King William III 14th June 1690 Monkstown

King William III
14th June 1690

King William in Ulster

King William was in Ulster from Saturday, June 14th, 1690 until Thursday, June 19th, 1690, and is always, by his Irish subjects, held in deep and grateful remembrance for his work in the land which won the title: "This country is worth fighting for," he said.

His departure from London had been held up by parliamentary business till the end of May, when he announced that he could not be ready to set out for Ireland till Friday.

Late in the morning of Sunday, he embarked for the crossing from Nottingham in good bright weather. On Sunday night, he arrived safely in the camp at Cheshire. Chester Cathedral was draped in black for the King's short stay as he attended the ceremony of thanksgiving for the safe passage.

Not far off lay the troops in readiness for war. The Duke of Schomberg, whose own men had won victories at Derry, Enniskillen, and on the River Bann, stood ready to move. The King's army would be escorted by Sir Cloudesley Shovell's warships. On June 14th, the fleet came safely into Carrickfergus Bay, and the King himself sailed ashore in a small boat.
By 3 p.m., landed at the Old Quay, and there and then he directed the great naval and land campaign.

In Ulster, the camp at Dundonald was the first raised on the estates of House of Clandeboye. Then the camp in Antrim where William reviewed the flower of his army which had been gathered from all corners of the empire. When in Belfast, many famous men were associated with William as they gathered to prepare for their various duties. Belfast was but a small town in those days, but in the excitement of the times and the raising of new forts on the River Lagan, the Prince, after only a few days, said, "I am impressed with the bravery of these men." Some reports speak of Sir William Franklin showing the King a new artillery piece that had recently been forged for the campaign to come.

His men had not yet been mustered to war, and thus he left Belfast. Not many months after, there was the passing of Lord Mountjoy, and then the Battle of the Boyne.

King William of Grace
King of Great Britain and Ireland who with gracious mercy delivered the Protestant peoples of these kingdoms from popery and arbitrariness.
In June 1690, he came and fought for our freedom and on the 12th day of July secured it. To the British nation 1701.

King of Great Britain and Ireland 1689–1702