A VINDICATION OF THE True Account OF THE SIEGE OF DERRY IN IRELAND By Mr. GEORGE WALKER c. Published by Authority London Printed for Rob. Clavel at the Peacock at the West-End of St. Pauls 1689. THE PUBLISHER TO THE READER I Having been so often with M. Walker that I could take notice of his great Care that his Account of the Siege of Derry should give as little Offence as possible do think it a piece of Justice to him to let the World know how far his Intentions were from contriving that Book as is given out to the Injury of any Party He knew very well some Dissenters of his own Country had insinuated into their Friends here That they and their Brethren were the People that did the Work in Derry and that all others were but Cyphers in the whole Action Notwithstanding this Mr. W. would rather take occasion by his private Discourses to reprove them than express their Partiality in Print and therefore he gave them particularly their Ministers the fairest Character he could and when he gave the Printer a List of the Church of England Clergy he order'd a Title to be prepared for a List of the Names of the others and did make all the Enquiry he could for fear they should think his omitting them a Design to make them inconsiderable there but not finding any way to be inform'd he was forced to dismiss the Book without their Names but if he had thought it material he was willing enough to oblige them and did stay some days for some Papers of theirs they sent him word they desired might be inserted but he heard nothing more of them After the printing of the Book he was loaded with many Reproaches which he has indured all this while 'till his Silence was counted an Argument of his Guilt and that 't was said He knew well enough how he had wronged them He was still willing enough to pass by all this 'till the Scandal grew too heavy for him and they interpreted the Book as a Design to set up a Party and the like and to interest a Country that he loves in their quarrel They very well understand his Behaviour in Ireland how far it was from any warmness or severity against them there and I do appeal to them Whether his affection to the Scotish Nation where he had his Education and some Honor done him as well as Favor to themselves and Charity to some of them has not formerly been a disservice to him But since they have animated their Friends here and been such ill Instruments to put them out of Temper when all things are preparing with all imaginable calmness for an Accommodation he does think himself obliged to undeceive those People that are lead by such Men into Mistakes that may put them into a new Ferment and Diâ—appoint the Expectations of all good Men of their Moderation and Willingness to Unite with us Mr. Walker would think himself the unhappiest Man alive if he should contribute any thing to so great a Mischief and to clear himself has at last been perswaded to write this Vindication in which he is forced to reprove and rebuke with some Authority and Resent but hopes none will take it to themselves but those he intended it for of his own Country and such he hopes will be caution'd by it to find some other way of Recommending themselves to the Friendship and Charity of their Brethren in England than by increasing their Jealousies and begetting new Distances among Persons of the same Christian Profession A VINDICATION OF THE ACCOUNT OF THE Siege of Derry MAster Walker being very sensible how ready some People have been to take advantage of some Omissions in his Book of the Siege of London derry and to improve them not only into very angry Reflections on himself but to a Disparagement of those Actions Providence was pleas'd to interest him in to the preservation of the Place thinks himself under some obligation to publish this Paper not so much to establish his own Reputation as to assert the Truth of His Account and to do every Man right as near as he can that is concern'd in it And the rather because he does without vanity believe it some Disservice to the King to suffer those things to lye under any Doubt or Aspersions that have been done for His sake and because he finds some that are Enemies to the Government very industrious in running down that Business to make it little in the Opinion of the People and to discourage the Kings Subjects in his Service and from the like Undertakings Others he sees that are very well pleas'd with the late happy Change but by their Unkindness to Mr Walker are too easily seduc'd into the like Prejudices and do unawares contribute to the Ridiculing That and other great Providences that have attended these Revolutions and that are a mighty support to all Good Men in their approbation and love of the present Constitution Mr. Walker hopes that under these Considerations He may be allowed the liberty to remove any Prejudices against him and to endeavour at least to satisfie those Readers that have us'd him with such Severity that the very Errors of the Printer are all accounted to him the importunity and forwardness of those Offcers did get the Book out of his hands much sooner than he intended so that it was neither so perfect nor correct as it should have been but he considered it was all plain Matter of Fact and so did require less Art in the Expression or Method And his aversness to make any thing publick and the load of Business then upon him made him very unfit to prepare it against the Assaults of Criticks or the Reproach of those that were not his Friends He was indeed very uneasie to find so many Mistakes of the Press which he 〈◊〉 oâ—dered to be Corrected and was too willing to excuse them to himself to avoid further labour by flattering himself most People would be so kind to give him those Common Allowances that persons may pretend to that are not us'd to such Adventures To omit things of lesser moment the first thing complained of was that Insinuation as they call'd it in the Preface By what Hand he would defend and maintain both c. By which Expression our Irish Dissenters would incense their Friends in England and will have it Mr. Walker intended to exclude them from their Just pretentions to the Credit of the Service done the King and the Protestant Religion by their means and Interest God forbid he should go about to do so great a Wrong to any Party for it is not his business no more than in his power to set up one Party or to pull down another It would please him much better to see some Expedient that might Unite them both But his Intelligence from England was not so good that he could understand all the Proceedings at that time or be now so exact to
have ruined us Mr. Walker will not say but there may be other as considerable things omitted but they may too nearly concern Mr. Walker himself and it would not become him to sound his own praises no more than to reproach others There are many other things objected against Mr. Walker but he does not think them worth the notice and especially since they come from Papists and disaffected persons whose interest it is to vilifie not only him but all the Kings Friends and make them despised and to put a slight upon every thing that God is doing for the King and our Religion against theirs Mr. Walker has done his part against them already at Derry and for any thing that they can do to him here he is as little concerned now as he was at that time because he cannot doubt but it will meet with the like success Quid enim quamvis infida levisque Caesare tam dextro possit fortuna timeri Mr. Walker understands that some people have a new quarrel to him about a Book writ in his Defence he thinks himself not at all accountable for any thing in that Pamphlet having never seen it before it was Printed he is obliged to the Gentleman for his care and concern for him but he knows he cannot pretend to the Character he gives him and would never have let such a thing pass if he had known it and he hopes the World will be so kind to believe him a Man of less vanity than to suffer himself to be commended at such a rate This he hopes will clear him of another imputation from the account the Gentleman is pleased to give of his losses as if he were privy to this and instructed the Author to lessen the Kings favour and bounty to him which he knows does not only exceed his losses but his merit too but if it had been below both as much as he owns it above them he hopes few will think him so ridiculous and ungrateful after he was so willing to lose all and himself too in his service but will be satisfied with what is said already in his Defence that he was altogether unacquainted with the Printing that Book yet knows very well the Author did intend to Justifie Mr. Walker and that being his Friend and provoked by the discourses he met reflecting on him he writ those Observations but is well assured without any design of exposing Mr. Walker to any constructions to his disadvantage but Mr. Walker thinks his refusing such generous offers as have been made him does demonstrate he has not served only for gain and interest and his leaving his four Sons in that Service shows he has still the same Zeal for it All this put together Mr. Walker cannot but admire what it is he has done that should disoblige people so much that he has been so tender of that they should be so industrious in bespattering him upon such little occasions if he knew his fault he would be glad to rectifie it and save them that labour and till he does know it he cannot think them so just or kind as he expected to find them to one that has done them all the service in his power and since they do him the honor to say God was pleased to make him an Instrument of some good to them they have one should think the less reason to be angry at it Mr. Walker has not taken this pains to satisfie them or to establish himself in their esteem as if it were so great a discouragement to want their good opinion he does not know whether it would be for his credit to have it for there is a woe against him of whom all men speak well and he is very well pleased to want that mark and he knows that no Man can be so innocent but he must endure reflection and abuses and that therefore the Slanderers Throat is called an open Sepulchre like Death that all Men must submit to and in such cases Mr. Walker is not so unreasonable to desire to be singular only as he could not propose to get any Reputation by Writing so he had some hopes he should not lose any And he has not writ this not that he thinks he has so great occasion to justifie himself as to satisfie others and that he thinks he ought in Justice to all those poor Gentlemen and People that were concerned with him in Derry to keep up the Reputation of their services that they may never receive any stain from the Dirt or Scandals any envious Persons can throw upon them to prejudice them in the Kings favour or sense he has been so often pleased to express of their Fidelity and Courage as well as their Sufferings in his Service and particularly in this following Letter To our Trusty and Well beloved George Walker and John Michelbowrne Esq Governors of Londonderry William R. TRusty and Well beloved we Greet you Well The eminent and extraordinary Service that you have performed unto us and our Kingdoms in general by your late resolute and unparalleled Defence of that our City of Londonderry as it does oblige us in the first place to an humble acknowledgement to Almighty God for his signal mercy in supporting the Hearts and Courages of our good Subjects amidst their great and various difficulties and distresses arising from a furious opposition without and a yet more pressing necessity within those Walls and sending them at last deliverance and bringing them by your Conduct to triumph over their Enemies which we cannot but attribute to an immediate Divine Assistance inspiring them with a Zeal for the True Religion and Love for their Country and an unshaken Fidelity towards us and must ever own as a continuation of that Miraculous Providence which hath hitherto Conducted us throughout in our endeavours to resettle these Nations in all their Civil and Religious Rights and Liberties So in the next place taking into a serious Consideration as well the importance of this Success as that Constancy and Bravery by which it hath been brought to pass we would not omit signifying unto you the just Sense we have of his whole Action in which having the greatest opportunity that can be put into the Hands of any Subjects of obliging their Prince you have in all Points acquitted your selves to our Satisfaction even beyond what could have been expected insomuch that it now lies on our parts to make such retribution as well to you the Commanders in Chief who have been the happy Instruments under God of that Deliverance as others who have signalized their Loyalty Courage and Patience in this time of Tryal that all our Subjects being encouraged by this example may be stirred up to the imitation of it in the like hazardous but honourable Enterprises We will therefore that you rely on our Royal Favour towards you and also that in our Name you assure the Officers Soldiers and Inhabitants of that our City that we will take fitting
distinguish between the Merits of one Man or another and when by Gods Providence the Work was done he was too well pleased to be troubled with any Curiosity of that kind Indeed he owns the little Correspondence he had did afford great Characters of the Writings and Sufferings of the Church of England Men under Popery thô the Gazets were commonly fill'd with Addresses yet there was sometimes room left for such Accounts but for want of Correspondence with any of the other Communion he did not hear of the Books nor had accounts he has since met with of the Performances of their Great Men against the Common Enemy He did understand some of them were seduced into the Councils of the late Reign that were never design'd for their good or ours but he always had Charity to think They closed with that and such like opportunities and indur'd the Favors of that Government with intention to do good Service to the Protestant Religion as well as to themselves in particular But Mr. Walker is not willing to argue upon such Matters thò he must needs own whether from the Accounts he had from England or the great esteem he had for those Great Men there or the willingness most people have to favour their own Principles or from his Observations in Ireland he did not think he did wrong to any by that Expression but rather believ'd that he should find all People convinc'd of the Truth of it and that the strength and interest of the Protestant Religion lay in the Church of England c. the late Reign he thought had determin'd that Point but however when he is better inform'd he will be very willing to retract and if in the mean time he has done wrong to any will as heartily beg their pardon These things when Mr. Walker consider'd them might very well incline him to use at least so innocent an Expression on behalf of the Church of England But he thinks fit to deal a little more plainly in the Matter so that whatever he says of this Nature will he hopes be more easily excus'd He does confess that in the writing that Book he thought it necessary for him with as little Offence as possible to discover that he was a true Son of the Church of England not without the greatest Charity and Tenderness for his fellow Christians But because the Contrary was averr'd so positively and generally receiv'd all over the Kingdom and prevail'd so much that all the good Services at Derry were wholly appropriated to that Party with great wrong to the other he does acknowledge himself extreamly obliged to their People and he will never while he lives neglect any Opportunity of doing them Justice but he knows they themselves would not desire any Character that should exclude their Fellow Sufferers and however the Matter may be disputed here it was never Contended at Derry And as for his own share how much soever it may injure him in his Advantage or Reputation and though they may think themselves kind in their making him one of their Opinion and design him Honor by it for which he is very thankful to them knowing very well that his known kindness and zeal for the Scotch might give some colour to those Discourses yet it cannot give him any fair Character to suffer himself to be represented a Person that would act so contrary to his Profession That he could dissemble to such a degree with God and his Church therefore he hopes all People will be willing to pardon him if he shews some aversion to such an Imputation and is desirous to avoid the Reproach of so fickle and unconstant a Man. Besides this Mr. W. was not a little concern'd to see some of his Countrymen of another Communion so forward in establishing themselves the great Contrivers and Promoters of the King's Service and Interest in Ireland he would not say any thing that should reflect upon their Number or Quality or Performances there that may make them seem unfit for such an Undertaking he knows well what to attribute to them on those Accounts and it would be wrong to others to flatter them he would rather advise them to more Moderation and less Partiality and they will find very little Reason to continue those Pretensions How considerable they were in Derry Mr. W. may be allow'd to judge For the better Sort he knows them so Modest they will not contend for them they being all good Churchmen and as for others they may be deceiv'd in their Accounts of them for many thousands deserted the Garison and took Protections from the Irish and what sort of People they were they might inform themselves if they please and find reason enough to abate of their Severity against Mr. Walker for denying the Credit of that whole Affair to their Friends or Party But one thing Mr. Walker desires leave to recommend to them to consider their own Temper and Constitution and ask themselves the Question If they were in Derry and were the greater number and more considerable whether they would have chosen Church of England men their Governors and been contented with so moderate a share of the Church and in the Afternoons and have suffer'd others to have the property in it and to enjoy it all the rest of the week This one should think would convince them where it was the Power and Number lay unless the Air of England does dispose men to more Modesty than other Countries which Mr. Walker would be glad for their sakes it had that virtue These things consider'd Mr. W. does not see what reason they have to quarrel so much with him That he did not give their Ministers a higher Character After he had pass'd the Church of England men so slightly how could he in Justice to them say more for the others the wrong certainly if any was to the other side but that he could make more bold with his Friends and they had been used to dispense with him on the like Occasions he gave them the credit of an equal Care and though their Friends here out of Complement to themselves may expect a greater Character he does not doubt but they are well pleas'd with it if they are in the same Temper he left them and are not warm'd by the Resents on this side the Water and the Letters sent them In their Behaviour at Derry they were not only an Example and Credit but a Reproach to their Brethren now in England for the Good of the Publick they could lay aside their Animosities and Distinctions and not contend for any thing but were satisfied with the bare liberty of their own Service on Sundays in the Afternoon in the Church which being the safest place and most convenient for Assemblies would have been great Cruelty to deny them as well as Mischief to the rest to expose their Friends to the danger of other places Mr. W. thought fit to make some addition to their Character by some