"Stationed upon the commanding hill of Donore, which looked down upon the Boyne, his right approach was upon Drogheda, which he occupied, his front facing the Boyne, fordable, but still deep, and rising every tide, with strong banks, which, intersected by mounds of earth, and divided by hedges and ditches; hence his army presented a front of about three miles, extending towards the Slane, where he negligently failed to occupy a bridge, which had been advised by General Hamilton. The river Boyne forms towards the centre of where James was stationed a considerable projecting curve, and another in reverse higher up toward Slane." [60] This, as will be seen in a subsequent chapter, was of the utmost importance to the two contending princes. We must add, that the localities of the station added to the security of King James; for had his opponent succeeded in crossing the Boyne at this point, there was still a morass also to be passed, and then succeeded by the barrier of a rising ground.
Thus advantageously was encamped upon the 30th of June the army of King James.—He had thrown up some breast-works upon the banks of the fords which lay between the two camps; and he now gave orders that "if his troops were driven from these on the morrow, then to retire to the line of houses; if from the houses, to the hedges; if from the hedges, to the range of small hills; and if driven from these, to occupy the heights of Donore: and if they could not then make that station good, they were to retreat to Duleek, and stop further pursuit by defending the pass."
Throughout the whole of this eventful day, the precursor of the ever memorable first of July, salutation from the cannon's mouth had been interchanged between each contending army, and not without leaving numerous ostensible marks of slaughter in the camps of the two contending princes. But towards the close of day the thundering roar of cannon ceased at once on both sides; while in the rival camps of royal James and William was only then to be heard the "dreadful note of preparation" for the battle on the morrow.
King James having caused his army to pass him in single files, surrounded by his nobles, generals, and staff, he thus addressed his army:—
"Soldiers, and comrades of my toil! to-morrow I purpose putting an end to all our hardships and privations by terminating the war; by boldly encountering those squadrons who are now yonder encamped, and whose standards, waving on the banks of the Boyne below, seem to invite us to the battle. We shall not disappoint them! nor, brave men, shall you be disappointed! They shall indeed feel what loyal men, determined in a just cause, can do and dare for their lawful sovereign. And God protect those who fight under the banner of justice;—who fight for their lawful king, and for all that is dear to men! As for myself I have been bred in the ranks of war, (if your king may for once be permitted to speak of what he has performed;) educated alike in the school of hardship as of war. I have fought in different realms—in Spain, in France, and Holland, I have fought and conquered with the brave Turenne, for whom I have ever felt the tenderness of a son. I have fought by land and by sea, and with those same Dutch that now invade us; aye, and beat them too we have to boot! at the mouth of their Texel—upon their own shores, I did it! But to-morrow we shall meet them again, and their vaunting leader, in the battle-field; when and where, I trust, under the auspices of heaven, that again and once more I shall rout them, and that too upon my loyal shores of Ireland! For strongly I feel that the blood of the noble Edwards and the Henrys still pulsates in these veins; and that the valiant blood of the fourth Henry of France, my glorious grandfather, still survives, and animates his descended son. Soldiers! he too, like myself, met with ingratitude—with disloyalty! he, like me, was driven from his throne! But he had a Sully; and I can boast that I have a Tyrconnel! His loyal troops of Navarre restored him to his throne; and on to-morrow, with the benison of God, I shall witness my restoration to the ancient throne of the Stuarts, by my brave—my loyal Irish, and the gallant swords of my noble Frenchmen that now encircle me; and who, to a man, are fully determined to conquer or to die for me; and in that fate shall your king fully participate with you all—to vanquish or to perish!"
Here shouts of "Vive le Roy," and of "God save King James," from the French, English, and Irish troops of the king, rent the air with loud and tumultuous huzzas; which bursting over the heights of Donore, were re-echoed by the waters of the Boyne below, and wafted to the camp of the Prince of Orange.
Meanwhile, in the camp of King James, the Duke of Tyrconnel was every where to be seen galloping from post to piquét. He ordered each soldier to wear in his cap a small cockade of white paper upon the ensuing day of battle, that in the heat of the engagement they might thence distinguish each other from their foes.[61]
"The watch-word of to-night," said the duke, as he rode along the camp, addressing himself to the officers, "be 'Eblana;' and our gallant war-cry on the morrow let it be—'James and Victory!'"
Here the whole army rent the air with shouts of applause; while Tyrconnel retired to his tent, impatiently awaiting the dawn of day.
From the moment of the arrival of the Prince of Orange in Ireland he had taken every pains, and had used every art, to inspire his army with confidence, and to ingratiate himself in their favour and love.[62] All the arts of a general and of a man of sense he put in practice to draw the attention of his soldiers from the misfortunes of the last year in Ireland, and from the danger of the present. The day upon which all his troops from different quarters met and united with him: he then ordered the whole army to pass him, and thus threw a march into a review. Instead of keeping one station, he rode in among the regiments so soon as they appeared, to encourage the soldiers, and to satisfy himself of the state of every regiment. An order having been brought him to affix his signature for wine for his table, the prince said aloud:—"No, I will drink water with my soldiers!" He slept every night in camp, and was throughout the day on horseback; he flew from place to place to survey the army, or the country, intrusting nothing to others. While at one time he brought up the rere with an anxiety which fully engaged the affections of the soldiers; at another with a spirit which inflamed them, he was the foremost in advanced parties if danger seemed to threaten, or that the object to be known was of importance.[63]
But it is now full time that we should attend in the camp of the Prince of Orange, and take a cursory view of some of the principal events of the remarkable 30th day of June, and notice his force, the occurrences of this day, and his preparations for the approaching battle.
At break of day the Prince of Orange, upon the 30th of June, being informed that the army of King James had repassed the Boyne, ordered his whole army to move forward at that early hour, in three lines, towards the river, which was distant from them about three miles. The advanced guards of horse commanded by Sir John Lanier; the Brandenburghers by Colonel Sir David Bruce. They moved onward in very good order, and by nine o'clock were within two miles of Drogheda. The Prince of Orange, who marched in front of them, observing that there was a hill to the east of the enemy, and to the north from the town, he rode instantly thither to inspect their camp, which he found to be stationed along the river in two parallel lines.[64]
Here different observations were made as to the force and numbers of the enemy by Prince George of Denmark, the Dukes of Schomberg and Ormond, and other generals. Amongst them General Scravenmore appeared to despise their numbers, observing, at the same time, that they were but a handful of men, for he could not reckon above forty-six battalions that were then encamped.
But both the Prince of Orange and Prince George replied, that they might have a great many men in the town; and that there was also a hill to the south-east, beyond which part of their army might be encamped.
"However," rejoined the Prince of Orange, "we shall soon be better acquainted with their numbers—
The Prince of Orange now proceeded in person to visit every outpost, every videt, every guard, and every piquét. He marked out his encampment, and fathomed the Boyne in order to ascertain where it was fordable for his army to pass, which he firmly resolved to do upon the following morning. While the prince was thus occupied, and advancing to take a nearer view of the situation of his enemy, and while the army was marching, he alighted from his horse, and sat down upon a rising ground, where he refreshed himself for about an hour. During which time a party of about forty horse of King James came on; but advancing very slowly, they made a halt upon a ploughed field opposite to the Prince of Orange. They brought with them in the rere two field-pieces, which, undiscovered, they planted at the angle of a hedge, which screened the cannon. The prince was no sooner remounted than the party instantly fired at him, and with the first shot killed a man and two horses very near to the prince. This bullet was presently succeeded by another, which having first grazed upon the bank of the river, then upon rebounding struck the Prince of Orange in the right shoulder, tore away a piece of his coat, and stripped off the skin; afterwards in the recoil it broke the handle of a gentleman's pistol.
Lord Conningsby seeing what had happened, rode up hastily, and putting his handkerchief to the prince's shoulder, staunched the wound. The prince remounted his charger, and observed to Lord Conningsby, "Il ne faloit pas que le coup fût plus pres." There was no necessity that[65] the bullet should have come nearer!
This accident having occasioned some disorder among the attendants of the Prince of Orange, caused the enemy to conclude that he was killed; who thereupon set up a great shout, and the report of his death reached Dublin, and even Paris. However, having his wound dressed, the prince remounted his horse, and showed himself to his whole army, to dissipate their apprehensions. He continued on horseback until four o'clock, dined in the open field, and then mounted his favourite Sorrel again, (for so was the royal charger called,) although he had been abroad from one in the morning. About the hour of nine at night he called a council of war, and declared his determination to pass the river Boyne upon the next day. Which resolve Duke Schomberg at first opposed; but finding the king positive, he advised that part of the army, horse and foot, should be sent that night towards the bridge of Slane, in order there to pass the Boyne, and so advance between the enemy and the pass at Duleek. This advice, which if followed would perhaps have ended the war in one campaign, seemed at first to be relished; but it was afterwards opposed by General de Ginckle, and the other Dutch general officers. Duke Schomberg retired to his tent, where not long after the order of battle was brought him, which he received with discontent and indifference, observing, that this was the first that ever was sent to him. The opinion of Schomberg was right; not to occupy the important pass of Slane was certainly a strange omission in the tactics of the two contending princes.
The Prince of Orange ordered that every soldier should be provided with a sufficient stock of ammunition, and all the army to be ready to march at break of day. And every man was to wear a green bough, or sprig, pulled from the adjoining wood which overhung the ford, that they might ascertain friends from foes during the fury of the fight. His Highness, attended by torch-light, rode at the twelfth hour at night through his camp, making his observations, and ascertaining that all was in readiness for the important day that was now about to arrive. He gave orders to his equery "to saddle blithe Sorrel for the field to-morrow!"
The watch-word of the prince that night was "Westminster." And as he was retiring to his tent he said to the Prince of Denmark, "Our watch-word to-night is 'Westminster;' let our war-cry to-morrow be—'Nassau and Freedom!'"
Having thus said, he saluted Prince George, and retired to repose.
END OF VOL. I.
Footnotes
[1] Ballad, by Sir Walter Scott.
[2] For the benefit of our fair readers, we venture to translate the Latin chorus to the Dirge; it means, "We have been, and are not!"
[3] "The stupendous rock of Ailsa rises almost perpendicularly to the height of 940 feet. The circumference of this singular rock at its base is about two miles; its shape is somewhat conical, and it is on all sides extremely precipitous. The only landing-place is on the north-east, where there is a small beach, formed by fragments which have fallen from the neighbouring rocks. The cliffs of Ailsa are in several places distinctly columnar; and the whole isle appears to be composed of rocks belonging to the newest Flœtz formation, the individual members of which resemble those that occur in the island of Arran. This rock is inhabited by immense flocks of birds, particularly gannets, or Solan geese; and is rented from the Earl of Cassilis at £33 a year."—Description of Ayrshire.
[4] The Hebrides.
[5] This, by the way, seems too like a bold anachronism of the
Reverend Gentleman's, but it has been correctly transcribed from the
M'Kenzie MSS. at least omnia quæ extant. However, for our own part we
must say, that we are strongly inclined to acquit the Reverend Gentleman
and scholar upon this score, inasmuch as he has high authority to plead
in self-defence the Bard of Mantua having thought proper to make Æneas
and Dido cotemporaries; and yet the former flourished ONLY two hundred
years before the building of Carthage! with which anachronism to compare
the Doctor's little historical lapse, were indeed merely to match
"A mole-hill with Olympus!"
[6] Since the above was written Dr. Herschell has paid the debt of nature. The other celebrated astronomer lives, and it is hoped providence will yet grant him many years to preside over the noble science which his powerful mind so ably illustrates and adorns.
[7] Histoire d'Irlande, par L'Abbe Ma-Geoghegan, tome 1.
[8] This castle now belongs to the Marquis of Conyngham.
[9] Silk stockings first became usual in the reign of Elizabeth. These articles of finery "were curiously knit with open seam down the legge, with quirks and clokes about the ancles, and sometimes (haply) interlaced with gold or silver threads, as it is wonderful to behold."—Beaumont and Fletcher, vol. v. Note, p. 353.
[10] "Shining shoes" are often noticed by Massinger, Jonson, and other old dramatists.
[11] The reader will have the candour to recollect that this can mean no disparagement to the military profession.—This was said when knowledge was limited to the few—one hundred and forty years ago.
[12] This fondness for drinking is noticed in Lord Strafford's Letters.—"In Ireland, where drinking was grown a disease epidemical."—Appendix to Lord Strafford's Letters, vol. II. p. 433.
[13] For an account of this noble and distinguished lady, see "Moreri Dictionnaire Historique," folio, Paris, 1654, tome VI. p. 173;—and Descamps, in his "Vie des Peintres," &c., tome II. Paris, 1754, makes the following honourable mention of her: "Anne-Marie Schurman, les Poëtes Hollandois nomment dans leurs vers cette fille illustre, leur Sapho et leur Cornelie: si elle a meritè les èloges de ses compatriotes, elle a aussi obtenu les suffrages des grands et des sçavants de l'Europe," &c.—Tome II. p. 119.
[14] There is another item of Her Grace's dress which is not noticed above, as it was only used on occasions of going abroad to visit, or when on horseback; we speak of a velvet mask, worn by ladies of rank at this period, and for which a high duty was imposed upon their being imported from France.
[15] See Cooper Walker's able Essay on Irish Dresses.
[16] "Anno 1590.—The Monastery of All-Hallows was granted by the citizens for the site of an university.
"——1591.—Trinity College founded by Queen Elizabeth. Opened 1593. Received a new charter and statutes 1637."—Annals of the City of Dublin.
[17] The paven (from pavo, a peacock) is a grave, majestic dance. The method of dancing it was anciently by gentlemen dressed with a cap and sword; by those of the long robe in their gowns; by the princes in their mantles; and by ladies in gowns with long trains, the motion whereof in the dance resembled that of a peacock's tail. This dance is supposed to have been invented by the Spaniards, and its figure is given, with the characters for the steps, in the Orchesographia of Thoinet Arbeau.—See Note to "The Mad Lover." Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, vol. IV. p. 186.
[18] Queen Elizabeth received her graciously at court, and offered to create her a Countess.—See Notes v. III.
[19] i. e. The great gap, or pass to the mountains.
[20] "Under an oak, whose antique root peeps out upon the brook that brawls along this wood."
As you like it.
[21] Even so recently as during Wesley's time [See Southey's Life of Wesley] will be perceived the fondness of this celebrated preacher for divination by lot, and by the casual opening of the Bible, expecting thereby the peculiar and immediate guidance of the Almighty!
[23] Le Vite de Piu celebri Architecti, &c.—Pagina 358, Roma 1768.
[24] It was not, however, until the year 1768, during the administration of Lord Townsend, that the royal assent was given to an act for limiting the duration of parliament to eight years.
[25] At this point of time the Irish House of Lords met at the hour of three o'clock in the afternoon; but when the house was engaged in the hearing of appeals they regularly assembled at the hour of nine o'clock in the morning.
[26] "Every Lord that comes not within a quarter of an hour after prayers, if he be a Bishop or Baron, he, is to pay one shilling, and if he be any degree above, two shillings to the poor man's box."—Standing Orders of the Irish House of Lords, p. 13. Printed by Sleater, Dublin, 1778. The title of the work was, "Rules and Orders to be observed in the Upper House of Parliament of Ireland."—The Clerk of the House was treasurer of the poor's box.—p. 39.
[27] "All fools are mad."
[28] The celebrated Caranza was, in sooth, the oracle and manual of duelling in his day. He was by birth a Spaniard; his name Geronimo Caranza. His famous work was entitled, "Verdera Destreza de las Armas"—"The true Dexterity or Skill in Arms." His talents are thus eulogized in the comedy of "Los Locos de Valencia," of Lope de Vega:—
[29] This slily alludes to the Secchia Rapita, ("The Rape of the Bucket,") a burlesque poem, by Tassoni.
[30] Rapin's History of England, vol. II. pages 742, 743, and Note.
[31] Ibid.—pages 742, 743, 771.
[32] Rapin's History of England, vol. II. p. 781.
[33] Ibid. p. 782.
[34] Ibid. p. 783.
[35] Rapin's History of England, vol. II. p. 783.
[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.
[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.
[38] Extract from the Life of King James.
[39] Life of King James the Second.
[40] Ibid.
[41] Life of King James the Second.
[42] Leland's History of Ireland, vol. III. p. 522.
[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.
[45] But actually so named from being the guard who preside over the royal buffet, or side-board.
[46] Extract from lines presented to His Majesty King James the Second, upon his birth-day, by Edmund Waller.
[47] From Lord Lansdowne to King James II.
[48] Life of King James.
[49] This speech will be found in the third volume of Rapin's History of England, page 85.
[50] History and Antiquities of the County and Town of Carrickfergus.
[51] Memoirs of Grammont.
[52] Rapin's History of England.
[53] Rapin's History of England.
[54] Life of King James.
[55] Rapin's History of England.
[56] Sir John Dalrymple's Memoirs of Great Britain and Ireland, and Rapin's History of England.
[57] Colonel Keating's Defence of Ireland.
[58] Rapin's History of England.
[59] Ibid.
[60] Keating's Defence of Ireland.
[61] Life of King James.
[62] Story's Civil Wars of Ireland.
[63] Memoirs of Great Britain and Ireland, by Sir John Dalrymple, vol. I. p. 135.
[64] Rapin's History of England.
[65] Histoire de Guillaume III. tome II. Amsterdam, 1703.