as equally weak. His misfortune was,
that he never sufficiently trusted his own judgment, which was often
better than that of his servants; and from this diffidence he was
tenacious of a minister of whose abilities he had a high opinion, and
in whose fidelity he put confidence.

The duke at last became so obnoxious, that it entered into the head of
an enthusiast, tho' otherwise an honest man, one lieutenant Felton,
that to assassinate this court favourite, this enemy of the realm,
would be doing a grateful thing to his country by ridding it of one
whose measures in his opinion, were likely soon to destroy it.--

The fate of the duke was now approaching, and it is by far the most
interesting circumstance in his life.

We shall insert, in the words of the noble historian, the particular
account of it.

'John Felton, an obscure man in his own person, who had been bred a
soldier, and lately a lieutenant of foot, whose captain had been
killed on the retreat at the Isle of Ree, upon which he conceived that
the company of right ought to have been conferred upon him; and it
being refused him by the duke of Buckingham, general of the army, had
given up his commission and withdrawn himself from the army. He was of
a melancholic nature, and had little conversation with any body, yet
of a gentleman's family in Suffolk, of a good fortune, and reputation.
From the time that he had quitted the army he resided at London; when
the House of Commons, transported with passion and prejudice against
the duke, had accused him to the House of Peers for several
misdemeanors and miscarriages, and in some declarations had stiled him
the cause of all the evils the kingdom suffered, and an enemy to the
public.

'Some transcripts of such expressions, and some general invectives he
met with amongst the people, to whom this great man was not grateful,
wrought so far upon this melancholic gentleman, that he began to
believe he should do God good service if he killed the duke. He chose
no other instrument to do it than an ordinary knife, which he bought
of a common cutler for a shilling, and thus provided, he repaired to
Portsmouth, where he arrived the eve of St. Bartholomew. The duke was
then there, in order to prepare and make ready the fleet and the army,
with which he resolved in a few days to transport himself to the
relief of Rochelle, which was then besieged by cardinal Richelieu, and
for the relief whereof the duke was the more obliged, b