firm to his father's faith, and sent back word to the Queen, that he was more attached to the Church of England than ever. In the evening he returned to the Palace, where he found his sister in great distress at hearing of his intention to resist their mother's will; for she said she knew the Queen would be very angry, and felt quite alarmed at the thoughts of her displeasure. Gloucester then went into his bedroom, which he found cold and empty, with the sheets taken off the bed, and whilst, poor boy! he was looking round in dismay at the idea of passing the night in so uncomfortable a chamber, his groom came in, and asked him what he should do with his horses, as the Queen had given orders for them to be turned out of the royal stables. Gloucester replied, that as it was then nine o'clock, it was impossible to find another place for them that night. Then the groom told him Queen Henrietta had threatened to discharge the comptroller of the stables, if the horses remained there till morning. And thus was poor Gloucester, at the age of fourteen, cast off by his mother, and thrown upon the world, penniless, to take care of himself as best he could. His brother James did all he could for him, but he was not able to assist him much; and I do not know what would have become of him, had it not been for the kindness of the Marquis of Ormonde. This nobleman had been a faithful servant to poor King Charles, and was deprived of all his fortune by Cromwell's party, and forced to leave his own country. He had no money to offer Gloucester, but sold the last jewel he possessed, which was the Order of the Garter, to procure the necessaries of life for the persecuted son of his late loved master; and he travelled with him to Germany, and there gave him up in safety to his brother Charles, who was delighted to see him, but very angry when he heard of the unkind conduct of the Queen. It was indeed very wrong and most cruel of Henrietta to ill-treat her son because he would not break the promise he had made to his father in his childhood, nor turn from his true religion. I think the Abbé Montague must have had great power over her mind, and have persuaded her very much, before she could have been led so to act, towards a good, affectionate child. And she did, after some time, repent her cruelty to Gloucester, and promised, if he might live with her again, that she would never more press him to change his religion; but Charles would not allow him to return to her. He said that he was really his brother's king and guardian, and that though poor and distressed himself, he would far rather bear the expense of keeping Gloucester, than again intrust his religion and happiness to one who had treated him so ill. So the Queen had parted from her son never to behold him again; for Gloucester remained with his brother all the years he was abroad, K and when the happy time came, that Charles was restored to his throne and kingdom, Gloucester went with him to England. He, however, lived only a few months after his return to his native land; for he caught the small-pox, and died of it. His brothers were both very unhappy to lose him; indeed, Charles was more affected at his Ideath than he had ever been at all his former misfortunes; and I am sure Queen Henrietta must have felt very miserable at the thought, that she had parted in anger—without a kiss— without an affectionate word, from the dear child who had now left this world, to rejoin his lost father in heaven; there to receive a rich reward of bliss, from that gracious God, whose will he had so earnestly tried to fulfil during his short life on earth. CHAPTER XII. THE CHILDHOOD OF GEORGE THE THIRD. BORN MAY 24, O.S. (JUNE 4, N.S.) 1738; DIED 'How much are we bound to Heaven, In daily thanks, that gave us such a Prince.' SHAKSPEARE. HIS illustrious and well - beloved derick, Prince of Wales, and grand son of George the Second. His birth took place two months sooner than it had been expected, and he was so ill the day after he was born, that for some hours his life was despaired of; but the next morning the babe was better, and it pleased Heaven to pre |