nature of which he omits to state. This is now known to have been dram-drinking; a practice which (added to the fatigues to which the King had for many years been subjected,) had latterly so undermined his constitution, as to reduce him to a most distressing state of debility. So feeble, indeed, had he become towards the close of his career, that it was found necessary to lift him on his horse and yet, when once in his saddle, his appearance is said to have instantly changed, and his eye to have lighted up with all the fire which had distinguished it in former days.

Another charge which Burnet brings against King William is an undue admiration of women. The Countess of Orkney, however, was his only acknowledged mistress; and Burnet admits that he was particularly tenacious of offending against public decency, and (whatever were his private failings) avoided that open and shameless display of profligacy which had sullied the conduct of so many of his predecessors. In his own country, secrecy appears to have been less the object of his solicitude. A Dr. Covell writes to Mr. Skelton, in a letter from Dieren, dated 15th of October, 1685, "I wonder what the devil makes the Prince so cold to you: none but princes and bawds must expect any tolerable usage here."* When in

*Correspondence of the Earls of Clarendon and Rochester, vol. i. p. 165. The Earl of Hardwicke remarks, in one of his

Holland, also, we find him highly exasperated with his English chaplain, Dr. Ken, for compelling one of his favourites to fulfil a marriage contract, by uniting himself to a young lady whom he had seduced. Ken, singularly enough, met with very different treatment from Charles the Second, under somewhat similar circumstances. When the Court was at Winchester, Ken, then one of the prebendaries, notwithstanding the King's express orders, positively refused to admit Nel Gwyn into his lodgings. Charles, however, was so far from showing any anger on the occasion, that he took Ken into favour, and shortly afterwards conferred on him the bishopric of Bath and Wells.

notes to Bishop Burnet's History," I have seen a letter of the Queen's, containing a strong but decent admonition to the King for some irregularity in his conduct. The expressions are so general, that one can neither make out the fact or person alluded to. This was thought improper to be published by Sir J. Dalrymple."-Burnet, History of His Own Time, vol. iv. p. 249, note.

164

CHAPTER IX.

William's continued ill-health.-Anecdotes of the celebrated physician, Dr. Radcliffe.-William's want of confidence in his medical attendants.—Re-visits Holland in 1701.-Dislocates his collar-bone by a fall from his horse, while riding in Hampton Court Park.-Is conveyed to Kensington the same evening. His conviction of his approaching dissolution.—A defluxion is discovered in his knee.-He is seized with a violent shivering fit.-Assents to the Oath of Adjuration. -His alarming condition. Is visited by his friend and favourite, the Earl of Albemarle.-Extraordinary council of physicians summoned. William expresses his thanks to Dr. Bidloo. Is waited on by the Archbishop of Canterbury. -Receives the Sacrament, and bids farewell to the Duke of Ormond, and other friends. Inquires of Dr. Bidloo how long he has to live.-Sends for the Earl of Portland. -William's Death on the 8th of March, 1702.-Summary of the leading points in his character.-Extract from a poem on his death. He is interred in a vault beneath Henry the Seventh's Chapel at Westminster.

For a considerable period preceding the death of William, it was evident to all who approached him that the ravages of disease, as well as the fatigues, both mental and bodily, to which he had been subjected almost from his childhood, had made melancholy inroads on his constitution. His voice had become weakened by an asthmatic affection; his legs had swollen to an unusual

size; while the rest of his body was evidently wasting away. When William pointed out these symptoms to the celebrated physician, Dr. Radcliffe, "I would not," said the doctor, "have your Majesty's two legs for your three kingdoms." This unfeeling and irreverent speech was never forgiven by William; and though he continued to make use of Radcliffe's prescriptions till within three days of his death, he could never again be persuaded to bear him in his presence. Dr. Radcliffe, on one occasion, told the King plainly that his years would be few, and he added, that unless he discontinued his drinking parties, they would be still fewer. Radcliffe, from his knowledge of the King's constitution, is said to have predicted to him the very year in which he would die, and William, from his implicit confidence in his physician's abilities, is stated to have been thoroughly convinced that the prophecy would prove correct. According to Radcliffe's biographer, the result proved, at the same time, the accuracy of the King's judgment and of the doctor's calculation.

William, however, generally speaking, appears to have placed but little confidence in his medical attendants; indeed, from the proofs which we possess, not only that the nature of his own disorders was misunderstood by the royal physicians, but that their remedies hastened the end, of both his consort Queen Mary, and of his nephew, the

Duke of Gloucester, we cannot wonder that he looked with contempt on their art. On the 2nd of July, 1700, James Vernon, Secretary of State, writes to the Duke of Shrewsbury," I was at Hampton Court this morning, and the King seemed a little heavy: I asked him if he were out of order. He said he should be very well, if they would leave off giving him remedies. He had taken something that had put his stomach out of order. I wished him at Loo, that he might be a little eased of the cares and chagrins he met with here." Vernon again writes to the Duke on the 15th of May following, "The King is much as he was as to the swelling of his legs he will not confine himself to doctor's rules; and this week he has had a small aguish fit or two, but he seems to be very well this morning." Vernon seems to have entertained as contemptible an opinion of the doctors as William himself; and, in his letters to the Duke of Shrewsbury, expresses a hope that the King's projected visit to Holland will rid him of their presence, and that he will be better when "out of their hands."*

Distressing as were the evidences of decay, which had for some time been exhibited in the King's person, it was plain that his bodily infirmities had in no degree affected the vigour of his

* Letters illustrative of the Reign of William the Third, vol. iii. pp. 105, 107, 145.