[277]. “Life of Mrs Godolphin.” John Evelyn, edit. by E. W. Harcourt, 1888.

[278]. Macpherson’s “Original Papers,” 1772.

[279]. Arlington, writing to the English Ambassador in Spain, said she was afflicted with a complication of disorders.

In the ante-room without, the Duke of York had awaited the bishop, and there alone with him confided to his ears the secret so long concealed. His wife, he said, had been reconciled to the Church of Rome, and had entreated of him, that if any bishops should come to her in her extremity, they would not disturb her with controversy.[[280]]

[280]. “Memoirs of the Court of England during the Reign of the Stuarts,” John Heneage Jesse. “Life of James II.,” Rev. J. S. Clarke, from original Stuart MSS. in Carlton House, 1816. “During all her great indisposition of which she dyed, she had not prayers said to her by either of the chaplains.”

Blandford can scarcely have been surprised at the announcement, considering the surmises which had for so long been afloat, and the manner in which he himself and his colleagues had been kept at a distance, but he collected himself to answer gravely and compassionately. He said that he believed the Duchess, in spite of what had occurred, to be in the fair way of salvation, seeing she had not changed her religion for any hope of worldly gain nor advantage, but from honest conviction. After these words, with the Duke’s permission, the bishop passed quietly into the stately, beautiful room, where amid the pomp of royalty, with brocaded curtains round her bed, the flicker of wax lights in silver sconces only throwing the figures of the Gobelin hangings on the walls into darker relief, lay Duchess Anne. By her side sat Catherine the Queen, the golden beads of her rosary slipping one by one through her shaking fingers, tears slowly stealing down her cheeks.[[281]] Beyond stood Lady Cranmer, and leaning over the dying woman, ready with the draught for the fevered lips, was Margaret Blagge, her beautiful face alight with infinite love and pity. Bishop Blandford drew near, and stood for a moment silent. Then as Anne’s dark eyes, unclosing, met his, he said gently but distinctly:

“I hope you continue still in truth?”

[281]. Burnet’s “History of His Own Time.”

Possibly only the one word reached her failing senses, but she answered brokenly with Pilate’s question:

“What is truth?”