|Not till the accession of George the First did the general insurrection
take place, for which the partisans of the Pretender had been preparing
so long.
During the latter years of Anne, who was so much and so deservedly
beloved by the people, the Jacobites had remained quiescent, believing
that in the political crises certain to arise on the queen's death, the
Chevalier de Saint George would be called to the throne.
Disappointed in this expectation, they determined not to tolerate a rule
adverse to the religion of the majority, and hateful to all.
In the year 1715, at which date we shall resume our story, a formidable
plot spread throughout England and Scotland, causing the greatest alarm
to the Government by the avowed intention of the conspirators to depose
the reigning monarch, whom they described as a tyrannous usurper, and
restore the ancient sovereignty.
Aware of the designs of his enemies, King George made an appeal to the
Nation, in which he said, that after his solemn assurances, and the
opportunities he had taken to do everything that might tend to benefit
the Church of England, it was unjust and ungrateful to doubt him, and
he refused to believe that the people could be so far misled by false
representations as to desire to place a Popish Pretender on the throne.
In an address to his majesty by the Lord Mayor, James the Third was
denounced as an impostor, who proposed to govern the kingdom by
Popish maxims, while the High Church Tories, who were regarded as the
Pretender's main supporters in England, and more dangerous than the
Roman Catholics themselves, were stigmatised as “Nonresisting rebels,
passive-obedience rioters, abjuring Jacobites, and Frenchified
Englishmen; monsters, whom no age or country ever produced till now.”
The first movements of the Jacobites were checked by the death of Louis
the Fourteenth, and the appointment of the Duke of Orleans as Regent;
thus precluding any hope of immediate assistance from France, as had
been previously calculated upon, since the Regent, on assuming the
government, had at once entered into friendly relations with George the
First.
Notwithstanding this unpropitious circumstance, the Chevalier de Saint
George, who felt that his position had become critical, sent orders to
the Earl of Mar and some others of his adherents that a general rising
should take place without delay.
The prince's command was promptly obeyed by the Earl of Mar, who
embarked in disguise in a coal-sloop at Gravesend, accompanied by
Major-General Hamilton and Colonel John Hay, brother of the Earl of
Kinnoul. Eventually the earl and his companions reached Braemar Castle
in Aberdeenshire in safety.
The forests of Braemar were celebrated for red deer, and under the
pretext of a grand hunting-match, the earl invited all the principal
Scottish nobles, and chiefs of clans, whom he knew to be opposed to the
Union, and attached to the Stewarts. His list of guests included the
Marquis of Huntly, eldest son of the Duke of Gordon, the Marquis of
Tullibardine, eldest son of the Duke of Athole; the Earls of Nithsdale,
Marischal, Traquaire, Errol, Southesk, Carnwath, Seaforth, Linlithgow,
and Panmure, with nearly a dozen others. Among the chiefs of clans were
Glengarry, Campbell of Glendarule, and Mackintosh. They well knew why
they were invited, and came attended by numerous followers.
It was a grand sight to see all these nobles and chiefs in full Highland
costume, and attended by their vassals and retainers, likewise in
Highland dress, and all carrying guns upon the shoulder, assembled in
front of the castle, preparatory to setting out on the hunt. With them
were several couples of large deer-hounds held in leash by the huntsmen.
No one was better pleased with the sight than the Earl of Mar. Such a
goodly attendance augured well for the cause.
Full of glee, and expecting famous sport, the hunting party set out for
a defile in the forest into which they knew the deer would be driven.
Here the terrified animals were found, and great slaughter was made
among them.
The rest of the day was devoted to feasting and carousing. Much venison
was eaten--much wine drunk. Nor were the vassals neglected--but fared as
well as their lords. As they could not, however, be accommodated in the
castle, they found a couch amid the heather.
Early next day, the party again set out for the defile, and a repetition
of the previous scene of slaughter took place.
But as soon as the hunt was over, the nobles and chiefs attended by
their vassals repaired to a rendezvous agreed upon in the forest, where
they found the Earl of Mar with General Hamilton and Colonel Hay.
When the entire party had assembled, the earl mounted upon a fragment of
rock, jutting from the turf, and addressed them.
===He told them that the honour and independence of Scotland were at
stake, and that all true Scotsmen who prized their liberty, must fly to
arms to deliver their beloved country from the oppression under which it
groaned, and restore their deeply-wronged sovereign to the throne, now
occupied by the tyrannous Hanoverian Usurper. The Union--that bane of
Scotland--must be abolished. Bitterly did he regret that he had ever
countenanced the hateful measure, but he would make amends by helping to
effect its dissolution. But they must not stop there. Scotland had many
other grievances, all of which would be redressed when their rightful
king was restored--and restored he should be soon.
On this, an extraordinary scene ensued. All the nobles and chiefs
clustered around the speaker, drew their claymores, and their example
being instantly followed by the vassals, more than two hundred broad
swords flashed in the sun.
At the same time shouts were heard of “No Union!”
“Down with the Hanoverian Usurper!”
“Long live King James the Eighth!”
Pausing till the shouting was over, the Earl of Mar then went on.
“Thousands,” he said, “in England, as well as in Scotland, are leagued
together to accomplish the end we have in view, and only wait the
signal to rise, which will now be given them. Material assistance may be
expected from France. The Duke of Ormond and Lord Bolingbroke have gone
to Paris to induce the Regent to supply us with men and arms, and they
hope to return with a French fleet. Furthermore, the Duke of Berwick has
engaged to make a descent upon our western coast, with a large force.”
“The Duke of Berwick's name would counterbalance that of Marlborough,”
said the Marquis of Huntly. “But we must not count upon the great
Marshal of France till he has landed. Neither must we depend upon the
fleet to be brought by Ormond and Bolingbroke. These are doubtful. But
we can confidently rely upon our English allies.”
“Have the Northumbrian Jacobites yet risen?” inquired the Marquis of
Tullibardine.
“They are on the eve of rising,” replied the Earl of Mar. “All the
disaffected gentlemen throughout the kingdom are ready for action.”
“Lord Derwentwater, I presume, will take the command of the Northumbrian
force?” observed the Earl of Nithsdale.
“He is the fittest to do so,” replied the Earl of Mar. “But Forster
of Bamborough, who is a High Church Tory, will probably be preferred.
Forster is very popular with his party, and as the Tories are more
influential with the commonalty in England than the Roman Catholics, we
must have them heartily with us.”
“Lord Derwentwater resembles a Cavalier of Charles the First's time,”
observed Lord Nithsdale. “I should like to see him at the head of a
division.”
“And so should I,” said the Earl of Mar. “But it cannot be for the
reasons I have just mentioned. Neither he nor Lord Widdrington must have
a command.”
The Marquis of Huntly then addressed the assemblage, and told them
that before proceeding further, it would be necessary to appoint a
Commander-in-Chief of the Scottish Forces, by which thenceforward the
war could be conducted.
“I cannot doubt,” he said, “on whom your choice will fall.”
“The Earl of Mar,” responded a hundred voices; “the Earl of Mar must be
our commander-in-chief.”
And again the swords were waved.
“I am proud, indeed, to be thus unanimously chosen,” said the earl. “I
consent to hold the post for the Duke of Berwick, to whom I shall at
once relinquish it. What I lack in military skill and experience will be
supplied by veteran warriors, one of whom I rejoice to see here.”
And as he spoke he directed his glance towards a lofty figure, standing
at the outskirts of the assemblage.
So tall was this personage, who, like all the others was arrayed in full
Highland costume, that he towered almost head and shoulders above those
in front of him, and of course could easily be distinguished.
“'Tis Brigadier Mackintosh to whom I specially alluded,” said the earl.
“He has had sufficient experience, for he has served, and with the
greatest distinction, in Holland, Ireland, and France. I shall have a
word to say to him anon.”
Then addressing the Marquis of Huntly, he said:
“I would not deprive myself of the great satisfaction your lordship
has just given me, but I must mention that I had previously received a
commission from King James, appointing me his lieutenant-general.”
And taking a letter from his breast, he placed it in his lordship's
hands.
“This confirms our choice,” said the marquis, after reading the letter
aloud, amid great applause, and reiterated expressions of satisfaction
from the assemblage.
“My first step,” said the earl, when silence was restored, “shall be to
set up the standard at Castletown, and proclaim King James. The
Fiery Cross shall then be sent round to summon the clans to war. My
headquarters will be fixed at Dunkeld.”
“Within a month I will join you there with three thousand men,” said the
Earl of Searforth.
“Your arrival will be impatiently expected, my lord,” said Mar. “But by
that time I hope to be in possession of Perth. How many men will your
father, the Duke of Athole, give us, marquis?” he added to Tullibardine.
“Very few, in comparison with Lord Seaforth,” replied the other. “But I
will bring all I can.”
“The duke, I know, is lukewarm in the cause,” said Mar. “But since both
his sons are pledged, there can be no fear of him.”
“None whatever,” replied Lord Charles Murray, the Duke of Athole's
younger son.
Promises of substantial aid were then given by the Earls of Southesk,
Panmure, and other nobles, and by the chiefs Glengarry, and Gordon of
Glendarule.
Last of all came Colonel Mackintosh, head of the powerful Clan Chattan.
He engaged to raise six or seven hundred well-disciplined Highlanders,
but stipulated that his kinsman, Brigadier Mackintosh of Borluni, should
have the command of the regiment.
“Be it so, colonel, since you desire it,” said Mar. “But I have a more
important command for your brave kinsman. Tell Brigadier Mackintosh that
I desire to speak to him,” he added to Colonel Hay.
On hearing this order, those who were grouped around retired to a little
distance, and a vacant space was thus left for the old Highland warrior.