nd humanity than the introduction of a spurious heir into
a family might lawfully be employed for ends less important than the
conversion of a heretical kingdom. It had got abroad that some of the
King's advisers, and even the King himself, had meditated schemes for
defrauding the Lady Mary, either wholly or in part, of her rightful
inheritance. A suspicion, not indeed well founded, but by no means so
absurd as is commonly supposed, took possession of the public mind. The
folly of some Roman Catholics confirmed the vulgar prejudice. They spoke
of the auspicious event as strange, as miraculous, as an exertion of the
same Divine power which had made Sarah proud and happy in Isaac, and
had given Samuel to the prayers of Hannah. Mary's mother, the Duchess of
Modena, had lately died. A short time before her death, she had, it
was said, implored the Virgin of Loretto, with fervent vows and rich
offerings, to bestow a son on James. The King himself had, in the
preceding August, turned aside from his progress to visit the Holy
Well, and had there besought Saint Winifred to obtain for him that boon
without which his great designs for the propagation of the true faith
could be but imperfectly executed. The imprudent zealots who dwelt on
these tales foretold with confidence that the unborn infant would be a
boy, and offered to back their opinion by laying twenty guineas to one.
Heaven, they affirmed, would not have interfered but for a great end.
One fanatic announced that the Queen would give birth to twins, of whom
the elder would be King of England, and the younger Pope of Rome. Mary
could not conceal the delight with which she heard this prophecy; and
her ladies found that they could not gratify her more than by talking of
it. The Roman Catholics would have acted more wisely if they had spoken
of the pregnancy as of a natural event, and if they had borne with
moderation their unexpected good fortune. Their insolent triumph excited
the popular indignation. Their predictions strengthened the popular
suspicions. From the Prince and Princess of Denmark down to porters and
laundresses nobody alluded to the promised birth without a sneer. The
wits of London described the new miracle in rhymes which, it may well be
supposed, were not the most delicate. The rough country squires roared
with laughter if they met with any person simple enough to believe that
the Queen was really likely to be again a mother. A royal proclamation
appeared c