AN ACCOUNT OF THE CONFESSION OF William Lord Russel, With the manner of his Behaviour in Prison, and the Christian Speeches he made at the Place of EXECUTION IN Lincolns-Inn Fields, Where he was Beheaded for High-Treason, Against His MAJESTY. On Saturday the 21st. of July, 1683.  
Licenced and Entered, according to Order.  
THe continual discoveries of Horrid Plots is enough to discourage Malignant Spirits from their Progress in Iniquity, till Divine Justice makes a seizure of their offending faculties; nor will the ever-seeing Eye of Heaven wink at such Enormities, as we too often are made acquainted with; how doth daily and woeful experience tell us the dangers and difficulties of Conspiracy! yet, notwithstanding, such is the impudence of some dissatisfied persons, that they neither can, nor will, desist from seeking their own ruins, by contriving their own overthrow. Treason, above all things, in the eye of God and Man, is most detestable; and as seldom goes unrequited, as any transgression whatsoever; but such a vain thing is man, that t●e hopes of advancement, and the self-promise of honour corrupts the mind, and debauches the senses of too many in our Age: And some (never satisfied with the Blessings of the Almighty) aspire to that height, which in the conclusion meets with the greatest fall; as you may observe by these subsequent Lines:  
It is not long since my Lord Russel had the repute of a noble, brave, and generous Gentleman, whose deportment (before this snare he was drawn into was by all commended; no Gentleman could have a better ●eport than this unfortunate Lord, now as much decried by his fatal concern. But yet, as he hath been an Offender against his most gracious Majesty, by the subtle insinuation of long-headed Statesmen, so we hope that his sincere Penitence may procure his Pardon in the Court of Heaven.  
AFter the Trials of Mr. Walcot, Mr. Rouse, and Hone, was Arraigned the Lord Russel; who desired longer time, in order, to prepare for his Trial, but it was not allowed of by the Court: then be excepted against the Jurors, as supposing them not to be Freeholders', Inhabiting within the City of London, and therefore desired counsel to be assigned him, to debate it as matter of Law, which was accordingly granted him; and Mr. Holt, Mr. Poluxphen, and Mr. Ward were allowed him as counsel to debate the matter, whose opinions, after many arguments between the King's Council and them, they were overruled by by the Cou●t; whereupon the Jury was called over, and the Prisoner challenged about thirty of them, but at last twelve of them were sworn, and the Indictment read, the substance were to this effect: That William Russel Esq (For so he was then styled) together with James Duke of Monmouth, Ford Lord Grace, Sir Thomas Armstrong, and one Ferguson, and others, had conspired to Levy War and Rebellion in the Kingdom of England, to compass the death of His Majesty, and to make a miserable slaughter amongst the Subjects of our Lord t●e King, etc.  
To this Indictment He having Pleaded not Guilty, Mr. North opened the matter of Fact, and was seconded by Mr. Attorney General, who at large declared the Heinousness of the Crime, which in Evidence, was to be given against the Noble Lord t●e Prisoner at the Bar, which was also insisted upon by Mr. Solicitor General. After which, Coll. Rumsey was Sworn, who deposed, That the Duke of Monmouth, the Lord Russel, Sir Tho Armstrong, and divers others, being at one Mr. Shepherds a Vintner, in the Parish of St. Nicholas Bashaw, he was sent to them by the Earl of Shaftsbury, to know what forwardness they were in, as to an Insurrection, to which he received answer, that Mr. Trenchard who had promised to raise 1000 Foot and 4000 Horse, to be aiding in the Design, had certified them by a Letter, that he could not so soon effect it as was required; for that the persons he desired to allure to his interest, would not rush upon a Design  they had provided for their Families, and that the Earl of Shaftsbury must be contented, at which the Earl seemed much disaffected. He further deposed, that divers Consults had been held, in order to the raising men in divers places, and that an Insurrection was to have been on the 19th. of November: and that he viz. Colonel Ru●say was to have been a Commander at Bristol & the Duke of Mo●mou●h, Grey, & Armstrong of the Muse and Savoy.  
This deposition made, the Lord Howard of Estrith was Sworn, Who declared the whole Conspiracy at large from time to time, how the Plot was carried on by the Earl of Shaftshury in chief, and that he had declared his dissatisfaction in the coldness of the Duke of Monmouth & other Lords to join wi●h him; and that he had 10000 Men in the City at his beck; and seeing things were so far advanced, he would cause the design to be put in Execution: and that divers Messages passed between the Earl and the Lords in relation to putting off the design longer; which at last was from time to time put off, till the Earl doubting his safety, fled into Holland, where he d●ed; after which a Council of Six were constituted, who were the Duke of Monmouth, the Earl of Essex, the Lord Russel, the Lord Howard, (the n●w Witness,) Mr. Sidny, and Mr. Hambden, the younger, who were to determine a●l matters as to the Insurrection; and that they to his knowledge met at Hambden's House, and at the House of the Prisoner, to debate about carrying on the Design, and that Aaron Smith was sent into Scotland to persuade the Gentry to Rise there.  
The next that gave Evidence was Mr. Shephard a Vintner, living in the Parish of St. Nicholas Bashaw, who deposed, That Mr. Ferguson came to him in the Name of the Duke of Monmouth, and also named several persons that were to come to his House; desiring a private Room, which they had accordingly; and that the Lord Russel was there: And that at that time a discourse happened about an Insurrection, and a Declaration was read, in order to a Relation of the grievances of the Nation, tending to a Rising. etc.  
During the time of his Imprisonment, since he was Sentenced to Death, he spent most part of his time in meditation and Prayer and other holy exercises, have had conference with several eminent Divines of the Church of England, in order to his preparation for Death and a happy Eternity, On Friday the day before his Execution, his Lady and his Children attended with several of his servants came to take their last farewell of him in prison, only his Lady (we are informed) stayed with him all night, to take part in the Agony of her beloved Lord in the last night of his being in this world, which was spent in Prayer and heavenly Conferences in order to his eternal state.  
In this Heavenly manner did he prepare for his great change, and with a thousand reflections upon his late transactions passed away the tedious night, till the dawning of the last day he was ever to see in this world: and then with a redoubled fervency he renewed his Divine Petitions, humbly beseeching his blessed Saviour to commiserate his distress, and take him into his everlasting favour, which is the only happiness that sinful man can desire to enjoy: It was much to be taken notice of what sudden changes appeared in hi● countenance, when sometimes calling to mind his misspent time, he seemed to be cast down; and an a sudden was raised again at the thoughts and assurance of Christ's everlasting Love, on which he firmly grounded his neverfailing hope.  
On Saturday morning being the 21st. of July, he was conveyed in a coach accompanied with two Reverend Divines, Dr. T●●lorson, and Dr. Burnet, from Captain Richardson's House to Lincolns-Inn Fields, where there was a Scaffold built on purpose for his Execution, where, when he came, he behaved himself with so much civility in his deportment, that he moved the Spectators to great pity, all lamenting his sad state, and grieving that he should be so strangely drawn in to this praeminary: He took no●ice of the great Assembly that came there to behold that sad spectactle, which in a little time was to be presented to their watery eyes; every particular person as much applauding his Behaviour as condemning his evil Conspiracy, which for all I can hear was the only Crime that ever he was known to be guilty of in so gross a nature. After a fine Oration made to the people, the particulars whereof we cannot, as yet, give you a Just Account of, by reason of the multitude of sorrowful Spectators that hindered the hearing of what was said, but after some conference with two Reverend Divines, he made Preparation for the other World, and so went to Prayer, beseeching God in his great mercy and pity to take him into his everlasting Kingdom; and having given some short Admonition to Loyalty, he freely submitted his Head to the Block, when the Executioner soon separated his Head from his Body, while his Soul, it is hoped, flew to eternal happiness.   

Printed for J. Coniers.