AT THE COUNCIL-CHAMBER IN WHITEHALL Monday the 22. of October 1688. THis day an Extraordinary Council met where were likewise Present by His Majesties Desire and Appointment Her Majesty the Queen Dowager and such of the Peers of this Kingdom both Spiritual and Temporal as were in Town And also the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of the City of London The Judges and several of Their Majesties Council Learn'd hereafter Named The Kings Most Excellent Majesty Her Majesty the Queen Dowager in a Chair placed on the Kings Right Hand His R. H. Pr. George of Denmark Lord Chancellor Lord President Lord Privy Seal Duke of Hamilton Lord Chamberlain Earl of Oxford Earl of Huntingdon Earl of Peterborow Earl of Craven Earl of Berkeley Earl of Rochester Earl of Moray Earl of Middleton Earl of Melfort Earl of Castlemain Viscount Preston Lord Bellasyse Lord Godolphin Lord Dover Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer Master of the Rolls L. Ch. Justice Herbert Sir Thomas Strickland Sir Nicholas Butler Mr. Titus Lord A.B. of Canterbury Duke of Norfolke Duke of Grafton Duke of Ormond Duke of Northumberland Marquess of Halyfax Earl of Pembroke Earl of Salisbury Earl of Clarendon Earl of Cardigan Earl of Ailesbury Earl of Burlington Earl of Litchfeild Earl of Feversham Earl of Nottingham Viscount Newport Viscount Weymouth Bishop of London Bishop of Winchester Bishop of Rochester Bishop of Chester Bishop of St. Davids Lord North Lord Chandos Lord Mountagu Lord Herbert of Chirbury Lord Vaughan Earl of Carbery Lord Colepeper Lord Churchill Lord Waldegrave The Lord Mayor and Aldermen of the City of London Sir Robert Wright Lord Chief Justice of the Kings Bench. Sir Thomas Powel Justices of the Kings Bench. Sir Robert Baldock Justices of the Kings Bench. Sir Thomas Street Justices of the Common Pleas. Sir Edward Lutwich Justices of the Common Pleas. Sir Thomas Jennor Justices of the Common Pleas. Sir Richard Heath Barons of the Exchequer Sir Charles Ingleby Barons of the Exchequer Sir John Rotheram Barons of the Exchequer Sir John Maynard His Majesties Serjeants at Law. Sir John Holt His Majesties Serjeants at Law. Sir Ambrose Philips His Majesties Serjeants at Law. Sir Thomas Powis His Majesties Attorney General Sir William VVilliams His Majesties Solicitor General Sir James Butler Mr. North the Queens Attorney Mr. Mountagu the Queens Solicitor Sir Charles Porter To whom His Majesty Spake to this Effect My Lords I Have called you together upon a very extraordinary Occasion but extraordinary Diseases must have extraordinary Remedies The Malicious Endeavours of my Enemies have so poisoned the Minds of some of my Subjects that by the Reports I have from all hands I have Reason to believe That very many do not think this Son with which God hath blessed Me to be Mine but a Supposed Child But I may say that by particular Providence scarce any Prince was ever Born where there were so many Persons present I have taken this time to have the Matter Heard and Examined here Expecting that the Prince of Orange with the first Eastwardly Wind will Invade this Kingdom And as I have often ventured My Life for the Nation before I came to the Crown so I think My Self more obliged to do the same now I am KING and do intend to go in Person against him whereby I may be exposed to Accidents and therefore I thought it necessary to have this now done in order to satisfie the minds of My Subjects and to prevent this Kingdom 's being engaged in Blood and Confusion after My Death desiring to do always what may contribute most to the Ease and Quiet of My Subjects which I have shewed by Securing to them their Liberty of Conscience and the Enjoyment of their Properties which I will always preserve I have desired the Queen Dowager to give Her Self the trouble to come hither to Declare what she knows of the Birth of My Son and most of the Ladies Lords and other Persons who were present are ready here to Depose upon Oath their Knowledge of this Matter Whereupon the Queen Dowager was pleased to say THat when the King sent for her to the Queens Labour she came as soon as she could and never stirred from her till she was Delivered of the Prince of VVales Catherina R. And the following Depositions were all taken upon Oath Elizabeth Lady Marchioness of Powis Deposeth THat about the 29th of December last the Queen was likely to Miscarry whereupon she immediately went unto her and offered her some effectual Remedies which are made use of on the like Occasion which the Queen ordered this Deponent to acquaint the Doctors with The Day following the Queen Dowager sent this Deponent to fee how the Queen did who replied She had a pretty good Night and did think she had Quickned but would not be positive till she felt it again That after this the Deponent did frequently wait on the Queen in the Morning and did see her Shift her several Days and generally saw the Milk and sometimes Wet upon her Smock That some time after this Deponent went into the Country and came not up till a few Days before the Queen was brought to Bed and from the time of this Deponents Return she saw the Queen every Day till she was brought to Bed and was in the Room a Quarter of an hour before and at the time of her Delivery of the Prince by Mrs. Wilks Her Majesties Midwife which this Deponent saw and immediately went with the Prince carried by Mrs. Delabadie into the Queens little Bedchamber where she saw Sir Thomas Witherley sent for by the Midwife who gave the Child Three Drops of something which came into the World with him which this Deponent saw done And this Deponent doth Aver this Prince to be the same Child which was then born and that she has never been from him one Day since Eliza. Powis Anne Countess of Aran Deposeth THat she went to the Queen from Whitehall to St. James's as soon as she heard that her Majesty was in Labour When she came she found the Queen in Bed complaining of little Pains The Lady Sunderland Lady Roscomon Mrs. Labadie and the Midwife were on that side of the Bed where the Queen lay and this Deponent with a great many others stood on the other side all the time till the Queen was Delivered As soon as her Majesty was Delivered she said O Lord I don't hear the Child Cry and immediately upon that this Deponent did hear it Cry and saw the Midwife take the Child out of the Bed and give it to Mrs. Labadie who carried it into the little Bed-Chamber where she this Deponent followed her and saw that it was a Son and that likewise she the Deponent hath several times seen Milk run out upon the Queens Smock during her being with Child A. Aran. Penelope Countess of Peterborow Deposeth THat she was often with the Queen while her Majesty was last with Child and saw the Milk often upon her Majesties Smock when
of her Ladies being sick of a Fever but do's in her Conscience believe her Majesty was with Child both by her Belly and her Milk. A. Marischall George Lord Jeffreys Lord Chancellor of England Deposeth THat he being sent for to St. James's on the Tenth of June last by a Messenger that left word the Queen was in Labour soon after he this Deponent came to St. James's and was sent for into the Queens Bed-chamber and to the best of his the Deponents apprehension the Queen was in Labour and had a Pain or two to the best of the Deponents remembrance before the rest of the Lords were called in The Deponent stood all the time at the Queens Bed side and heard Her cry out several times as Women in Travail use to do and at length after along pain it was by some of the Women on the other side of the Bed said the Child was born The Deponent heard the Queen say She did not hear it Cry. The Deponent immediately asked the Lord President what it was he whispered that it was a Boy which the Deponent understood he had hinted to him by the Lady Sunderland Immediately the Deponent saw a Gentlewoman who he hath since heard her Name to be Mrs. Labadie carry the Child into another Room whether the Deponent followed and saw the Child when she first open'd it and saw it was black and reaking so that it plainly seemed to this Deponent to have been newly come from the Womb. The Deponent doth therefore Depose he doth stedfastly believe the Queen was Delivered of that Child that very morning Jaffreys C. Robert Earl of Sunderland Lord President of His Majesties Privy-Council and Principal Secretary of State Deposeth THat on Sunday morning the 10th of June last he was sent to to come to St. James's the Queen being in Labour The Deponent immediately went and found many Lords of the Council there After having been some time in an outward Room first the Lord Chancellor and then the rest of the Council were called into the Queens Bed-chamber where in a short time her Majesty was brought to Bed. The Deponent saw Mrs. Labadie carry the Child into the next Room whither the Deponent followed with many more and saw it was a Son and had the Marks of being new born Sunderland P. Henry Lord Arundell of Wardour Lord Privy Seal Deposeth THat on the 10th of June last being Sunday he had notice given him that the Queen was in Labour whereupon the Deponent repaired to St. James's betwixt Nine and Ten of the Clock in the morning where he found several Lords of the Council In a little time after they were all called into the Queens Bed-chamber in less than a quarter of an hour after she fell into the sharpness of her Labour her Cries were so vehement and especially the last that the Deponent could not forbid himself the being concern'd for her great Pain which the Deponent expressing to the Lord Chancellor he told the Deponent it was a sign her Majesty would the sooner be Delivered or words to that purpose which proved very true for presently after she was so The Deponent heard a whispering up and down that it was a Prince for no man was permitted to speak it aloud lest the sudden knowledge of it might have discomposed the Queen The Deponent did not go in with some Lords when the Child was carried into the next Room which was the occasion the Deponent did not see him when he was uncovered and drest Arundell C. P. S. John Earl of Mulgrave Lord Chamberlain of His Majesties Houshold saith it is not to be expected one of his sex should be able to give full Evidence in such a matter but Deposeth THat he was just at the Beds Feet and heard the Queen Cry very much then the Deponent followed the Child into the other Room and it seemed a little black the Deponent also saw it was a Boy Mulgrave William Earl of Craven Deposeth THat he attending the King at St. James's the 10th of June last in the morning to receive the Word of His Majesty the King had Notice brought him that the Queen was upon the point of falling into Labour upon which the King commanded this Deponents Stay and Attendance and after the space of one hour and something more this Deponent was with some other Lords of His Majesties Privy Council called into the Queens Great Bed-chamber to be present at Her Delivery and as near as this Deponent can remember the Queen made Three Groans or Squeeks and at the last of Three was delivered of a Child the which was carried out into the little Bed-chamber and there by the Fire this Deponent saw it cleansing And this Deponent further saith That he took that particular Mark of this Child that he may safely aver that the Prince of Wales is that very Child that then was so brought out of the Queens Great Bed-chamber where this Deponent and others were present as aforesaid at Her Majesties Labour and Delivery Craven Lewis Earl of Feversham Lord Chamberlain to Her Majesty the Queen Dowager Deposeth THat being in Bed upon the 10th of June between 8 and 9 a clock in the morning Mr. Nicholas one of His Majesties Grooms of His Bed-chamber came into this Deponents Room and told him that the King had sent him to tell the Queen Dowager that the Queen was in Labour and told him further that the Queen Dowager had given order for Her Coach as soon as she heard the News of the Queens Labour The Deponent dressed himself with all speed and came to wait upon the Queen Dowager who was ready to go into her Coach as she did The Deponent went into one of her Coaches to wait upon Her Majesty as he used to do having the honour to be Her Lord Chamberlain We went to St. James's and then led Her Majesty into the Queens Bed-chamber and finding the Queen in pain the Deponent went into the next Room where were several Lords of the Privy Council from whence the Deponent heard the Queen cry out several times and a very little after the Lords of the Council were called in and the Deponent followed them into the Bed-chamber and a very little after the Queen cryed louder and then said Pray do not tell me what it is yet The Deponent went out of the Room to tell the News that the Queen was brought to Bed and when the Deponent came in again the News was that it was a Prince and immediately the Deponent saw Mrs. Labadie with the Child wrapt up in her hands and in the Croud upon which the Deponent desired to make room for the Prince and followed her into the little Bed-chamber where the Deponent saw the Prince as a Child newly born as he believed it Feversham Alexander Earl of Morray Deposeth THat he came not to St. James's till half an hour after the Queen was brought to Bed and only heard that Her Majesty was brought to Bed of a
KING and several of the Lords soon after following into the little Bed-Chamber where the Deponent saw the Child Naked before it was Cleansed from the Impurities of its Birth and also saw the Navel-string cut and some Drops of fresh Blood received into a Spoon which the Deponent mingled with a little Black-cherry-Water and saw given by the Physitians Orders to the Child And afterwards going into the great Bed-Chamber where the Queen was Delivered he saw the After-Burthen c. fresh Ja. St. Amand. After these Depositions were taken His Majesty was pleased to acquaint the Lords That the Princess Anne of Denmark would have been present but that she being with Child and having not lately stirred abroad could not come so far without hazard Adding further ANd now My Lords although I did not question but every Person here present was satisfied before in this Matter yet by what You have heard You will be better able to satisfie Others Besides if I and the Queen could be thought so Wicked as to endeavour to impose a Child upon the Nation You see how impossible it would have been neither could I My Self be imposed upon having constantly been with the Queen during Her being with Child and the whole time of Her Labour And there is none of You but will easily believe Me who have suffered so much for Conscience-sake uncapable of so great a Villany to the Prejudice of My Own Children And I thank God that those that know Me know well that it is My Principle to do as I would be done by for that is the Law and the Prophets And I would rather die a Thousand Deaths than do the least Wrong to any of My Children His Majesty further said IF any of My Lords think it necessary the Queen should be sent for it shall be done But their Lordships not thinking it necessary Her Majesty was not sent for IT is Order'd this day by His Majesty in Council That the several Declarations here before made by His Majesty and by her Majesty the Queen-Dowager together with the several Depositions here entred be forthwith Enrolled in the Court of Chancery And the Lord Chancellor is Ordered to cause the same to be Enrolled accordingly IN Pursuance of which Order in Council the Lord Chancellor on Saturday the 27th Day of October following in the High Court of Chancery many of the Nobility and Lords of his Majesties most Honorable Privy Council being there present caused the aforesaid Order of Council and Declarations of His Majesty and likewise that of Her Majesty the Queen Dowager to be openly and distinctly Read in Court as the same are Entred in the Words aforesaid in the Council Book And the Lords and Ladies and other Persons who made the respective Depositions aforesaid being present in Court were Sworn again and having heard their several Depositions distinctly Read in the Words aforesaid and being severally Interrogated by the Court to the Truth thereof they all upon their Oaths affirmed their respective Depositions to be True and did likewise Depose except some few who came in late to the Council Chamber or some who stood at too great a distance that they heard His Majesty and Her Majesty the Queen-Dowager make the several Declarations aforesaid and that the same as they had been Read were Truly Entred as they did believe in the Council Book according to the Sence Intent and Meaning of what His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen-Dowager did then Declare And forasmuch as the Earl of Huntingdon and the Earl of Peterborow who were able to Depose to the Matters aforesaid had not been Examined at the Council Board but had brought their several Depositions in Writing which they delivered into Court the said Lord Chancellor after the said Earls were severally Sworn Ordered their Depositions to be openly Read in these Words following UPon Trinity Sunday 10th June 1688. I went to St. James's House about Nine a Clock in the Morning and followed my Lord Chancellor through the Lodgings to the Dressing Room next to the Queens Bed-Chamber where divers Lords of the Council were met upon occasion of the Queens being in Labour the King came several times into the Room and amongst other things was pleased to tell us that the Queen came exactly according to her first Reckoning which was from the Kings Return from his Progress to Bathe in September 1687. After this the Counsellors were ordered to come into the Bed-Chamber and I stood on that side of the Bed that had the Curtains drawn open I heard Her Majesty Cry out several times I staid in the Room during the Birth of the Prince of Wales I saw him carried into the little Bed-Chamber whither the King the Lords and my self in particular did follow him Huntingdon I Had the Honor to be in the King's Chamber in the Morning when word was brought him the Queen was not well and followed him into the Dressing Room next Her Majesties Bed-Chamber where I staid till His Majesty called me to come in which was about the beginning of her Pains I Confess the Compassion I had for Her Majesty hearing her Crys made my stay there very uneasie One of the last especially seemed to me so Sharp as it really forced me for a little time to stop my Ears with my Fingers to avoid hearing more of the like when setting them at Liberty I heard no more but perceived a suddain satisfaction in the Faces of the Assistance several saying that the Queen was Delivered and soon thereupon I saw the Prince brought from about the Bed and carried into the little Bed-Chamber whether I went afterwards to behold him more particularly where I saw him as a Child newly Born. Peterborow AFter which the said Earls did severally upon their Oaths affirm their Depositions to be True as they had been Read and that they were present in Council and heard His Majesty and Her Majesty the Queen Dowager make the several Declarations aforesaid and that the same were Entred in the Council Book as they did believe according to the effect true Sense and Meaning of what their Majesties Declared in Council Whereupon His Majesties Attorny General moved the Court that the said Declarations of His Majesty and of Her Majesty the Queen-Dowager and the several Depositions and the Order of Council should be Enrolled in the Petty-Bag-Office and in the Office of Inrolments in the Court of Chancery for the safe Preservation and Custody of them which the Lord Chancellor Ordered accordingly Published by His Majesties special Command LONDON Printed by Charles Bill Henry Hills and Thomas Newcomb Printers to the King 's most Excellent Majesty 1688.