The collected writings of Dougal Graham "Skellat" Bellman of Glasgow: edited with notes: Together with a Biographical and Bibliographical Introduction, and a Sketch of the Chap Literature of Scotland: by George MacGregor: In two volumes |
 | I. |
|
| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
| XII. |
| XIII. |
| XIV. |
| XV. | CHAP. XV. |
| II. |
|
 | CHAP. XV. The collected writings of Dougal Graham |  |
240
CHAP. XV.
Conclusion. Charles interrupts the Congress. Is seized at the Opera. Carried to the Castle of Vincennes. And forced to leave France.
Now France was hemm'd on ev'ry side,
And Charles' reward was humbling 's pride.
By sea, by land, poor France was done;
She begg'd for peace to draw her win.
No ship durst from her harbours steer,
Man of war, merchant, or privateer,
Her trade was stopt by sea and land,
Bold Britain did the seas command:
She sued for peace at any price,
But Charles' affairs made it right nice.
At Aix la Chapelle did the Congress hold,
And when Charles thereof was told,
He protested 'gainst what might be done,
In prejudice of his pretension:
For all his titles he would keep still,
Let Britain and France do what they will:
And this perplexed Lewis sore,
And anger'd Britain still the more,
So with France no peace there could be made,
While She the Pretender harboured:
France durst not on her part say No,
Lest she should get the fatal blow.
Britain now ask what you will,
France can promise and not fulfil.
And Charles' reward was humbling 's pride.
By sea, by land, poor France was done;
She begg'd for peace to draw her win.
No ship durst from her harbours steer,
Man of war, merchant, or privateer,
Her trade was stopt by sea and land,
Bold Britain did the seas command:
She sued for peace at any price,
But Charles' affairs made it right nice.
At Aix la Chapelle did the Congress hold,
And when Charles thereof was told,
He protested 'gainst what might be done,
In prejudice of his pretension:
For all his titles he would keep still,
Let Britain and France do what they will:
And this perplexed Lewis sore,
And anger'd Britain still the more,
So with France no peace there could be made,
While She the Pretender harboured:
France durst not on her part say No,
Lest she should get the fatal blow.
Britain now ask what you will,
France can promise and not fulfil.
The Articles were all agreed,
But neither sign'd nor ratify'd,
Until poor Charlie was sent away,
Which he postponed every day,
And instead of hastening to go,
He gave the King's gold-smith to know,
That he wanted a service of plate,
At twenty thousand crowns in rate,
Charg'd to be ready 'gainst such a day,
Without excuses or delay.
Before this work was well begun,
Another the King must have as soon,
This put the jeweller in dread,
Straight to the Prince he did proceed,
Told him the matter, begg'd more time,
No, said he, the first order's mine,
Go to the King and let him know—
Then said Lewis, Let it be so,
Thinking that he was going away,
But yet this caus'd some more delay.
The plate was made and to him sent,
Ev'n by the King's commandement,
And his Comptroller the charge to pay,
Hoping 'twould hasten him away:
But Charles told him very plain,
That he in France would still remain,
For he had full right to do so
By an alliance treaty long ago
And this he might let Lewis know.
But neither sign'd nor ratify'd,
Until poor Charlie was sent away,
Which he postponed every day,
And instead of hastening to go,
He gave the King's gold-smith to know,
That he wanted a service of plate,
241
Charg'd to be ready 'gainst such a day,
Without excuses or delay.
Before this work was well begun,
Another the King must have as soon,
This put the jeweller in dread,
Straight to the Prince he did proceed,
Told him the matter, begg'd more time,
No, said he, the first order's mine,
Go to the King and let him know—
Then said Lewis, Let it be so,
Thinking that he was going away,
But yet this caus'd some more delay.
The plate was made and to him sent,
Ev'n by the King's commandement,
And his Comptroller the charge to pay,
Hoping 'twould hasten him away:
But Charles told him very plain,
That he in France would still remain,
For he had full right to do so
By an alliance treaty long ago
And this he might let Lewis know.
On this the King wrote straight to Rome,
To advise what plan he might assume.
The Pope and Pretender did approve,
That Charles should from France remove.
As the King for him would provide,
At Tribourg, a palace to reside,
On what yearly pension he should demand,
Sent him a Blank from his own hand,
To name the sum though e'er so high,
Sign'd by's most Christian Majesty.
The Duke de Graves with it was sent,
Who begg'd he'd write the sum's content
Into the Blank with his own pen,
But down he threw it with disdain,
Saying, Bills and Bonds will seem but froth,
If Sovereigns cannot keep their troth.
Then came the Count de Maurepas,
With Charles to argument the cause;
As it was the King's express command,
That he should forthwith leave the land,
If he chus'd not in peace to do it,
Their scheme was to compel him to it,
That the ministry were greatly struck,
At his behaviour and conduct,
In stopping the whole of their affairs
This is what the Count's commission bears.
To advise what plan he might assume.
The Pope and Pretender did approve,
That Charles should from France remove.
As the King for him would provide,
At Tribourg, a palace to reside,
On what yearly pension he should demand,
Sent him a Blank from his own hand,
To name the sum though e'er so high,
Sign'd by's most Christian Majesty.
The Duke de Graves with it was sent,
Who begg'd he'd write the sum's content
Into the Blank with his own pen,
But down he threw it with disdain,
Saying, Bills and Bonds will seem but froth,
242
Then came the Count de Maurepas,
With Charles to argument the cause;
As it was the King's express command,
That he should forthwith leave the land,
If he chus'd not in peace to do it,
Their scheme was to compel him to it,
That the ministry were greatly struck,
At his behaviour and conduct,
In stopping the whole of their affairs
This is what the Count's commission bears.
Your Ministry, cry'd he, with disdain,
You'll oblige me, tell your King and them,
I'm born, I trust their schemes to break,
And how to do't, I could direct;
But, I hope, the time will soon draw on,
When that good work it will be done.
You'll oblige me, tell your King and them,
I'm born, I trust their schemes to break,
And how to do't, I could direct;
But, I hope, the time will soon draw on,
When that good work it will be done.
About this time from London came,
Two hostages of worthy fame,
As pledges of the peace to be,
And Articles to ratifie,
While the French had none to London sent:
At which the Prince a squib did vent,
What! is Britain conquer'd, he did say,
That their hostages are here away?
And is French Faith so current grown,
That hostages they ask for none?
This league shall yet like poor mine go,
Which was sworn to a few years ago.
This did the Ministry enrage,
And nought's for Charlie but the cage,
As the scheme was fully contriv'd,
A courier from Rome arriv'd,
Where the Pope and old Pretender too
Did his whole conduct disavow,
Ord'ring him forthwith to retire,
To which he yet gave a deaf ear;
But knowing that he must fall their prey,
Order'd his plate and jewels away.
His behaviour did through Paris spread,
And all did own him, hard bestead.
Two hostages of worthy fame,
As pledges of the peace to be,
And Articles to ratifie,
While the French had none to London sent:
At which the Prince a squib did vent,
What! is Britain conquer'd, he did say,
That their hostages are here away?
And is French Faith so current grown,
That hostages they ask for none?
This league shall yet like poor mine go,
Which was sworn to a few years ago.
This did the Ministry enrage,
And nought's for Charlie but the cage,
As the scheme was fully contriv'd,
A courier from Rome arriv'd,
Where the Pope and old Pretender too
Did his whole conduct disavow,
Ord'ring him forthwith to retire,
To which he yet gave a deaf ear;
243
Order'd his plate and jewels away.
His behaviour did through Paris spread,
And all did own him, hard bestead.
Then by the King an order's sign'd,
Directly to have him confin'd,
Twelve hundred guards did close parade,
Horse and grenadiers were had
All armed and Cap-a-pee,
Set round the Opera carefullie,
The Duke de Biron had command,
But loth to take the deed in hand;
Caus'd Major Venderville execute,
Who did not with much honour do't.
Six lusty ruffians were prepar'd,
Who waiting stood within the guard,
And as he entred the Opera door,
They seiz'd him fast, and squeezed sore
His hands and arms in the squabble,
The guards around kept off the rabble,
Who had the Prince in great esteem,
And wish'd their help him to redeem,
His servants and each favourite
Were strictly order'd to retreat;
Sword and pistols from him did wrest,
This comes French vows to at the best.
His arms and thighs with cords were knit,
And in a coach they have him set,
With a Major upon every side;
In this posture they made him ride
Unto the castle of Vincennes,
While soldiers guarded all the lanes,
Until that length they did proceed,
As there an uproar was indeed;
For 'mong the croud it was current told,
That he was to the English sold:
Some said this, and some said that,
And thousands told they knew not what.
The governor did him imbrace,
And cried, “Ah my friend, Alas!
“A noble Prince so bound with cord,
“Upon my word, I'm sorry for't.”
And then in haste with his own hands,
Respectfully unloos'd his bands:
But to a dark apartment led him in,
Was only ten feet square within,
No window to look any way,
A sky-light shew'd some peep of day.
When he view'd his prison round and round,
Said, he'd been worse into Scots ground;
Poor Charlie this was hard to thole,
To clap thee in a French black-hole!
And there he was confin'd to ly,
Till to depart he did comply,
As the Pope and King James did desire,
That he from French ground should retire.
When finding that it must be so,
He freely did consent to go.
Two col'nels went, as it appears,
To see him pass the French frontiers:
They took the rout to Fountainbleau,
And to his dungeon bade adieu,
He did not love to be confin'd,
So now the peace was fairly sign'd,
And Charlie banish'd like a fool,
Who was only us'd as a French tool,
And to Scotland a scourge and curse,
I mean by waste of blood and purse.
But in time to come, dear countrymen,
O do not do the like again!
The Popish oaths ye'll find a puff,
When ye get on the neck a cuff;
For in ages past you may see plain,
These are the tricks of France and Spain,
For to be peaceable and good,
Till they are in a fighting mood,
And then a quarrel they will breed
For any thing they stand in need.
Directly to have him confin'd,
Twelve hundred guards did close parade,
Horse and grenadiers were had
All armed and Cap-a-pee,
Set round the Opera carefullie,
The Duke de Biron had command,
But loth to take the deed in hand;
Caus'd Major Venderville execute,
Who did not with much honour do't.
Six lusty ruffians were prepar'd,
Who waiting stood within the guard,
And as he entred the Opera door,
They seiz'd him fast, and squeezed sore
His hands and arms in the squabble,
The guards around kept off the rabble,
Who had the Prince in great esteem,
And wish'd their help him to redeem,
His servants and each favourite
Were strictly order'd to retreat;
Sword and pistols from him did wrest,
This comes French vows to at the best.
His arms and thighs with cords were knit,
And in a coach they have him set,
With a Major upon every side;
In this posture they made him ride
Unto the castle of Vincennes,
While soldiers guarded all the lanes,
Until that length they did proceed,
As there an uproar was indeed;
For 'mong the croud it was current told,
That he was to the English sold:
Some said this, and some said that,
244
The governor did him imbrace,
And cried, “Ah my friend, Alas!
“A noble Prince so bound with cord,
“Upon my word, I'm sorry for't.”
And then in haste with his own hands,
Respectfully unloos'd his bands:
But to a dark apartment led him in,
Was only ten feet square within,
No window to look any way,
A sky-light shew'd some peep of day.
When he view'd his prison round and round,
Said, he'd been worse into Scots ground;
Poor Charlie this was hard to thole,
To clap thee in a French black-hole!
And there he was confin'd to ly,
Till to depart he did comply,
As the Pope and King James did desire,
That he from French ground should retire.
When finding that it must be so,
He freely did consent to go.
Two col'nels went, as it appears,
To see him pass the French frontiers:
They took the rout to Fountainbleau,
And to his dungeon bade adieu,
He did not love to be confin'd,
So now the peace was fairly sign'd,
And Charlie banish'd like a fool,
Who was only us'd as a French tool,
And to Scotland a scourge and curse,
I mean by waste of blood and purse.
But in time to come, dear countrymen,
O do not do the like again!
The Popish oaths ye'll find a puff,
When ye get on the neck a cuff;
For in ages past you may see plain,
These are the tricks of France and Spain,
245
Till they are in a fighting mood,
And then a quarrel they will breed
For any thing they stand in need.
| CHAP. XV. The collected writings of Dougal Graham | |