|A VERY remarkable person was Brigadier Mackintosh, Laird of Borlum, and
since he is destined to play a conspicuous part in our story, it may be
proper to describe him.
The redoubted Laird of Borlum, then, was an old campaigner, having
served in Holland years ago, in Ireland under James the Second, where he
gained laurels, but little pay, and in France, where he had attained the
rank of brigadier, which he still held. Devotedly attached to James the
Second, on the death of that monarch, he had transferred all his loyalty
to his son. The Chevalier de Saint George had no more zealous adherent
than the brave Laird of Borlum.
Brigadier Mackintosh, when we first behold him, standing beside the Earl
of Mar, who had quitted his elevated position on the rock to talk to
him, could not be far from sixty. Yet despite the hardships he had
undergone, he had few traces of age about him. His step was free, his
glance piercing, his muscular power prodigious, and he could still run
as fleetly, and endure as much fatigue as the youngest of his clan.
His personal appearance was very striking--features strongly marked and
prominent, high cheek bones, a very firmly set mouth, and square chin.
His eyes were grey and keen, and shaded by black brows, though his locks
were blanched. His close-shaven cheeks were marked by many a scar.
The brigadier's expression was cautious, perhaps crafty, and sometimes
so grim as to inspire terror. But on occasions his habitual sternness
disappeared, and gave way to a winning _bonhomie_. Though a rigorous
disciplinarian, he had always been liked by those who served under him.
His enemies said that the brigadier did not object to plunder, and
that his maxim was that war should pay its own expenses; but this was a
principle pretty generally recognised by the Highlanders of the period.
“Why have you kept aloof, brigadier?” asked the earl.
“Because your lordship has others of mair importance to attend to than
an auld trooper, who has only his sword to offer you.”
“Hout awa! your sword is worth a thousand men, brigadier, and that ye
ken fu' weel. You are the man of all others I must have with me, heart
and hand.”
“I am a man of few words as your lordship kens--I am ready to do your
bidding.”
“Aweel then, your kinsman, Colonel Mackintosh, has promised to raise a
regiment of six or seven hundred Highland men.”
“And so wad I, if I could only find the callants. But they are few and
far to seek at Borlum.”
“What say you to taking the command of the Clan Chattan?”
“That belongs to our chief, unless----”
“He chooses to resign it to another, and I approve his choice. Will you
take it?”
“Gladly,” replied the brigadier, his eyes sparkling with satisfaction.
“Is this a' your lordship has to say to me, at present?”
“Ye are in a confounded hurry,” cried the earl, detaining him. “Hear me
to an end.”
“My lord, I am all attention.”
“When all our forces have assembled, a strong detachment, to consist of
five or six regiments, will be sent south to march with the Lowlanders
and the Northumbrian insurgents to London. You shall command the
detachment. If any man can make a rapid march, you can, brigadier. Long
before you reach London, you will have a considerable army, for you are
certain to receive large reinforcements in every county through which
you pass--especially in Lancashire and Cheshire. You will, therefore, be
able to give battle to all the forces the Hanoverian usurper can bring
against you. Win that battle and the crown is gained for the prince.”
The brigadier drew his broadsword and kissed the hilt.
“I swear to devote myself to this enterprise!” he cried. “Turn back who
may, I never will!”
Thereupon he bowed and retired, looking greatly elated.
III.--HOW THE STANDARD WAS SET UP, AND KING JAMES PROCLAIMED AT
CASTLETOWN.
|SHORTLY afterwards the whole party proceeded to the castle, where a
grand banquet awaited them.
Even more wine was drunk on this occasion than on the previous day, and
the company vied with each other in demonstrations of loyalty.
But the crowning act, that was to confound their enemies and confirm
their friends, took place on the following day. The whole party
assembled after breakfast, but without hounds or huntsmen.
A dozen sturdy bagpipers made the court ring with their shrill strains,
announcing that the Earl of Mar was about to proceed to Castletown,
which was not more than a mile off, attended by all the nobles and
chiefs, and all their vassals and retainers, to set up the standard and
proclaim King James.
The principal personages were on horseback--the rest on foot. At the
head of the cavalcade was the Earl of Mar, and on his right rode Lord
Charles Murray, who carried the standard.
The standard, which made a very splendid appearance, and excited general
admiration, was of blue satin, embroidered on one side with the arms of
Scotland in gold. On the other side was a thistle, underneath which were
the words, “No Union.”
Pendants of white ribbon were attached to the banner: one of them bore
the inscription, “For our wronged king and oppressed country;” the
other, “For our lives and liberties.”
The pipers marched on in advance, playing vigorously.
The morning was fine, but gusty, and Craigendarroch seemed to frown upon
them. Several Highlanders joined the party as they marched on, and
some old men, barelegged women, young girls, and children followed at a
distance. But there were few inhabitants in that wild region.
On reaching Castletown, the cavalcade rode into the market-place, where
all the townsfolk were assembled, and the pipers, who had marched in
first and taken up a good position, played with redoubled vigour, while
the standard was set up on the market-cross.
A loud shout was then raised by the whole concourse, after which silence
was authoritatively enjoined, and, a trumpet being sounded, the Earl of
Mar read the proclamation in a loud clear voice that vibrated through
every breast.
“By the decease of the late King James the Seventh, the imperial crown
of these realms has lineally descended to his lawful heir and son our
sovereign James the Eighth, and we the lords and others do accordingly
declare him to be the lawful king over Scotland, England, and Ireland.
We are bound by unalienable right to his family and person, and it is
to be lamented that our fundamental constitution has been destroyed by
factions. The unhappy Union of Scotland and England is also to be deeply
lamented--with many other matters, such as the bringing in a foreign
prince unacquainted with British planners, customs, and language--the
support of his designs by foreign troops--and the contempt with which
the military services of British troops are treated. We are determined
to resort to the last extremities in order to remedy these grievances,
and have our laws, liberties, and properties secured by the Parliaments
of both kingdoms. In conclusion, we hope that, undisturbed by a
Usurper's interests and council from abroad, or by a restless faction at
home, the blessing and aid of Heaven will be extended to the succour
of the Royal Family of Stuart and their country from sinking under
oppression.”
The foregoing manifesto produced a very powerful effect, and the whole
assemblage, having listened to it with profound attention, were about
to give vent to their feelings, when a circumstance occurred that filled
them all with superstitious terror.
By a sudden and violent gust, the silken banner was rent, and the gilded
ball blown from the point of the spear, and, falling at the feet of
Mar's horse, caused the animal to rear.
The greatest consternation was occasioned by this inauspicious
occurrence.
Nothing but blanched faces were seen around, and the shouts died away
on every lip. Men shook their heads, and said it was ominous of ill, and
even Mar himself was not free from uneasiness.
“When King Charles the First's standard was blown down at Nottingham,”
observed Lord Charles Murray to Brigadier Mackintosh, “it was thought to
presage ill. What does this signify?”
The brigadier made no answer, but looked very grave.
The ill-omened incident cast a gloom over the party, from which they did
not recover as long as they stayed together.
On quitting Castletown, the nobles and chiefs took leave of their host,
and departed each to his respective home, to get together his men, and
make all needful preparations for taking the field.
Subsequently, King James was proclaimed at divers other places, and once
again by the Earl of Mar at Kirk-michael, near Dumfries.
Meanwhile, the whole of the Highlands were literally in a flame---the
Fiery Cross having been sent round in every direction to summon the
clans. Such vassals as neglected the mandate of their chief conveyed by
this terrible sign--a cross, dipped in blood, and burning--were liable
to the penalty of fire and sword. Rarely was the summons disobeyed, and
never unpunished, until the passing of the Clan Act by the Government.
Returning slowly from Dumfries, at the head of a thousand men--more than
half of whom had joined him on the way--the Earl of Mar found his camp
pitched by Colonel Hamilton and Clephane of Carslogie, in a beautiful
situation on the side of the Tay.
Soon afterwards, such large reinforcements were brought him by the Earls
of Strathern, Southesk, Marischal, and Panmure, that he found himself at
the head of twelve thousand fighting men.
A most important achievement performed at this juncture by Colonel Hay
gave additional éclat to the insurgents. This gallant officer had often
boasted that he would capture Perth, and he now made good his word
by surprising the garrison, and enabling Mar to occupy the city.
Thenceforward Perth formed the head-quarters of the Scottish
commander-in-chief.
Alarmed by the rapid progress of the rebellion, the Government of King
George now began to take energetic measures for the repression of the
outbreak. The Duke of Argyle hastened to Stirling, where troops were
quickly concentrated, in order to keep the Highlanders in check, and
prevent them from crossing the Forth.
All Scottish noblemen or gentlemen, actually in arms, or suspected of
favouring the Pretender, were summoned to appear forthwith in Edinburgh,
and find bail for their future good conduct. But very few surrendered
themselves. Most of them were eager to take the field, and displeased
that Mar did not give battle to Argyle, before further succours could
reach him at Stirling.
The Scottish commander-in-chief hesitated, though Colonel Hay and others
of his advisers remonstrated with him. He had just received a letter
from Mr. Forster, praying him to send a couple of regiments to help them
to make a rising in Northumberland. This request he was quite willing to
grant--indeed, he did more than was asked. He immediately sent off the
detachment, which he had prepared to march through England, under the
command of Brigadier Mackintosh.