From Longnian's Magazine.

THE BOMANCE OF A STUART PRINCESS.

(FROM NEW DOCUMENTS.)

BY MRS. W. E. H. LECKY,

1

onets of nine grenadiers. He had been tracked in his hiding place in midday, had fled on the roof, and finally succeeded in escaping to France. THE latest volume of the "Irish His- Such a man was well suited to conduct aric MSS.," which are now in course a perilous enterprise. His narrative is of publication and are edited by Mr. somewhat highly colored. It was writGilbert, contains the various contem- ten long after the event, being dated porary accounts of the escape of the March 4, 1745, from "St. Clement de la Princess Maria Clementina from Inns- Manche," the country of Don Quixote. rück in 1719. These papers are now It was dedicated to the queen of published for the first time, with the France. The other eye-witness, Gayaception of one, an English narrative, don, kept a journal at the time, and Thich appeared in London in 1722, and gives some additional details. This which Sir Walter Scott and Lord memoir is dated from Bologna, May 9, Mahon made use. It may be well to 1719, and is now in the British Mumind the reader that the Princess seum among the papers of Cardinal Maria Clenrentina was daughter of Gualterio, for whose information it was ames Sobieski, prince of Poland, and chiefly written. Wogan begins by reanddaughter of the king and hero, lating how in 1718, he was sent on a John Sobieski, who had saved Austria mission by "King James of England " rom the Turks, and that she was be- to select him a wife from the Catholic hed to the Pretender, also called princesses of Germany, and how his e Chevalier de St.-George, to whom choice fell on the youngest daughter of be was to be married at Bologna in James Sobieski, prince of Poland, who aly. George I., alarmed at the pro- then lived in retirement with his court sed alliance, begged the emperor to at Ohlau, in Silesia. Several alliances erfere, and his Imperial Majesty, had been proposed to the Chevalier, getting the debt his country owed to but in his position, he wrote to Cardihe house of Sobieski, gave orders that nal Albani,' he cared more for a mare princess should be arrested on her riage that would insure his domestic age through Innsbrück, which was happiness than for one based on purely ordingly done. The story of her political motives, and he therefore ape is related in French by two wished to obtain through a trustworthy e-witnesses, Sir Charles Wogan and channel all the information he could chard Gaydon, a major of the Irish about the princesses in question before giment of Dillon in France. There deciding. The prince of Poland had a third narrative in English, by three daughters. The eldest, Princess Brother Bonaventure Boylan, of the Casimire, brought up in Rome by her ish Franciscan College of St. An- grandmother, the queen dowager of ony of Padua at Louvain, besides Poland, was grave and serious and e in Italian and the English one bristling with etiquette; while the referred to, which was at second, afterwards Duchesse de Bouilerroneously ascribed to Wogan. lou, was inclined to too much gaiety and arles Wogan, of Rathcoffy, Kildare, familiarity. Neither suited a prince s nephew of Tyrconnell, viceroy of depressed by his misfortunes. But the land under James II. He had de- Princess Clementina had an even, ted himself to the cause of the Pre-sweet, and charming temper, and ader; he had been taken prisoner at enough good sense to attune her buoyPreston in 1715, and imprisoned in ant manner to the times and seasons. Sewgate. After six months he and Wogan went to Urbino to communicate everal other prisoners, who were go-his impressions to James, who was to be tried for high treason, had satisfied with the result of the mission le their escape on a dark night, ting their way through the bay

Love

1 This letter is published for the first time in the

same volume.

and appointed him at once to ratify the master had gone. The prince apolo marriage contract. It appears, how-gized to him for not having truste ever, that the Earl of Mar persuaded him with the mission of conducting the James that his English followers might princesses, which smoothed Wogan' object to his sending an Irish Catholic, ruffled feelings, and now entrusted hin and, at his suggestion, the Hon. James with the task of liberating them, leav Murray was sent instead. The maring Wogan entirely free as to wha riage treaty being concluded, the Hon. means to employ. John Hay, brother-in-law of Murray, was despatched to Ohlau in order to escort the two princesses-mother and daughter-in all secrecy to Bologna, where the royal couple were to receive the nuptial benediction.

Wogan's devotion to the prince, and his own love of adventure, made, hin willing to undertake the affair. Th pope was put in the secret, and gav him a passport under the name of the Comte de Cernes, who was taking Meanwhile the whole plan had leaked his family from Flanders to Loretto out, and King George I. employed his At Bologna he had an interview with influence through his envoy, St.-Sapho- the papal legate, Cardinal Origo, whe rin, at the court of Vienna to prevent laughed at the enterprise, took Wogai the marriage, threatening the emperor to the opera, and wished him a speedy to break up the Quadruple Alliance and return. W Vogan replied that the legate join his enemy, the king of Spain. would never see him again except with The Princess Sobieska was herself the princess. Disguised as a French partly responsible for what followed. merchant, he passed through Innsbrück She insisted on travelling in great and had an interview with the two state, and at short stages, under the princesses. They entered eagerly into name of "Maréchale" of Poland, so his plans provided Prince Sobieski gave that the incognito was but too trans-him full powers. Wogan next went to parent. The emperor, fearing the en- Ohlau; but it was not easy at first to mity of England in the war in which he persuade the prince, who treated the was engaged, reluctantly sent orders to whole scheme as impracticable and Innsbrück that his aunt and niece undesirable, and thought. such Dor should be arrested on their passage. Quixotism was out of season. He sen The empress-mother wished to save Wogan on New Year's day, 1719, a her sister from such an indignity, and priceless snuff-box made out of a tur bribed the courier-possibly, says Wo-quoise set in gold which. King John gan, not without the tacit consent of his father, had found in the tent of the the emperor himself to lengthen the grand vizier the day of the victory as usual three days' journey from Vienna Vienna. Wogan, however, would nor to Inusbrück by a pretended accident accept it, saying that he could not be on horseback, in order to give the party the bearer of a refusal for his master time to pass before he could arrive. and a present for himself. This moved But this plan was frustrated by the the prince, who asked Wogan to dine delays of the princess. She stopped a with him alone, and then, presenting week with her brother, the Bishop of him again with the snuff-box, consented Augsburg, on the plea of getting some to his proposal, and trusted the whole jewellery reset, the Augsburg jewellers undertaking entirely to him, declaring being then famous, and the courier, in that no prince had ever put more con spite of a three days' delay, arrived the fidence in a man than he in Wogan. day before the princesses, who were in"Never were two people more satisfied consequence arrested. John Hay, who with each other." They agreed that was allowed to go free, arrived at Wogan should go to Augsburg, and Bologna with the news, and Wogan, from there communicate with Monsieur disappointed at the ill success of a de Châteaudoux, a confidential servant plan which he had so successfully of the princess at Innsbrück, and ar started, hurried to Rome, where his range with the Starosta Chlebowski

and his wife to join him at Augsburg | favorite of Prince Constantine, got when he should summon them. These scent of the affair, and asked her Occupied a high position at the court of brother, the governor of Breslau, to Oblau, and were great friends of the get the Chevalier Warner, as Wogan Princess Clementina. Wogan asked then called himself, arrested on his the prince if he thought it possible to way through Prague. Wogan, howget a passport from the court of Vienna ever, saw through this lady's wiles, for Milan or some other town in Italy, circumvented her treachery by avoidorder to facilitate the journey ing Prague, and made his way to Vithrough the Tyrol and the Trentino. enna. The papal nuncio at Vienna He was horror-struck when the prince had done everything to induce the emddenly called the Austrian Baron peror to set the princesses free, but Eckersberg, who happened to be in King George's threats that he would the ante-room, told him the whole assist Spain by land and by water plan, and asked him about the pass- and invade the emperor's dominions in port. The baron replied that if he Italy if his Imperial Majesty supported himself asked for such a thing it would the Pretender in this matter, made be sure to raise suspicions, as they every effort hopeless, and Wogan felt knew at the Austrian court how de- there was nothing left but to try a Foted he was to the prince's interests. bold stroke. He went, therefore, to This conversation was carried on in Augsburg and asked the Starosta aud German, which Wogan understood but Starostine Chlebowski to come over as ttle. He gathered the drift of it, and previously arranged; but here he enas extremely distressed to see a third countered another obstacle. Prince person put in the secret, fearing that Sobieski wrote that their courage had the whole enterprise would now fall failed at the last moment, and that in through. The prince had great confi- consequence he too retracted his full dence in the baron, who had been powers and gave up the enterprise, not recommended to him by the empress- wishing to risk his daughter and his mother, his sister-in-law; but Wogan, own honor. He was willing to give specting that this gentleman had one of his other daughters; but Wogan everything to gain by revealing the felt that the Princess Clementina would plan to the emperor, thought he must alone suit his master, and he now by all means make sure of him. Being wrote to King James" informing "that no German is averse to him of the situation, and asking that drink," he invited the baron to his a confidential servant might be deroom to drink to the New Year with spatched to Prince Sobieski to obtain a bottle of Tokay and talk over plans. fresh powers. James made use of one Both spoke Latin easily. The baron of his valets, a Florentine, Michel drank and listened while Wogan un- Vezzosi, "a man more faithful and folded his master's plans and promised discreet than brave," and Wogan sent to recommend him to the post of conti-him on to Ohlau to implore the prince dential envoy to the king of Sweden, to give his consent once more. James, which was to be followed in case of a meanwhile, went secretly to Spain at Restoration by many other honors, of the invitation of Alberoui, who was which the Garter was but one. The organizing an expedition on his behalf. baron, moved by the Tokay and all Before starting he wrote to Wogan, these fine promises, made a bond of asking him to pursue the enterprise, friendship with Wogan. It held good, and he left a procuration with Murray the latter adds, after the death of the to have the marriage solemnized in his king of Sweden, which unfortunately absence. took place soon after.

aware

This was not the only ordeal Wogan ad to encounter at Ohlau. The Comlease de Berg, a beautiful German, and

Wogan now started for Schlettstadt, where his cousin, Lieutenant-General Dillon, was stationed with his regiment, in order to choose the people

e:

whom he wished to assist him in his the berline, drawn by six post-horse undertaking. He selected three kins- O'Toole and Misset went on horsebac men of his own, Major Gaydon, and well armed, as domestics of the coun Captains Misset and O'Toole, all Irish- with Vezzosi. The maid was the on men of tried courage and loyal to the person who was not in the secre Stuart cause. O'Toole alone spoke though at a later stage she had to pe German. As two women were re-form the most important function quired to carry out the plan, Mrs. Mis-all, that of representing the princess. set, though in the family way, was They took leave of Lieut.-Colon persuaded to accompany her husband Lally, who had accompanied them fro with her maid Jeanneton. Mrs. Misset Schlettstadt, and of the governor was a pretty young Irishwoman, brought Strassburg, Monsieur d'Angervillier up in France, with engaging manners, who was their friend and guessed the a gentle disposition, sensible and dis-plans. Adieu, mes enfants,” he sai creet, but of a "delicate and timorous" vous allez faire un trou à la lune, ‹ constitution." W Vogan had to wait at n'est pas pour rien que vous passe Schlettstadt till he received the answer le Rhin; Dieu vous conduise: from Prince Sobieski, and this caused comprends bien que vous êtes gens not a little delay. At last Konski, a vaincre ou à mourir." They passe confidential messenger of the prince, Rastatt, Pforzheim, Ulm, Kempter arrived with a letter, in which he re- and on the 23rd arrived at Nassereitl newed his consent in very gracious a small place in the Tyrol. The road terms, and Wogan sent him on to the through the Black Forest were princesses with the despatches, and a tremely bad, and Mrs. Misset, in he letter asking when they wished the delicate state of health, not being ab party to start and to arrive. Early in to stand the shaking, was put with he April, more than six months after the maid in a more comfortable vehicl princesses had been arrested, Wogan une chaise à l'Italienne a remed and his companions left Schlettstadt. worse than the evil, for she was ups As no one was in the secret except in it. This caused the little part Colonel Lally, they took the precaution much anxiety, but she soon recovere to divide, ostensibly for different des- from the fright and returned to th tinations, but they all met again at berline. From Kempten Mr. Misse Strassburg. Here an untoward occur- had been despatched to Innsbrück di rence took place. The regent, the guised as a French merchant with Duke of Orleans, had given orders to parcel of letters for his old correspond seize the Earls of Mar and Perth, fol- ent, Châteaudoux, a native of St. Ge lowers of James, if they entered into main-en-Laye, and gentleman-usher o France, and Wogan was taken for one the Princess Sobieska. He carried of them. The magistrates, however, letter in cypher, in which Wogan ex found out their mistake, little knowing, plained his plan for the escape of th says Wogan, what a far more impor- Princess Clementina. On the night c tant person in connection with the the 27th the maid was to be secretl Quadruple Alliance they had in their introduced into her room, clad in power at that moment. The party plain riding-hood. The princess wa stopped some days at Strassburg to get to put this on immediately and go t a berline which should be proof against the street door, where she would fin the bad roads, and to wait for the au- Wogan, who would take her to the in swer from Innsbrück. This arrived and put her into the carriage. Th and enabled them to start on April 18. maid was to go to bed for twenty-fou Mrs. Misset passed for the Comtesse hours under pretext of a dangerou de Cernes; Gaydon, who was over attack of fever, and in order to mak fifty and stout, for her husband, and the deception more effective, the prin Wogan for her brother. These three cess herself was to keep her bed th and the maid took their places inside two previous days. She was also t

leave the letter begging her mother's threw herself in tears at her maid's pardon for her escape, so that it might feet, imploring her to give in. All not be supposed that her mother had the gentlemen followed the example; been implicated in it. Mr. Misset, Jeanneton relented, put on the shoes, after leaving the letter with Château- apologized to the shoemaker, and the doux, went, according to instructions, party started. At an inn between Nasto the inn at the top of the Brenner sereith and Innsbrück they dined off Pass, to keep watch there and wait for wild boar and sauerkraut, and they the party under pretext of indisposi-reached their destination at dusk. tion, while the page, Konski, brought They put up at an inn called "The the answer from Châteaudoux to Wo-Lamb," and Wogan went at once to gan at Nassereith. The purport of it meet Châteaudoux at an appointed was that the princesses were rather place in an avenue of trees. The night embarrassed by the presence and atten- was cold and stormy. Torrents of rain tions of the Prince of Baden and his had been followed by snowdrifts, and mother, who were stopping at Inns-the streets were full of mud, Châteaubrück on their way to Loretto, but that doux represented to Wogan that it was they hoped these importunate visitors not weather for the princess to be out, Would leave on the 27th, and that on as she was weak from having fasted that day the princess would be ready through Lent, but Wogan would hear to act as she was desired. She had, in of no delay; he maintained that this fact, already taken to her bed. Mean- was the very night for such an enterwhile it had been explained to Jean-prise, and at half past eleven, in the neton, the maid, what part she would midst of a snow and hail storm, he and have to play. She had been told that Jeanneton left the inn in order to go they were going to deliver a rich heir- to the princesses. Jeanneton sank into who was kept prisoner by her the mud at every step, and began parents, and who was going to be mar- afresh to curse her heelless shoes. ried to Captain O'Toole; and as she She had overheard the word princess, had a great regard for the captain, she and her suspicions had been aroused, was glad to be able to render him a but Wogan tried to quiet her. service, encouraged, moreover, by a page Konski met them and led them to present of a damask gown from her the door of the house, which had been mistress, and a promise of a hundred purposely left open, Châteaudoux havgold pieces. Jeanneton was the daugh- ing had a false key made for the occater of a French grenadier, and a vivan- sion. The sentinel, fearing no harm dire. She was not pretty, but she had on such a night, had taken shelter in a fine figure, of which she was very small tavern close by, and Jeanneton proud, and she tried to improve upon glided unobserved into the house and it by wearing very high heels. As the up the stairs. Meanwhile Wogan Princess Clementina was small, it was waited in great suspense at a short thought necessary that Jeanneton distance, counting the minutes. The should wear shoes without heels on Princess Clementina had said goodthis occasion, and the shoemaker of night to her governess, the Countess Nassereith was ordered to make her a Gabrielle, had promised her to stay in pair. Jeanneton had been bred in the bed till nine o'clock next morning, aud camp, and her language and manners had written her a letter to explain why were worthy of her education. When she had kept her departure secret. the shoemaker brought the shoes noth-She had also written to her mother as ing would induce her to put them on. arranged. When she heard that JeanShe pretended that they disfigured her. neton had arrived she took a teuder She swore, she cried, she knocked him leave of her mother, and then put on down with a kick, she nearly pulled his the maid's wet riding-hood. Jeannose off. At last, after every effort neton on seeing her emotion embraced pacify her had failed, Mrs. Misset her, saying, "Mademoiselle, ne vous

to

The