Report to the Right honourable the master of the rolls upon the documents in the archives and public libraries of Venice / by Thomas Duffus Hardy.

Thomas Duffus Hardy

Date:: 1866

Credit: Report to the Right honourable the master of the rolls upon the documents in the archives and public libraries of Venice / by Thomas Duffus Hardy. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University.

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$Protestants that the Catholics have a dispensation and pardon from the Pope (of whom anything is credited) for swearing to what is false even at the time of death, rather than say anything of the slightest detriment to the Catholic religion, or of the Romish See, as they style it. (Signed) Paolo Sarotti. « GlKOLAMO VlGNOLA. On Saturday last [21st July 1683, N. S.] the sentence of death was executed upon Lord Russell, son of the Earl of Bedford, one of the most noble and opulent peers of England ; the great offers made to the King even for a short respite having been of no avail. Lord Russell was taken in his own coach,surrounded by 200 musketeers, besides the numerous city trained bands, to a spacious 6quare [Lincoln's Inn Fields] at no great distance from Whitehall, the site being guarded by infantry and cavalry. He alighted unbound, and in his usual costume, and having ascended the scaffold with incredible intrepidity, walked uncon- cernedly [con disinvoltura'] up and down a while ; he then knelt for a few moments, and on rising divested himself of his apparel without assistance ; after which he took leave of [ cora- plimento-'] his friends, made them a public speech, brief, but of a most violent nature [ scandolisissimo ], and laid his head on the block in such form, that a demonstration of greater contempt for so tremendous a passage would be impossible. On its accomplishment, the populace crowded to dip their hand- kei chiefs, hats, and garments in his blood; and one universal shout declared him innocent, all expressing pity and compassion. \* He left a sealed letter addressed to his wife, for delivery subsequently to the King, to whom it was shown by one of Lord Russell's uncles. It was full of the most unbecoming expressions, having for object to justify himself and the Duke of Monmouth with regard to the assassination of the King; according also to what he said in his dying speech, and the seditious seed which he has left behind him, is of no less treasonable nature than that invariably displayed by him in life against the King, the royal family, and all Catholicism. On the morrow of the execution his son, some 13 years old, went to the King to kiss hands, and to swear allegiance ; he was received graciously, and, by a spontaneous act of very great generosity, his Majesty then and there bestowed on him that con- siderable paternal inheritance which by law was confiscated. On the following days, in like manner, several noblemen came to pay their respects to the King after an absence from the court of about 12 years, during which period they lived with the fanatics, as it were, in open opposition ; and on this morning the Duke of Buckingham made his appearance; all being greeted alike with affability, current events requiring this policy; but should any sinister accident arise, no trust could be placed in their present change. (Signed) Gikolamo Vignola.$