MuRKAV — The Diary of Bonnivert^ 1690. 335 



"I wish the inclemency of the weather does not incommode the progress of 

 the siege of Limerick." 



Williamite and Jacobite authorities agree that rain fell. The question that 

 now awaits an answer is, why did Berwick state the contrary ? He was so 

 young that he gained no honour at the siege. Moreover, he was jealous of 

 Sarsfield ; and had he emphasized the fact that rain had fallen, it would have 

 dimmed the glory of his rival. Berwick married Sarsfield's widow, and his 

 Memoirs attest his devotion to her. Perhaps his love of his wife made him 

 resolve that he would not lower the reputation of her first husband. For there 

 is little doubt that the importance of the capture and destruction of the 

 cannon at Ballyneety has been exaggerated ; it is the only outstanding exploit 

 on the Jacobite side. 



The perplexing problem then occurs that a person who from the nature 

 of the case must have known the truth does not tell it, even though it 

 favours him. It is not, however, without parallel. "When Napoleon occupied 

 Moscow it was burnt. The Governor of Moscow, Count Eostopchin, at the 

 time boasted that he had fired the town. Many years afterwards, when an 

 exile from Eussia, he denied that he had ordered the conflagration. Which 

 is to be believed, his early affirmation or his subsequent denial ? 



The Diaby of G-edSox Boxnivert. 



I came out of London the 6th of June, 1690, and lay at St. Alban's. We 

 were to guard five carriages loaded with 250 thousand pounds for the pay of 

 the army m Ireland. 



Saturday the 7th we went to Newport Pagnell, where a troop of dragoons 

 relieved us. We tarried there till Monday following, then we went to 

 Daventry. Tuesday we went to Coissell. Wednesday to Stafford the party 

 went, but I left 'em by the way and went to meet a friend of mine at 

 Lichfield. About four miles this side of Cosswell there is a stone bridge fidl 

 of the plant called maiden hair. 



Thursday I met the party at Nantwich. Within three miles of that 

 place is a very fine house belonging to Sir Thomas Delf, with a very fine pool 

 full of all wild fowls. You may take notice of a carp that was taken there 

 three quarters of a yard and odd inches long, which is set up as a weather 

 cock at the top of the house Friday we came to Chester, the chief town of 



