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 a 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 bow 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.