Ossian Collection > History of the Highlands and of the Highland clans > Volume 3

DEATH OF CARDINAL YORK. "109
111 the iiioniing of the third of February, the funeral obsequies were
celebrated in the cathedral. The church was hung with black cloth,
drawn up between the pillars in the form of festoons intermixed witli
gold and tiilver tissue. The seams of the cloth were covered with gold
laii'. During the whole of the ceremony, a great number of wax tapers
were kept burning in every part of the church. By order of the car-
dinal, texts from Ecclesiasticus xlvii. 17; Job xxix. 5; Tobit ii. 18;
Proverbs v. 27 ; 2 Macab. vi. 31 ; with reference to the situation and
fortunes of the deceased were written on the festoons in large characters
over the great door and the four principal side altars. A large cata-
falque was erected on a platform raised three steps from the floor, in the
nave of the church. The coffin containing the body was placed on the
catafalque, and was covered with a magnificent pall, on which were
embroidered, in several places, the arms of England. On each side
stood three gentlemen, belonging to the household of the deceased, in
mourning cloaks, each holding a royal banner. Round the catafalque
Were a considerable number of large wax tapers in the form of a square,
guarded by the militia of Frescati. The scene altogether was of a
most solemn description.
The cardinal, carried in a sedan chair, covered with black cloth, and
attended by a nundjer of his officers and servants in deep mourning,
was brought into the church about ten o'clock, A. M. when he seateu
himself on his throne on the gospel or right hand side of the great altar,
and began to sing the office for the dead according to the Roman ritual.
In this office he was assisted by the choir of the cathedral, which was
numerous, and by some of the best voices from Rome. The cardinal had
scarcely finished the first verse, when his voice faltered, and the tears
trickled down his cheeks. For a short time he appeared as if unable
to proceed ; but he soon rallied, and went through the service. The
magistrates of Frescati, and a large assemblage of the inhabitants of
the diocese to whom the bishop was justly endeared, attended on the
occasion.
The princess of Stolberg-Guederan had no children to Charles, but
he left a natural daughter by Miss Walkinshaw. He created her duch-
ess of Albany, and legitimated her by a deed which was reoorded in the
register of the parliament of Paris on the sixth of September, seventeen
hundred and eighty-seven. With the exception of two thousand ounces
of silver which he bequeathed to liis brother, the cardinal ; and a legacy of
one hundred ducats to the Chevalier Stewart, his confidential secretary,
Charles left the whole of his property to his daugliter, burdened with
annuities to his servants during their lives to the amount of their wages.
Although faction of all kinds has distorted the real lineaments ol
Charles's character, yet sufficient traces still remain to give the impar-
tial observer some general idea of the true portrait. Whilst his parti-
sans have painted him in the most glowing colours of admiration, as the
paragon of all that is noble and high-minded, his enemies have repre-
ui. o B