74

HISTORY OP ENGLAND.

CHAP.

XXV.

1701 .

that ambitious kinsman, five millions and a half of English-men were concerned, who were little disposed to considerthemselves as the absolute property of any master, andwho were still less disposed to accept a master chosen forthem by the French King.

James lingered three days longer. He was occasionallysensible during a few minutes, and, during one of theselucid intervals, faintly expressed his gratitude to Lewis.On the sixteenth he died. His Queen retired that eveningto the nunnery of Chaillot, where she could weep and prayundisturbed. She left Saint Germains in joyous agitation.A herald made his appearance before the palace gate, and,with sound of trumpet, proclaimed, in Latin, French andEnglish, King James the Third of England and Eighthof Scotland. The streets, in consequence doubtless oforders from the government, were illuminated; and thetownsmen with loud shouts wished a long reign to theirillustrious neighbour. The poor lad received from hisministers, and delivered back to them, the seals of theiroffices, and held out his hand to be kissed. One of thefirst acts of his mock reign was to bestow some mock peer-ages in conformity with directions which he found in hisfather’s will. Middleton, who had as yet no English title,was created Earl of Monmouth. Perth, who had stoodhigh in the favour of his late master, both as an apostatefrom the Protestant religion, and as the author of thelast improvements on the thumb screw, took the title ofDuke.