THE SCOTTISH HIDING-PLACES OF PRINCE CHARLES EDWARD
The romantic escapes of Prince Charles Edward are somewhat beyond
the province of this book, owing to the fact that the hiding-places
in which he lived for the greater part of five months were not
artificial but natural formations in the wild, mountainous country
of the Western Highlands. Far less convenient and comfortable
were these caves and fissures in the rocks than those secret
places which preserved the life of the "young chevalier's"
great-uncle Charles II. Altogether, the terrible hardships to
which the last claimant to the Stuart throne was subjected were
far greater in every way, and we can but admire the remarkable
spirit, fortitude, and courage that carried him through his numerous
dangers and trials.
The wild and picturesque character not only of the Scotch scenery,
but of the loyal Highlanders, who risked their all to save their
King, gives the story of this remarkable escape a romantic colouring
that surpasses any other of its kind, whether real or fictitious.
This, therefore, is our excuse for giving a brief summary of the
Prince's wanderings, if only to add to our other hiding-places
a record of the names of the isolated spots which have become
historical landmarks.
In his flight from the fatal battlefield of Culloden the young
Prince, when about four miles from Inverness, hastily determined
to make the best of his way towards the western coast. The first
halt was made at Castle Dounie, the seat of the crafty old traitor
Lord Lovat. A hasty meal having been taken here, Charles and his
little cavalcade of followers pushed on to Invergarry, where
the chieftain, Macdonnell of Glengarry, otherwise "Pickle the
Spy,"[1] being absent from home, an empty house was the only
welcome, but the best was made of the situation. Here the bulk of
the Prince's companions dispersed to look after their own safety,
while he and one or two chosen friends continued the journey to
Glenpean, the residence of the chieftain Donald Cameron. From
Mewboll, which was reached the next night, the fugitives proceeded
on foot to Oban, where a hovel was found for sleeping-quarters.
In the village of Glenbiasdale, in Arisaig, near to where Charles
had landed on his disastrous enterprise, he learned that a number
of Royalist cruisers were upon the alert all along the coast,
whereupon he determined to watch his opportunity and get across
to the Western Isles, and remain concealed until a French vessel
could be found to take him abroad.
[Footnote 1: _Vide_ Andrew Lang's _Pickle the Spy_.]
A boat was procured, and the little party safely embarked, but
in the voyage encountered such heavy seas that the vessel very
nearly foundered; a landing, however, being effected at a place
called Roonish, in the Isle of Benbecula, a habitation had to
be made out of a miserable hut. Two days being thus wretchedly
spent, a move was made to the Island of Scalpa, where Charles
was entertained for four days in the house of Donald Campbell.
Meanwhile, a larger vessel was procured, the object being to
reach Stornoway; but the inclemency of the weather induced Charles
and his guide Donald Macleod to make the greater part of the
journey by land. Arriving there hungry, worn out, and drenched
to the skin, the Prince passed the night at Kildun, the house
of Mrs. Mackenzie; an alarm of danger, however, forced him to
sea again with a couple of companions, O'Sullivan and O'Neal;
but shortly after they had embarked they sighted some men-of-war,
so put to land once more at the Island of Jeffurt. Four days
were passed away in this lonely spot, when the boat put out to
sea once more, and after many adventures and privations the
travellers landed at Loch Wiskaway, in Benbecula, and made their
headquarters some two miles inland at a squalid hut scarcely
bigger than a pigstye.
The next move was to an isolated locality named Glencorodale,
in the centre of South Uist, where in a hut of larger dimensions
the Prince held his court in comparative luxury, his wants being
well looked after by Sir Alexander and Lady Macdonald and other
neighbouring Jacobites. With thirty thousand pounds reward offered
for his capture, and the Western Isles practically surrounded
by the enemy, it is difficult to imagine the much-sought-for
prize coolly passing his weary hours in fishing and shooting,
yet such was the case for the whole space of a month.
An eye-witness describes Charles's costume at this time as "a
tartan short coat and vest of the same, got from Lady Clanranald;
his nightcap all patched with soot-drops, his shirt, hands, and
face patched with the same; a short kilt, tartan hose, and Highland
brogs."
From South Uist the fugitive removed to the Island of Wia, where
he was received by Ranald Macdonald; thence he visited places
called Rossinish and Aikersideallich, and at the latter had to
sleep in a fissure in the rocks. Returning once more to South
Uist, Charles (accompanied by O'Neal and Mackechan) found a
hiding-place up in the hills, as the militia appeared to be
dangerously near, and at night tramped towards Benbecula, near
to which another place of safety was found in the rocks.
The memorable name of Flora Macdonald now appears upon the scene.
After much scheming and many difficulties the meeting of the Prince
and this noble lady was arranged in a squalid hut near Rosshiness.
The hardships encountered upon the journey from Benbecula to this
village were some of the worst experiences of the unfortunate
wanderer; and when his destination was reached at last, he had to
be hurried off again to a hiding-place by the sea-shore, which
provided little or no protection from the driving torrents of
rain. Early each morning this precaution had to be taken, as
the Royalist soldiers, who were quartered only a quarter of a
mile distant, repaired to the hut every morning to get milk from
the woman who acted as Charles's hostess. Upon the third day after
the Prince had arrived, Flora Macdonald joined him, bringing with
her the disguise for the character he was to impersonate upon
a proposed journey to the Isle of Skye--_viz._ "a flowered
linen gown, a light-coloured quilted petticoat, a white apron,
and a mantle of dun camlet, made after the Irish fashion, with
a hood."
A boat lay in readiness in a secluded nook on the coast, and
"Betty Burke"--the pseudo servant-maid--Flora Macdonald, and
Mackechan, as guide, embarked and got safely to Kilbride, in
Skye. Not, however, without imminent dangers. A storm nearly
swamped the boat; and upon reaching the western coast of the
island they were about to land, when a number of militiamen were
noticed on shore, close at hand, and as they recognised their
peril, and pulled away with might and main, a volley of musketry
would probably have had deadly effect, had not the fugitives
thrown themselves at the bottom of the boat.
At the house of the Macdonalds of Mugstat, whose representative
dreaded the consequences of receiving Charles, another Macdonald
was introduced as an accomplice by the merest accident. This
staunch Jacobite at once took possession of "Betty," and hurried
off towards his house of Kingsburgh. Upon the way the ungainly
appearance of Flora's maid attracted the attention of a servant,
who remarked that she had never seen such an impudent-looking
woman. "See what long strides the jade takes!" she cried; "and how
awkwardly she manages her petticoats!" And this was true enough,
for in fording a little brook "Betty Burke" had to be severely
reprimanded by her chaperon for her impropriety in lifting her
skirts! Upon reaching the house, Macdonald's little girl caught
sight of the strange woman, and ran away to tell her mother that
her father had brought home "the most old, muckle, ill-shapen-up
wife" she had ever seen. Startling news certainly for the lady
of Kingsburgh!
The old worn-out boots of the Prince's were discarded for new
ones ere he departed, and fragments of the former were long
afterwards worn in the bosoms of Jacobite ladies.
The next step in this wonderful escape was to Portree, where
temporary accommodation was found in a small public-house. Here
Charles separated from his loyal companions Neil Mackechan and
the immortal Flora. The "Betty Burke" disguise was discarded
and burnt and a Highland dress donned. With new guides the young
Chevalier now made his headquarters for a couple of days or so
in a desolate shepherd's hut in the Isle of Raasay; thence he
journeyed to the north coast of the Isle of Skye, and near Scorobreck
housed himself in a cow-shed. At this stage of his journey Charles
altered his disguise into that of a servant of his then companion
Malcolm Macleod, and at the home of his next host (a Mackinnon of
Ellagol) was introduced as "Lewie Caw," the son of a surgeon in
the Highland army. By the advice of the Mackinnons, the fugitive
decided to return, under their guidance, again to the mainland,
and a parting supper having been held in a cave by the sea-shore,
he bid adieu to the faithful Macleod. The crossing having been
effected, not without innumerable dangers, once more Charles
found himself near the locality of his first landing. For the
next three days neither cave nor hut dwelling could be found
that was considered safe; and upon the fourth day, in exploring
the shores of Loch Nevis for a hiding-place, the fugitives ran
their little craft right into a militia boat that was moored
to and screened from view by a projecting rock. The soldiers
on land immediately sprang on board and gave chase; but with
his usual good luck Charles got clear away by leaping on land
at a turn of the lake, where his retreat was covered by dense
foliage.
After this the Prince was under the care of the Macdonalds, one
of which clan, Macdonald of Glenaladale, together with Donald
Cameron of Glenpean, took the place of the Mackinnons.
A brief stay was made at Morar Lake and at Borrodaile (both houses
of the Macdonalds); after which a hut in a wood near the latter
place and an artfully constructed hiding-place between two rocks
with a roof of green turf did service as the Prince's palace.
In this cave Charles received the alarming news that the Argyllshire
Militia were on the scent, and were forming an impenetrable cordon
completely round the district. Forced once more to seek refuge
in flight, the unfortunate Stuart was hurried away through some
of the wildest mountainous country he had yet been forced to
traverse. A temporary hiding-place was found, and from this a
search-party exploring the adjacent rocks and crags was watched
with breathless interest.
Still within the military circle, a desperate dash for liberty had
now to be planned. Nearly starved and reduced to the last extremity
of fatigue, Charles and his guides, Glenpean and Glenaladale,
crept stealthily upon all-fours towards the watch-fires, and
taking advantage of a favourable moment when the nearest sentry
was in such a position that their approach could be screened
by the projecting rocks, in breathless silence the three stole
by, and offering up a prayer for their deliverance, continued
their foot-sore journey until their legs would carry them no
farther.
The next four days Charles sought shelter in caves in the
neighbourhood of Glenshiel, Strathcluanie, and Strathglass; but
the most romantic episode in his remarkable adventures was the
sojourn in the secret caves and hiding-places of the notorious
robbers of Glenmoriston, under whose protection the royal fugitive
placed himself. With these wild freebooters he continued for
three weeks, during which time he made himself extremely popular
by his freedom of intercourse with them.
The wanderer left these dwellings of comparative luxury that
he might join hands with other fugitive Jacobites, Macdonald
of Lochgarry and Cameron of Clunes, and took up his quarters
in the wood-surrounded huts near Loch Arkaig and Auchnacarry.
The poor youth's appearance at this period is thus described by
one of his adherents: "The Prince was at this time bare-footed,
had an old black kilt-coat on, philabeg and waistcoat, a dirty
shirt, and a long red beard, a gun in his hand, and a pistol
and dirk by his side."
Moving again to miserable hovels in the wild recesses of the
mountain Benalder, the chieftains Lochiel and Cluny acted now
as the main bodyguard. The former of these two had devised a
very safe hiding-place in the mountain which went by the name
of "the Cage," and while here welcome news was brought that two
friendly vessels had arrived at Lochnanuagh, their mission being,
if possible, to seek out and carry away the importunate heir to
the Stuart throne.
The last three or four days of Charles's memorable adventures
were occupied in reaching Glencamger, halts being made on the
day at Corvoy and Auchnacarry. On Saturday, September 20th, 1746,
he was on board _L'Heureux_, and nine days later landed at
Roscoff, near Morlaix.
So ended the famous escapades of the young Chevalier Prince Charles
Edward.
Here is a fine field open to some enterprising artistic tourist.
How interesting it would be to follow Prince Charles throughout
his journeyings in the Western Highlands, and illustrate with
pen and pencil each recorded landmark! Not long since Mr. Andrew
Lang gave, in a weekly journal (_The Sketch_), illustrations
of the most famous of all the Prince's hiding-places--_viz._
the cave in Glenmoriston, Inverness-shire.[1] The cave, we are
told, is "formed like a tumulus by tall boulders, but is clearly
a conspicious object, and a good place wherein to hunt for a
fugitive. But it served its turn, and as another cave in the same
district two miles off is lost, perhaps it is not so conspicious
as it seems." It is about twenty feet wide at the base, and the
position of the hearth and the royal bed are still to be seen,
with "the finest purling stream that could be, running by the
bed-side." How handy for the morning "tub"!
[Footnote 1: They appeared originally in Blaikie's _Itinerary
of Prince Curies Stuart_ (Scottish History Society).]
In that remarkable collection of Stuart relics on exhibition
in 1889 were many pathetic mementoes of Charles's wanderings in
the Highlands. Here could be seen not only the mittens but the
chemise of "Betty Burke"; the punch-bowl over which the Prince
and the host of Kingsburgh had a late carousal, and his Royal
Highness's table-napkins used in the same hospitable house; a
wooden coffee-mill, which provided many a welcome cup of coffee
in the days of so many hardships; a silver dessert-spoon, given
to Dr. Macleod by the fugitive when he left the Isle of Skye;
the Prince's pocket-book, many of his pistols, and a piece of
his Tartan disguise; a curious relic in the form of two lines
of music, sent as a warning to one of his lurking-places--when
folded in a particular way the following words become legible,
"Conceal yourself; your foes look for you." There was also a
letter from Charles saying he had "arrived safe aboard ye vessell"
which carried him to France, and numerous little things which
gave the history of the escape remarkable reality.
The recent dispersal of the famous Culloden collection sent
long-cherished Jacobite relics broadcast over the land. The ill-fated
Stuart's bed and walking-stick were of course the plums of this
sale; but they had no connection with the Highland wanderings
after the battle. The only object that had any connection with
the story was the gun of _L'Heureux_.
We understand there is still a much-prized heirloom now in Glasgow--a
rustic chair used by the Prince when in Skye. The story is that,
secreted in one of his cave dwellings, he espied a lad in his
immediate vicinity tending some cows. Hunger made him reveal
himself, with the result that he was taken to the boy's home,
a farm not far off, and had his fill of cream and oatcakes, a
delicacy which did not often fall in his way. The visit naturally
was repeated; and long afterwards, when the rank of his guest
came to the knowledge of the good farmer, the royal chair was
promoted from its old corner in the kitchen to an honored position
worthy of such a valued possession.
THE END.
INDEX
Bedfordshire:--
Toddington Place
Berkshire:--
Besils Leigh
Bisham Abbey
East Hendred House
Hurley, Lady Place
Milton Priory
Ockwells
Ufton Court
Windsor Castle
Buckinghamshire:--
Burnham Abbey
Claydon House
Dinton Hall
Gayhurst, or Gothurst
Slough, Upton Court
Stoke Poges Manor House
Cambridgeshire:--
Catledge Hall
Granchester Manor House
Madingley Hall
Sawston Hall
Cheshire:--
Bramhall Hall
Harden Hall
Lyme Hall
Moreton Hall
Cornwall:--
Bochym House
Cothele
Port Leven
Cumberland:--
Naworth Castle
Nether Hall
Derbyshire:--
Bradshawe Hall
Devonshire:--
Bovey House
Branscombe, "The Clergy House"
Ford House
Warleigh
Durham:--
Bishops Middleham
Darlington
Dinsdale-on-Tees
Eshe Hall
Essex:--
Braddocks, or Broad Oaks
Braintree
Dunmow, North End
Hill Hall
Hinchford
Ingatestone Hall
Romford, Marks
Southend, Porter's Hall
Woodham Mortimer Manor House
Gloucestershire:--
Bourton-on-the-Water Manor House
Hampshire:--
Bramshill
Highclere Castle
Hinton-Ampner
Hursley
Moyles Court
Tichbourne
Woodcote Manor House
Herefordshire:--
Treago
Hertfordshire:--
Great Gaddesden Manor House
Hatfield House
Knebworth House
Markyate Cell, Dunstable
Rickmansworth, The Bury
Shenley, Salisbury Court
Tyttenhanger House
Huntingdonshire:--
Kimbolton Castle
Kent:--
Bromley Palace
Deal
Dover, St. Radigund's Abbey
Erith
Folkestone
Franks
Hollingbourne Manor House
Ightham Moat
Lewisham, John Wesley's House
Margate
Milsted Manor
Rochester, Abdication House
Rochester, Eastgate House
Rochester, Restoration House
Sandwich, "Bell Inn"
Sharsted Court
Twissenden
Wedmore College
Lancashire:--
Bolling Hall
Borwick Hall
Gawthorp Hall
Hall-i'-the-wood
Holme Hall
Huncoat Hall
Lydiate Hall
Mains Hall
Preston, Ashes House
Speke Hall
Stonyhurst
Lincolnshire:--
Bayons Manor
Irnham Hall
Kingerby Hall
Terpersie Castle
Middlesex:--
Enfield, White Webb's
Hackney, Brooke House
Hampstead, Sir Harry Vane's House
Hampton Court
Hendon, Tenterden Hall
Highgate, Cromwell House
Hillingdon, Moorcroft House
Islington, Hale House
Kensington, Holland House
Knightsbridge
London, Lincoln's Inn
London, Newton Street, Holborn
London, "Red Lion Inn," West Street, Clerkenwell
London, "Rising Sun," Holywell Street
Mill Hill, Partingdale House
Sunbury Park
Twickenham, Arragon Towers
Westminster, Delahay Street
Norfolk:--
Cromer, Rookery Farm
Oxburgh Hall
Northamptonshire:--
Ashby St. Ledgers
Castle Ashby
Deene Park
Drayton House
Fawsley
Great Harrowden
Rushton Hall
Northumberland:--
Ford Castle
Netherwhitton
Wallington
Nottinghamshire:--
Nottingham Castle
Vale Royal
Worksop
Oxfordshire:--
Broughton Castle
Chastleton
Mapledurham House
Minster Lovel Manor House
Shipton Court
Tusmore House
Woodstock
Shropshire:--
Batsden Court
Boscobel House
Gatacre Park
Longford, Newport
Madeley Court
Madeley, Upper House
Oswestry, Park Hall
Plowden Hall
Somersetshire:--
Chard, "Clough Inn"
Chelvey Court
Chew Magna Manor House
Dunster Castle
Ilminster, The Chantry
Trent House
West Coker Manor House
Staffordshire:--
Broughton Hall
Moseley Hall
West Bromwich, Dunkirk Hall
Suffolk:--
Barsham Rectory
Brandeston Hall
Brandon Hall
Coldham Hall
Gawdy Hall
Melford Hall
Surrey:--
Mortlake, Cromwell House
Petersham, Ham House
Richmond Palace
Sanderstead Court
Thornton Heath
Wandsworth Manor House
Weybridge, Ham House
Sussex:--
Albourne Place
Arundel Castle
Bodiam Castle
Chichester Cathedral
Cowdray
Hurstmonceaux Castle
Parham Hall
Paxhill
Scotney Castle
Slindon House
Southwater, Horsham, "New Building"
Street Place
Warwickshire:--
Baddesley Clinton
Clopton Hall
Compton Winyates
Coughton Court
Mancetter Manor
Packington Old Hall
Salford Prior Hall
Warwick, St. John's Hospital
Wiltshire:--
Fyfield House
Great Chalfield
Heale House
Liddington Manor House
Salisbury
Worcestershire:--
Armscot Manor House
Birtsmorton Court
Cleeve Prior Manor House
Harborough Hall
Harvington Hall
Hindlip Hall
Huddington Court
Malvern, Pickersleigh Court
Stanford Court
Wollas Hall
Yorkshire:--
Bamborough Hall
Beare Park
Danby Hall
Dannoty Hall
Fountains Abbey
Fountains Hall
Hull, White Hart Hotel
Kirkby Knowle Castle
Leyburn, The Grove
Myddleton Lodge, Ilkley
Thirsk, "New Building"
Whatton Abbey
Whitby, Abbey House
Yeadon, Low Hall
Aberdeenshire:--
Belucraig
Dalpersie House
Fetternear
Fyvie Castle
Gordonstown
Kemnay House
Banffshire:--
Towie Barclay Castle
Elginshire:--
Coxton Tower
Forfarshire:--
Glamis Castle
Haddingtonshire:--
Elphinstone Castle
Linlithgowshire:--
Binns House
Nairnshire:--
Cawdor Castle
Monmouthshire:--
Ty Mywr
Pembrokeshire:--
Carew Castle
Isle of Wight:--
Newport Manor House
Guernsey:--
Château du Puits
End of Project Gutenberg's Secret Chambers and Hiding Places, by Allan Fea