Gospel tract given out at the "Last Saturday" RBP parade in Coleraine,
County Londonderry, Northern Ireland - 2006.
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A rising wave of change was sweeping over Ireland. The fortunes of the Protestant people were rapidly reversed; things were in dangerous decline.
King James II had elevated Richard Talbot
to the most influential position in Ireland. Talbot's title was now The Duke
of Tyrconnel, but his past was disturbing, considering the power at his disposal.
Talbot was a former terrorist. In 1655 he had been imprisoned for his part in
a plot to assassinate the English ruler of that period - Oliver Cromwell.
Talbot had also been imprisoned for various offences against the Crown, and
now since his release he was wielding considerable influence.
In practical terms this meant instant dismissal from the army of virtually all
Protestants (approaching 5000 men in eighteen months). In the administration
of justice in Ireland, only three Protestants remained on the bench. The pace
of change was even alarming some Jacobites who felt it could damage the cause
of King James.
Both Ireland and England were becoming a cold place for Protestants. On the
European front Louis XIV was driving Huguenots out of France, among them the
Duke of Schomberg later to be commander of the Williamite War
in Ireland.
A wind of change was gradually beginning to blow which would have a transforming
effect on both the British Isles and Europe. On 5th November 1688, William
of Orange landed at Torbay. The tide was about to turn.
The story of Londonderry is one of raw courage, and of victory plucked from
the very jaws of defeat. In line with the widespread reforms of Talbot, the
predominately Protestant Lord Mountjoy garrison had been withdrawn. The replacement
- the Earl of Antrim's Redshanks - was a wholly Catholic regiment
with a bad reputation. Providentially there was an interval between these two
events which gave the opportunity to make their famous stand, when on the 7th
December, the Ferryquay gate was slammed in the very face of the enemy. This
action was triggered by Henry Campsie, the leader of the "brave
thirteen" apprentice boys who locked the gates while others wavered.
Londonderry became a refuge for the oppressed Protestants of Ireland as James's
army pressed northwards. After a failed battle in Dromore - County Down ( The
Break of Dromore ), the Protestants were in disorder. The family of
Lt. Cook of Lisburn, who later distinguished himself in the
siege, were all murdered except one small boy. All of Lisburn and Antrim now
fled in mass to Londonderry; the roads were packed with starving men, women
and children on foot in atrocious weather, struggling along mud filled roads
towards Londonderry. At Coleraine the Jacobites were beaten
by Sir Tristram Beresford's men. Despite their victory they
feared being outflanked by their enemies, so gradually they pulled back to Londonderry.
Col Thomas Lance of Coleraine would be notable in the siege.
Then the people of Ulster made for the city on the banks of the Foyle. Driven
back almost into the sea, hunted and trapped by James's army, these persecuted
people turned and showed their teeth to the enemy. From this place there would
be no retreat.
The gates closed to the enemy on 7th December 1688, yet many more people were
able to flood in with weapons and supplies until numbers swelled to nearly 30,000.
The siege commenced on 21st April 1689 and lasted for 105 days. This delay of
James's army was providential because of dark days to come. Every stratagem
was employed against the city but neither the treachery of Lundy nor the cunning
of James could subdue their fighting spirit. Throughout the siege 584 bombs
fell on the city, of which 119 fell in six days. Governor Henry Baker
had been close to death with a fever and was recovering when a fierce attack
was launched. He left his bed to remain on the walls all night, such was his
dedication. Sadly, Baker died a few days later of a relapse of fever.
John Hunter of Maghera describes conditions: "I .....
was so distressed by hunger that I would have eaten any vermin." The diet
of the besieged included the following: - a dog's head, a quart of horse blood,
rats, tallow, starch, weeds and herbs. All these were devoured by the most delicate
of women. Dead corpses lay in nearly every cellar, in 18 days from 8th to 25th
July, 628 soldiers died. Col. John Mitchelburn successor to
Governor Baker, lost his wife and all his seven children in the siege. He was
the one behind the crimson flag, symbolic of "NO
SURRENDER" ( Mitchelbum's bloody flag ).
lt was in these dark and fearsome days that a hollow shell landed in the city,
containing further terms for surrender. In this extremity the Reverend
George Walker (of Dungannon) went into the cathedral to seek God's
help. Walker opened his Bible, his eye fell on Psalm
37 "Fret not thyself because of evildoers ..... they shall
soon be cut down like the grass ..... Trust in the Lord ..... verily thou Shalt
be fed." Walker was mightily encouraged by these words and advocated "No
Surrender". Walker's own Bible can still be seen in the cathedral. 8000
people would die before help came ( 2,000 more would die throughout the following
year from these privations). On 28th July the fleet arrived.
A gentle breeze brought the Dartmouth up the flowing Foyle.
Captain Leake of the Dartmouth calmly anchored under heavy
fire and began to pulverise the Jacobites with volley after volley of shot.
The Mountjoy came close behind captained by Michaiah
Browning (native of Londonderry). Then came Andrew Douglas
with the Phoenix. Under the shelter of the Dartmouth, the Mountjoy
rammed the boom, rebounded and stuck in the mud. As the Phoenix passed through
the boom the Mountjoy broke free and together they sailed up to the Quayside.
Gaunt faces broke into broad smiles, from hollow chests came mighty cheers,
tears flowed. Words can never describe the joy of the delivered.
These were men of determination and true grit, men unafraid to take a hard road,
if it were the right road. This might be costly, but the price for believing
lies was complete ruin. Fair speeches with pretentious promises, even if couched
in the most plausible of terms must be stoutly rejected. Truth is the only standard.
So it is now "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
John 8v32.
The people of Londonderry were in grave danger; all could not recognise it.
Do you realise your danger? "The soul that sinneth, it shall die."
Ezekiel 18v4. Because "All
have sinned" all must die Romans 3v23.
Every tombstone is a testimony to that irrefragable truth. "No man., hath
power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day
of death: and there is no discharge in that war." Ecclesiastes
8v8. Even the strong must die and so will you. Are you prepared,
or are you scared to face facts? "Fear not them which kill the body...but
rather fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in Hell" Matthew
10v28. Time for that people was running out, the resources were
failing - Time is not on your side either! "Time is short." 1
Corinthians 7v29. "It is time to seek the Lord." Hosea
10v12.
A councillor, David Cairnes, had returned from England telling
of a promised deliverance. We also are offered a promise. "Eternal life,
which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began." Titus
1v2. This promise will never fail, the might of heaven will
fulfil it. "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name
of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life." 1
John 5v13. The people believed King William's promise. "If
we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater ... and this is
the record, that God hath given unto us eternal life, and this life is in His
Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath
not life." 1 John 5v9,11,12.
When it comes to the crunch we have a choice to make: "Some believed ...
and some believed not" Acts 28v24.
Please remember, God will never surrender His righteousness - those in heaven
are saved through the death of Christ alone. Outside of this you have absolutely
"no mission" of ever being there. God's declaration is emphatic: "I
am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."
John 14v6. Without Christ there
is no hope. ( Ephesians 2v12.
)
Words could never tell the joy of deliverance; how much more concerning salvation!
"Believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable." 1
Peter 1v8. Salvation is real; have you received it?
GOD COMMENDETH HIS LOVE TOWARD US, IN
THAT, WHILE WE WERE YET SINNERS, CHRIST DIED FOR US. Romans 5v8.
