As to Schomberg’s last words at the Battle of the Boyne, Colonel Barré, in a speech in the House of Commons, (quoted them thus:— “Au devoir, mes enfants; voila vos ennemis!”
Although King William’s system of dash and risk seemed to eclipse Schomberg’s strategy, yet the few weeks that followed the victory of the Boyne vindicated Schomberg. In the debate whether the Irish were such contemptible foes, that victory over them might be obtained by one impetuous rush, the best illustration that the Marshal was right and the King wrong, was the King’s rush upon Limerick, and his summoning the town before the royal siege train of artillery had come up. The gallant Irishman, Sarsfield, defended Limerick successfullv. Schomberg had not been believed when he reported the King’s officers as being chiefly intent upon plunder; but what happened before Limerick? An officer was warned that Sarsfield had succeeded in smuggling out of Limerick a detachment, sent to intercept the King’s siege train: the officer was engrossed with securing some cattle as booty, and did not attend to the warning; the detachment met the siege-train and destroyed it. Schomberg’s most favoured rival was the Dutch general, Count Solmes; Schomberg thought him unfit for the command of a division; in 1692, the Battle of Steenkerk justified Schomberg’s estimate of him.
A correspondent sends me some of the stanzas of the song named “Boyne Water” (the old version):—
“Both horse and foot prepared to cross,
Including the foe to batter;
But brave Duke Schomberg he was shot,
While venturing over the water.
When that King William he perceived
The brave Duke Schomberg falling.
He reined his horse with a heavy heart.
To the Enniskillencrs calling:—
‘What will ye do for me brave boys?
See yonder men retreating;
Our enemies encouraged are;
But English Drums are beating.’
He said: ‘Be not in such dismay
For the loss of one commander;
For God must be our King this day,
And I’ll be General under.’
*****
The Church’s foes shall pine away
With churlish-hearted Nabal;
For our Deliverer came this day
Like valiant Zerubbabel.”
During his life and after his death Frederic, Duke of Schomberg, received cordial panegyrics. I collect here the names of the admiring speakers and writers, with references to the pages in my volume first, where their words are quoted. Lord Macaulay, pp. 95, 98, 104. Sir Robert Howard, Mr Garroway, Sir John Guise, Mr Harbord, Sir Thomas Lee, p. 97. Sir Christopher Musgrave, Sir Henry Goodricke, Mr Hampden, jun., Sir Henry Capel, Mr Henry Powell (Speaker of the House of Commons), p. 98. Rev. George Story, pp. 96, 102, 107. Bishop Burnet, pp. 90, 102. Thomas Trenchard, p. 90. John Dunlop, the historian, p. 88. De Luzancy, pp. 89, 94, 96, 107. Sir John Dalrymple, Lord Blayney, Sir John Magill, Dean MacNeal, Dean Wilkins, Francis Hill, Esq., John Hawkins, Esq., Charles Stewart, Esq., Robert Donnelson, Esq., James Hamilton of Tullymor, Esq., Daniel MacNeal, Esq., Randal Brice, Esq., p. 105, Pasteur Du Bosc, pp. 91, 106. Professor Weiss, pp. 102, 107. Harris, the biographical historian, p. 102. Maximilian Misson, p. 107. Dean Swift, p. 107.
ANALYSIS {continued).
Chapter I. section 2d (pp. 108 to 112). The Second Duke of Schomberg was Charles de Schomberg, youngest son of the first duke. He was his father’s heir in England, according to the patent of nobility, because at the date of that patent he was the only naturalized Englishman of the three surviving sons. I conjecture that he was born about 1645. He served in Portugal with his father, and was in 1668 incorporated in the French army with the rank of lieutenant-colonel. He, as a refugee officer, was incorporated in our army in 1689,
