royalty restored-第87章

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d　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　in　the　Catholic　religion；　his　brother　considered　it　desirable　the　ceremonies　prescribed　for　the　occasion　by　the　English　church　should　be　dispensed　with。　Therefore；　in　order　to　avoid　disputes　or　scandal；　the　king　was　laid　in　the　tomb　without　ostentation。　　At　night　his　remains　were　carried　from　the　painted　chamber　in　Westminster　sanctuary　to　the　abbey。　　The　procession；　headed　by　the　servants　of　the　nobility；　of　James　II。；　and　his　queen；　of　the　dowager　queen；　and　of　the　late　king；　was　followed　by　the　barons；　bishops；　and；　peers　according　to　their　rank；　the　officers　of　the　household；　and　the　Archbishop　of　Canterbury。　　Then　came　all　that　was　mortal　of　his　late　majesty；　borne　under　a　canopy　of　velvet；　supported　by　six　gentlemen　of　the　privy　chamber；　the　pall　being　held　by　six　earls。　Prince　George　of　Denmarksubsequently　husband　of　Queen　Anne　acted　as　chief　mourner；　attended　by　the　Dukes　of　Somerset　and　Beaufort；　and　sixteen　earls。　　One　of　the　kings　of　Arms　carried　the　crown　and　cushion；　the　train　being　closed　by　the　king's　band　of　gentlemen　pensioners；　and　the　yeomen　of　the　guard。

At　the　abbey　entrance　the　dean　and　prebendaries；　attended　by　torch　bearers；　and　followed　by　a　surpliced　choir；　met　the　remains；　and　joined　the　procession；　the　slow　pacing　figures　of　which　seemed　spectral　in　this　hour　and　place；　then　the　sad　cortege　passed　solemnly　through　the　grey　old　abbey；　the　choir　chanting　sorrowfully　the　while；　the　yellow　flare　of　torches　marking　the　prevailing　gloom。　　And　being　come　to　the　chapel　of　Henry　VII。；　the　body　of　the　merry　monarch　was　suffered　there　to　rest　in　peace。







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