dence as Envoy at the States, was not only well qualified to afford the requisite information, but had actually advanced and enriched himself by procuring the seizure of three of the King's Judges abroad, under circumstances of treachery scarcely less atrocious than those which he was himself meditating. From this most worthy coadjutor he not only received full in

accepted as such, and was knighted by his Majesty before he embarked at Schieveling. In 1662, Miles Corbet, John Barkstead, and his former patron, Colonel Okey, who had taken refuge at Hanau, in Germany, were, by Downing's perfidy, decoyed to Delft, a letter being sent to them stating the arrival of their wives in that city. Here they were instantly seized by Downing, who hurried them on board the Blackmore frigate, which conveyed them to England, and they were executed on the 19th April following.

From Hume's language one might almost imagine that an act of lenity had been extended to Colonel Okey. After stating that he prayed for the King at the place of execution, and noticing that "in.all his conduct he appeared to be a man of humanity and honour," he adds-" In consideration of his good character and of his dutiful behaviour-his body was given to his friends to be buried!"

structions how to act, but was introduced by him to one of the King's ministers, from whom he obtained a promise, that if he succeeded in his project, a portion of his uncle's confiscated estates should be restored to him.

Thus provided with the means of executing his perfidious design, and excited by the expectation of the reward, he set out for a port of the Spanish Netherlands, in a small government cutter, the captain of which was instructed to hover upon the coast, for the purpose of seconding his enterprize. Two or three anonymous letters, and some suspicious demonstrations about the castle of Haelbeck, operated so effectually upon the watchful terrors of its inmate, that he was induced once more to change his quarters, and return into Holland, which country, being then at war with England, seemed to offer a more secure asylum. This was precisely what his unprincipled nephew intended. The road along which his victim must necessarily pass, approached to within a small dis

tance of the sea; the hour of his departure was ascertained; a party of sailors were placed in ambush, and the unfortunate exile and his family, falling into the trap laid for them, were surprised, seized, and conveyed on board the cutter, which carried them up the Thames, when Walton was committed close prisoner to the Tower, and the females were set at liberty.

The nephew, who had taken good care not to appear in this transaction, found his way back to England by a different conveyance, intending, by a refinement in treachery, to insinuate himself into his uncle's confidence, and learn his plan of defence, in order that he might defeat it. Set ashore in London under circumstances that rendered them objects of real or affected detestation, Mrs. Walton and her daughter, being denied all immediate access to the prisoner, betook themselves in the first instance Alderman Staunton, whose connections with the Government rendered him peculiarly sensitive as to any intercourse with the family of a

to

regicide. In great trepidation of spirit, he requested his friend Mr. Ashmole to receive the fugitives at Turret House, a proposition which that gentleman felt himself obliged to decline from the same motives; and hence, the agitation and the eagerness to disclaim all knowledge of the parties, which Jocelyn had remarked, whenever he made inquiries at these respective residences. It seemed as if the wanderers, pursued by the terror that attached to Walton's name, were to find no resting-place for their feet, no hand to welcome, no house to shelter them. But Constantia had no sooner learnt their arrival, than disdaining all these cowardly and selfish apprehensions, she flew with open arms to her friends, pressed them to her affectionate heart, desired them to share her fate and fortune, and proposed, that to avoid being indebted to any one, they should all three live together, an arrangement which, since the death of her father, would be peculiarly gratifying to herself.

This generous offer being accepted with gratitude, she immediately engaged for their reception, the house withinside Temple-Bar, from which she was fortunately absent in company with Mrs. Walton, at the moment when Julia had been rescued by Jocelyn, in the manner already described.

Mark Walton had no sooner arrived in London, than he hastened to call upon his relatives, affecting to take the deepest interest in the fate of his uncle, reprobating the treachery by which he had been entrapped, and offering his services towards assisting in the defence, or in whatever other way they could be rendered available. At a moment when they seemed to be shunned and deserted by all the world except Constantia, such conduct, especially in one who held a situation about the Court, bore an appearance of generosity and disinterestedness, which Julia failed not to recognize with the fervour that belonged to her character, and which the object of it was willing to attribute