JAMES THE SECOND.

361

Irish Night, were surprised by a rumour that the King had chap.been detained, and was still in the island. The report ■ 168Bgathered strength during the day, and was fully confirmed be-fore the evening.

James had travelled with relays of coach horses along thesouthern' shore of the Thames, and on the morning of thetwelfth had reached Emley Ferry near the island of Sheppey.There lay the hoy in which he was to sail. He went on board:but the wind blew fresh; and the master would not ventureto put to sea without more ballast. A tide was thus lost.Midnight was approaching before the vessel began to float.

By that time the news that the King had disappeared, that thecountry was without a government, and that London was inconfusion, had travelled fast down the Thames, and whereverit spread had produced outrage and misrule. The rude fisher-men of the Kentish coast eyed the hoy with suspicion andwith cupidity. It was whispered that some persons in the garbof gentlemen had gone on board of her in great haste. Per-haps they were Jesuits: perhaps they were rich. Fifty orsixty boatmen, animated at once by hatred of Popery and bylove of plunder, boarded the hoy just as she was about to makesail. The passengers were told that they must go on shoreand be examined by a magistrate. The King’s appearanceexcited suspicion. “It is FatherPetre,” cried one ruffian;

“Iknow him by his lean jaws.” “Search the hatchet facedold Jesuit,” became the general cry. He was rudely pulledand pushed about. His money and watch were taken fromhim. He had about him his coronation ring, and someother trinkets of great value: but these escaped the search ofthe robbers, who indeed were so ignorant of jewellery thatthey took his diamond buckles for bits of glass.

At length the prisoners were put on shore and carried toan inn. A crowd had assembled there to see them; andJames, though disguised by a wig of different shape andcolour from that which he usually wore, was at once re-cognised. For a moment the rabble seemed to be overawed:but the exhortations of their chiefs revived their courage; andthe sight of Hales, whom they well knew and bitterly hated,