Volume Ii Part 2 (2/2)
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.
<script>