Edinburgh, the ninth day of November, one thousand six hundred eighty eighth years present in Council, the Earl of Perth, Lord High Chancellor, the Lord Arch-bishop of St. Andrews ... the following depositions concerning the birth of His royal Highness James, Prince of Scotland and Wales, being transmitted to His Majesties Privy Council ...

Lady Sophia Bulkeley Deposeth,

THat she was sent for on Trinity Sunday last past about Eight a Clock in the Morning to go to St. James's; for the Man that came, said the Queen was in Labour, and he, and others were sent to call every Body. That this De∣ponent made as much haste as she could to tise and be drest, but did not get to the Queens Bed Chamber until a little after Nine a Clock, and then this Depo∣nent found the Queen in her Bed, and the Queen Dowager there set upon a Stool, and some of the Ladies about her. After this Deponent having staid a little while, and thinking the Queen in no strong Pain, she, this Deponent, went out, and, being next to the Room where the Queens Linen was a warm∣ing, heard a noise, and lookt to see what was the matter, and finding no bo∣dy there, this Deponent ran and found the Lord Feversham in the Queens little Bed-Chamber, who told this Deponent the Child was just born; This Deponent ask't him, What is it? His Lordship said he could not tell. So this Deponent ran on to the Queens Beds side, and heard the Queen say to the Mid∣wife, Pray, Mrs. Wilks, don't part the Child (which signifies, don't cut the Navel string, until the after-Birth is come away.) And while the Queen was with Child, this Deponent hath heard her Majesty command her Midwife not to do otherwise, it being counted much the safest way; But to what the Queen said just then (to the best of this Deponents Remembrance) Mrs. Wilks re∣plyed, Pray Madam give me leave, for I will do nothing, but what will be safe for Your Self and Child; The Queen Answered, Do then, and then cry∣ed, where is the King gone; His Majesty came immediatly from the other side of the Bed (from just having a sight of the Child) and answered the Queen,

Here I am; the Queen said, Why do ye leave me now? The King kneeled on the Bed, on that side where the Deponent stood, and a little after the Mid∣wife said, All is now come safe away; Upon that the King rose from the Bed, and said, Pray, my Lords, come and see the Child: The king followed Mrs. Labadie, and the Lords His Majesty, into the Little Bed-chamber, where this Deponent followed also, and saw as well as they, that it was a Prince, and that Mrs. Wilks was in the right to desire to part the Child, for the Prin∣ces face especially his Forehead was blackish, being stunn'd, as I have seen some other Children, when they have been just newly come into the World; but God be thanked, in two hours time that he was drest and washt, (which the Deponent staid by and saw done) the Prince lookt very fresh and well. This Deponent doth further add, That all the while, the Queen was with Child, this Deponent had the honour to pay her Duty very often Mornings and Nights, in waiting upon her Majesty in her dressing Room and Bed-cham∣ber, and for the last three or four mouths, this Deponent hath oftentimes seen the Queens Milk, as well as when this Deponent hath had the honor to put on her Majesties Smock.

S. Bulkeley.