LETTER CCCLXXIX.

King James the Second to Lady Waldegrave. Enquiries concerning her brother Henry Fitz James.

[MS. DONAT, MUS. BRIT. 5015. 11. Orig.]

Windsor Saturday Morning

I was very sorry to heare this morning of the accident which happened to your brother Harry, and send thes foottman on purpose to you, to have an account from you how he do's. They tell me his face will not be marked with it. Pray lett me know the truth out, and how sone they thinke he may be well enough to go. Remember me to your Brother James, and tell him I am sorry his journey should be stopped for some days, especialy by such an accident; and tell Harry I hope he will be carefuller for the tyme to come; and now, that he do what the Chirurgeons will have him, which is all I shall say now, but to assure you of the continuance of my kindnesse

For the Lady Waldgrave.

J. R.

LETTER CCCLXXX.

King James the Second to the Lady Waldegrave; concerning her elder brother the Duke of Berwick.

[MS. DONAT. MUS. BRIT. 5015. 11. Orig.]

Coventry Sept. 1. 1687

Two days since I was very much allarumd by the

Letters which came from France about your brother Barwick, but now, God be thank'd, I am at ease concerning him, for by Letters I have had this day from severall parts, and from the Army, I find he was very well recovered tho' still a little weake; and I believe the Earle of Kennole who died at Mohas, neare the Army, was the occasion of that report. I beleve by that tyme this gets to you, I shall have letters from him or Sir Ed. Vandery. I have not tyme to say more, but that you shall still find me very kind to you. For the Lady Waldgrave.

LETTER CCCLXXXI.

King James the Second to the Lady Waldegrave.

[MS. DONAT. MUS. BRIT. 5015. 11. Orig.]

Windsor Sep. 24. 1687

I HAVE received yours of the 20th, and since my being here, have had a Letter from your brother Barwick, from Raab; since when I heare he was arrived at Vienna, so that, before this, I hope he is on his way for England. I have had Letters also from your brother Harry, from Lisbone. You did well to stay at the Bath for the reason you gave; tho I should have been glad to have seen you sooner.

For the Lady Waldgrave.

J. R.

LETTER CCCLXXXII.

. to the Rev. Francis Roper, Fellow of St. John's College Cambridge, detailing the particulars of the death of King Charles the Second.

[MS. COLE, MUS. BRIT. VOL. lix.-p. 188.]

This Letter, with another which gives an account of the death of James the Second, and a grant of land to Kershall Priory in Lancashire, were found by the late Dr. Richard Farmer, in the month of December, 1780, concealed within the cover of an old book. They were communicated by him to the rev. Mr. Cole of Milton, who preserved transcripts of them.

Both Letters were addressed to the Rev. Francis Roper of St. John's College Cambridge, and the signature of one, and part of that to the other, were torn away.

This, however, which describes the last moments of King Charles the Second, as we gather from its own evidence, was written by the chaplain to Dr. Turner bishop of Ely, who was then in the room: and differs in some points so materially from the Account of that event described by bishop Burnet, that it seems peculiarly to deserve a place here. The writer indeed gives the King credit for a stronger sense of religion than either bishop Burnet or any body else may be willing to allow : but in all other respects its testimony seems to be preferable to the bishop's; and more especially in that part of the narrative which concerns the Queen.

Bishop Burnet, having noticed the absolution which was said to have been given to the King according to the rites of the Romish Church, by Father Huddleston, proceeds to the circumstances of the King's last Interview with the bishops and the members of his family:

"The King," he says, "went through the agonies of death with a calm and a constancy that amazed all who were about him and knew how he lived. This made some conclude that he had made a Will, and that his quiet was the effect of that. Ken applied himself much to the awaking the King's conscience. He spoke with a great elevation, both of thought and expression, like a man inspired, as those who were present told me. He resumed the matter often, and pronounced many short ejaculations and prayers, which affected all that were present, except him that was the most concerned, who seemed to take no notice of him, and made no answers to him. He pressed the King six or seven times to receive the Sacrament; but the King always declined it, saying he was very weak. A table with the elements upon it, ready to be consecrated, was brought into the room; which occasioned a report to be then spread about, that he had received it.

Ken pressed him to declare that he desired it, and that he died in the communion of the Church of England. To that he answered nothing. Ken asked him if he desired absolution from his sins. It seems the King, if he then thought any thing at all, thought that would do him no hurt. So Ken pronounced it over him : for which he was blamed, since the King expressed no sense or sorrow for his past life, nor any purpose of amendment. It was thought to be a prostitution of the peace of the Church to give it to one, who, after a life led as the King's had been, seemed to harden himself against every thing that could be said to him. Ken was also censured for another piece of indecency. He presented the Duke of Richmond, Lady Portsmouth's son, to be blessed by the King. Upon this, some that were in the room cried out, the King was their common Father. And upon that, all kneeled down for his blessing, which he gave them. The King suffered much inwardly, and said he was burnt up within; of which he complained often but with great decency. He said once, he hoped he should climb up to Heaven's gates; which was the only word savouring of religion that he was heard to speak.

:

"He gathered all his strength to speak his last words to the Duke, to which every one hearkened with great attention. He expressed his kindness to him, and that he now delivered all over to him with great joy. He recommended Lady Portsmouth over and over again to him. He said he had always loved her, and he loved her now to the last; and besought the Duke in as melting words as he could fetch out, to be very kind to her and her son. He recommended his other children to him and concluded, 'Let not poor Nelly starve;' that was Mrs. Gwyn. But he said nothing of the QUEEN, nor any one word of his people, or his servants; nor did he speak one word of Religion, or concerning the payment of his debts, though he left behind him about ninety thousand guineas, which he had gathered, either out of the privy purse, or out of the money which was sent him from France, or by other methods; and which he had kept so secretly that no person whatever knew any thing of it.

"He continued in the agony till Friday at eleven o'clock, being the sixth of February 168; and then died in the fifty fourth year of his age."

Let this statement be compared with the Letter.

REV. SIR

Ely House Feb. 7th 1684-5.

YESTERDAY noon, I doe believe the most lamented Prince that ever satt upon a Throne, one of the best of Kings, after near five days sickness, left this world;

translated doubtless to a much more glorious Kingdome then all those which he has left behind him now bewailing of their losse. 'Twas a great peice of providence that this fatal blow was not so sudden as it would have been, if he had dy'd on Munday, when his fitt first took him: as he must have done, if Dr King had not been by, by chance, and lett him blood. By these few dayes respitt, he had opportunity (which accordingly he did embrace) of thinking of another World; and wee are all prepared the better to sustain so great a loss. He showed himself, throughout his sickness, one of the best natur'd men that ever lived; and by abundance of fine things he sayd in reference to his soul, he showed he dyed as good a christian: and the physicians, who have seen so many leave this world, doe say, they never saw the like as to his courage, so unconcerned he was at Death, though sensible to all degrees imaginable, to the very last. He often in extremity of pain would say he suffered, but thank'd God that he did so, and that he suffered patiently. He every now and then would seem to wish for Death, and beg the pardon of the standers by, and those that were employed about him, that he gave them so much trouble: that he hoped the work was almost over: he was weary this world: he had enough of it: and he was going to a better. There was so much affection and tenderness express'd between the two Royal Brothers, the

of