Page:Cassell's Illustrated History of England vol 3.djvu/520

506 they perfectly approved of what Dr. King had done, and applied strong stimulants to various parts of his body. The council ordered one thousand pounds to he paid to Dr. King for his prompt services, which, however, never were paid.

As soon as the king rallied a little, he asked for the queen, who hastened to his bedside, and waited on him with the most zealous affection till the sight of his sufferings threw her into fits, and the physicians ordered her to her own apartment. Towards evening Charles had a relapse, but the next morning he rallied again, and was so much better, that the physicians issued a bulletin, expressing hope of his recovery; but the next day he changed again for the worse, and on the fourth evening it was clear that his end was at hand. The announcement of his dangerous condition spread consternation through the city; the momentary news of his improvement was received with unequivocal joy, the ringing of bells and making of bonfires. When the contrary intelligence of his imminent danger was made known, crowds rushed to the churches to pray for his recovery; and it is said the service was interrupted by the sobs and tears of the people. In the royal chapel prayers every two hours were continued during his remaining moments. These, say the royalist historians, were unmistakable signs that Charles was greatly beloved by his subjects. And there is, no doubt, considerable truth in the statement. The king, with all his faults, was of a free and easy disposition, excessively fond of gaiety and merriment, and insinuating in his manners and address; and the English people will love excessively any monarch who will let them, and who does not wantonly outrage their feelings and prejudices. The wit and pleasantry of Charles made his subjects forget his vices, and his inroads on their liberties. During his reign, too, though the national honour suffered in every way, the national prosperity increased. The trade, commerce, and general activity of the nation, had now arrived at that pitch, that if monarchs would let the people alone they could take good care of themselves; and the monarch who does this, is by the multitude thought a good monarch. But what gave energy and edge to the feelings of the people, was not so much affection for the king who was going, as dread of the one who was coming. There had been a long and fearful anticipation of the gloomy and remorseless bigotry and selfish despotism of James. The most strenuous and continued efforts had been made to prevent this cruel, unimpressible man from mounting the throne, and a direful apprehension of approaching evil now agitated the public.

James was never a moment from the dying king's bedside. He was afterwards accused of having poisoned him—a suspicion for which there does not appear the slightest foundation; but independent of natural brotherly regard, James was on the watch to guard the chances of his succession. Every precaution was taken to secure the tranquillity of the city, and to insure an uninterrupted proclamation of his accession. In the room, too, were as constantly a great number of noblemen and bishops. There were the archbishop of Canterbury, the bishops of London, Durham, and Ely, and Bath and Wells, besides twenty-five lords and privy councillors. A bishop, with some of the nobles, took turns to watch each night. Early on the Thursday morning, Ken, of Bath and Wells, ventured to warn the king of his danger, and Charles receiving the solemn intelligence with an air of resignation, he proceeded to read the office for the visitation of the sick. He asked Charles if he repented of his sins, and on replying that he did, Ken gave him absolution according to the prescribed form of the church of England, and then inquired whether he should administer the sacrament. To this there was no answer. Ken, supposing that the king did not clearly comprehend the question, repeated it more distinctly. Charles replied there was yet plenty of time. The bread and wine, however, were brought, and placed on a table near him; but though the question was again repeatedly asked by the bishop, Charles only replied, "he would think of it."

The mystery was, however, solved by the French mistress, who, drawing Barillon, the French ambassador, into her boudoir, said, "Monsieur l'Ambassadeur, I am going to tell you the greatest secret in the world, and my head would be in danger if it were known here. The king, in the bottom of his heart, is a catholic, and nobody tells him the state he is in, or speaks to him of God. I can no longer with propriety enter into his chamber, where the queen is almost constantly with him; the duke of York thinks about his own affairs, and has no time to take the care that he ought of the king's conscience. Go and tell him that I have conjured you to warn him to do what he can to save the soul of the king, his brother. He is master in the royal chamber, and can make any one withdraw from it as he lists. Lose no time, for if you delay ever so little, it may be too late."

When Barillon whispered this to James, he seemed to start as from a lethargy, and said, "You are right, there is no time to lose. I will rather hazard all than not do my duty." But there were no ordinary difficulties in the way. Who was to administer the catholic rites? It was death by the law for any priest of that faith to be on English ground, except the queen's expressly privileged confessors, and they were all too well known. There was another difficulty; notwithstanding Charles's years of life on the continent, he could not, it seems, understand any language but English, and where was an English priest to be found? Such, however, was found in Huddleston, who had been with the king in the battle of Worcester, and accompanied him in his flight. He had become a Benedictine monk, and had been appointed one of the chaplains of the queen. The duke, stooping to the king's ear, had inquired in a whisper whether he should bring him a catholic priest, and Charles instantly replied, "For God's sake, do!" The duke then requested, in the king's name, all the company to retire into an adjoining room, except the earl of Bath, lord of the bed-chamber, and lord Feversham, captain of the guard, and as soon as this was done, Huddleston, disguised in a wig and gown, was introduced by the backstairs by Chiffinch, who for so many years had been employed to introduce very different persons. Barillon says that Huddleston was no great doctor, which is probably true enough, having originally been a soldier, but he managed to administer the sacrament to the king, and also the extreme unction. Charles declared he pardoned all his enemies, and prayed to be pardoned by God, and forgiven by all whom he had injured.