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!
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.
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]
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]
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]