BELFAST RB BOOKLET 2020 - Flipbook - Page 66
Ci t y of Belf ast Grand Bl ack Chapt er - Dem onst rat i on Bookl et 2020
INSTITUTION, AS WELL AS BEING ORANGE BRETHREN CO-JOIN IN THIS CELEBRATORY 330TH
ANNIVERSARY YEAR SINCE THAT IMMORTAL DATE WITHIN THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.
Capture the scene if you would, now reproduced here from an old and valued tome by
Armagh Guardian published in 1873 and in turn imagine it to be your paternal ancestor within
that Williamite Army, as it assembled on the morning of that famous Battle, at the River Boyne
just outside Oldbridge Town in southern Ireland, with the wording being that used during the
nineteenth century.
When the artillery arrived, batteries were
On March 20th, 1690 King William III
declared to Parliament his resolution mounted opposite the enemies' position and
the reciprocal cannon fire began, continuing
to go to Ireland.
from both sides throughout the day, with little
Accordingly he departed Britain and landed or no cessation.
at Carrickfergus on June 14th; from there he
The King was indefatigable in arranging the
carried on to Belfast, then Lisburn through encampment and during the day hardly left the
Hillsborough and finally on to Loughbrickland. saddle of his horse.
Once there and having reviewed his
Indeed it was when he was re-mounting his
troops, consisting of thirty-six
thousand strong, he went on to
Dundalk then Ardee which two
places the enemy had since
abandoned, when they heard of
the King's approach.
James had no idea that William
would leave London in the midst of
dissentions and divisions among the
Whigs and the Tories.
When he heard of William's arrival
in Ireland and his subsequent march
towards the capital, James
immediately left Dublin, with six thousand horse that at one stage the enemy did fire
French foot, to join his army and then upon him, with little injury to his person.
However this particular incident gave
encamped near to Drogheda. (His army
amounted to thirty-three troops, besides some short lived comfort to the enemy,
who on seeing a degree of confusion in the
thirteen hundred reserved in garrison).
Here he held a council of war and in Williamite ranks and especially among the
opposition to some of his officers, resolved Royal attendants, were in great exaltation
to dispute the passage of the river, with and began shouting .. 'the Orange is no
more.'
William.
This news was relayed back to Dublin and
He took up a position on the southern or
County Meath side of the Boyne, between the Louis of France, being (wrongly) informed of
the death of King William, ordered the guns of
river and the village of Dromore.
King William, on being appraised of these the Bastille to proclaim this mistaken triumph.
When the King's wounds were dressed,
movements, arose at the break of day on
William
rode through the camp to show
June 30th, and heading his troops, he left
that
he
had
received no harm, continuing
Ardee arriving at nine, on the banks of the
into
the
night,
to ensure that all his troops
Boyne River, within two miles of Drogheda.
could see their monarch was well.
IN MEMORY OF THE FALLEN - 64 - AND THE FUTURE OF THE LIVING