sir George Treby. The king commuted the sentence into simple beheading, according to the story mentioned by Echard (ii. 1034), with 'a sarcastical glance at Lord Stafford's case.' During the brief interval allowed between sentence and execution every exertion was made to save Russell's life. His wife was the soul of these endeavours. The Earl of Bedford, besides addressing a petition to the king, is said to have offered 50,000l. for a pardon (, i. 269), and Charles II is said to have refused 'to purchase his and his subjects blood at so easy a rate' (ib.); according to another account, he offered 100,000l. through the Duchess of Portsmouth. Lady Ranelagh, through Lord Rochester, sought to obtain a month's reprieve in the first instance; Dartmouth strove to convince the king of the unwisdom of refusing to extend mercy to the heir of so influential a house (see his note to, Own Time, ii. 380); Monmouth's abortive attempt at remonstrance must belong to a later date. Russell himself addressed to the king a petition for his life. This should be distinguished from the letter to the king written by him for delivery after his death, and craving the royal consideration for his wife and children, of which, by Burnet's advice, a copy was sent to Charles before the execution (, pp. 328-31). He also addressed a letter to the Duke of York, which was delivered to the duchess by Lady Russell (cf., Own Time, ii. 380). Lastly, it seems established that even Louis XIV desired Barillon to convey to Charles some expressions, however few and faint, in favour of mercy to Russell (see, p. 33 ra.)

Of Russell's own bearing in Newgate during the last week of his life a detailed account was given in the journal written by Burnet, who was constantly in his company (printed as an appendix by ; the substance is reproduced in Own Time, ii. 380 sqq.; Burnet's Sermons to Lord Russell were published in 1713). He refused the proposal of his faithful friend Cavendish to bring about an escape by means of an exchange of clothes; on the other hand, he resisted the endeavours of Tillotson and Burnet to induce him to conciliate the king by disavowing his belief in the lawfulness of resistance (for Tillotson's letter, afterwards much discussed, see State Trials, p. 813; cf., ii. 1035, and , Appendix). His demeanour was cheerful and resigned, and his time, in so far as it was not claimed by religion and private affection, was given up to the composition of the paper delivered by him to the sheriffs on the scaffold. His execution took place on 21 July in Lincoln's Inn Fields. Tillotson and Burnet accompanied him on the scaffold. The king allowed an escutcheon to be placed over the door of the attainted man's house, and made known his intention not to profit by the forfeiture of the personal estate. The remains were buried in the Bedford chapel of Chenies church in Buckinghamshire, where a large medallion of Russell occupies the centre of the elaborate monument to his father and mother (who survived her son only by a few months) and their children.

The publication of the paper given to the sheriffs deeply incensed the court. While the printer was prosecuted, an attempt was made to contest Russell's authorship of the 'libel,' but Lady Russell asseverated it in a letter to the king (Letters, pp. 7-9). In February 1684 Sir Samuel Barnardiston was fined 10,000l. for having written lamenting the death of Russell and execrating the treachery of Howard (ib. p. 55, note from The Display of Tyranny). On the accession of William and Mary, Russell's memory was vindicated by the reversal of his attainder (March 1689), and by the appointment of a House of Commons committee to find out the advisers and promoters of his 'murder.' In 1694 his father, who had been named as a petitioner with Lady Russell in the act of reversal, was created a duke, the preamble to the patent describing him as father to Russell, 'the ornament of his age.'

Russell was 'conspicuous for sense and integrity rather than for brilliancy of talent'. He cannot be said to have found his way through the intrigues which beset his path with notable insight or discretion, but he brought his personal honour out of them unstained. His tragic fate has not unnaturally excited a degree of admiration for his career which seems out of proportion to the intrinsic value of his achievements.

The portraits of Russell at Woburn Abbey include, besides a youthful one (1659), in armour, by Claude Lefèvre, one by Sir Peter Lely (engraved by Jenkins in Lodge's 'Portraits'), and two by John Riley. A third, by the last-named painter, is in the National Portrait Gallery, and others are at Hardwick and at Weston Hall. The engraving by Vanderbank and that prefixed to Lord John Russell's biography are after Kneller. The medallion at Chenies (