358 THE DAUGHTERS OF JAMES II OP ENGLAND. while, was full of anxiety and apprehension. It was her cruel fate to become the mother of seventeen children, all of whom died in childhood ; so that for many years she lived in almost continual anxiety, each child bringing new hopes, which were soon changed to apprehension and despair. At this very time she wrote to her sister from her palace in London, called the Cockpit : "I cannot say half of what I wish because I am obliged to return immediately to my poor child, for I am more anxious when I am absent from her." It was nearly twenty years before she ceased to hope. All her children perished in infancy except one, who lived to be eleven years old ; so that the sentence just quoted represents a great part of the history of her married life. In October, 1688, William, Prince of Orange, with a fleet of six hundred vessels, sailed for England, leaving his wife in Holland to pray for his suc- cess. She relates in her diary the manner of their part- ing, which was certainly peculiar. " In case," said the Prince, " it pleases God that I never more see you, it will be necessary for you to marry again." These words, she says, surprised her and rent her heart. " There is no need," continued the Prince, " for me to tell you not to marry a Papist." On uttering these words he burst into tears, and as soon as he could command his voice he assured her that it was only his anxiety for the reformed religion which made him speak as he had done. She did not know what to reply. But at last she said : " I have never loved any one but you, and should not know how to love another. Besides, as I have been married so many years without having the blessing of a child,. I believe that that is sufficient to exempt me from ever thinking of what you propose."
