by James II. in 1689, devoted an evening to the drinking of his health in public, the expenses of which may be now seen in an old church book.' Zeal for party, or misstatement, are at all times liable to disfigure the pages of history; and if the case of Kirke is not admitted as exemplifying this fact, a very short statement will show that the character of _his regiment_ has been unjustly implicated in these outrages. Dr. Toulmin and other writers remark, that the name of '_lambs_' was given by Colonel Kirke to his soldiers, who were most ready to execute his cruel orders; but the truth is, that the regiment, as already shown, had the device of a _Lamb_ on its colours and appointments from its first formation, and continues to bear it to this day. From this circumstance they were called 'The Lambs' long before the period alluded to, and without any connexion with its services in the West of England at this unhappy period. [Sidenote: 1686] After the decease of King Charles II. this regiment was styled '_The Queen Dowager's Regiment of Foot_.' During the two years which followed Monmouth's rebellion, the Queen Dowager's Regiment formed part of a body of 12,000 troops assembled in camps for exercise on Hounslow Heath. King James made great efforts to ingratiate himself with this army: his success, as well as his object, on the occasion, will be inferred from the following remark given by Bishop Burnet--'That which abated the King's joy in seeing so brave an army about him, was, that it was visible, and on so many occasions, that his soldiers had as great an aversion to his religion as his other subjects had expressed.' An anecdote related of Colonel Kirke is further illustrative of the times:--when asked respecting a change of religion, he is stated briefly to have replied, 'he was pre-engaged; for he had promised the Emperor of Morocco, if ever he changed his religion, he would turn _Mahomedan_.' [Illustration: FIRST TANGIER REGIMENT OF FOOT, MDCLXXXVII.; NOW SECOND (THE QUEEN'S ROYAL) REGIMENT OF FOOT. [_To face page 18._] [Sidenote: 1688]