I R HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE DIEV ET MON DROIT 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 Nicolas Butler Mr. Titus Lord A.B. of Canterbury Duke of Norfolke Duke of Grafton Duke of Ormond Duke or 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 Sir Robert Baldock Justices of the Kings Bench. Sir Thomas Street Sir Edward Lutwich Sir Thomas Jennor Justices of the Common Pleas. Sir Richard Heath Sir Charles Ingleby Sir John Rotheram Barons of the Exchequer Sir John Maynard Sir John Holt Sir Ambrose Philips His Majesties Serjeants at Law. Sir Thomas Powis His Majesties Attorney General Sir William Williams 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 Wales 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 immediatly 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 see 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 law and immediatly went with the Prince carried by Mrs. Delabadie into the Queens little Bed. Chamber 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 Rosecomon 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 while the Queen was Delivered As soon as her Majesty was Delivered she said O Lord I don't hear the Child Cry and immediatly 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 she the Deponent took it off from the Queen and often saw her Majesties Belly so as it could not be
otherwise but that she was with Child That the said Deponent stood by the Bed-side on the 10th of June last in the Morning while the Queen was Delivered of the Prince of Wales P. Peterborow Anne Countess of Sunderland Deposeth THat June the 10th 1688 being Trinity Sunday the Deponent went to St. James's Chappel at Eight of the Clock in the Morning intending to receive the Sacrament but in the beginning of the Communion Service the Man which looks to the Chappel came to the Deponent and told her she must come to the Queen The Deponent said She would as soon as Prayers were done In a very little time after another Man came up to the Altar to the Deponent and said The Queen was in Labour and the Deponent must come to her Majesty who then went directly to the Queens Bed-Chamber As soon as the Deponent came in her Majesty told her this Deponent She believed she was in Labour By this time the Bed was warmed and the Queen went into Bed and the King came in The Queen asked the King if he had sent for the Queen Dowager He said he had sent for every Body The said Deponent stood at the Queens Bolster the Lady Rosecomon Mrs. Delabadie and the Midwife on that side of the Bed where the Queen was Delivered After some lingring Pains the Queen said she feared she should not be brought to Bed a good while but enquiring of the Midwife she assured her Majesty that she wanted only one thorow Pain to bring the Child into the World Upon which the Queen said It is impossible the Child lies so high and commanded this Deponent to lay her Hand on her Majesties Belly to feel how high the Child lay which the Deponent did but soon after a great Pain came on at past Nine of the Clock and the Queen was Delivered which the Midwise by pulling the Deponent by the Coat assured her was a Son it being the Sign she told the Deponent she would give her the Queen having charged her not to let her Majesty know presently whether it was Son or Daughter As soon as the Midwife had given the Deponent the Sign the Deponent made a Sign to to the King that it was a Son. When the Midwife had done her Office she gave the Child to Mrs. Delabadie which was a Son and she carried it into the little Bed-Chamber A. Sunderland Isabella Countess of Roscomon Deposeth THat on the 10th of June last she stood by the Lady Sunderland in the Queens Bed-Chamber while the Queen was in Labour and saw the Prince of Wales when he was taken out of the Bed by the Midwife J. Roscomon Margaret Countess of Fingal Deposeth THat she waited on the Queen Dowager her Mistriss into the Queens Bed-Chamber at St. James's when the Queen was in Labour and stood by the Beds Feet when her Majesty was Delivered of the Prince That the Deponent saw the Prince carried away into another Room and soon after followed and saw him in that Room Marg. Fingall Lady Sophia Bulkeley Deposeth THat she was sent for on Trinity Sunday last past about Eight a Clock in the Morning to go to St. James's for the Man that came said the Queen was in Labour and he and others were sent to call every Body That this Deponent made as much haste as she could to rise and be drest but did not get to the Queens Bed Chamber until a little after Nine a Clock and then this Deponent found the Queen in her Bed and the Queen Dowager there set upon a Stool and some of the Ladies about her After this Deponent having staid a little while and thinking the Queen in no strong Pain she this Deponent went out and being next to the Room where the Queens Linen was a warming heard a noise and lookt to see what was the matter and finding no body there this Deponent ran and found the Lord Feversham in the Queens little Bed-Chamber who told this Deponent the Child was just born This Deponent ask't him What is it His Lordship said he could not tell So this Deponent ran on to the Queens Beds side and heard the Queen say to the Midwife Pray Mrs. Wilks don't part the Child which signifies don't cut the Navel string until the after-Birth is come away And while the Queen was with Child this Deponent hath heard her Majesty command her Midwife not to do otherwise it being counted much the safest way But to what the Queen said just then to the best of this Deponents Remembrance Mrs. Wilks replyed Pray Madam give me leave for I will do nothing but what will be safe for Your Self and Child The Queen Answered Do then and then cryed where is the King gone His Majesty came immediatly from the other side of the Bed from just having a sight of the Child and answered the Queen Here I am the Queen said Why do ye leave me now The King kneeled on the Bed on that side where the Deponent stood and a little after the Midwife said All is now come safe away Upon that the King rose from the Bed and said Pray my Lords come and see the Child The king followed Mrs. Labadie and the Lords His Majesty into the Little Bed-chamber where this Deponent followed also and saw as well as they that it was a Prince and that Mrs. Wilks was in the right to desire to part the Child for the Princes face especially his Forehead was blackish being stunn'd as I have seen some other Children when they have been just newly come into the World but God be thanked in two hours time that he was drest and washt which the Deponent staid by and saw done the Prince lookt very fresh and well This Deponent doth further add That all the while the Queen was with Child this Deponent had the honour to pay her Duty very often Mornings and Nights in waiting upon her Majesty in her dressing Room and Bed-chamber and for the last three or four months this Deponent hath oftentimes seen the Queens Milk as well as when this Deponent hath had the honor to put on her Majesties Smock S. Bulkeley Susanna Lady Bellasyse Deposeth THat on Trinity Sunday the 10th of June last the Deponents servant seeing the Queen Dowagers Coaches in St. James's at an unusual hour went and asked the Occasion and was told the Queen was in Labour whereupon he came into the Deponents Chamber and awaked her That the Queen having come to Lodge at S. James's but the Night before they being in a great hurry forgot to call the Deponent as her Majesty had ordered That the Deponent made all the haste she could into her Majesties Bed chamber and found the Queen in Bed and Mrs Wilks her Majesties Midwife sitting by the Bed-fide with her Hands in the Queens Bed The Queen asked her the said Midwife what she thought Mrs Wilks assured her Majesty that at the next great Pain the Child would be born Whereupon the King ordered the
Privy Councillors to be called in That this Deponent stood behind the Midwifes Chair and immediatly after the Queens having another great Pain the Prince was born That this Deponent saw the Child taken out of the Bed with the Navel-string hanging to its Belly That this Deponent opened the Receiver and saw it was a Son and not hearing the Child cry and seeing it a little black she was afraid it was in a Convulsion Fit. S. Bellasyse Henrietta Lady Waldegrave Deposeth THat she was in the Queens Bed-chamber a quarter of an hour before her Majesty was Delivered and standing by the Bed-side she saw the Queen in Labour and heard her cry out much Henrietta Wentworth Mrs. Mary Crane one of the Gentlewomen of the Bed-chamber to the Queen Dowager Deposeth THat she went with the Queen Dowager to the Queens Labour on the Tenth of June last and never stirred out of the Room till the Queen was Delivered That this Deponent did not follow the Child when it was first carried out of the Room but staid in the Bed-chamber and saw all that was to be seen after the Birth of a Child That she the Deponent then went to see the Prince and found him look ill and immediatly went to the King and told his Majesty she feared the Child was sick That his Majesty went immediately to the Prince and came back and said it was a mistake the Child was very well Mary Crane Dame Isabella Wentworth one of the Gentlewomen of the Bed-chamber to the Queen deposeth THat she often saw the Milk of her Majesties Breast upon her Smock at which the Queen was troubled it being a common saying that it was a sign the the Child would not live And that she the Deponent did once feel the Child stir in the Queens Belly while her Majesty was in Bed and that she was present when the Child was Born and staid till she heard it cry and then went to fetch Vineger for the Queen to smell to she the Deponent heard the Queen command the Midwife not to tell her of what Sex it was for fear of surprizing her Majesty When the Deponent brought the Vineger she did desire to see the Child Mrs. Delabadie having it in her Arms. The Child looked black whereupon the Deponent desired Doctor Waldegrave to look to it believing it was not well That the Deponent saw the Navel-string of the Child cut and three dops of the Blood which came fresh out given to him for the Convulsion Fits. Isabella Wentworth Dame Catherine Sayer one of the Gentlewomen of the Bed-Chamber to the Queen Dowager Deposeth THat she waited on the Queen Dowager to the Queens Labour and was all the time by the Bed-side and stood there till the Queen was Delivered and followed the child when it was carried by Mrs. Delabadie to the little Bed-chamber and took a warm Napkin and laid it on the Childs Breast believing the Child was not well Catharina Sayer Dame Isabella Waldegrave one of the Gentlewomen of the Bed-Chamber to the Queen Deposeth THat she was constantly with the Queen when her Majesty was likely to miscarry and had often seen Milk on her Majesties Breasts and was with the Queen at the time of her Labour with the Prince and saw the Prince taken out of the Bed and went after Mrs. Delabadie with the Prince in her Arms into the little Bed-chamber and was by when the Child was shewn to the King that it was a Son and this Deponent took the After-burthen and put it into a Bason of Water and carried it into the Queens Closet Isabella Waldegrave Mrs. Margaret Dawson one of the Gentlewomen of the Bed-Chamber to the Queen Deposeth THat on the Tenth of June last in the morning she was sent for by the Queen out of St. James's Chappel where she was at Prayers and that coming up into the Queens Chamber she found her sitting all alone upon a stool by the Beds-head when the Queen said to her this Deponent she believed her self in Labour and bid her the Deponent get the Iallate bed which stood in the next Room to be made ready quickly for her but that Bed having never been aired the Deponent perswaded the Queen not to make use of it After which the Queen bid the Deponent make ready the Bed she came out of which was done accordingly The Deponent further saith That she saw fire carried into the Queens Room in a warming-Pan to warm the Bed after which the Queen went into her Bed and that the Deponent stirred not from the Queen until her Majesty was Delivered of a Son. That she this Deponent well remembers that on the 29th of December last her Majesty was afraid of Miscarrying which was about the time she quickned and that after the Queen had gone 22 weeks with Child her Majesties Milk began to run which she the Deponent often saw upon her smock and that the 9th of May her Majesty apprehended Miscarrying again with a fright Margaret Dawson Mrs. Elizabeth Bromley one of the Gentlewomen of the Bed-Chamber to the Queen Deposeth THat she was sick all Winter till a little before Easter last when she the Deponent came into waiting That from that time till the Queen was brought to Bed she the Deponent saw the Queen put on her Smock every morning by which means she saw the Milk constantly fall out of her Majesties Breasts and observed the bigness of her Majesties Belly which could not be counterfeit That the Deponent came from Whitehall to the Queens Labour to St. James's the tenth of June last and remained in the Room till the Queen was Delivered and afterwards but did not follow the Child till some time after when she the Deponent went to see what coloured Eyes he had Elizabeth Bromley Mrs. Pelegrina Turini one of the Gentlewomen of the Bed-Chamber to the Queen Deposeth THat she constantly attended the Queen when she was last with Child and that on the 10th of June last she was in waiting on her Majesty who called her on the said 10th of June in the morning and told her the Deponent she was in Pain and bid her send for the Midwife her Ladies and Servants after which she the Deponent staid with the Queen during her Labour and until she was Delivered of the Prince of Wales The Mark of Pelegrina X Turini Mrs. Anna Cary one of the Gentlewomen of the Bed-Chamber to the Queen Dowager Deposeth THat she waited on the Queen Dowager from Somerset House to St. James's the day the Queen was brought to Bed and went into the Queens Bed-chamber where she this Deponent staid till the Queen was Delivered and saw the Prince as soon as he was born Anna Cary. Mrs. Mary Anne Delabadie Dry Nurse to the Prince Deposeth THat she was with the Queen all the time her Majesty was with Child and drest her every day and in all the nine months did not miss above six days and that at several times by reason of sickneâ—â— That
on Sunday morning the 10th of June last she the Deponent was sent for to the Queen who was in Labour That the Deponent came presently and was with the Queen all the time of her Labour and that kneeling down by the Midwife giving her Clothes for the Queen the Midwife told this Deponent that immediatly on the next Pain the Queen would be Delivered which accordingly she was That this Deponent whispered to the Midwife asking whether it was a Girle she answered no whereupon the Midwife parted the Child and put it into the Receivor that the Deponent had given her and then delivered the Child to the Deponent and bid her go and carry it to the Fire and take care of the Navel which this Deponent did and the King and Council followed her and the King asked this Deponent what it was who answered what he desired The King replyed but let me see whereupon the Deponent presently shewed his Majesty that it was a Son and the Privy Counsellors then present saw it one after another The Deponent sat with the Prince in her Lap till the Midwife had done with the Queen then the Midwife came and took the Prince from this Deponent and asked for a Spoon for to give it three drops of the Blood of the Navel String which the Midwife cut off by the Advice of the Physicians who said it was good against Fits. That the Deponent held the Spoon when the Midwife dropt the Bloud into it and stir'd it with a little black Cherry Water and then it was given to the Prince That the Queen sent for this Deponent and gave her the Prince to take care of him in quality of Dry Nurse which she has hitherto done and further Deposeth it to be the same Child that was born of the Queen And that Mrs Danvers one of the Princess of Denmarks Women and formerly Nurse to the Lady Isabella coming to see the Prince she told this Deponent she was glad to see the same marks upon his Eye as the Queens former Children had Mary Anne Delabadie Mrs. Judith Wilks Deposeth THat being the Queens Midwife she came often to her especially when her Majesty was in any Danger of miscarrying and many times felt the Child stir in her Belly and saw the Milk run out of her Majesties Breasts That on Trinity Sunday last in the morning about eight of the Clock the Queen sent Mr. White Page of the Back-stairs to call her this Deponent believing her self in Labour when the Deponent came she found the Queen in great Pain and Trembling the Queen told her she feared it was her Labour it being near the time of her first Reckoning she the Deponent desired her Majesty not to be afraid saying she did not doubt that it was her full time and hoped her Majesty would have as good Labour as she always had and whilst her Majesty was sitting trembling her Water broke and immediatly she sent for the King he being gone to his own Side and let him know in what Condition she was and desired him to send for whom he pleased to be present The Queen ordered this Deponent to send for Mrs. Dawson and the rest of her Women Mrs. Dawson came presently and the Countess of Sunderland with her and the rest of the Women also That most of them saw her this Deponent make the Bed fit for the Queen to be Delivered in which when it was ready her Majesty was put into and about ten a Clock that morning the Queen was Delivered of the Prince of Wales by her this Deponents assistance and afterwards she the Deponent shewed the after-burthen to the Physicians and before them the Deponent cut the Navel-string and gave the Prince three drops of his Bloud to prevent Convulsion Fits according to their Order And this Deponent further saith That when the Child was born it not crying the Queen said she thought it was dead this Deponent assured her Majesty it was not and desired leave to part the Child from the after-burthen which the Queen was unwilling to have done thinking it might be dangerous to her self but the Deponent assuring her Majesty it would not her Majesty gave consent whereupon the Child presently cryed and then the Deponent gave it to Mrs. Labadie Judith Wilkes Mrs. Elizabeth Pearse Laundress to the Queen Deposeth THat about nine a Clock on the 10th of June last in the morning she came into the Bed-chamber and heard the Queen cry out being in great pain in which she continued until her Delivery after which she the Deponent saw the Prince of Wales given by the Midwife to Mrs. Labadie That immediatly after the Deponent saw the Midwife hold up the after-burthen shewing it to the company and then the Deponent setcht her Maids and with them took away all the soul Linen hot as they came from the Queen That for a month after her Majesties Lying-in the Deponent well knows by the washing of her Linen that the Queen was in the same condition that all other Women use to be on the like occasion and that some time after her quickning it appeared by her Smocks that her Majesty had Milk in her Breasts which continued until she was brought to Bed and afterwards during the usual time Elizabeth Pearse Frances Dutches of Richmond and Lenox Deposeth THat the the Deponent was not at the Queens Labour because she did not know it time enough but as soon as she did she made all the haste she could to dress heâ—â— but the Queen was Delivered before she the Deponent came And that at a time when the Queen apprehended she should Miscarry and the Physicians made her Majesty keep her Bed for that Reason the Deponent went one Evening to wait upon her Majesty and as she stood by her Bed-side her Majesty said to her my Milk is now very troublesome it runs out so much The Deponent asked the Queen if it used to do so who answered It used to run out a little but now the fright I am in of miscarrying makes it run out very much as you may see throwing down the Bed-clothes to the middle of her Stomach and shewing her Smock upon her Breast to the said Deponent which was very wet with her milk F. Richmond Lenox Charlotte Countess of Lichfeild Deposeth THat she was not at the Queens Labour being in Child-bed her self but that she was almost constantly with the Queen while she was with Child and hath put on her Smock and seen the Milk run out of her Breast and felt her Belly so that she is sure she could not be deceived but that the Queen was with Child C. Lichfeild Anne Countess of Marischal Deposeth THat she was several times in the Queens Bed-chamber when she shifted her self and hath seen her Smock stained with her Milk That she was not at the Queens Labour tho' sent to by one of her Ladies being sick of a Fever but does in her Conscience believe her Majesty was with Child both
Don't tell me what it is yet and Mrs. Dawson came to this Deponent and whispered him in the Ear 'T is a Prince but don't take Notice of it yet Then Mrs. Delabadie brought away the Child from the Bed-side and carried it into the little Bed-Chamber and the King and the Lords of the Council went after her but this Deponent did not follow them Edward Grissen Sir Charles Scarburgh First Physician to the King Deposeth THat upon the Deponents coming to visit Her Majesty then lying at St. James's on Sunday the 10th of June 1688. as the Deponent went up the Back-Stairs he heard the joyful Acclamation that a Prince of Wales was born upon which the Deponent hastned presently into the little Bed-Chamber where the Deponent found Mrs. Labadie just sitting down before the Fire with the New Born Prince wrapped in the Mantles lying in her Lap. Then passing to the Queen in the next Bed-chamber the Deponent congratulated the happy Birth of the Prince and her Majesties safe Delivery The Queen was wearied and panting but otherwise in good condition Then the Midwife brought to the Deponent the After-Birth reeking warm which Sir Thomas Witherley with the Deponent examined and found very sound and perfect After a while the Deponent understood that a Medicine was mentioned among the Ladies for a certain Remedy against Convulsions It was some drops of blood from the Navel-string the Deponent consulted Sir Thomas Witherley and the other Physitians and to satisfie the Women it was allowed of there being as was conceived no danger in the thing Whereupon the Midwife with a small Knife slit the Navel-string beyond the Ligature from which came some drops of fresh blood taken in a Spoon and given the Child being mix'd with a little Black-Cherry-Water Thus much the Deponent hath to say upon Her Majesties present delivery Now for the Time of the Queens Conception She often told the Deponent and others That She had two Reckonings one from Tuesday the 6th of September when the King return'd from His Progress to the Queen then at Bathe and the other from Thursday the 6th of October when the Queen came to the King at Windsor but for some Reasons the Queen rather reckoned from the latter though afterward it proved just to agree with the former Moreover Her Majesty when according to Her Reckoning She was gone with Child Twelve Weeks said That She was quick and perceived the Child to move the Deponent returned no Answer to the Queen but privately told those about Her That in truth it could not so be in so short a Time Yet the Queen was in the right only mistook Her Reckoning for She was then full sixteen Weeks gone with Child about which time She usually quickned with Her former Children and accordingly was brought to Bed on the 10th of June 1688. and within Three or Four days of full Forty Weeks Charles Scarburgh Sir Thomas Witherly second Physician to the King Deposeth THat on Sunday the Tenth of June the Deponent was present in the Queen's Bed-chamber when the Prince of Wales was born the Deponent saw Mrs. Labadie bring the Child from the Midwife and carry him into the next Room whither the Deponent followed her and saw the Child before he was cleaned and having a Command from the Queen that there should be two drops of the blood of the After-burthen given the first thing We the said Deponent and the other Physitians did take two drops of Blood from the Navel-string which remained upon the Child and gave it in a spoonful of Black-cherry-Water as the Queen commanded After this the Deponent saw as also did the other Physitians the After-burthen entire Tho. Witherley Sir William Waldegrave Knt. Her Majesties first Physician Deposeth THat in the Progress of Her Majesties being with Child the Deponent having the Honor to wait upon her as usual upon the 13th of February 1688. about Ten in the Morning she told the Deponent she had Milk in her Breasts which dropt out it was then thought the 19th Week according to One Reckoning but according to Another Reckoning it was the One or Two and Twentieth Week The Deponent also affirmeth that Her Majesty took such Adstringent Medicines during the most part of her being with Child in order to avoid Miscarriage That if she had not been with Child they must have been prejudicial to her Health and of dangerous consequence Upon the 10th of June 1688. The Deponent was called at his Lodging in Whitehall to wait upon the Queen being told she was in Labour upon which the Deponent immediatly went to St. James's and so into the Queen's Bed-Chamber and found her beginning her Labour it being about Eight of the Clock in the Morning The Deponent stirr'd not from thence but to get such Medicines as were fit for her Majesty and then return'd again and was in the Bed-Chamber when she Cry'd out and was Deliver'd The Deponent followed Mrs. Delabadie who took the Prince in her Arms so soon as he was Born and carried him into the Little Bed-Chamber where the Deponent saw him upon her Lap and was by when he took two or three drops of the Navel-string fresh warm Blood which was mix'd with Black-cherry-water then returned into the great Bed-Chamber where the Deponent saw the After-burthen fresh and warm William Waldegrave Dr Robert Brady one of His Majesties Physitians in Ordinary Deposeth THat a little before Ten of the Clock in the Morning on the Tenth of June 1688. the Deponent was in the Queen 's little Bed-Chamber at St. James's where the Deponent saw the Prince of Wales in Mrs. Labady's Lap by the Fireside the Deponent desired to see the Linen and Blankets opened in which he was wrapped which being done the Deponent saw it vvas a Male Child and the Navel-string hanging down to or below the Virile parts with a Ligature upon it nor far from the Body but did not see any After-burthen hanging at or joyned to it not being at the Birth The Deponent asked how long he had been born the standers by told him At three quarters of an hour after Nine of the Clock the Queen was Delivered Robert Brady James St. Amand their Majesties Apothecary Deposeth THat from the beginning of November last he hath generally every day till the ninth of June 1688. given by the Physitians Orders Restringent and Corroborating Medicines to the Queens Majesty That on the 10th of June he was sent for in haste to come to St James's to her Majesty who the Messenger told him was in Labour That the deponent then received a Note from the Physitians for medicines for her Majesty which the deponent was obliged to stay and prepare and so came not to St. James's till the Queen was delivered the deponent meeting just as he was going into the Bed-chamber Mrs. Labady with the young Prince in her Arms the King and several of the Lords soon after following into the little Bed-chamber where the deponent saw the Child Naked
by her Belly and her Milk. A. Marischal 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 a long 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 immediatly 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 Immediatly the Deponent saw a Gentlewoman who he hath since heard her Name to be Mrs Labadie carry the Child into another Room whither the Deponent followed and saw the Child when she first opened 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 Jeffreys 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 immediatly went and found many of the Lords of 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 carey 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 Arundel 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 Crys were so vehement and especially the last that the Deponent could not forbid himself the being concerned 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 Arundel 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. Jame'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 she 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. Nicolas 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 Prince which the Deponent verily believes as he is alive she brought into the World that very
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 dy 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 entered 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 Honourable 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 Entered 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 Entered 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 beer 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 outseveral 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 suddensatisfaction 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 whither 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 Entered 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 Edinburgh Re-printed by the Heir of Andrew Anderson Printer to His most Sacred Majesty 1688.