The Eve of All-Hallows Volume Ii Part 2

As the unfortunate monarch rode along, the tradesmen in the princ.i.p.al streets through which he was to pa.s.s, had caused all their shop windows to be closed; a silent, but impressive and delicate, tribute to fallen greatness! James deeply felt it. "Generous nation!" thought he, "much have I wronged you, but now you forget it all. You have indeed shed your best and bravest blood in my defence; and now on my fall, and my final departure, you pay me this last, silent, but sincere, tribute of regret at my departure. Oh, indeed I never shall--never can forget you!"

Having pa.s.sed through the city of Dublin and the adjoining villages, the royal fugitive proceeded in his flight, and soon reached the borders of the county of Dublin. Here, beneath a vast cromlech, was seen seated an ancient harper, his long thin grey locks streaming in the breeze; he heeded not the royal cavalcade as they were pa.s.sing along, but still continued playing on his harp a mournful melody, sad and solemn as the _Cath Eachroma_. Meanwhile King James had reined in his Normandy steed to listen to the song. The bard again commenced in a measure, _dolce ed affettuoso_, the following

BALLAD.

I heard them repining for Erin declining, Her shamrock entwining the conqueror's sword; Misfortune combining, his crown James resigning, His laurels all blasted at Boyne's fatal ford!

Lo! neglected her lyre, whose magical fire Rous'd princes and chieftains in battle array; Erin's minstrels and bards indignant expire, They saw not, survived not, their country's decay!

Wherever I wander I mournful ponder, Lamenting the issue of Boyne's woful fray; O Erin, my country! no lover loved fonder, Tho' fame with thy freedom have parted asunder; Like summer clouds fleeting at close of the day, Their glories fast fading in twilight away!

King James did not appear, in sooth, to be overcharmed with this mournful ditty; and having hasty recourse to his spur, he pressed onward his gallant courser; when dropping one of his stirrups, like Jason of yore, of Argonautic fame; in this expedition the king lost one of his sandals, or royal _talaria_. So far the mishap differed from Jason's case, that it fell not into a stream, but upon dry ground; and tradition, to the present hour, points out the place, or, as the gentlemen of the long robe would express it, "lays the venue" at Red Gap, where this occurrence took place.

Whether the royal sandal was, or was not, made of _red_ Morocco, or Turkey leather, which thus may have happily given an _agnomen_ to the gap, seems such a dilemma, that we shall not rashly venture to p.r.o.nounce upon so knotty and important a point as it appears, but leave the discussion to learned antiquaries, and the exposition to profound etymologists, more conversant with such grave and consequential matters than we can possibly presume to be acquainted withal.

At this place King James alighted from his horse, and accompanied by the Duke of Tyrconnel, entered the royal travelling carriage. No occurrence worthy of notice took place during the remainder of the journey; and the same evening the royal cavalcade reached Waterford in perfect safety.

There Sir Nicholas Porter, the mayor of Waterford, and the corporation, respectfully waited upon King James; and the mayor had a grand banquet most hospitably prepared at Reginald's Tower, where the king dined and slept.

The Duke of Tyrconnel expressed his ardent wishes and determination to accompany his royal master to France, which King James said he would not hear of, nor admit. The king then took a valuable diamond ring from his royal hand, and placing it on Tyrconnel's, he said, with much feeling and emphasis, while he warmly pressed the hand upon which he placed it, "Tyrconnel, I well know that you _will_ remember me!"

"Yes, my beneficent Sire, I shall beyond all possibility of doubt; when I shall forget my beloved king, then may heaven for ever forget and forsake me!"

Here Tyrconnel knelt, and with warm affectionate zeal and affection kissed the hand of the royal exile.

"Wear that, Tyrconnel, as a pledge of my unaltered and unalterable affection. I am at present, from the cogency and crisis that my fortunes have a.s.sumed, necessitated to yield to superior force; but I shall never cease to labour for the deliverance of my faithful Irish subjects so long as I shall live."

He then added in a slow, solemn, and affecting tone: "I charge you, Tyrconnel, upon your allegiance, and by your love for me, to hasten, so soon as you shall witness my embarkation, to return back to the bosom of your family; restore a husband to your wife, and, to _my_ Adelaide--my beauteous G.o.d-child, a father. Hasten to go! and the most affectionate regards of your faithful sovereign and friend attend you! I say prepare to go!"

"Please your Majesty," the duke replied, "I most respectfully obey; but surely your Highness will not, cannot, I humbly hope, refuse me a boon, and that which I respectfully conceive to be merely the duty of a loyal subject to claim, and that is, my liege, to witness your safe return to Saint Germains; and then I will return to my family."

This request was at once acceded to by King James; who concluded by saying, "I was indeed born to be the sport of fortune!" This he had often said before; and now he repeated his favourite apothegm.

King James withdrew to repose at an early hour; and Tyrconnel, who slept in the outward room, adjoining his sovereign, was in attendance. The Duke of Tyrconnel retired to bed, but not to repose. He now rapidly retraced in mental review the occurrences of years, and the still more surprising events, the fatal result of a very few days, that had so rapidly succeeded each other in a fatally consecutive train. "Oh, what a contrast," he thought, "there is between the triumphant landing some months before at Kinsale, and the deeply humiliating departure that upon the following day shall take place on the royal embarkation from Waterford!"

Oppressed more by mental than bodily fatigue, at length Tyrconnel insensibly sunk into a profound sleep; but it was unaccompanied with that refreshment which the balmy sleep of health ought to bestow. It was restless and disturbed. The vision of his beloved monarch's landing at Kinsale floated in vivid colours before him, and once more presented in detail the event as it had happened; once more he stood uncovered upon the beech of Kinsale, anxiously awaiting the landing of his sovereign, and to pay his dutiful homage; once more he heard the loud exultant exclamations of congregated thousands; once more he witnessed the rapid flash, and heard the succeeding thunder of deep-toned salutation

"From the loud cannons' mouth."

Again standards waved in the air, and were lowered to the earth, to hail the sovereign's auspicious approach; the military presented arms; the burst of harmony from the various regimental bands, and the universal shouts of joy made the welkin ring. The entire body of the Roman ecclesiastics, all habited in their meet and proper costume, a.s.sembled, and kneeled upon the beach, while the host was borne in high and solemn procession. The congregated n.o.bles and gentry were all duly marshalled upon the strand, in meet accordance to their rank and dignity, loyally and affectionately to receive, and congratulate the arrival of their beloved monarch, while "every inch a king," and right royally arrayed, standing erect in the royal pinnace which rowed him to the Irish sh.o.r.e; while the royal standard floated at the stern, and the stately pinnace, decked and emblazoned with all the circ.u.mstance, pride, and splendour of heraldic pomp, blazed forth richly illumined by a vernal sun, and seemed at once to diffuse hope, joy, and confidence around.

Here, upon his landing, King James was welcomed by a number of young persons of both s.e.xes--the one remarkable for their manly graces, as the other for their lovely faces and forms--who joined hands in the celebrated _Rinceadh-Fada_,[6] or Irish dance, which pleased the monarch exceeding well, who often afterwards spoke of it, saying how highly he had been delighted with it. King James now approached Tyrconnel, whom he warmly grasped. Upon this "the fabric of his vision" was completely dissolved; for Tyrconnel was now broad awake. He took off the diamond ring which his royal master had given him the night before, devoutly pressed it to his lips, and arose, for it was now day, feverish and unrefreshed from his couch.

[6] The _Rinceadh-Fada_, or Irish dance, is thus described by the late Mr. Cooper Walker: "When that unfortunate Prince, James II., landed at Kinsale, his friends who awaited his arrival on the sea sh.o.r.e received him with the _Rinceadh-Fada_, or Irish dance, the figure and execution of which delighted him exceedingly. This was the figure: Three persons abreast, each holding a corner of a white handkerchief, first moved forward a few paces to slow music; the rest of the dancers followed two and two, a white handkerchief held between each. Then the dance began, the music suddenly changing to brisk time; the dancers then pa.s.sed with a quick step under the handkerchief of the three in front; they wheeled round in semi-circles, forming a variety of pleasing and animating evolutions, interspersed at intervals with _entre chants_, or cuts; they then united, and fell back again in their original places behind, and paused. Perhaps the cla.s.sical reader will find--and we think he may--a similarity between our _Rinceadh-Fada_ and the festal dance of the Greeks."--_Historical Memoirs of the Irish Bards_, 4to., Dublin, 1786, pp. 151, 152, 154.

Mr. Walker adds in a note, "Before we adopted the French style of dancing, our public and private b.a.l.l.s used always to conclude with the _Rinceadh-Fada_."

He opened the cas.e.m.e.nt of his window to admit the balmy breeze of the morning, and taking from his finger the diamond ring, he cut with its sharp and brilliant point the following lines on a pane of the lattice:--

When Boyne ran red with human gore, And royal Stuart fled Donore; While William seiz'd King James's throne, A people's voice had made his own; This tow'r did friendly refuge give To James, the royal fugitive; And loyal love had here the pow'r Awhile to cheer misfortune's hour!

Oh, then for aye this antique tow'r be blest, Which succour gave to royalty opprest!

King James and his suite having breakfasted, and all matters being in readiness, the embarkation commenced. Gloom, silence, and despondence seemed every where to prevail. The king, in ascending the vessel prepared for him, and which was called "the Count de Lauzun," was a.s.sisted by the Duke of Berwick, the Duke of Tyrconnel, Marquis Powis, the Marquis d'Avaux, amba.s.sador of France, &c. &c. &c. But it was amid universal silence they embarked! No shout, cheer, or exclamation, was heard; no pomp, no parade, was exhibited; not even a royal salute from the guns in the harbour!

However, amongst the populace there was, or seemed to be, a feeling of pity, but somewhat allied to contempt, and more approaching anger rather than sorrow. Thus the royal exile departed from the sh.o.r.es of Ireland, without a single cap having been flung up, or an individual voice to exclaim,

"G.o.d save King James!"

Such ever is the fate of fallen greatness! King James now spread full sail for the coast of France, and was the first who brought tidings of his own dreadful defeat.[7] All the French court appeared to be much affected, and sorrow was manifested throughout the entire realm. But one piece of news so sad for France, was immediately followed by another, which produced a general joy,[8] although, however, it was of short duration in the hearts of all those who were interested in the disgrace of that fugitive prince.[9] A _valet de chambre_ of King James, who preceded his master, returning from Ireland to Paris, related as a fact that the Prince of Orange was killed by a cannon shot, which he had received on the day of the battle.

[7] Rapin's History of England.

[8] Histoire de Guillaume III.--Tom. II. p. 87, 88.

[9] Ibid.--Tom. II. p. 88, 89. Histoire du Pays Bas. Tom. III.

The prince was considered dead throughout all France; and as one believes with facility what they are desirous should happen, people did not wish to stop or examine if that news should prove false. The report, as circulated, was, that the Prince of Orange had been killed by a cannon shot in fording the river Boyne. The first account which they had at Paris arrived at midnight; and all the commissioners of the wards were despatched, by order of Louis XIVth, to knock at the doors of the citizens, and to tell them in a triumphant tone that the Prince of Orange was dead, and that they must arise and rejoice! At the expiration of a few moments the whole city appeared illuminated. Drums and trumpets were heard in all directions, nor was there to be seen a single street where they had not lighted fires. Never, even at the birth of princes, had been displayed so many attestations of joy as then blazed abroad in France, at the account of the pretended death of the Prince of Orange.

The populace hastily made effigies of King William and Queen Mary, which they drew through the dirt, treated with every indignity, and afterwards burned them. The bells of _Notre Dame_, and many other churches rang peals of joy, and the cannon of the Bastile were fired. Finally, nothing was forgotten which was customary to be done on the most solemn occasions. These rejoicings lasted for many days, which were celebrated in feasts and all other kinds of diversions.

The public joy spread itself from Paris to all the other cities, accompanied with the news of the death which was the cause of it. But it was more astonis.h.i.+ng, and what, perhaps, no prince ever before did for the death of an enemy, the King of France gave orders to all the garrisons of provinces to cause to be fired _feux de joie_ in all places of public resort!--and, finally, to crown all, (what horrid impiety!) even religion was called in and made a partaker of the public joy!

_Te Deum_ was chanted in the cathedral church of _Notre Dame_, where members of the parliament a.s.sisted, clad in their red robes, to return thanks to heaven for the death of the Prince of Orange!!![10]

[10] Histoire de Roy Guillaume III. Tom, II. p. 89.--Amsterdam, 1703.

For the present we must proceed to other matters, while the Duke of Tyrconnel is employed in attending his unfortunate sovereign[11] to the court of Saint Germains, and while the d.u.c.h.ess and her family, escorted by Sir Patricius Placebo, are performing their voyage to Parkgate, we must, in the mean time, advert to our s.h.i.+pwrecked voyagers, who were very early noticed in our history, and whom, with very little consideration indeed upon our part, we have allowed so long to remain at Ostend, and in durance vile.

[11] The great and prominent fault of King James II., and which formed the head and front of his political offences, was no doubt his arbitrary government, and the decided preference which he gave to Catholics in preference--nay, to the total exclusion of Protestants from all emoluments in the State, and furthermore enforced by bills of pains and penalties, and attainders! Upon this fatal rock his fortunes were wrecked, and he lost his throne.

Since this time the converse of the proposition has been unhappily and unwisely but too often acted upon. But let the past be buried in oblivion, and mutual animosities be forgiven and forgotten! A bright and happy period seems now about to arise to give peace and tranquillity to a country too long depressed by civil and irreligious jars; the sun of peace seems, with bland promise, about to illumine the horizon of hitherto distracted Erin, by snapping asunder the bonds which have for ages manacled a brave and n.o.ble people; and it is fondly believed and hoped that a long desired great and liberal measure shall in no long s.p.a.ce of time be effected by the "_Roy le veult_" of a great and mighty king, the most generous, enlightened, and accomplished prince, who ever adorned the throne of Britain, and who well indeed may be called PATER PATRIae, the father and the benefactor of ALL his people!

"It was omitted to mention in the foregoing chapter that King James, in his pa.s.sage to France, met with the French fleet of frigates which M. Seignelai had originally intended to burn the English s.h.i.+pping on the coast of England, and which subsequently was destined to burn William's transports upon the coast of Ireland;--but communicating to other nations the bad fortune which attended himself, he carried it back to France with him for the security of his person."--_Rapin's History of England._

CHAPTER III.

Incidit in Scyllam, cupiens vitare Charybdim.

LATIN PROVERB.

Ostendam metiri ulnis pedibusque necesse est; Quemque premas, dubia morte parare loc.u.m.

URBIUM BELGICARUM CENTURIA.

It is inc.u.mbent here that we should again return to Ostend, and attend our s.h.i.+pwrecked voyagers, who have been left so long in durance vile, as contained in the first chapter of our first volume; and advert to other notable accidents worthy to be known, related, and recorded.