Lost in a Rhyme The Heir of King James II

By Holley Wilkes

Lost in a Rhyme The Heir of King James II

By Holley Wilkes

Rumors were hushed after the birth of a

son of King James II of England, Scotland

and Ireland. Supposedly born by his wife

Mary of Modena, the baby was believed

not to be of Royal blood. It is reported that

on many tragic occasions Mary reported

to miscarry, on this fact it was based that

the child had been smuggled into the

birthing room. The birth evoked fear in

parliament who strongly opposed Catholic

ruling, causing struggle for the crown

referred to as the treetop.

When eventually the English

Parliament caught wind of this child,

threatening blows of fear were felt

with the thought of a Catholic heir.

The cradle refers to the Royal House

of Stuart James’s blood line, which

will later feel shaken and rocked

after the news that the Netherlands was

bringing James’s nephew and son in

law, William III of England, who would be

invited to take the throne by Parliament.

When an invasion army came from

the Netherlands the King fled in the

‘Glorious Revolution’. The brough refers

to the king as he is the most important

branch of the Stuart family tree, when

fleeing he breaks the natural

succession. Mary cradled her baby

and fled with James from England. Which

will leave daughter Mary II to reign

with William III both Protestant religion,

heralding the fall of the Catholic ruler.

The imminent downward fall of the House

of Stuart tumbles with the King fleeing,

through this act he abdicates the throne

to William III. Destroying natural succession

which would have passed to his fast

growing up baby. Laying in his cradle

not knowing he was the reason his father

lost his throne, the story later tells of his

father’s attempt to reclaim the crown. His

efforts thwarted at the ‘Battle of the Boyne’

and the song of Lillibullero was said to

have sung him out of all three Kingdoms.

I felt the truth and blood in nursery rhymes would intrigue you reader. Origins and theories are written in history about royal plots, battle truths and religion. Such innocent characters in children’s rhymes uncovered, but in the end it’s your choice what you choose to believe, I am merely stating my findings...