"

TOM

IV.

1700.

Ibid: pag. 128.

Ibid: 145.

(whom he could not exhort) had at least their share in, of wh number were* his Subjects in the first place, the Emperour, the King of Spain, My Lord Sunderland by name, and even the Prince of Orange himself he beseeches Almighty God to have mercy on, to touch his heart, and bring him to a speedy repentance, that becomeing a true convert he may attain. everlasting life: thus the memory of past injuries was so far from inspireing resentment, that his eyes were only turn'd to the spiritual advantage he reap'd from them, which made him so often bless God for his seeming infortunes (as he calls them) of haveing been banished in his youth and lost his three " Kingdoms afterwards, without which he should never (he sayd) have known the true Religion nor liued to the prescripts of it; nay his fervour to satisfy God's justice for his past disorders would not let him be content with the suffring he underwent in this world, he was desirous to carry it into the Ibid. 162. next, and asked his Confessor, Whether, since his age and character did not permit him to do such penance for his sinns, as was agreeable to the horrour and detestation he had of them, if he ought not to be content to suffer the pains of Purgatorie the longer, and for that end not beg the prayers of the Church for his speedyer delivery from thence? but his Confessor and the Abbot of LA TRAPPE (whom he consulted likewise in that point) thō they were ashtonished and edifyd with his zeal, tould him, That one could not desire to see God too soon, and that it was more perfect to wish to enjoy him, than to suffer for him.

These thoughts and meditations had so familiarized him with those of Death, that all its terrours were not able to hinder him from desireing it, not out of fear of suffring in this world,

* Inserted by the Son of James the Second, instead of the word as. EDITOR.

TOM.
IV.

1700.

Ibid: 85.

for that he sought, but for fear of falling back; he knew the weakeness of men, and suspected none so much as himself. "This made him often say He desired to dy, thō (as he ex

press'd it) was content'd to liue; the words of St Paul on that Subject, and many expressions of the Fathers to the same effect, confirm'd him in those aprehentions of the continual danger even the holyest men are exposed too, he often call'd to mind that Saul and Salomon, thō so highly favour'd by God were nevertheless terrible examples of it, that David fell into grievious sinns, and St Petre denyd Christ; he counted it therefore a high presumption for a slender reed not to desire to be shelter'd from such terrible gusts, as had overturn'd those lofty cedars; his gratitude also to Almighty God (who, when he liued in defyance, as it were of his holy law, yet led him by the hand into the way of Salvation) made him wish to be out of the condition of offending him, and since that could not be hoped for while he liued in this world, he wished for that reason to be out of it: he would not allow that the terribleness of God's judgments ought to hinder that disire since it must come at last, and the sooner it comes the sooner an end is put to our offending him; he had some contest with his friends about this principle, which made him write several little Treatises to support it, but no one was more alarmed with it than the Queen, who not being able to bear the thoughts of that separation, was hugely afflicted at those sentiments and dreaded the efficacy of his prayers when he turn'd them that way; representing to him, how necessary he was to the publick and most especially to his Children; but he would never be perswaded his life was of consequence to others, he sayd It was a high presumption for any man to think himself necessary The Queen is in this world, as if God could not do his work without him; exceedingly troubled at and when the Queen once arguing this point sayd with the King's desire to die. tears in her eyes, Is it possible S', you should haue so little

IV.

1700.

consideration for me and your Children? what would become of TOM. us if you were gon? Madame, he replyd, God will take care of you and my Children, for what am I but a poor weak man, uncapable of doing any thing without him, whereas he has no need of me to execute his designs; and when one who was present saw how afflicted the Queen was at this discours, beg'd of him not to hould it any more before her, he answer'd, I do it on purpose to prepare her for it, for according to all appearance and the cours of nature I shall dy first, and a stroke which is forseen makes a slighter impression: he remain'd therefore fixed and unalterable in this point, wherein he found that advantage himself (which he had often used as an argument to others) that it is a great point gain'd, if by desireing to dy, one can look death in the face with an undisturbed countenance, and seem to be delighted with that, which according to the cours of nature carrys the greatest terrours with it in the world.

THUS did this pious Prince Sanctifie his suffrings and render them fruitefull seeds of ablessed Immortallity, which now began to draw near to him, for on the 4th of March 1701 he * fainted

* "And now I cannot omit telling you two remarkable passages: The one is, that when the King first fainted in the Chapel, when he first fell ill, it was on Good-Friday, on singing the Anthem, the two first verses of the last Chapter of the Lamentations, Remember, O Lord, what is come upon us: consider and behold our reproach. Our inheritance is turned to Strangers, our houses to Aliens. Which was so touching, and made such an impression on his Majesty, that he never perfectly recover'd it, although he went to the waters of Bourbon. The other is, The King of France, upon his Majesty's sickness, called his great Council, which consisted of 23 persons: All but seven were against proclaiming the Prince so soon. The Dauphin being the last that was to speak, rose up in some heat, and said, It would be a great piece of cowardice, and unworthy the Crown of France, to abandon a Prince of their own blood, especially one that was so dear to them as the Son of King James: That for his part, he was resolved, not only to hazard his life,

1701. seized with a The King is fainting fit

but soon recovers, 4th March

1701 S. N.

IV.

1701.

it returns upon

sevenight.

TOM. away in the Chappel, but after some little time comeing to himself seem'd perfectly well again in a few houres; but that day sevenight being seized again with a paraletick fit in the him that day morning as he was dressing, it so affected one side that he had difficulty to walke, and lost the use of his right hand for some țime, but after blistering, Emetique &c, he began to recover the use of it again, walked prety well, so that the Doctors thought the waters of Burbon would perfectly restore him, whither he went about three weeks after; and thō he was almost perfectly well of his lameness at his return, yet a pain he complain'd of in his breast, and his spitting of blood now and then, even before he went to Burbon, gaue reason to apprehend that thō the Emetique he had taken might haue done him good perhaps, for his palsie, it had certainly prejudicied his breast: however he seem'd to recover strenght, took the air as usual, and some times on hors back, but on fryday the second of September, was seized again with a fainting in the Chappel just as he had been at first, which returning upon him after he was carryed to his chamber, was a most afflicting sight to the most disconsolate Queen, in whose arms he fell the second time, however he was prety well next day, but on Sunday falling into another fit was for some time without life or motion, till his mouth being forced open, he vomited a great quantety of * bloud. This put the Queen, and all people except himself, into the last degree of trouble and aprehention, but his long desires of death had rendered the thoughts of it so familiar to him, that neither the terrours of its approach nor the torments that attend it, gaue him the least anxcietie or disquiet, there was no need

On fryday the

2nd of Sep: the

King falls ill,

and on Sunday following

vomited blood in a great quantity.

but all that was dear to him, for his Restoration. The King of France said, I am of Monseignieur's opinion; and so said all the Princes of the Blood." (Somers' Tracts, Ed. 1814. Vol. xi. p. 341.) EDITOR.

* Interlined by his Son. EDITOR,

IV.

1701.

of exhorting him to resignation, or to a due preparation for it; TO M. that was the first and only thing he thought of, he had made a general confession just before he fell into that fit, and assoon as his vomiting ceased, he desir'd his * Confessor to send for the Blessed Sacrament, and fancying he could not last long press'd for expedition, minding him to take care he wanted none of the rights of the Church: in the mean time he sent for the Prince his Son, who at his first entrance seeing the King with a pale and dying countenance, the bed all cover'd with blood, burst out as well as all about him into the most violent expressions of grief; assoon as he came to the bed side the King with a sort of contentedness in his looks, stretched forth his arms to embrace him, and then † speaking with a force and vehemence that better suted with his zeal than the weak condition he was in, conjured him to adhere firmely to the Catholick faith, let what will be y consequence of it, and be faithfull in the service of God, to be respectfull and obediant to the Queen, the best of Mothers, and to be ever gratefull to the King of France to whom he had so many obligations:

* Mr. Sanders.

+ "Then sending for the Prince, he told him, I am now leaving this world, which has been to me a sea of storms and tempests; it being God Almighty's will to wean me from it by many great Afflictions. Serve him with all your power and strength, and never put the Crown of England in competition with your Eternal Salvation. There is no Slavery like Sin, nor no Liberty like his Service. If his holy Providence shall think fit to set you upon the Throne of your Ancestors, govern your People with Justice and Clemency, and take pity of your misled Subjects. Remember Kings are not made for themselves, but for the good of the People. Set before their eyes, in your own actions, a pattern of all manner of virtues. Consider them as your Children, aim at nothing but their good in correcting them. You are the Child of Vows and Prayers. Behave yourself accordingly. Honour your Mother, that your days may be long, and be always a kind Brother to your dear Sister, that you may reap the blessing of concord and unity." (Somers' Tracts, Vol. xi. p. 342.) EDITOR.