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BOOK I. unite the efforts, to consolidate the interests, and 1689. to identify the aims of the two countries, of which he was the common guardian and head.

Generous
Reception

V.

On the abdication of James, and his subseof K. James quent arrival in France, he had been received by by Louis Louis with an hospitality and kindness approaching even to ostentation. The palace of St. Ger mains was assigned him for his residence, his household supported with great magnificence, and hopes, or rather assurances, were given him that he should be speedily re-established on the throne of England. The conduct of James, however, in this situation, discovered no symptoms either of spirit or understanding. He showed little sensibility at the loss of his crown. His faculties were absorbed in the most abject superstition and bigotry. His favorite occupation was holding con ferences with the jesuits, into which order he had been initiated, on the mysteries of religion; and of the personal courage which had distinguished him in his early years no traces were discernible. He became the theme of the public contempt and derision in France; and the sarcastic remark was every where circulated of the archbishop of Rheims, brother to M. Louvois, who seeing this monarch returning from chapel with his priests about him exclaimed aloud, "There goes a pious soul, who has abandoned three kingdoms for the sake of a mass!" The extreme bigotry of Louis

1689.

prevented, however, his seeing the character of BOOK 1. James in its most odious and ridiculous point of view and great naval and military preparations were made with the purpose of accomplishing the promise of his restoration. Early in March, a fleet of fourteen ships of the line was collected at Brest, on board of which James embarked with a considerable body of troops, Irish, French, and English, commanded chiefly by French officers, under M. Rosen, a general of approved skill and courage. At parting, the king of France, embracing with demonstrations of high regard the king of England, said, "The best thing I can wish your majesty is, that I may never see you again." The whole armament arrived safely at Kinsale, Invasion of where a landing was effected without opposition the French. March 22, 1689.

The conduct of the earl of Tyrconnel had been peculiarly artful and insidious, having intentio nally excited in the English government amusive hopes of submission, for the purpose of delay; so that no timely measures were taken to guard the coasts of Ireland against invasion. At an extraordinary council held at the castle of Dublin, immediately consequent to the desertion of James, the chief justice Keating, a protestant, declared that it would be in vain to contend with the ruling powers that Ireland must necessarily follow the fortunes of England-and exhorted the lord lieu

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Ireland by

BOOK I. tenant to a wise and honorable accommodation.

of Tyrcon

1689. Tyrconnel heard his advice with seeming temper Treachery and moderation; and, professing to enter into nel. these ideas, he proposed to lord Montjoy, a man of abilities and of great consideration amongst the

protestants, to accompany the chief baron Rice, a furious papist, little likely to regard honor or keep faith with heretics, to represent to king James the weakness of Ireland, and the necessity of yielding to the times, and of waiting a more favorable opportunity to avail himself of the services of his Irish subjects-swearing solemnly to Montjoy, that he was in earnest in this message, and that he knew the court of France would oppose it to the utmost of their power; for, careless of the interest and indifferent even to the destruction of Ireland, it sought merely to give to the arms of the prince of Orange a temporary diversion. With generous indiscretion, Montjoy, against the advice of his more wary friends, accepted this hazardous commission. But on his arrival in France he had full proof of the treachery of Tyrconnel, being himself immediately committed to the Bastile. It is notwithstanding very possible that Tyrconnel might have been originally inclined to submission; and it seems not easy to conjecture why his disposition in this respect was not brought to an early and decisive test. On being urged to recognise the new go

vernment, he declared "that the government itself BOOK had not required it of him-Would you, he ex- 1689. claimed, "have me throw my sword over the

castle walls ?"

In consequence of the ambiguous aspect of affairs in Ireland, lieutenant general Hamilton, an Irish officer of great address, and at this time a prisoner of war, having served in the armies of France, was at his own desire suffered to go on his parole to Ireland, with a view to persuade Tyrconnel to surrender the government. But if there was any previous indecision in the counsels of the lord lieutenant, it vanished on his interview with Hamilton, who, with the most profligate desertion of every principle of honor, used all imaginable arguments to confirm him in his attachment to king James, and exerted himself with the utmost ardor and activity in support of the same cause. On the arrival of the abdicated monarch in Ireland, the whole kingdom seemed to be at his devotion. Tyrconnel had disarmed the protestants, and assembled an army of 40,000 catholics well provided by means of the supplies sent from France; and about the end of March, James made his public entree into Dublin, amid makes his the acclamations of the inhabitants, being met at Dublin. the castle-gate by a procession of popish bishops and priests in their pontificals, bearing the host,

K. James

Entry into

BOOK L which the king publicly adored; after which he 1689. assisted at a solemn Te Deum.

Battle of
Bantry Bay.

The court of London now endeavored to compensate for its former remissness by the vigor of its present exertions. A powerful squadron under admiral Herbert was fitted out with all expedition, in hope of intercepting the French fleet on its return; and on the first of May he came in sight of the enemy, then lying at anchor in Bantry Bay. Perceiving an engagement inevitable, the French bore down in a regular line of battle; but the English admiral not being able to gain the wind, the ships fought at a great distance, and the engagement was extremely indecisive, both sides as usual in such cases boasting of the advantage: and admiral Herbert having made every possible effort, king William pleasantly remarked, "that in the commencement of a war it might be allowed to pass for a victory." But the French were with some reason elated with the success of the Irish expedition; the count de Château-Renaud, commander of the fleet, having landed his troops, repulsed the enemy, taken several rich prizes, and brought his ships back to Brest in good condition and without loss, in the short space of about six weeks. The land forces destined for the reduction of Ireland being not yet in readiness, king James reigned without control, and almost

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