eft England; but one
cruel recollection pursued him over the Alps and the Apennines. On a
memorable day, indeed, big with the fate of his country, he again, after
many inactive and inglorious years, stood forth the Shrewsbury of 1688.
Scarcely any thing in history is more melancholy than that late and
solitary gleam, lighting up the close of a life which had dawned so
splendidly, and which had so early become hopelessly troubled and
gloomy.

On the day on which the Lords passed the Bill of Attainder, they
adjourned over the Christmas holidays. The fate of Fenwick consequently
remained during more than a fortnight in suspense. In the interval plans
of escape were formed; and it was thought necessary to place a strong
military guard round Newgate. [777] Some Jacobites knew William so
little as to send him anonymous letters, threatening that he should
be shot or stabbed if he dared to touch a hair of the prisoner's head.
[778] On the morning of the eleventh of January he passed the bill. He
at the same time passed a bill which authorised the government to detain
Bernardi and some other conspirators in custody during twelve months.
On the evening of that day a deeply mournful event was the talk of all
London. The Countess of Aylesbury had watched with intense anxiety the
proceedings against Sir John. Her lord had been as deep as Sir John in
treason, was, like Sir John, in confinement, and had, like Sir John,
been a party to Goodman's flight. She had learned with dismay that
there was a method by which a criminal who was beyond the reach of the
ordinary law might be punished. Her terror had increased at every stage
in the progress of the Bill of Attainder. On the day on which the royal
assent was to be given, her agitation became greater than her frame
could support. When she heard the sound of the guns which announced that
the King was on his way to Westminster, she fell into fits, and died in
a few hours. [779]

Even after the bill had become law, strenuous efforts were made to save
Fenwick. His wife threw herself at William's feet, and offered him a
petition. He took the petition, and said, very gently, that it should be
considered, but that the matter was one of public concern, and that he
must deliberate with his ministers before he decided. [780] She then
addressed herself to the Lords. She told them that her husband had
not expected his doom, that he had not had time to prepare himself for
death, that he had not, du