No. 18a.
To my Cousin the Grand Master of the
Order of
My Cousin,
We are so strongly persuaded of your
zeal for the Catholic religion that we do not doubt you will readily embrace
every occasion which may present itself of manifesting it. And as we have
particular gratification in seconding your good intentions in such laudable
designs, we have resolved to dedicate to the Order of the Knights of Malta,
Henry Fitz James, our natural son, already well known to you. For your kindness
and civility extended to him when at
Wherefore when you have received this
attestation of his sanctity which we have thought proper to send you on the
subject, we hope that in your goodness you will kindly grant him the dignity
of the Grand Prior of England, enregistering him according to the usual forms
of that rank. And as we doubt not that you will grant this favour, we promise
you all aid and assistance which is or shall be possible for the glory and
advantage of so illustrious and useful an order in the service of God, and
to the glory of His Church. May God keep us in His holy
care.
My Cousin,
Your affectionate
Cousin,
JAMES R.
Given at St. Germain en
Laye,
24th February,
1689.
Note:
Stuart (Stewart)Fitz James
(6.8.1673-.12.1702) was
the natural son of James II by
Arabella Churchill, sister of the famous Duke of Marlborough. Henry
Fitzjames Stuart was created Duke of Albemarle2
had been in
The Grand Master and his council commanded
by a unanimous vote that the above letter should be registered, and that
His Majesty be thanked for the honour he had conferred on the Order, and
for the affection he entertained towards it; assuring him that on receiving
the attestation of which he wrote in favour of his natural son, it would
be received with welcome.
Two
days after this record was made, the Grand Master
a letter to James II, which brought
the answer reproduced in
18b.
Although Stewart Fitz James obtained
the high dignities of Grand Cross and of Honorary Grand Prior of England
in the Order of
On 20.7.1700 he married Marie Gabrielle d'Audibert by whom he had a daughter, Marie de Fitzjames, who became a nun.
2. In his biographical note, Winthrop mistook Henry's identity for that of his older brother James Fitzjames, the celebrated Marshal, Duke of Berwick and progenitor of the families of the Ducs de Fitzjames in France and the Duques de Liria y Xérica in Spain.