Schomberg was severely wounded in the thigh, and was carried by his comrades to Turin.
Believing his wound to be mortal, he dictated his will on the 14th of October. Having lingered for sixteen days altogether, he died on the 16th October, aged about forty-eight. Defoe, lamenting the degeneracy of some inheritors of old English titles, characterizes them as
“Such peers as History must blush to name,
When future records to the world relate
Marsaglia’s field and gallant Schomberg’s fate.”
Without pretending to be a historian, I have now given a record of Duke Charles’ Life and of his last battle, and I conclude it with a comprehensive quotation from Oldmixon’s History:— “The Duke of Schomberg, having fought with unparalleled valour, received a mortal wound in the thigh, of which he died not many days after, to the great regret of all good and gallant men, for he was of that number in an eminent degree.”
*⁎* Luttrell notes, on the 3rd October 1696, “Monsieur Du Bourdieu, Minister of the French Church in the Savoy, having brought the late Duke Schomberg’s heart from Piedmont, has interred it in the Savoy Church, with a monument over it.” I now give a copy of Duke Charles’ will, “translated out of French.”
In the Prerogative Court of Canterbury. The Will of the High and Mighty Lord Charles Duke de Schonberg, Lieutenant-Generall of the armies of his Majesty of Great Britaine in the year one thousand six hundred ninety-three (first indiction) and the fourteenth of October, at Turin in the palace of the Count Duquene in the parish of St. Cusebines, the lodging of the after-named Lord Duke the testator, before me Notary Ducall Royall and Collegiate Proctor of the Sovereayne Senate of Piemont, and in presence of the Lord Cornelius Count de Nassau D’averquerque, a Hollander, Mr John Du Bordieu, minister of the said Lord Duke de Schonberg, Abraham Beneset Du Teron, secretary of the same lord, Phillip Loyd, physitian, Paul Artaud, chyrurgion, Paul Sancerre, allso chyrurgion, David Castres, chief of the kitchen to the said lord, and John Jaubert, witnesses called, holding each in his hand a lighted wax candle, it being late at night.
Whereas there is nothing in the world more certain than death, nor anything more uncertain than the hour of its coming, and that therefore every prudent person ought to dispose of the estate which it hath pleased God to give him in this world, whilst he hath the full disposition of his sences, for to avoid all manner of contestation amongst his heires — which the High and Mighty Lord Charles Duke de Schonberg, Marquis of Harwich, Earl of Brentford and Baron de Teys, Count of the Holy Empire, Lieutenant-Generall of His Majesty of Great Brittaine, Collonell of the first regiment of the English Guards, and Chief Generall of his troops in Piemont, prudently considering, now in this city, sound (through the grace of God) of his sences, sight, memory, and understanding, nevertheless seized with infirmity by reason of his wounds received in the army, hath resolved to make his last and valid Testament and disposition of last will, nuncupative without being write through, reduced in manner following.
And in the first place he hath most humbly begged pardon to the Soveraiyne God his Creator for all his sinns and trespasses, most humbly beseeching Him to grant him remission thereof by the meritts of the death and passion of our Lord Jesus Christ his Saviour. He hath bequeathed and doth bequeath to the Poor of the Reformed Religion which are now in this city the summe of Five hundred livers (money of France) for to be distributed to them presently after his death by the persons to whom such pious Legacyes doth belong. Moreover he hath bequeathed and doth bequeath to the poor of the said Religion of the City of London the like sum of Five hundred livres (French money), payable three months after his decease, and which shall be distributed unto the said poor by the Committy of the said City. Moreover he hath bequeathed and doth bequeath to the High and Mighty Lord Frederick Count de Schonberg, his Brother, the summe of a thousand Crowns, which he will to be paid unto him by his Heire, hereafter named, within six months after his decease, and that in consideration of that summe he shall not, nor may not, pretend or demand any other thing upon his goods and estate by him left. Being askt by me underwitten Notary if he will bequeath any thing to the Poor of the Hospitall of the Lords Knights of St. Maurice and Lazarus, and to the Poor Orphan Maidens of this City, he answered that he doth bequeath to each of the said bodyes tenn Crowns for each, payable after his decease; reserving to himself, if he hath time, by way of Codicill, to make such other bequests as he shall think fitt. In all and every other his estate, actions, names, or titles, rights, and pretensions, in whatsoever they doe or may consist, my said Lord Duke de Schonberg, testator, hath named, and doth name, with his own mouth, for his heire universall, the High and Mighty Lord Menard De Schonberg, Duke of Leinster, Grandee of Portingall, and General of the Forces of England and Scotland, his brother, by whom he will that what he hath above ordered be fully executed. And what is above my said Lord Duke de Schonberg hath declared to be, and that he doth will the same to be, his last Testament and Disposition of last Will nuncupative without writing, which he willeth shall