2G8

nisioitr of engiand.

chap, resolution. At a very late hour that night came a respite for a■ x 2' —-week.* The week however passed away without any dis-

JfaaO. A i rr

closure: the gallows and quartering block were ready at ly-burn: the sledge and axe were at the door of Newgate: thecrowd was thick all up Ilolborn Hill and along the Oxfordlload; when a messenger brought another respite, and Crone,instead of being dragged to the place of execution, was con-ducted to the Council chamber at Whitehall. His fortitudehad been at last overcome by the near prospect of death; andon this occasion he gave important information.**nangerof Such information as he had it in his power to give was in-Sr deed at that moment much needed. Both an invasion and anli'Jn' 0 " insurrection were hourly expected.*** Scarcely had WilliamT ““ r ." set out from London when a great French fleet commanded bythe Count of Tourville left the port of Brest and entered thechannel. British Channel. Tourville was the ablest maritime commanderthat his country then possessed. He had studied every part ofhis profession. It was said of him that he was competent to fillany place on shipboard from that of carpenter up to that ofadmiral. It was said of him, also, that to the dauntless courageof a seaman he united the suavity and urbanity of an accom-plished gentleman.f He now stood over to the English shore,and approached it so near that his ships could be plainly de-scried from the ramparts of Plymouth. From Plymouth heproceeded slowly along the coast of Devonshire and Dorset-shire. There was great reason to apprehend that his move-ments had been concerted with the English malecontents. f f

* Baden to Van Citters, June 58- 1090.; Clarendon's Diary, June 19.;Narcissus Luttrell’s Diary.

** Clarendon’s Diary, June 25.

*** Narcissus Luttrell’s Diary.

+ Memoirs of Saint Simon.

June 21.

ff London Gazette, June 26. 3600; Baden to Van Citters, j uly