----------O, behold
How pomp is followed! mine will now be your's;
And should we shift estates, your's would be mine!
ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA.
We now bring back the reader to the realm of Ireland, which was doomed
shortly to be the scene of anarchy and civil war, where disastrous
tidings of awful import, posting incessantly onward, hourly arrived,
rapidly heralded by rumour's thousand tongues, to afflict the loyal and
disconcert the brave.
An official despatch soon followed, which communicated and confirmed to
Tyrconnel the sad and dismal event of the flight of his royal master to
France, which truly gave him deep and sincere affliction. This
voluntary abdication of his throne upon the part of King James II. gave
Tyrconnel sorrowful concern for the present, and a sad and mournful
foreboding of the future! "Oh, had my royal master only stood his
ground," said the duke, "and have firmly held his throne, who would, who
could have dared to hurl him from it? No; even with all his political
miscalculations, nevertheless his enemies could not have succeeded. The
Prince of Orange would still have found it a difficult, perhaps an
impossible task, to have ousted his truly royal, accomplished, and brave
father-in-law, from his lawful throne; for brave and valiant was the
king, and I doubt not but still brave he is. And there was a time, be it
not forgotten, while he was Duke of York and Lord High Admiral of
England, when nobly he fought beneath the British banner, and gloriously
led on his fleet to victory!"
The Duchess of Tyrconnel, whose powerful mind and firm nerves were
"albeit unused to the melting mood," yet when her Grace heard the
mournful recital of the sufferings and voluntary exile of her afflicted
queen; she then indeed was deeply affected, and
"Dropt tears as fast as the Arabian trees
Their medicinal gum."
The Duchess was a wife--moreover a mother, and she knew how to pity and
compassionate the unfortunate, from the palace of kings down to the
cottage of the poor. And equally distressed was our lovely heroine,
whose generous bosom ever beat, and felt, and assisted the afflicted.
Some months had now elapsed, when one morning, while the duke was at
breakfast with his family, a despatch for his Grace, and in the
hand-writing of King James, arrived. The despatch intimated that His
Majesty was then on his way to Ireland, and summoning the immediate
attendance of Tyrconnel at Kinsale, where the king proposed to land. The
despatch was brought over in a fast-sailing French corvette, called
"_l'Eclair_," which had been detached from the French fleet which was to
escort King James to Kinsale, expressly upon this mission. And his
Grace, in obedience to the royal mandate, instantly set off by land for
the town of Kinsale.
King James II., upon _abdicating_, or _deserting_ (for great debates in
the British parliament ensued upon the proper term to be used) the
throne of England, had sought and obtained an asylum in France,
generously yielded to him by Louis XIV. King James now fully resolved,
as His Majesty expressed himself, "to make one more glorious attempt to
recover his throne;" which to effectuate he sailed from the shores of
France, attended by fourteen ships of war, six frigates, and three
fire-ships, which had been prepared in the port of Brest by the French
king. At the same time seven French battalions embarked in the fleet
which conveyed King James. The troops were commanded by the Count de
Lauzun, the same gallant, generous nobleman who had escorted King
James's queen and the Prince of Wales to the court of Versailles. The
forces were accompanied with twelve field pieces.
King James was attended in this expedition by several noble personages.
His Majesty landed at Kinsale amid the loudest cheers, and was warmly
received and welcomed by all descriptions, from the peer to the peasant,
with the greatest joy and enthusiasm. Here, in pursuance to the
instructions given to Tyrconnel, he was in readiness on the beach to
receive his royal master, where he knelt as the king approached; who
instantly upraised him, and affectionately embraced his faithful
viceroy; and instantly set off in his travelling carriage for his good
city of Dublin, accompanied by the Dukes of Berwick, Albemarle, and
Tyrconnel.
Sir Patricius Placebo, from the very moment of the announcement of the
intended arrival of his much loved sovereign at Kinsale, was constantly
on the _qui vive_, considering himself, if not the _locum tenens_, at
least the Lord Constable of his vice-regal lord, and spared no pains to
make every meet and solemn preparation to receive the right royal Stuart
into his loyal city of Dublin.
"Yes, yes, my lady Duchess," observed Sir Patricius Placebo one morning,
while at breakfast, "we will indeed receive our king right royally,
_more majorum_--ha, ha, ha! _Certes_ we shall, my Lady! with no lack
whatever of respect, and albeit with no deficit of heart!--there, in
sooth, no failing was ever yet found in an Irishman; although I
asseverate it, who, pardie, ought not, my Lady: for
DOSS MOI, TANE STIGMEN!
as indeed the learned, great, and renowned Archimedes said of old. And I
will "do a deed"--not "without a name" however; for this moment I shall
fly to old Cormac, whom I shall adventure to appoint and depute, in the
absence of my superior, as the vice-regal poet laureat. Next I will post
to Ulster King at Arms; ay, and shall advise and give him hints and
innuendos of far more value and importance than all the gilt tinsel and
crimson silk which surround his brow. I shall admonish him, and his
tributaries and gallant pursuivants, one and all, decorously to furbish
their tabards, and to hire, beg, borrow, or steal stately palfreys, to
bear the herald king and suite, to meet and receive their lawful and
beloved king upon his honoured entrance into his loyal and ancient city
of Eblana, _vulgo dicta_ Dublin. Then will I hie me to the Commander
(_pro tempore_) of the Forces, and tell him of the programme which I
have planned for the king's _entrè_. And next, noble Lady, returning to
this His Majesty's royal Castle, I shall give sage and precautionary
hints and instructions to all the state battle-axe guards, state
kettle-drums and trumpets, and so forth:--
-------------------------------"trumpeters,
With brazen din blast ye the city's ear;
Make mingle with our rattling tambourines;
That heaven and earth may strike their sounds together,
Applauding our approach!"
Ha, ha, ha! I think, my lady Duchess, we shall get on vastly
well--vastly well indeed, and not only receive the applause of my
vice-regal lord, but perchance that also of my mighty monarch."
The Duchess smiled. "I doubt not," said her Grace, "that all matters
shall go on well, _te duce_. But Sir Patricius you are, (it were in vain
to deny it,) you are an enthusiast!"
"Well, well, my lady Duchess, I shall not gainsay it. Perchance, your
Grace, I am an enthusiast; and after all, my Lady, I do not see,
constituted as this cold and phlegmatic planet of ours is, I see,
really, after all, no very great harm in this said enthusiasm, if indeed
it doth not degenerate into bigotry of politics or religious rancour;
and therefore, when my king doth come, my tongue must utter the loyal
inditings of my heart."
We must now adventure to describe the triumphant entry of King James
into his good city of Dublin. Regiments of foot, stationed in parallel
files, lined each side of every street extending from the great gate of
Dublin Castle the entire way to Saint James's gate, at the western
extremity of St. James's-street, through which the king was to make his
_entrè_. That morning all the principal avenues were purposely strewed
with fresh gravel, to facilitate the king's approach.
A triumphal arch of living laurel, surmounted by the crown of England,
adorned St. James's gate, and the armorial quarterings, richly
emblazoned, of England, Scotland, Ireland, and France, were tastefully
displayed in the arrangement. Various wreaths, laurel crowns, cordons,
and garlands of various living flowers, were suspended across the
principal streets through which the royal cavalcade was to pass.--Every
window in every avenue was festooned with laurel, oak, and various
evergreens, all tastefully contrasted and displayed.--These
demonstrations of joy were not confined merely to the city, but extended
to all the adjoining villages, towns, and hamlets, for several miles in
circuit. The royal flag was hoisted on Bedford Tower, and on the
steeples of the different churches. At night the city shone forth in a
brilliant blaze of universal illumination, which was vividly reflected
in the sparkling and undulating waves of old father Liffey, as he
joyously rolled onward to the main.
Various loyal mottoes and devices caught the eye: The harp and crown;
"Rejoice, O Erin, for behold thy king cometh unto thee!"
"The king shall have his own again!"
--"Welcome Erin's king!"--"Hibernia hails her noble king!" &c. &c.; with
many other mottoes and devices, with which we shall not weary our
reader. A large platform was erected without James's gate on the west
and county side, on which, under a splendid gonfalon, or canopy, were
stationed several friars beneath a large cross, who sang "_Te Deum
laudamus_," as King James approached. To the right of the gate, on the
city side, was erected a large stage, covered with tapestry, on which
were stationed two Irish harpers, in due and proper costume; one of them
was no less a person than our old acquaintance, blind Cormac, the
sightless harper and minstrel of the Duke of Tyrconnel. Sir Patricius
Placebo albeit was fond of comparing the sightless bard to old
Tiresias, of prophetic memory, whose ear and recollection nearly
supplied the deficiencies of sight.
'Ὀφθαλμῶν μὲν ἄμερσε', &c. &c.
as Sir Patricius was wont to express himself; and then he would say,
"Yes, verily, old Cormac doth much resemble, in multiform coincidence
and fortune, the wise Tiresias! but then with this sage and discreet
difference to boot, that old Cormac will never die the death of old
Tiresias, to wit, from drinking cold water! No, no, inasmuch his fond
and strong addiction lies in genuine _aqua vitæ_, or the true Drogheda
Usquebaugh; so that Cormac will never die from drinking cold water, as
he hath "forsworn thin potations," unless, peradventure, he should
happen one day or another to be drowned in the Eske or the Liffey, and
there can be no doubt then vastly against his choice and determination!"
A shout of universal joy now burst forth: "The King! the King!!" The
heavy dragoons came thundering down with an astounding clatter; the
trumpets rung a levant, the foot soldiers presented arms; standard, and
banner, and pennon, kissed the pavement; while drum, fife, cymbal,
French-horn, and trumpet, resounded through the stricken welkin, "God
save the King!" The foreign, English, and Scottish nobility, who
accompanied the king, were marshalled duly according to their respective
rank. And now, amid shouts that rent the air, King James approached. He
was mounted on a beautiful long-tailed roan charger, bred in Normandy,
which His Majesty right royally and gracefully bestrode; the steed was
gorgeously caparisoned; the trappings were of damask gold, bordered and
interspersed with the rose, shamrock, thistle, and _fleur de lis_; and
fringed withal with a deep pursell of ermine.
From the vast crowd, and the extended length of the pageant, and
prolonged procession, King James was obliged to rein up his charger, and
to halt. It so did happen that this stoppage occurred just at the stage
where the two harpers were stationed to greet, with their native harp
and song, the entrance of their king into his capital of the island of
poesy and song. They performed several loyal and sprightly airs, which
seemed to please the monarch well: among others was
OLD CORMAC'S WELCOME.
All welcome be the royal James,
Let all confess his legal claims;
While ev'ry loyal heart exclaims,
God save the king![36]
From war, dissension, anarchy,
Kind heav'n protect this kingdom free!
United may it ever be!
God save the king!
From exile see the monarch bring
The olive round our harp to string!
With transport let each patriot sing,
God save the king!
Then welcome be the royal James,
None shall resist his legal claims;
While ev'ry honest heart exclaims,
God save the king!
[36] The air of "God save the King" had been a French anthem, and
words were appropriated to it, with the chorus of "God save the
king," expressly for James the Second. Since which time it has
been played and sung as a national anthem.
During this pause the public curiosity had sufficient time for its
indulgence by a full view of the royal person. King James looked
extremely well; he possessed a manly and animated countenance, illumined
by fine penetrating hazel eyes, his eloquent lips, his stately person;
his head was enveloped, according to the fashion of the times, in a deep
flowing full-dress peruke, surmounted by a large black beaver triangular
cocked hat, deeply edged with white ostrich feathers; the peruke
descended down freely, even to the richly polished silver corslet[37]
which he wore; his neck was adorned with the ribbons and gems of St.
George and St. Andrew; and the star of the garter sparkled in diamonds
on his breast. His whole deportment was fraught with that attractive
grace and commanding elegance of manner and address which he so fully
and peculiarly possessed, and which charmed every beholder.
[37] The above description of the person and appearance of King
James the Second, is taken from a beautiful oil miniature, painted
on copper; it is believed to be from the pencil of Samuel Cooper,
when the king was Duke of York. It is in possession of the author.
A number of handsome young women, amounting nearly to the number of
fifty, all dressed in white, and with coronals of white roses, now
advanced, and preceding the monarch, danced before him the entire way to
the gate of Dublin Castle, the Irish dance, called _Rinceadh-Fada_,
which delighted the king exceedingly. The same had been performed upon
the king's landing at Kinsale, and then too pleased him well, the
particulars of which will be found in a succeeding chapter. These young
and beautiful nymphs strewed the streets, while they danced along, with
_bouquets_ of flowers. The supply for this ceremony was contained in
small wicker baskets, which they respectively bore, with much
appropriate grace, upon their left arm; and, ever and anon, in
sylph-like attitude, they wheeled round and made obeisance to the king;
while oft, with the grace of Raphael, the right hand was duly employed
in scattering flowers, thus manifesting their unbought homage to
majesty. "The rich citizens, to testify their joy upon this occasion,
hung their balconies with tapestry and cloth of arras; those who were
not so provided displayed silk, or hangings of rich cloth; while the
poorer kind were content to sew together the coverings of Turkey-work
chairs; while others were obliged to arrange draperies of linen
cloth."[38]
[38] Extract from the Life of King James.
At the limits of the Liberty His Majesty was met by the Lord Mayor,
aldermen, and common council, the masters, wardens, and brethren of the
twenty-five corporations of the city. Ulster King at Arms was in dutiful
attendance, accompanied by the Dublin Herald at Arms, the Athlone
Pursuivant at Arms, and lastly followed the Cork Herald at Arms. The
heralds and pursuivants all mounted upon their grey palfreys, and
attired in new and splendid tabards, made expressly for the occasion,
and which shone forth in all the blaze of heraldic pomp; while they
onward proceeded in accordance to their rank and station. Next onward
rode an esquire bearing a royal standard, on which were richly
embroidered the initials of
"JACOBUS II. REX."[39]
[39] Life of King James the Second.
The letters were brilliantly surrounded with a garland composed of the
rose of England, the shamrock of Erin, the thistle of Caledon, and the
lily of France. Next was borne another standard, on which was emblazoned
the armorial bearing of the harp, with the motto,
"EX CORDE LÆTUS,"
and encircled with shamrocks. Next, the standard of England waved in the
breeze, on which was embroidered the motto,
"NON SIC MILLE COHORTES."[40]
[40] Ibid.
Various other banners and armorial escutcheons were borne in the
procession;--namely, the heraldic bearings of England, France, Scotland,
and Ireland. Then came on the state trumpeters, no less gorgeously and
characteristically attired than their party _per-pale_ cousins at arms,
and withal accompanied by the drowsy base of "the Almaine's sullen
kettle-drum," which closed the rere of this truly rare and illustrious
procession.
So soon as the royal cavalcade had approached the Tholsel, the Recorder
of Dublin, Counsellor Dillon, knelt to the king, and presented to him
the keys of the city; and loyally and dutifully addressed the king,
expressing "the great and unqualified joy of all the loyal citizens of
His Majesty's ancient and faithful city of Dublin, to hail their beloved
king, and welcome him within their gates; whereby was presented the
glorious opportunity of testifying to all the world their untainted
loyalty and unshaken affection; and that in defence of their sovereign's
throne they were ready and willing to risk, to the uttermost, both
their lives and fortunes."[41] The king most graciously and majestically
received the keys of the city; and on the instant graciously returned
them, while he knighted the Recorder on the spot; saying, with the
greatest courtesy and kindness, "I return them to you, Sir Recorder,
fully convinced that the keys of my most faithful city of Dublin could
not be placed in the custody of honester hearts, or more loyal hands,
than those who guard them now." And having thus said, he gracefully
bowed, and courteously waved his hand.
[41] Life of King James the Second.
This interesting ceremony and speech having been concluded, the king
continued his route to the castle of Dublin, followed by a number of the
state-carriages of the nobility, each drawn by six horses; various other
vehicles attended--calashes, covered carriages, &c.; these were followed
by squadrons of French dragoons. Major Barker, of the Royal Guards, next
came onward, clearing the centre of the street, and ordering the troops
again to "present arms." Then approached the Grand Prior, (the Duke of
Albemarle,) in a coach drawn by six beautiful horses. Next approached
several officers of the Guards, mounted on high-mettled chargers, and
followed by grooms, each of them adroitly conducting a led horse. Then
came on several officers of the army, attended by five trumpets and as
many kettle-drums, all arrayed in new state-dresses. Next advanced
twenty of the band of gentlemen at large, who were on horseback; they
were followed by the messengers, Sergeants at Arms, bearing the maces of
the Lords and Commons. Then came on the pursuivants, heralds, and King
at Arms.
And now the Duke of Tyrconnel presented himself, mounted on a noble
milk-white charger, and martially arrayed in steel armour, highly
wrought and polished; the star of the garter glittered on his manly
breast; and the magnificent collar, with its splendid and appendant gem,
swung from the graceful shoulders of the valiant duke. The Marquis
d'Estrades and Lord Drummond were on the right hand of the Duke; the
Earl of Melfort and Lord Seaforth supported the left. Then succeeded
many troops of dragoons, a numerous list of nobles and gentry, with
numerous servants and attendants; a large assemblage of state-carriages
of peers, drawn by six horses, some with four, and others with only a
pair. Thus was the rear of this princely cavalcade brought up. And the
procession was last of all closed by an immense assemblage who rent the
air with loud and continued shouts and acclamations of joy.
"In this stately progress King James reached the capital, and made his
triumphant entry, followed by a splendid train of French, British, and
Irish; and attended by the Count d'Avaux in the character of ambassador
of France."[42]
[42] Leland's History of Ireland, vol. III. p. 522.
Meanwhile all the bands of the different regiments joined in playing the
then well known air of
"The king shall enjoy his own again!"
When this warlike symphony had ceased the populace with one accord
huzzaed, and shouted "God save the King!" They hailed and warmly
congratulated His Majesty's arrival at his Castle of Dublin, where,
having alighted from his horse, he was met at the portal by the
host,[43] which was overshadowed by a gonfalon, or canopy of state,
borne by four Roman bishops, and accompanied by a numerous train of
friars singing, and attended by other clergy of the same persuasion,
along with the titular primate at their head, who wore a triple crown,
or tiàra. The king was conducted by them into the chapel-royal, which
had been built by the Duke of Tyrconnel,[44] where _Te Deum_ was chanted
upon the welcome and happy arrival of His Majesty.
[43] Life of King James.
[44] This is literally true: this chapel was pulled down, and a
new one built during the administration of the present Duke of
Bedford.
These ceremonies being concluded, His Majesty subsequently retired to
the new apartments, which had been recently built and decorated by
Tyrconnel, where the king dined.
It having been intimated to the king that upon the following day the
triennial perambulation of the liberties and franchises of the city of
Dublin was to take place; and His Majesty having been humbly solicited
to witness the same, most graciously gave his consent. The riding of the
franchises, or "riding the fringes," as popularly called, was in fact a
most brilliant and truly imposing public spectacle, not to be equalled,
and quite surpassing, every other pageant then or since known in Europe.