"16. The sad news of his death by L. _O cruel fate!_"

Dr. Welwood cautiously adds, in a note:--

"That by 29 and 39 King Charles and the Duke of York seem to be
meant. But I know not what to make of the other numbers and
letters, and must leave the reader to his own conjectures."

There can, I apprehend, be little doubt that the L.R., under the date of
November 26, were meant to indicate the patriotic Lord Russell.

The whole of these extracts possess the highest interest, establishing
as they do several points referred to by historians. It is curious to
remark the complete subjection in which Charles, at this period, stood
towards his brother; occasioned, perhaps, but the foreign supplies which
he scrupled not to receive, being dependant on his adhesion to the
policy of which the Duke of York was the avowed representative. Shortly
before his death, Charles appears to have meditated emancipation from
this state of thraldom; and Hume says,--

"He was determined, it is thought, to send the Duke to Scotland,
to recall Monmouth, to summon a parliament, to dismiss all his
unpopular ministers, and to throw himself entirely upon the good
will and affections of his subjects." {399}

This passage accords with the entries in Monmouth's pocket-book under
the dates of Jan. 5. and Feb. 3. If the unfortunate Monmouth could have
foreseen the miserable end, with all its accompanying humiliations and
horrors, to which a few months were destined to bring him, his
exclamation, "O cruel fate!" would have acquired additional bitterness.