The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 292: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

aea~wwem «© — @ eaf@2aw a Ga a + po plender s—and with true characteristic courage, he p to die. A Franciscan chap- lain, attached to the gaol, had on several occasions, since Rusesell’s confinement, endeavoured to per- suade him to kneel and pray: but inasmuch as the worthy priest could only convey this intimation by signe—he being as ignorant of the English tongue as the prisoner was of the Spanish,—their inter- course had hitherto amounted to mere dumb-show, the priest wishing to enforce his object by means of gestures, and the captive as peremptorily re- fusing in a similar manner. But on this Saturday the one fixed for the execution—the prison-chaplain made his appearance, aecompanied by a brother Franciscan who could speak a little English; and the latter priest endeavoured to persuade Ruseell to accept the last consolations of religion. Now, Ned never had been at all of a religious character: not that he was an infidel nor & sceptic—on the contrary, he was a firm believer : bat his mode of had, for obvious reasons, somewhat militated dgninst pious habite. He did not now choose to receive consolations from a Catholic: he therefore bluntly enough informed the priest who spoke English, that he should cer- tainly like to have the spiritual comfort of a Protestant —but that if this were impossible, he would sooner make his peace with heaven in his own way, than accept the ministry of an ecclesiastic belonging to another faith. The priest argued and reasoned with him: the prisoner that he could make no impression, the Franciscan knelt down, in company with the chaplain,—the two thus offering up prayers in Ned Russeil’s ceil, but in a language which he could not under- stand. He wished to be alone—he wished to commune with himeelf during the last moments which re- “mained to him in this life: but the Franciscans would not hear of it—they in remaining ; and as he gave them credit for good intentions, he | of said rude. Withdrawing his attention from them, however, as much as possible, he prayed inwardly, and with « heartfelt devotion which never in his life had he experienced before. But the intercession which he sent up to heaven from the very depths of his soul, was far more on his beloved Kate’s account than his own; and he t Providence to endow her with the forti- tude to bear the bitter bereavement which he felt to be inevitable. The fatal hour approached; and at about a quarter to eleven, the executioner entered the cell, accom by the governor of the prison, a no- tary, and three or four gendarmes. The notary read the warrant of execution, signed by the prisoner had received due notice on the previous evening from the governor through the medium of an interpreter. The executioner then to bind the pri s arms and hands,—which he | i did in such a way as to give him the of being in the attitude of prayer. A of wine was next held to his lips;—but this Russell re- fused: he would not have it thought that he was in the slightest degree indebted to alcoholic liquor fur the courage which he felt sure he should be en- ebled to display. A procession was now formed, the two priests THR MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. Captain-General, and of the issuing of which the | specta 287 leading it; and the front gate of the gaol reached. Several streets had to be threaded order to arrive at the p of execution. These thoroughfares were completely lined with troops, —behind whom there were but « few stragglers as lookers-on,—those whose curiosity was excited on places in the vicinity of the scaffold. Nor were the balconies of the houses in these streete much crowded,—the inhabitants of those dwellings hav- ing likewise proceeded to that point which was the focus of su attraction. Just outside the gate of the gaol, about twenty more Franciscan monks were assembled,—attended by a couple of acolytes, each of whom bore a lan- tern fixed at the end of a wand, and with wax. tapers burning inside,—the breese which blew from the sea, rendering it necessary for the lights to be thus protected. But the main feature of the religious paraphernalia remains to be described. It consisted of an enormous crucifix, on which was a paste-board offigy of the Saviour, the size of life. It was carefully and skilfully painted- but had a most hideous and ghastly effect; inasmuch as it represented the gore trickling down from the crown of thorns—from the hands and the feet, with nails—and from the wound in the side. This figure was borne at the head of the procession ; and as it advanced, the soldiers crossed themselves ; and most of the stragglers behind the military rank, fell upon their knees. The monks to chaunt the litany in deep lugubrious voices; while two men wearing long dark cloaks, solicited alms, which were to be expended in masses for the doomed man’s soul. In this way the procession threaded the streets leading towards the great square,—on reaching sank into a dead silence ; and naug but the chaunting of the footetepe. A pathway u kept clear in the midst of lines of soldiers; and over manly bearing. looke—moerely the fortitude of a truly courageo man. He was apparelled in his sailor’s garb,— all except his hat, which had been taken from him, it being a part of the ceremony that he should walk bare-headed to the scaffold. But the masses of his. coal black hair clustered in natural curls above his high forehead ; and doubtless many a tress thought it was a pity that so fine a doomed toulie. However themsetves in respect for (GO) _* A (C DOO CS (COL