Near the head of the board a chair of state was placed for the Queen Dowager.

The Princess Anne had been requested to attend, but had excused herself on the plea of delicate health.
James informed this great assembly that he thought it necessary to produce proofs of the birth of his son.

The arts of bad men had poisoned the public mind to such an extent that very many believed the Prince of Wales to be a supposititious child.

But Providence had graciously ordered things so that scarcely any prince had ever come into the world in the presence of so many witnesses.

Those witnesses then appeared and gave their evidence.