_Wednesdays afternoon, September 9th, 1747._
[Sidenote: 9 Sept.]
At the hour appointed (4 o'clock) Ned Bourk came to my room,
when I went through his Journal with him at great leisure, and
from his own mouth made those passages plain and intelligible
that were written in confused, indistinct terms.
A Short but Genuine Account of Prince Charlie's Wanderings
from Culloden to his meeting with Miss MacDonald, by Edward
Bourk.[150]
[150] This Journal as far as f. 338 is printed in the _Jacobite
Memoirs_, pp. 362-373. Burke died in Edinburgh on 23rd November 1757.
See f. 1706.
[Sidenote: 1746 16 Apr.]
Upon the 16th of April 1746 we marched from the field of Culloden
to attack the enemy in their camp at Nairn, but orders were given
by a false[151] general to retreat to the place from whence we
had come, and to take billets in the several parts where we had
quartered formerly. The men being all much fatigued, some of them
were dispersed here and there in order to get some refreshment for
themselves, whilst the greater part of them went to rest. But soon
after, the enemy appearing behind us, about four thousand of our men
were with difficulty got together and advanced, and the rest were
awakened by the [Sidenote: _fol._ 327.] noise of the canon, which
surely put them in confusion. After engaging briskly there came up
between six and seven hundred Frazers commanded by Colonel Charles
Frazer, younger, of Inverallachie, who were attacked before they
could form in line of battle, and had the misfortune of having their
Colonel wounded, who next day was murdered in cold blood, the fate of
many others.
[151] This epithet is not to be regarded.--F. See f. 667.
Our small, hungry, and fatigued army being put into confusion and
overpowered by numbers, was forced to retreat. Then it was that
Edward Bourk fell in with the Prince, having no right guide and
very few along with him. The enemy kept such a close fire that the
Prince had his horse shot under him;[152] who, calling for another,
was immediately served with one by a groom or footman, who that
moment was killed by a canon bullet. In the hurry, the Prince's
bonnet happening to fall off, he was served with a hat by one of
the life-guards. Edward Bourk, being well acquainted with all them
bounds, undertook to be the Prince's guide and brought him off with
Lord Elcho, Sir Thomas Sheridan, Mr. Alexander MacLeod, aid-de-camp,
and Peter MacDermit, one of the Prince's footmen. Afterwards they
met with O'Sullivan, when they were but in very bad circumstances.
The Prince was pleased to say to Ned, if you be a true friend, pray
endeavour to lead us safe off. Which honour Ned was not a little
fond of, and promised [Sidenote: _fol._ 328.] to do his best. Then
the Prince rode off from the way of the enemy to the Water of Nairn,
where, after advising, he dismist all the men that were with him,
being about sixty of Fitz-James's horse that had followed him. After
which Edward Bourk said, 'Sir, if you please, follow me. I'll do
my endeavour to make you safe.' The Prince accordingly followed
him, and with Lord Elcho, Sir Thomas Sheridan, O'Sullivan, and Mr.
Alexander MacLeod, aid-de-camp, marched to Tordarroch, where they
got no access, and from Tordarroch through Aberarder, where likewise
they got no access; from Aberarder to Faroline, and from Faroline to
Gortuleg, where they met with Lord Lovat, and drank three glasses of
wine with him.
[Sidenote: April]
About 2 o'clock next morning with great hardships we arrived at the
Castle of Glengary, called Invergary, where the guide (Ned Burk)
spying a fishing-net set, pulled it to him and found two salmonds,
which the guide made ready in the best manner he could, and the
meat was reckoned very savoury and acceptable. After taking some
refreshment the Prince wanted to be quit of the cloathing he had on,
and Ned gave him his own coat. At 3 o'clock afternoon, the Prince,
O'Sullivan, another private gentleman, and the guide set out and came
to the house of one Cameron of Glenpean, and stayed there all night.
In this road we had got ourselves all nastied, and when [Sidenote:
_fol._ 329.] we were come to our quarters, the guide happening to be
untying the Prince's spatter dashes, there fell out seven guineas.
They being alone together, the Prince said to the guide, 'Thou art a
trusty friend and shall continue to be my servant.'
[152] See f. 1161.
From Glenpean we marched to Mewboll, where we stayed one night, and
were well entertained. Next morning we went to Glenbiasdale, stayed
there four nights or thereabouts, and from that we took boat for the
Island of South Uist, about six nights before the 1st of May, where
we arrived safely but with great difficulty. There we stayed three
days or so, and then we boated for the Island Scalpa, or Glass, and
arrived at Donald Campbell's house.
When I asked at Ned to whom Scalpay belonged, he answered, To the
Laird of MacLeod. I asked likewise, what this Donald Campbell was?
Ned told me that he was only a tenant, but one of the best, honestest
fellows that ever drew breath; and that his forefathers (from father
to son) had been in Scalpa for several generations past. Ned said he
believed they were of the Campbells of Lochniel.
[Sidenote: May]
In Scalpa we stayed about three days, sending from thence our barge
to Stornway to hire a vessel. By a letter from Donald MacLeod we came
to Loch Seaforth, and coming there by a false guide, we travelled
seven hours, if not more, under cloud of night, having gone six or
eight miles out of our way. This guide was sent to Stornway to know
if the vessel was [Sidenote: _fol._ 330.] hired. Either by him or
some other enemy it was divulged that the Prince was at Kildun's
house (MacKenzie) in Arynish, upon which a drum beat in Stornway, and
upwards of an hundred men conveened to apprehend us. However the
MacKenzies proved very favourable and easy, for they could have taken
us if they had pleased. We were then only four in number besides
the Prince, and we had four hired men for rowing the barge. Upon
the alarm Ned Burk advised they should take to the mountains; but
the Prince said, 'How long is it, Ned, since you turned cowardly?
I shall be sure of the best of them ere taken, which I hope shall
never be in life.' That night he stood opposite to the men that were
gathered together, when two of our boatmen ran away and left us.
The rogue that made the discovery was one MacAulay, skipper of the
vessel that was hired, who next morning went off to Duke William with
information. In the morning we had killed a quey of little value, and
about 12 o'clock at night our little barge appeared to us, whereof
we were very glad. We put some pieces of the quey in the barge and
then went on board. We rowed stoutly; but spying four men of war at
the point of the Isle of Keaback we steered to a little desart island
where were some fishermen who had little huts of houses like swine's
[Sidenote: _fol._ 331.] huts where it seems they stayed and made
ready their meat while at the fishing. They were frighted at seeing
our barge sailing towards the island, and apprehending we had been a
press boat from the men-of-war they fled and left all their fish.
When landed Edward Burk began to dress some of the fish, but said
he had no butter. The Prince said, 'We will take the fish till the
butter come.' Ned, minding there was some butter in the barges laid
up among bread, went to the barge and brought it; but it did not
look so very clean, the bread being all broke in pieces amongst the
butter; and therefore Ned said he thought shame to present it. The
Prince asked if the butter was clean when put amongst the bread. Ned
answered it was. 'Then,' said the Prince, 'it will do very well. The
bread is no poison; it can never file the butter.'
[Sidenote: April.]
Ned having forgot here to mention the cake which the Prince contrived
with the cow's brains I asked him about it; and he acknowledged the
truth of it. I likewise asked him if he knew the name of the desart
island; but he frankly owned that he did not know it, assuring me in
the mean time that Donald MacLeod knew it well.[153]
[153] See f. 291.
Upon the desart island we stayed four nights, and on the [Sidenote:
_fol._ 332.] 5th set to sea and arrived at the Island Glass, where
we were to enquire about the hire of Donald Campbell's boat. Here
four men appeared coming towards them, upon which Ned Burk went out
of the boat to view them, and giving a whistle, cried back to his
neighbours, being at some distance, to take good care of the boat.
Ned not liking these men at all, thought fit to return with speed to
the boat, and putting his hand to the gunnel jumped aboard and stayed
not to converse with the four men.
[Sidenote: May.]
From Glass, having no wind, we rowed off with vigour. About break of
day, the wind rising, we hoisted sail; and all of us being faint for
lake of food, and having some meal, we began to make drammach (in
Erse, stappack) with salt water, whereof the Prince took a share,
calling it no bad food, and all the rest followed his example. The
Prince called for a bottle of spirits, and gave every one of us a
dram. Then we passed by Finsbay, in the Isle of Harris, where we
spied a man-of-war, commanded by one Captain Ferguson, under full
sail, and our little sail was full too. He pursued us for three
leagues; but we escaped by plying our oars heartily, they being
better to us than arms could have been at that time. The water
failing the man-of-war, he was not in a condition [Sidenote: _fol._
333.] to pursue farther. We steered upon a point called Rondill, when
the Prince expressed himself as formerly that he should never be
taken in life. After this the said Captain Ferguson, being anxious
to know what we were, endeavoured to make up with us a second time,
but to no purpose, the water being at ebb, and we continuing still
to row in amongst the creeks. Seeing this he turned to the main
sea, when we sailed to Lochmaddy to the south of the Isle of Uist,
thence to Loch-uiskibay, thence to an island in said loch, where we
came to a poor grasskeeper's bothy or hut, which had so laigh a door
that we digged below the door and put heather below the Prince's
knees, he being tall, to let him go the easier into the poor hut.
We stayed there about three nights, and provided ourselves very
well in victuals by fowling and fishing, and drest them in the best
shapes we could, and thought them very savoury meat. Thence we went
to the mountain of Coradale, in South Uist, and stayed there about
three weeks, where the Prince one day, seeing a deer, run straight
towards him, and firing offhand killed him. Edward Burk brought home
the deer, and making ready some collops, there comes a poor boy,
[Sidenote: _fol._ 334.] who, without asking questions, put his hand
among the meat, which the cook (Edward Burk) seeing, gave him a whip
with the back of his hand. The Prince observing this, said, 'O man,
you don't remember the Scripture which commands to feed the hungry
and cleed the naked, etc. You ought rather to give him meat than a
strip.' The Prince then ordered some rags of cloaths for the boy, and
said he would pay for them, which was done accordingly. The Prince
added more, saying, 'I cannot see a Christian perish for want of food
and raiment had I the power to support them.' Then he prayed that God
might support the poor and needy, etc.
There was one Donald MacLeod of Gualtergill, a trusty friend, who
went to Moidart and brought us news and brandy, for which the Prince
thanked him heartily, calling him a trusty servant.
The foresaid boy after [being] fed and cloathed, hearing of the
enemy's approaching in search of the Prince, (like Judas) thought
fit to go privately to them, being fifteen hundred of Campbells,
MacLeods, and MacDonalds, to inform them where the Prince was, which
some of the enemy hearing, ridiculed the boy, and said he deserved to
be thrown into the sea, for what he advanced was entirely false and
all lies.
Now, the enemy coming from the Isle of Barra, who were well known in
these places, and we being utter strangers, with [Sidenote: _fol._
335.] the disadvantage too of some men-of-war lying before, we had no
way to escape. But committing ourselves to Providence, the Prince,
O'Sullivan, O'Neil (who had come on an errand from France), Donald
MacLeod, Edward Burk, and the boatmen went on board the barge, to be
sure melancholy enough, having none to trust in but the Providence
of God only, we escaped narrowly by Ouia Island to Benbicula, in
Clanronald's country. We stayed there for about two nights; but the
enemy came to that country likewise in search of the Prince, where
one Hamar MacLeod landed near our quarters; which the Prince being
informed of, asked at Edward Burk, 'Is this a friend or a foe?' To
which Ned answered, 'He never was a friend to your family.' But by
good providence Hamar happened to go off without making any search,
and we did not think proper to go the same way with him, not knowing
what the event may have been.
Immediately after this the Prince with O'Neil only went to the
wilderness, desiring we might stay behind with this design that if
any enquiry was made about him, our answer should be that we knew
nothing about him at all further than that by that time we believed
he had made his escape. We all resolved [Sidenote: _fol._ 336.] to
suffer than that the Prince should be exposed. Meantime Providence
ordered it otherwise, for without trouble we escaped also, and
afterwards met with the Prince, and that night boated in our little
barge and sailed by Ouia, above the island of Benbicula, where from
the point of a rock a young seal (a whelp) swimmed directly to the
barge as if it had been frighted; and Edward Burk leaning over the
side of the boat, pulled the seal into the boat; but it died soon
after. The same night we rowed and sailed with vigour, when we spied
two men-of-war with one Captain Scott, not knowing the names of
any of the rest.[154] We then steered with all speed to a shore at
Aikersideallach, in South Uist, where coming to a creek of a rock
above the water, and finding some ashes and the place very private,
we kindled up a fire; and the Prince lay that night in a clift of the
rock, drawing his bonnet over his eyes for preserving them. Ned Burk,
as he was turning himself, the place being exceedingly narrow, and he
not adverting to that, fell backwards over the rock about six yards
high, and narrowly escaped being bruised, by falling among sand.
[154] See f. 461.
[Sidenote: June.]
Afterwards we took boat and rowed to the south part of South Uist for
Loch Boisdale, when we perceived fifteen sail, and a number of the
enemy being upon the land, we knew not [Sidenote: _fol._ 337.] what
to do. All that day we were obliged to keep in a narrow creek till
night that we got into Loch Boisdale. Afterwards coming ashore very
much fatigued, we came to an old tower in the mouth of the island,
where we kindled fire, put on our pot in order to make ready some
provisions; and Ned Burk went out to pull some heath for the Prince's
bed. Meantime Donald MacLeod of Gualtergill said there were two
French ships of war appearing; but to our great surprize they proved
to be Englishmen. The Prince with three others took to the mountains,
and the rowers went to the barge lying in the creek and steered up
the loch.
The men-of-war steered to the main. At night we all met again at
our barge, wherein we had still some small provisions. We stayed in
the open fields two nights, having only the sails of the boat for
covers. On the third night we went farther into the loch, and rested
thereabouts for other two nights. When the enemy (viz., redcoats and
Campbells) appeared, then we passed to the north side of the loch.
The Prince, finding himself so invironed by the enemy, took
[Sidenote: _fol._ 338.] two shirts under his arm and went off,
allowing none to follow him but O'Neil. After parting from the
rest the Prince on the other side of the mountain met with one
Neil MacDonald, who conveyed him that night near to one Lauchlan
MacDonald, a falsified friend, who designed to have betrayed both the
Prince and his country. But Neil MacDonald, finding out his design,
conveyed the Prince to Benbicula, a place then called Rushness,
where he met with one Florence MacDonald, stepdaughter to MacDonald
of Armadale, who pretended to cross the sea to visit her mother in
Sky, when the Prince went along with her, having disguised himself in
women's cloaths, and changing his name to Bettie Burk, the sirname of
his first guide.
Now, gentlemen and ladies, who read this, believe it to be a true
and genuine short account of hardships that happened and what the
author saw. But for brevity's sake I have not made mention of many
wants the Prince suffered, the many ill-drest diets he got, the many
bad beds he lay in, the many cold and wet beds in the open fields,
etc., with all which he chearfully and patiently put up; and this any
well-thinking person may easily consider from what is above set down.
[Sidenote: 9 Sept. 1747]
September 9th, 1747. After going thro' the Journal with Ned I
writ from his own mouth the following Account, etc.
[Sidenote: _fol._ 339.] Edward Burk, after parting with the Prince,
went over North Strand to North Uist, where he skulked in a hill
called Eval for about seven weeks, twenty days of which he had not
any other meat than dilse and lammocks, a kind of shell fish, for
much about this time a paper had been read in all the kirks strictly
forbidding all persons to give so much as a mouthful of meat to a
rebel, otherwise they should be destroyed. Upon this Oliver Burk, a
married man, and brother to Ned, would not give poor Ned a bit of
bread, or any countenance whatsomever, being frighted out of his
wits. But Ned resolved to take amends of him for his cruel cowardice,
and went to a place where Oliver had a flock of sheep feeding.
Ned took the head off one of them, and throwing the body over his
shoulder, carried it to a place where he could order it at his
conveniency. But Jacob Burk, an unmarried man, and brother to Ned,
did as much as could lie in his power, and [Sidenote: _fol._ 340.]
gave Ned everything he could purchase, and did not fear at all. God
bless poor Jacob. One night, Ned being in great misery, went to steal
a boat in order to take the sea. But some fishers being near by, and
hearing a noise, came out with a force, thinking this to be an enemy.
Ned was obliged to leave the boat and take to his heels, for he had
far rather have been killed or drowned than to be taken prisoner,
because by that time it was well known that he had been the Prince's
servant, and therefore he was afraid, if taken, they would put him to
the torture to make him tell all that he knew, and he could not bear
the thoughts of doing hurt to anybody.
A near relation of his own (Peter MacDonald) put him to much trouble,
having gone to Captain John MacDonald, son of Tutor MacDonald in
North Uist, in order to put Ned out, and get a party to catch him.
But Captain John broke a staff over the fellow's head and told him
he had other uses for his men than to send them upon false errands.
At that time Ned went to Lochmaddy in North Uist, where one of the
Independent Company (commanded by the said John MacDonald) came to
him and desired him to follow him. Ned asked to what place was he to
follow him? 'Farther into the country,' said the fellow. 'Friend,'
said Ned, 'have you got any more [Sidenote: _fol._ 341.] help than
yourself?' 'No,' replied the fellow. 'And, Sir, you are one of the
Prince's servants?' Ned answered, 'Many a prettier fellow had been
his servant.' The fellow added that he knew Ned's face. Upon which
Ned owned his name, and said he would not deny it, and immediately
drew his pistol, which frighted the fellow so that he ran off with
himself. But soon after he brought a party to the same spot to seize
Ned, but he had got himself hid in a private place.
This made Ned more careful and timorous, especially as Donald
MacDonald (a son of Clanranald, and one of Ned's good friends) was
under a necessity to deliver himself up, which put him in no danger,
as he was a French officer. After this Ned was obliged to betake
himself to a cave in North Uist, being so hard beset. A shoemaker's
wife, when neither one friend nor another durst be seen with him,
came under cloud of night and brought him a little food.
A little before this Ned had gone one day to buy a pair of shoes at
Clatachcaranish, when General Campbell, Captain Ferguson and their
whole force came to the place. Ned was [Sidenote: _fol._ 342.] then
in a sad perplexity, and did not well know what to do. Spying an
old black coat and a pair of old breeches in the house, he put them
on, hiding his own cloaths under a chest, and went out at the door
unconcerned. He stood a while among the men and conversed easily with
them, then slipping by degrees out amongst them, he got to the hills
to his old cave. Jacob Burk and the shoemaker's wife got his cloaths
(a highland dress) and brought them to him.
At last Ned resolved, right or wrong, to get out of these hardships,
and, making his way to Lochmaddy, found there a vessel ready to ferry
some cattle over to Sky. Ned gave a false token to the skipper in
place of a pass, and got on board. When he arrived in Sky he came
to a gentleman's house of the name of MacLeod, near which place
MacDonald of Knock coming with a command of 36 men, Ned made off,
not chusing to have his quarters near any place where Knock was.
That night Ned went to an old kiln-cogie and took his rest, and
the gentleman, MacLeod (in whose house he had been) sent him meat
privately. Next morning, before daylight, he made off and went to
Talisker MacLeod, whom he had served several years before that, and
gave himself up to him. Talisker made [Sidenote: _fol._ 343.] him
welcome, and took care of him. Ned, being desirous to be upon the
mainland, took the opportunity of a boat sailing for Seaforth's
country where he met with his master, Mr. Alexander MacLeod,
aid-de-camp, and stayed with him till the indemnity came out, when he
left his master and returned to Edinburgh, where he follows his old
business.
Ned told me that Donald MacLeod, all the time he was with the Prince,
sat at the helm and steered the course, and that they had neither
compass, lamp, nor pump in the great storm from the mainland to
Benbicula, not knowing, through the darkness and tempest, where they
were, or what land they might make; and therefore they behoved to let
the boat drive and trust all to Providence, for they could do nothing
for themselves. By peep of day, he said, they observed Benbicula
and made to it with great difficulty, the storm continuing no less
than twelve hours after they landed. Ned assured me that O'Neil's
saying that the boat staved to pieces was a downright falshood; and
moreover, he did not doubt but the eight-oar'd boat was still entire
upon the island Scalpa or Glass.
When I spoke to Ned about the priest's leaving them at Scalpa, Ned
said, 'Faith, I have reason to think that the Prince [Sidenote:
_fol._ 344.] is not a great Papist, for he never gree'd well wi' the
priest at all, and was very easy about his company.'
Ned owned the truth of what Donald MacLeod had said about his using
such freedoms with the Prince, and added that he used to play
antiques and monkey tricks to divert the Prince and his small retinue.
One of the soles of Ned's shoes happening to come off, Ned cursed the
day upon which he should be forced to go without shoes. The Prince
hearing him, called to him and said, 'Ned, look at me;' 'when,' said
Ned, 'I saw him holding up one of his feet to me where there was deel
a sole upon the shoe; and then I said, 'O my dear, I have nothing
more to say. You have stopt my mouth indeed.'
When Ned was talking of seeing the Prince again he spoke these words:
'If the Prince do not come and see me soon, good faith, I will go and
see my daughter (Bettie Burk) and crave her. For she has not yet paid
her christening money, and as little has she paid the coat I gae her
in her greatest need.'