royalty restored-第69部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


is　majesty　hovered　betwixt　life　and　death；　which　should　claim　him　no　man　might　say。　　Whereon　the　Duke　of　York　hastened　to　his　bedside；　as　did　likewise　the　queen；　her　face　blanched；　her　eyes　wild　with　terror。　　His　majesty　after　some　time　recovering　consciousness；　slowly　realized　his　sad　condition。　　Then　he　conceived　a　fear；　the　stronger　as　begotten　by　conviction；　that　the　sands　of　his　life　had　run　their　course。　　Throughout　that　day　and　the　next　he　fainted　frequently；　and　showed　symptoms　of　epilepsy。　　On　Wednesday　he　was　cupped　and　bled　in　both　jugulars；　but　on　Thursday　he　was　pronounced　better；　when　the　physicians；　anxious　to　welcome　hope；　spoke　of　his　probable　recovery。

But；　alas；　the　same　evening　he　grew　restless；　and　signs　of　fever　became　apparent。　　Jesuits'　powders；　then　of　great　repute；　were　given　him；　but　with　no　good　result。　　Complaining　of　a　pain　in　his　side；　the　doctors　drew　twelve　ounces　more　of　blood　from　him。　Exhaustion　then　set　in；　all　hope　of　life　was　over。

Meanwhile；　the　capital　was　in　a　state　of　consternation。　　Prayers　for　his　majesty's　recovery　were　offered　up　in　all　churches　throughout　the　city；　likewise　in　the　royal　chapels；　where　the　clergy　relieved　each　other　every　quarter　of　an　hour。　　Crowds　gathered　by　day　and　night　without　the　palace　gates；　eager　to　learn　the　latest　change　in　the　king's　condition　from　those　who　passed　to　and　fro。　　Inside　Whitehall　all　was　confusion。　　Members　of　the　Privy　Council　assembled　in　the　room　adjoining　that　where　the　monarch　lay；　politicians　and　ambassadors　conversed　in　whispers　in　the　disordered　apartments；　courtiers　of　all　degrees　flocked　through　the　corridors　bearing　signs　of　deep　concern　upon　their　countenances。

And　amongst　others　who　sought　his　majesty's　presence　was　the　Archbishop　of　Canterbury；　together　with　the　Bishops　of　London；　Durham；　Ely；　and　Bath　and　Wells；　all　being　anxious　to　render　spiritual　services　to　the　king。　　Of　these　good　men；　Charles　liked　best　Dr。　Ken；　Bishop　of　Bath　and　Wells；　having　most　faith　in　his　honesty。　　For；　when　his　lordship　was　a　prebend　of　Winchester；　it　had　happened　Charles　passed　through　that　city；　accompanied　by　Nell　Gwynn；　when　Dr。　Ken　refused　to　receive　her　beneath　his　roof　even　at　the　king's　request。　　This　proof　of　integrity　so　pleased　his　majesty；　that　he　gave　him　the　next　vacant　bishopric　by　way　of　reward。　　And　now；　his　lordship　being　at　hand；　he　read　prayers　for　the　Sick　from　out　the　Common　Prayer　Book　for　his　benefit；　until　coming　to　that　part　where　the　dying　are　exhorted　to　make　confession　of　their　sins；　when　the　bishop　paused　and　said　such　was　not　obligatory。　　He　then　asked　his　majesty　if　he　were　sorry　for　the　iniquities　of　his　life？　　when　the　sick　man；　whose　heart　was　exceeding　heavy；　replied　he　was；　whereon　the　bishop　pronounced　absolution；　and　asked　him　if　he　would　receive　the　Sacrament。　　To　this　Charles　made　no　reply；　until　the　same　question　had　been　repeated　several　times；　when　his　majesty　answered　he　would　think　of　it。

The　Duke　of　York；　who　stood　by　the　while；　noting　the　king's　answer；　and　aware　of　his　tendencies　towards　Catholicism；　bade　those　who　had　gathered　round　stand　aside；　and　then；　bending　over　him；　asked　in　a　low　tone　if　he　might　send　for　a　priest。　　A　look　of　unspeakable　relief　came　into　the　king's　face；　and　he　answered；　〃For　God's　sake　do；　brother；　and　lose　no　time。〃　　Then　another　thought　flashing　across　his　mind；　he　said；　〃But　will　not　this　expose　you　to　much　danger？〃　　James　made　answer；　〃Though　it　cost　me　my　life　I　will　bring　you　a　priest。〃　He　then　hurried　into　the　next　room；　where；　among　all　the　courtiers；　he　could　find　no　man　he　could　trust；　save　a　foreigner；　one　Count　Castelmachlor。　Calling　him　aside；　he　secretly　despatched　him　in　search　of　a　priest。

Between　seven　and　eight　o'clock　that　evening；　Father　Huddleston；　the　Benedictine　friar　who　had　aided　the　king's　escape　after　the　battle　of　Worcester；　awaited　at　the　queen's　back　stairs　the　signal　to　appear　in　his　majesty's　presence。　　The　duke　being　made　aware　of　the　fact；　announced　it　to　the　king；　who　thereon　ordered　all　in　his　room　to　withdraw；　but　James；　mindful　that　slander　might　afterwards　charge　him　with　killing　his　brother；　begged　the　Earl　of　Bath；　the　lord　of　the　bedchamber　then　in　waiting；　and　the　Earl　of　Feversham；　captain　of　the　guard；　might　staysaying　to　the　king　it　was　not　fitting　he　should　be　unattended　in　his　weak　condition。　　These　gentlemen　therefore　remained。　　And　no　sooner　had　all　others　departed　than　the　monk　was　admitted　by　a　private　entrance　to　the　chamber。　　The　king　received　him　with　great　joy　and　satisfaction；　stating　he　was　anxious　to　die　in　the　communion　of　the　catholic　church；　and　declaring　he　was　sorry　for　the　wrongs　of　his　past　life；　which　he　yet　hoped　might　be　pardoned　through　the　merits　of　Christ。

He　then；　as　we　read　in　the　Stuart　Papers；　〃with　exceeding　compunction　and　tenderness　of　heart；〃　made　an　exact　confession　of　his　sins；　after　which　he　repeated　an　act　of　contrition；　and　received　absolution。　　He　next　desired　to　have　the　other　Sacraments　of　the　church　proper　to　his　condition　administered　to　him：　　on　which　the　Benedictine　asked　if　he　desired　to　receive　the　Eucharist；　eagerly　he　replied；　〃If　I　am　worthy　pray　fail　not　to　let　me　have　it。〃　　Then　Father　Huddleston；　after　some　exhortation；　prepared　to　give　him　the　Sacrament；　when　the　dying　man；　struggling　to　raise　himself；　exclaimed；　〃Let　me　meet　my　heavenly　Lord　in　a　better　posture　than　lying　in　bed。〃　　But　the　priest　begged　he　would　not　move；　and　then　gave　him　the　Communion；　which　he　received　with　every　sign　of　fervour。　　And　for　some　time　he　prayed　earnestly；　the　monk　and　the　duke　kneeling　by　the　while；　silence　obtaining　in　the　room。　　This　was　presently　broken　by　the　sad　and　solemn　tones　of　the　priest's　voice；　reading　a　commendation　of　the　soul　to　its　Maker：　　the　which　being　ended；　the　Benedictine；　with　tears　in　his　eyes；　took　leave　of　his　majesty。　〃Ah；〃　said　Charles；　〃you　once　saved　my　body；　you　have　now　saved　my　soul。〃　　Then　the　monk　gave　him　his　benediction；　and　departed　as　quietly　as　he　had　come。

Then　those　waiting　without　were　once　more　admitted　to　the　room；　when　Charles　nerved　himself　to　take　a　sad　farewell　of　those　around　him。　　He　first　publicly　thanked　his　brother　for　the　services　and　affection　he　had　ever　rendered　him　through　life；　and　extolled　his　obedience　and　submission　to　his　commands。　　Giving　him　his　keys；　he　said　he　had　left　him　all　he　possessed；　and　prayed　God　would　bless　him　with　a　happy　and　prosperous　reign。　Finally；　he　recommended　all　his　children　to　him　by　name；　excepting　only　the　Duke　of　Monmouth　then　in　Holland；　and　suffering　from　the　king's　displeasure；　and　besought　him　to　extend　his　kindness　towards　the　Duchesses　of　Portsmouth　and　Cleveland；　〃and　do　not；〃　said　he；　〃let　poor　Nelly　starve。〃　　Whilst　these　commands　were　addressed　him；　the　duke　had　flung　himself　on　his　knees　by　the　bedside；　and；　bursting　into　tears；　kissed　his　brother's　hand。

The　queen；　who　had　scarce　left　his　majesty　since　the　beginning　of　his　illness；　was　at　this　time　absent；　her　love　and　grief　not　permitting　her　to　endure　this　afflicting　scene。　　He　spoke　most　tenderly　of　her；　and　when　presently　she　sent　a　message　praying　he　would　pardon　her　absence　in　regard　to　her　excessive　grief；　and　forgive　her　withal　if　at　any　time　she　had　offended　him；　he　replied；　〃Alas；　poor　woman！　　She　beg　my　pardon？I　beg　hers；　with　all　my　heart。〃　　He　next　summoned　his　children　to　him；　one　by　one；　and　addressing　them　with　words　of　advice；　embraced　them　heartily　and　blessed　them　fervently。　　And　he　being　the　Lord's　anointed；　the　bishops　present　besought　he　would　give　them　his　benediction　likewise；　and　all　that　were　present；　and　in　them　the　whole　body　of　his　subjects；　in　compliance　with　which　request　he；　with　some　difficulty；　raised　himself；　and　all　falling　on　their　knees；　he　blessed　them　fervently。　　Then　they　arose　and　departed。

Silence　fell　upon　the　palace；　night　wore　slowly　away。　　Charles　tossed　upon　his　bed　racked　with　pain；　but　no　complaint　escaped　his　lips。　　Those　who　watched　him　in　the　semi…darkened　room　heard　him　ask　God　to　accept　his　sufferings　in　atonement　for　his　sins。　Then；　speaking　aloud；　he　declared　himself　weary　of　life；　and　hoped　soon　to　reach　a　better　world。　　Courteous　to　the　last；　he　begged　pardon　for　the　trouble　he　gave；　inasmuch　as　he　was　long　in　dying。　　And　anon　he　slumbered；　and　quickly　woke　again　in　agony　and　prayed　with　zeal。　　Never　had　time　moved　with　slower　passage　for　him；　not　hours；　but　weeks；　seemed　to　elapse　between　each　stroke　of　the　clock；　and　yet　around　him　was　darkness　and　tardy　night。　　But　after　much　weary　waiting；　morning　was　at　hand；　the　time…piece　struck　six。　　〃Draw　the　curtains；〃　said　the　dying　man；　〃that　I　may　once　more　see　day。〃　　The　grey　light　of　a　February　dawn；　scarce　brightened　to　eastward　a　cheerless　sky；　but　he　hailed　this　herald　of　sunrise　with　infinite　relief　and　terrible　regret；　relief　that　he　had　lived　to　see　another　day；　regret　that　no　more　morns　should　break　for　him。

His　soul　tore　itself　from　his　body　with　fierce　struggles　and　bitter　pain。　　It　was　hard　for　him　to　die；　but　he　composed　himself　to　enter　eternity　〃with　the　piety　becoming　a　Christian；　and　the　resolution　becoming　a　king；〃　as　his　brother　narrates。　　About　ten　o'clock　on　Friday　morning；　February　6th；　1685；　he　found　relief　in　unconsciousness；　before　midday　chimed　he　was　dead。　　He　had　reached　the　fifty…fifth　year　of　his　life；　and　the　twenty…fifth　year　of　his　reign。

His　illegitimate　progeny　was　numerous；　numbering　fifteen；　besides　those　who　died　in　infancy。　　These　were　the　Duke　of　Monmouth　and　a　daughter　married　to　William　Sarsfield；　children　of　Lucy　Walters；　the　Dukes　of　Southampton；　Grafton；　and　Northumberland；　the　Countesses　of　Litchfield　and　of　Sussex；　and　a　daughter　Barbara。　who　became　a　nun；　children　of　the　Duchess　of　Cleveland；　the　Duke　of　Richmond；　son　of　the　Duchess　of　Portsmouth；　the　Duke　of　St。　Albans；　and　a　son　James；　children　of　Nell　Gwynn；　Lady　Derwentwater；　daughter　of　Moll　Davis；　the　Countess　of　Yarmouth；　daughter　of　Lady　Shannon；　and　the　Earl　of　Plymouth；　son　of　Catherine　Peg。

For　seven　days　the　remains　of　the　late　king　lay　in　state；　on　the　eighth　they　were　placed　in　Westminster　Abbey。　　The　ceremony　was　of　necessity　conducted　in　a　semi…private　manner　for　by　reason　of　his　majesty　dying