d　preacher。　　Six　months　after　the　merry　monarch　landed；　Bunyan　was　flung　into　Bedford　gaol；　where；　rather　than　refrain　from　puritanical　discourses；　in　the　utterance　of　which　he　believed　himself　divinely　inspired；　he　remained；　with　some　short　intervals　of　liberty；　for　twelve　years。　　When　offered　freedom　at　the　price　of　silence；　he　replied；　〃If　you　let　me　out　to…day；　I　will　preach　to…morrow。〃　　Nay；　even　in　his　confinement　he　delivered　sermons　to　his　fellow…prisoners；　and　presently　he　commenced　to　write。　　His　convictions　leading　him　to　attack　the　liturgy　of　the　Church　of　England；　and　the　religion　of　the　Quakers；　his　productions　became　popular　amongst　dissenters。　　At　length；　by　an　act　annulling　the　penal　statutes　against　Protestant　Nonconformists　and　Roman　Catholics；　passed　in　1671；　he　was　liberated。　　When　he　left　prison　he　carried　with　him　a　portion　of　his　〃Pilgrim's　Progress；〃　which　was　soon　after　completed　and　published；　though　at　what　date　remains　uncertain。　　In　1678　a　second　edition　was　printed；　and　such　was　the　growth　of　its　popularity；　that　six　editions　were　issued　within　the　following　four　years。
  Now　he　became　famous；　his　lot　was　far　different　from　what　it　had　been；　his　sermons　were　heard　by　eager　audiences；　his　counsel　was　sought　by　those　in　trouble；　his　prayers　were　regarded　as　the　utterances　of　inspiration。　　Once　a　year　he　rode；　attended　by　vast　crowds；　from　Bedford　Town　to　London　City；　that　he　might　preach　to　those　burdened　by　sin；　and　from　the　capital　he　made　a　circuit　of　the　country；　where　he　was　hailed　as　a　prophet。　　His　life　extended　beyond　the　reign　of　King　Charles；　his　influence　lasted　till　his　death。
  CHAPTER　XXII。
  Time's　flight　leaves　the　king　unchanged。The　Rye　House　conspiracy。Profligacy　of　the　court。The　three　duchesses。The　king　is　taken　ill。The　capital　in　consternation。Dr。　Ken　questions　his　majesty。A　Benedictine　monk　sent　for。Charles　professes　catholicity　and　receives　the　Sacraments。Farewell　to　all。His　last　night　on　earth。Daybreak　and　death。He　rests　in　peace。
  His　majesty's　habits　changed　but　little　with　the　flight　of　time；　To　the　end　of　his　reign　the　court　continued　brilliant　and　profligate。　　Wits；　courtezans；　and　adventurers　crowded　the　royal　drawing…rooms；　and　conversed　without　restraint；　the　monarch　pursued　his　pleasures　with　unsatiated　zest；　taking　to　himself　two　new　mistresses；　Lady　Shannon　and　Catherine　Peg；　who　respectively　bore　him　a　daughter　and　a　son；　duly　created　Countess　of　Yarmouth　and　Earl　of　Plymouth。　　For　a　while；　indeed；　a　shadow　fell　upon　the　life　of　the　merry　monarch；　when；　in　1683；　he　was　roused　to　a　sense　of　danger　by　discovery　of　the　Rye　House　conspiracy。
  This　foul　plot；　entered　into　by　the　Whigs　on　failure　of　the　Exclusion　Bill；　had　for　its　object　the　murder　of　his　majesty　and　of　the　Duke　of　York。　　Before　arriving　at　maturity　its　existence　and　intentions　were　revealed　by　one　of　the　conspirators；　when　William　Lord　Russell；　the　Earl　of　Essex；　and　Algernon　Sidney；　second　son　of　the　Earl　of　Leicester；　were　arrested　and　charged　with　high　treason。　　My　Lord　Essex　died　in　the　Tower　by　his　own　hand；　Lord　Russell　was　condemned　on　testimony　of　one　witness；　and　duly　executed；　as　was　likewise　Algernon　Sidney；　whose　writings　on　Republicanism　were　used　as　evidence　against　him。　　On　the　revelation　of　this　wicked　scheme　the　country　became　wildly　excited；　and　the　king　grievously　afflicted。　　A　melancholy　seized　upon　his　majesty；　who　stirred　not　abroad　without　double　guards；　and　the　private　doors　of　Whitehall　and　avenues　of　the　park　were　closed。
  From　this　condition；　however；　he　gradually　recovered；　and　resumed　his　usual　habits。　　Accordingly；　we　find　him　engaged　in　〃luxurious　dalliance　and　prophaneness〃　with　the　Duchess　of　Mazarine；　and　visiting　the　Duchess　of　Portsmouth　betimes　in　her　chamber；　where　that　bold　and　voluptuous　woman；　fresh　risen　from　bed；　sat　in　loose　garments　talking　to　the　king　and　his　gallants；　the　while　her　maids　combed　her　beautiful　hair。
  〃I　can　never　forget；〃　says　John　Evelyn；　writing　on　the　4th　of　February；　1685；　〃the　inexpressible　luxury　and　prophaneness；　gaming；　and　all　dissoluteness；　and　as　it　were　total　forgetfullnesse　of　God　（it　being　Sunday　evening）；　which　this　day　se'nnight　I　was　witnesse　of；　the　king　sitting　and　toying　with　his　concubines；　Portsmouth；　Cleveland；　and　Mazarine；　etc。；　a　French　boy　singing　love　songs　in　that　glorious　gallery；　whilst　about　twenty　of　the　greate　courtiers　and　other　dissolute　persons　were　at　basset　round　a　large　table；　a　bank　of　at　least　two　thousand　in　gold　before　them；　upon　which　two　gentlemen　who　were　with　me　made　reflexions　with　astonishment。　　Six　days　after　was　all　in　the　dust。〃
  For　now　the　end　of　all　things　had　come　for　Charles　Stuart。　　It　happened　on　the　morning　of　the　2nd　of　February；　1685；　the　day　being　Monday；　the　king　whilst　in　his　bedroom　was　seized　by　an　apoplectic　fit；　when　crying　out；　he　fell　back　in　his　chair；　and　lay　as　one　dead。　　Wildly　alarmed；　his　attendants　summoned　Dr。　King；　the　physician　in　waiting；　who　immediately　bled　him；　and　had　him　carried　to　bed。　　Then　tidings　spread　throughout　the　palace；　that　his　majesty　hovered　betwixt　life　and　death；　which　should　claim　him　no　man　might　say。　　Whereon　the　Duke　of　York　hastened　to　his　bedside；　as　did　likewise　the　queen；　her　face　blanched；　her　eyes　wild　with　terror。　　His　majesty　after　some　time　recovering　consciousness；　slowly　realized　his　sad　condition。　　Then　he　conceived　a　fear；　the　stronger　as　begotten　by　conviction；　that　the　sands　of　his　life　had　run　their　course。　　Throughout　that　day　and　the　next　he　fainted　frequently；　and　showed　symptoms　of　epilepsy。　　On　Wednesday　he　was　cupped　and　bled　in　both　jugulars；　but　on　Thursday　he　was　pronounced　better；　when　the　physicians；　anxious　to　welcome　hope；　spoke　of　his　probable　recovery。
  But；　alas；　the　same　evening　he　grew　restless；　and　signs　of　fever　became　apparent。　　Jesuits'　powders；　then　of　great　repute；　were　given　him；　but　with　no　good　result。　　Complaining　of　a　pain　in　his　side；　the　doctors　drew　twelve　ounces　more　of　blood　from　him。　Exhaustion　then　set　in；　all　hope　of　life　was　over。
  Meanwhile；　the　capital　was　in　a　state　of　consternation。　　Prayers　for　his　majesty's　recovery　were　offered　up　in　all　churches　throughout　the　city；　likewise　in　the　royal　chapels；　where　the　clergy　relieved　each　other　every　quarter　of　an　hour。　　Crowds　gathered　by　day　and　night　without　the　palace　gates；　eager　to　learn　the　latest　change　in　the　king's　condition　from　those　who　passed　to　and　fro。　　Inside　Whitehall　all　was　confusion。　　Members　of　the　Privy　Council　assembled　in　the　room　adjoining　that　where　the　monarch　lay；　politicians　and　ambassadors　conversed　in　whispers　in　the　disordered　apartments；　courtiers　of　all　degrees　flocked　through　the　corridors　bearing　signs　of　deep　concern　upon　their　countenances。
  And　amongst　others　who　sought　his　majesty's　presence　was　the　Archbishop　of　Canterbury；　together　with　the　Bishops　of　London；　Durham；　Ely；　and　Bath　and　Wells；　all　being　anxious　to　render　spiritual　services　to　the　king。　　Of　these　good　men；　Charles　liked　best　Dr。　Ken；　Bishop　of　Bath　and　Wells；　having　most　faith　in　his　honesty。　　For；　when　his　lordship　was　a　prebend　of　Winchester；　it　had　happened　Charles　passed　through　that　city；　accompanied　by　Nell　Gwynn；　when　Dr。　Ken　refused　to　receive　her　beneath　his　roof　even　at　the　king's　request。　　This　proof　of　integrity　so　pleased　his　majesty；　that　he　gave　him　the　next　vacant　bishopric　by　way　of　reward。　　And　now；　his　lordship　being　at　hand；　he　read　prayers　for　the　Sick　from　out　the　Common　Prayer　Book　for　his　benefit；　until　coming　to　that　part　where　the　dying　are　exhorted　to　make　confession　of　their　sins；　when　the　bishop　paused　and　said　such　was　not　obligatory。　　He　then　asked　his　majesty　if　he　were　sorry　for　the　iniquities　of　his　life？　　when　the　sick　man；　whose　heart　was　exceeding　heavy；　replied　he　was；　whereon　the　bishop　pronounced　absolution；　and　asked　him　if　he　would　receive　the　Sacrament。　　To　this　Charles　made　no　reply；　until　the　same　question　had　been　repeated　several　times；　when　his　majesty　answered　he　would　think　of　it。
  The　Duke　of　York；　who　stood　by　the　while；　noting　the　king's　answer；　and　aware　of　his　tendencies　towards　Catholicism；　bade　those　who　had　gathered　round　stand　aside；　and　then；　bending　over　him；　asked　in　a　low　tone　if　he　might　send　for　a　priest。　　A　look　of　unspeakable　relief　came　into　the　king's　face；　and　he　answered；　〃For　God's　sake　do；　brother；　and　lose　no　time。〃　　Then　another　thought　flashing　across　his　mind；　he　said；　〃But　will　not　this　expose　you　to　much　danger？〃　　James　made　answer；　〃Though　it　cost　me　my　life　I　will　bring　you　a　priest。〃　He　then　hurried　into　the　next　room；　where；　among　all　the　courtiers；　he　could　find　no　man　he　could　trust；　save　a　foreigner；　one　Count　Castelmachlor。　Calling　him　aside；　he　secretly　despatched　him　in　search　of　a　priest。
  Between　seven　and　eight　o'clock　that　evening；　Father　Huddleston；　the　Benedictine　friar　who　had　aided　the　king's　escape　after　the　battle　of　Worcester；　awaited　at　the　queen's　back　stairs　the　signal　to　appear　in　his　majesty's　presence。　　The　duke　being　made　aware　of　the　fact；　announced　it　to　the　king；　who　thereon　ordered　all　in　his　room　to　withdraw；　but　James；　mindful　that　slander　might　afterwards　charge　him　with　killing　his　brother；　begged　the　Ea