self-denial. The troops were in want of their pay, and he at once offered his grant of £100,000[1] for the purpose, thus sacrificing his hopes of retiring to a snug mansion and plentiful estate. He wrote to the king from Lisburn, 7th March 1690: “At this distant quarter I ought not to enter into the question, whence arises this want of money. I am astonished that in London, among those who have so much, none should be found to offer to lend it to your Majesty. I would not presume to act ostentatiously, but if I had in my hands the hundred thousand pounds your Majesty has done me the grace to bestow upon me, I would deliver them to the person you might appoint for the payment of the army.”[2] The loan was accepted, and the interest was fixed at four per cent.; and £100,000 was paid to the troops. It appears from documents connected with this business, that Schomberg had the rank of Captain-General in the English army.
Lord Macaulay concurs with those who believe that “not even in the full tide of success had Schomberg so well deserved the admiration of mankind,” as in the campaign of 1689; “that Schomberg’s intellectual powers had been little impaired by years is sufficiently proved by his Despatches, which are still extant, and which are models of official writing, terse, perspicuous, full of important facts and weighty reasons, compressed into the smallest possible number of words.” Sir John Dalrymple says, “They clear Schomberg of the imputation of inactivity which has been unjustly charged upon him, and do honour to the talents of a man who wrote with the elegant simplicity of Caesar, and to whose reputation and conduct, next to those of King William, the English nation owes the Revolution.”
“The Protestant Nobility, Clergy, and Commonalty” of the Province of Ulster expressed their gratitude to the Duke through a deputation, consisting of Lord Blayney, Sir John Magill, the Dean of Down (Dr. John MacNeal), the Dean of Clogher (Dr. John Wilkins), Francis Hill, Esq.; John Hawkins, Esq.; Charles Stewart, Esq.; Robert Donnelson, Esq.; James Hamilton of Tullymor, Esq.; Daniel MacNeal, Esq., and Randal Brice, Esq. These memorialists presented a petition, showing “That your Petitioners, with all imaginable gratitude, are highly sensible of, and truly thankful for, your Grace’s indefatigable labour, hazard, toil, and trouble in restoring, securing, and protecting the Protestant interest of this Province.” Their petition was, that as the community was “ready to contribute their utmost advice and assistance,” they might hold meetings to consult and consider fitting expedients to be offered to the Duke. Schomberg accepted the petition, and replied to it in writing:— “His Grace readily consents to what is desired by the Petitioners, and is willing to receive any advice they shall be pleased to offer for the security of this Province, and the farther successful management of the war against the common enemy — Signed by order, Robert Gorge, Secretary.”
The campaign of 1690 began with the taking of Charlemont, the last fortress in Jacobite hands in Ulster. The carrying of war into the south was delayed till June, when William himself came over to take the chief command. There is extant (and now printed in the “Ulster Journal,” vol. i., p. 59) an order from the Duke of Schomberg, dated at Lisburn, 8th January 1689[3] (i.e. 1690, n.s.), directing Godfrey Richards, purveyor, to buy in England “a quantity of good, clean, dry, wholesome oats” for their Majesties’ artillery.
I have the original of another order of Schomberg’s of this period. In case it has not been printed, I copy it here:—
“Whereas we have recd. information that a Parcell of Hay bought by Godfry Richards, Purveyor to the Trayne of Artillery, from Mr. Whiteside of Mylone and others is detained and refused to be delivered by some officer or others of the army quartered there, These are to direct and require the said officers or others quartered there or any two of them forthwith to repaire to our headquarters to shew their reasons for their detaining the said Hay, or forthwith to deliver it to the said Godfry Richards or his order as they will answer to the contrary at their peril. Given at Lisburne the 18th of Novr. 1689. Schonberg.
“P.S. — Notwithstanding the said Hay be delivered, they or any two of them are to repair to our headquarters to give an accot. by what authority they are there quartered.”
The king landed at Carrickfergus on Saturday, June 14th. He immediately drove off to Belfast in the Duke of Schomberg’s carriage, which was sent for him. He was joined by the old Captain-General at a solitary white house on the shore by
- ↑ It appears that the Parliament voted him £20,000 in acknowledgment of his devotion in coming over with the Prince of Orange, and this was probably paid to him. The king further promised him £100,000 to be invested by trustees in the purchase of land in England.
- ↑ Despatch, No. 20.
- ↑ A not uncommon (but provoking) blunder was founded upon this by a writer in the “Ulster Journal,” namely, that King William was in Ireland in the summer of 1689 ! !
