■WILLIAM AND MALI.

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to show, in a manner not to be misunderstood, that a new erahad commenced, and that the tribunals would in future rather -err on the side of humanity than imitate the cruel haste andlevity with which Cornish had, when pleading for his life, beensilenced by servile judges. The passing of the sentence wastherefore deferred: a day was appointed for considering thepoint raised by Crone; and counsel were assigned to argue inhis behalf. “This would not have been done, Mr. Crone,” saidthe Lord Chief Justice significantly, “in either of the last tworeigns.” After a full hearing, the Bench unanimously pro-nounced the error to be immaterial; and the prisoner was con-demned to death. He owned that his trial had been fair,thanked the judges for their patience, and besought them tointercede for him with the Queen.*

He was soon informed that his fate was in his own hands.The government was willing to spare him if he would earn hispardon by a full confession. The struggle in his mind wasterrible and doubtful. At one time Mrs. Clifford, who hadaccess to his cell, reported to the Jacobite chiefs that he was ina great agony. He could not die, he said: he was too youngto be a martyr.** The next morning she found him cheerful andresolute.*** He held out till the eve of the day fixed for hisexecution. Then he sent to ask for an interview with theSecretary of State. Nottingham went to Newgate; but, beforehe arrived, Crone had changed his mind and was determinedto say nothing. “Then,” said Nottingham, “I shall see youno more; for tomorrow will assuredly be your last day.” But,after Nottingham had departed, Monmouth repaired to thegaol, and flattered himself that he had shaken the prisoner’s

* Clarendon’s Diary, June 7. and 12. 1690; Narcissus Luttrell’s Diary;Baden, the Dutch Secretary of Legation, to Van Cittcrs, June ^; Fuller’sLife of himself; Wclwood’s Mercurius Iieformatus, June 11. 1690.

** Clarendon’s Diary, June 8. 1690.

*** Clarendon’s Diary, June 10.

CIIAP.

XV.

1690 .