34

addrclled him in thefollotving man-

ner: “ Sire, this is the lall adieu.

In taking leave of your majelly, I-

have the {atisfaction to leave your

kingdom in the highell degree o{
glory and reputation it has ever at-

tained, and your enemies {ubdued

and humbled. The only reward of
my labours and {ervices I prefume

to all; of your majelly is, that you

would continue to honour my ne-

phews and other relations with your

proteétion and favour. I give them

my bleliing, only upon condition

that they never {werve from that

obedience and fidelity which they
owe you, and which they have {o-
lemnly engaged always to main-

tain.” The king gave him his
promi{e, and they had a private
converfation together, in which the
Cardinal recommended to him the
minillers who were already in place,
alluring him that they were tho-
roughly acquainted with the {late of
afFairs, and firongly attached to his
{ervice. He added, that he knew
of no per{on more capable of fill-
ing up his own place, than Cardi-
nal Mazarin, who{e zeal and fide-

lity he had experienced on many
occafions. The king replied, that
he {hould always {ollow the advice
he had given him, having long
been convinced" of the wifdcm of
his counfels; and that he would

employ h/Iazarin and the other

minillers, who lhould be conti-
nued in their polls.

When the king was retired, the
Cardinal alked the phylicians how
long they thought he could live:
“ Do not be afraid, {ays he, of tel-
ling me your real fentiments; you
are {peaking to one who is perfc-{tly
refigned to the will of God, either
for life or death.” They told him,
they {aw at prefent no immediate
danger, and that they mull wait till

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1768.

the {eventh day before they could
abfiwlutely pronounce upon the ca{e.
“ That is xvell,” replied the Car-
dinal: but towards evening his
{ever returned with {o much vio-
lence, that they were obliged to
bleed him twice. “ M. Chicot,{aid
he, addrefhng'him{el{to one of the
king’s phylicia-ns, {peak to me, I
beE-ech you, not as a phyfician,
but as a {riend, without diliguilie.”
My Lord, replied Chicot, after
having made {omedilliculty in giv-
ing his opinion, “ Ibelieve that in
twenty-Four hours you will be either
dead or well.” “ That is {peaking
as you ought, replied the Cardinal,
I underlland you.” Aliter confef-
fion, he aiked for the viaticum,
which was brought him an hour af-
ter midnight. “ Behold my Lord;
and my God, cries the Cardinal,
which I am jull going to receive:
I protelt belore him, and call him
to witne{s,tl1at in the whole ofmy
condufl during my minillryl have
had nothing in view but the wel-
fare of religion and of the Hate.”
Some hours after, he received ex-
treme uneiion. “ My lord, {aid the
curate who attended him, do you
{orgive your enemies P” I-t is {aid
he made him this anfiwvcr: “I ne-
vet‘ had any but thole of the llate.”
Others aflirm, that he only Paid,
“ Yes, with all my heart, and asl
wilh to be {orgiven mylielf.” For
a day or two after, he {eemed a lit-
tle revived by a medicine which was
given him by a quack, who under-
took to cure him, when his phyli-
cians had given him up. While the
elliecls of this lafled, he c0nver{ed
with the {ecretaries of {late upon
bufine{s, and was well enough to-
receive the Compliments that were
{ent him from the Dulce of Orleans
and the Qxueen; and gave his an-
{vlvers to them with a great deal 0F
flrength