Lieutenant General Douglas - who is he?

[William Douglas]

When King William arrived at Carrickfergus, Lieutenant General Douglas had hoped he would go straight to Lisburn saying, "Lisburn is a healthful place, the air there is much purer than Belfast", doubtless thinking of the Kings asthmatic condition, hot it was not until three days later that the King set out for Lisburn. The army took the road through Malone to Drumbridge, a wooden bridge meant only for pack horses, and so to Lambeg, guided by Captain Bellingham who knew the country. At Lambeg the King's carriage was damaged while negotiating the ford crossing the River Lagan, and the King was invited to rake refreshments at the home of the Wolfendens, whose house overlooked the ford, whilst his carriage was being repaired by Rene Bulmer, the local blacksmith, whose family were also "Protestant Strangers".

An extract from: The Hugenots of Lisburn by E. Joyce best