The Duke of York in due time took service in the army of France, under the great Turenne, and speedily distinguished himself by his courage and military genius,[[61]] while the unhappy King was forced to remain in obscure idleness and abject poverty, an object of more or less contempt in each country which he visited in his wanderings, especially after that disastrous attempt which ended in the crushing defeat of Worcester—Cromwell’s “crowning mercy”—and his own hairbreadth escape. James, on the other hand, before he was twenty-one had seen three victorious campaigns under his famous leader, and was drawing pay which placed him in easy circumstances, enabling him to support his rank suitably. Nevertheless whatever differences might arise between the brothers (and these were certainly fomented by those about them, not to speak of Cromwell, who from motives of policy wished to divide them), there was strong family affection among the children of Charles I., and in later days these two were certainly linked together by an unswerving attachment which grew with advancing years, and was dissolved only by death.

[61]. “Memoirs of J. Evelyn,” edit. Wm. Bray, 1818. Edward Hyde (Paris) to Sir Richard Browne, 6th December 1653: “The Duke of York is returned hither, full of reputac’on and honour.”

Charles had left Jersey in February 1650, but his brother remained there, probably because of the latter’s opposition to the treaty with the Scots. Young as he was, he set himself passionately against it, and even dismissed Lord Byron and Sir John Berkeley from his bedchamber on this account.[[62]] However, the brothers parted affectionately at this time, and did not meet again for more than eighteen months, Charles having joined his mother at Beauvais, and then returned to Flanders. In 1650 Lord Taafe had proposed a match between the Duke of York and the little daughter of Duke Charles IV. of Lorraine, “a prince,” as James remarked afterwards, “not much accustomed to keep his word.”[[63]] However, the young Duke seems to have acquiesced in the plan, though the Queen was very angry with both Taafe and Lord Inchiquin for presuming to interfere, as she termed it. At this time her relations with her second son were certainly strained. She was very hard on him, and he hated Henry Jermyn, hotly resenting the latter’s powerful influence with his mother, who, he declared, “loved and valued Lord Jermyn more than all her children,” an instance of Henrietta’s headstrong disregard for appearances, which involved her in what was possibly an unmerited scandal.[[64]] The poor boy had also at this time the fret and strain of poverty, but just then there came a report of the King’s death, on which James set out for Brussels, where he stayed at the house of Sir Henry de Vic. He remained there for two months, frequenting, so we are told, various popular churches for the sake, he said, of the fine music he heard in them. At this time Sir George Radcliffe was controller of the Duke’s meagre household, and with Sir Edward Herbert appointed a new suite. His mother had forbidden him to join his sister Mary, but in December 1650 he was allowed to proceed to The Hague from Rheims, where he had gone from Brussels. At the christening of the baby William, born under such mournful circumstances, the Princess Dowager proposed that the young uncle should carry the child, but the mother interfered, considering such a proceeding highly insecure.[[65]] James was made chief mourner at the funeral of his brother-in-law, the Prince of Orange, at Delft, but soon afterwards the States General found him an inconvenient visitor, as they were anxious to establish a good understanding with the English Parliament: thus he was sent to Breda, and his mother was asked to recall him.

[62]. Carte’s “Letters.”

[63]. Nicholas Papers.

[64]. “The King in Exile.” Eva Scott.

[65]. “The King in Exile.” Eva Scott.

He was with her in France at the time of his brother’s absence in Scotland, and they went together to Moriceux, to meet the fugitive King on the accomplishment of his romantic escape after Worcester. James was soon to make his acquaintance with war on his own account, for it was at the age of nineteen,[[66]] and therefore in 1652, that he entered the army of his cousin Louis XIV., wherein he served four years with honour, becoming popular with all ranks. At the end of his fourth campaign, which included the sieges and taking of Landrecy, Condé and St Guislain, Turenne was sent for by Mazarin, and as all the other lieutenant-generals were on leave the young English prince was for a time in supreme command of the army of France.[[67]] Before this, however, and soon after he joined Turenne, the lad had received his baptism of fire at the first attack on Etampes, and it was there that Schomberg, the future famous marshal, was wounded at his side.[[68]] Forty years later at the Boyne Water, King James, in the desperate attempt to regain his lost crown, was defeated by the great Dutch general, who fell in the hour of victory. Time has his revenges. One wonders if the thoughts of the luckless, despairing King travelled back to that first fight, in the early flush of youth and hope, when the world was opening before him and everything seemed possible.[[69]]

[66]. “Turenne,” by the author of “Life of Sir Kenelm Digby.”

[67]. “Adventures of King James II.,” by the author of “Life of Sir Kenelm Digby.”