defend.[**]
Such a generous effort tended to their honor, but contributed nothing
towards the king's safety.

* Warwick, p. 339.

** Perinchef, p, 85. Lloyde, p. 319.

The people remained in that silence and astonishment, which all great
passions, when they have not an opportunity of exerting themselves,
naturally produce in the human mind. The soldiers, being incessantly
plied with prayers, sermons and exhortations, were wrought up to a
degree of fury, and imagined, that in the acts of the most extreme
disloyalty towards their prince consisted their greatest merit in the
eye of Heaven.[*]

Three days were allowed the king between his sentence and his execution.
This interval he passed with great tranquillity, chiefly in reading and
devotion. All his family that remained in England were allowed access
to him. It consisted only of the princess Elizabeth and the duke of
Gloucester; for the duke of York had made his escape. Gloucester was
little more than an infant: the princess, notwithstanding her tender
years, showed an advanced judgment; and the calamities of her family
had made a deep impression upon her. After many pious consolations and
advices, the king gave her in charge to tell the queen, that during the
whole course of his life, he had never once, even in thought, failed in
his fidelity towards her; and that his conjugal tenderness and his life
should have an equal duration.

To the young duke, too, he could not forbear giving some advice, in
order to season his mind with early principles of loyalty and obedience
towards his brother, who was so soon to be his sovereign. Holding him on
his knee, he said, "Now they will cut off thy father's head." At these
words, the child looked very steadfastly upon him. "Mark, child! what I
say: they will cut off my head! and perhaps make thee a king: but mark
what I say: thou must not be a king as long as thy brothers Charles and
James are alive. They will cut off thy brothers' heads, when they can
catch them! And thy head, too they will cut off at last! Therefore I
charge thee, do not be made a king by them!" The duke, sighing, replied,
"I will be torn in pieces first!" So determined an answer, from one
of such tender years, filled the king's eyes with tears of joy and
admiration.

Every night during this interval the king slept as sound as usual;
though the noise of workmen employed in framing the scaffold, and other
preparations for his execution, continua