She was a Catholic. Though not allowed
to come to his bedside, she remained in her apartment overwhelmed with
grief at the approaching death of her lover, and, strange as it may
seem, she was earnestly desirous to obtain for him the spiritual succors
which, as a Catholic, she considered essential to his dying in peace.
After repeated and vain endeavors made in other ways to accomplish her
object, she at length sent for the French ambassador to come to her
rooms from the king's chamber, and urged him to do something to save
the dying sinner's soul. "He is in heart a Catholic," said she. "I am
sure he wishes to receive the Catholic sacraments. I can not do any
thing, and the Duke of York is so full of business and excitement that
he does not think of it. But something must be done."
The ambassador went in pursuit of the Duke of York. He took him aside,
and with great caution and secrecy suggested the subject. "You are
right," said the duke, "and there is no time to lose." The duke went
to the king's chamber. The English clergymen had just been offering
the king the sacrament once more, and he had declined it again.
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