His execution followed a few days after: he complained, and with reason, of the iniquity of the sentence; but he had too much greatness of mind to deny those conspiracies with Monmouth and Russel, in which he had been engaged.

He rather gloried, that he now suffered for that "good old cause," in which, from his earliest youth, he said he had enlisted himself.
The execution of Sidney is regarded as one of the greatest blemishes of the present reign.

The evidence against him, it must be confessed, was not legal; and the jury who condemned him were, for that reason, very blamable.

But that, after sentence passed by a court of judicature, the king should interpose and pardon a man who, though otherwise possessed of merit, was undoubtedly guilty, who had ever been a most inflexible and most inveterate enemy to the royal family, and who lately had even abused the king's clemency, might be an act of heroic generosity, but can never be regarded as a necessary and indispensable duty.
Howard was also the sole evidence against Hambden; and his testimony was not supported by any material circumstance.

The crown lawyers therefore found it in vain to try the prisoner for treason: they laid the indictment only for a misdemeanor, and obtained sentence against him.
The fine imposed was exorbitant; no less than forty thousand pounds.
Holloway, a merchant of Bristol, one of the conspirators, had fled to the West Indies, and was now brought over.