A POSTSCRIPT WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN A PREFACE
Our journey is now finished, gentle reader; and if your patience
has accompanied me through these sheets, the contract is, on your
part, strictly fulfilled. Yet, like the driver who has received
his full hire, I still linger near you, and make, with becoming
diffidence, a trifling additional claim upon your bounty and good
nature. You are as free, however, to shut the volume of the one
petitioner as to close your door in the face of the other.
This should have been a prefatory chapter, but for two reasons:
First, that most novel readers, as my own conscience reminds me,
are apt to be guilty of the sin of omission respecting that same
matter of prefaces; Secondly, that it is a general custom with
that class of students to begin with the last chapter of a work;
so that, after all, these remarks, being introduced last in order,
have still the best chance to be read in their proper place.
There is no European nation which, within the course of half a
century or little more, has undergone so complete a change as this
kingdom of Scotland. The effects of the insurrection of 1745,--the
destruction of the patriarchal power of the Highland chiefs,--the
abolition of the heritable jurisdictions of the Lowland nobility
and barons,--the total eradication of the Jacobite party, which,
averse to intermingle with the English, or adopt their customs,
long continued to pride themselves upon maintaining ancient
Scottish manners and customs,--commenced this innovation. The
gradual influx of wealth and extension of commerce have since
united to render the present people of Scotland a class of beings
as different from their grandfathers as the existing English are
from those of Queen Elizabeth's time.
The political and economical effects of these changes have been
traced by Lord Selkirk with great precision and accuracy. But the
change, though steadily and rapidly progressive, has nevertheless
been gradual; and, like those who drift down the stream of a deep
and smooth river, we are not aware of the progress we have made
until we fix our eye on the now distant point from which we have
been drifted. Such of the present generation as can recollect the
last twenty or twenty-five years of the eighteenth century will be
fully sensible of the truth of this statement; especially if their
acquaintance and connexions lay among those who in my younger time
were facetiously called 'folks of the old leaven,' who still
cherished a lingering, though hopeless, attachment to the house of
Stuart.
This race has now almost entirely vanished from the land, and with
it, doubtless, much absurd political prejudice; but also many
living examples of singular and disinterested attachment to the
principles of loyalty which they received from their fathers, and
of old Scottish faith, hospitality, worth, and honour.
It was my accidental lot, though not born a Highlander (which may
be an apology for much bad Gaelic), to reside during my childhood
and youth among persons of the above description; and now, for the
purpose of preserving some idea of the ancient manners of which I
have witnessed the almost total extinction, I have embodied in
imaginary scenes, and ascribed to fictitious characters, a part of
the incidents which I then received from those who were actors in
them. Indeed, the most romantic parts of this narrative are
precisely those which have a foundation in fact.
The exchange of mutual protection between a Highland gentleman and
an officer of rank in the king's service, together with the
spirited manner in which the latter asserted his right to return
the favour he had received, is literally true. The accident by a
musket shot, and the heroic reply imputed to Flora, relate to a
lady of rank not long deceased. And scarce a gentleman who was 'in
hiding' after the battle of Culloden but could tell a tale of
strange concealments and of wild and hair'sbreadth'scapes as
extraordinary as any which I have ascribed to my heroes. Of this,
the escape of Charles Edward himself, as the most prominent, is
the most striking example. The accounts of the battle of Preston
and skirmish at Clifton are taken from the narrative of
intelligent eye-witnesses, and corrected from the 'History of the
Rebellion' by the late venerable author of 'Douglas.' The Lowland
Scottish gentlemen and the subordinate characters are not given as
individual portraits, but are drawn from the general habits of the
period, of which I have witnessed some remnants in my younger
days, and partly gathered from tradition.
It has been my object to describe these persons, not by a
caricatured and exaggerated use of the national dialect, but by
their habits, manners, and feelings, so as in some distant degree
to emulate the admirable Irish portraits drawn by Miss Edgeworth,
so different from the 'Teagues' and 'dear joys' who so long, with
the most perfect family resemblance to each other, occupied the
drama and the novel.
I feel no confidence, however, in the manner in which I have
executed my purpose. Indeed, so little was I satisfied with my
production, that I laid it aside in an unfinished state, and only
found it again by mere accident among other waste papers in an old
cabinet, the drawers of which I was rummaging in order to
accommodate a friend with some fishing-tackle, after it had been
mislaid for several years.
Two works upon similar subjects, by female authors whose genius is
highly creditable to their country, have appeared in the interval;
I mean Mrs. Hamilton's 'Glenburnie' and the late account of
'Highland Superstitions.' But the first is confined to the rural
habits of Scotland, of which it has given a picture with striking
and impressive fidelity; and the traditional records of the
respectable and ingenious Mrs. Grant of Laggan are of a nature
distinct from the fictitious narrative which I have here
attempted.
I would willingly persuade myself that the preceding work will not
be found altogether uninteresting. To elder persons it will recall
scenes and characters familiar to their youth; and to the rising
generation the tale may present some idea of the manners of their
forefathers.
Yet I heartily wish that the task of tracing the evanescent
manners of his own country had employed the pen of the only man in
Scotland who could have done it justice--of him so eminently
distinguished in elegant literature, and whose sketches of Colonel
Caustic and Umphraville are perfectly blended with the finer
traits of national character. I should in that case have had more
pleasure as a reader than I shall ever feel in the pride of a
successful author, should these sheets confer upon me that envied
distinction. And, as I have inverted the usual arrangement,
placing these remarks at the end of the work to which they refer,
I will venture on a second violation of form, by closing the whole
with a Dedication--
THESE VOLUMES BEING RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED TO OUR SCOTTISH
ADDISON, HENRY MACKENZIE, BY AN UNKNOWN ADMIRER OF HIS GENIUS.
THE END
NOTES
NOTE I, p. 19
The clan of Mac-Farlane, occupying the fastnesses of the western
side of Loch Lomond, were great depredators on the Low Country,
and as their excursions were made usually by night, the moon was
proverbially called their lantern. Their celebrated pibroch of
Hoggil nam Bo, which is the name of their gathering tune,
intimates similar practices, the sense being:--
We are bound to drive the bullocks,
All by hollows, hirsts, and hillocks,
Through the sleet, and through the rain.
When the moon is beaming low
On frozen lake and hills of snow,
Bold and heartily we go;
And all for little gain.
NOTE 2, p. 22
This noble ruin is dear to my recollection, from associations
which have been long and painfully broken. It holds a commanding
station on the banks of the river Teith, and has been one of the
largest castles in Scotland. Murdoch, Duke of Albany, the founder
of this stately pile, was beheaded on the Castle-hill of Stirling,
from which he might see the towers of Doune, the monument of his
fallen greatness.
In 1745-46, as stated in the text, a garrison on the part of the
Chevalier was put into the castle, then less ruinous than at
present. It was commanded by Mr. Stewart of Balloch, as governor
for Prince Charles; he was a man of property near Callander. This
castle became at that time the actual scene of a romantic escape
made by John Home, the author of Douglas, and some other
prisoners, who, having been taken at the battle of Falkirk, were
confined there by the insurgents. The poet, who had in his own
mind a large stock of that romantic and enthusiastic spirit of
adventure which he has described as animating the youthful hero of
his drama, devised and undertook the perilous enterprise of
escaping from his prison. He inspired his companions with his
sentiments, and when every attempt at open force was deemed
hopeless, they resolved to twist their bed-clothes into ropes and
thus to descend. Four persons, with Home himself, reached the
ground in safety. But the rope broke with the fifth, who was a
tall, lusty man. The sixth was Thomas Barrow, a brave young
Englishman, a particular friend of Home's. Determined to take the
risk, even in such unfavourable circumstances, Barrow committed
himself to the broken rope, slid down on it as far as it could
assist him, and then let himself drop. His friends beneath
succeeded in breaking his fall. Nevertheless, he dislocated his
ankle and had several of his ribs broken. His companions, however,
were able to bear him off in safety.
The Highlanders next morning sought for their prisoners with great
activity. An old gentleman told the author he remembered seeing
the commandant Stewart
Bloody with spurring, fiery red with haste,
riding furiously through the country in quest of the fugitives.
NOTE 3, p. 28
To go out, or to have been out, in Scotland was a conventional
phrase similar to that of the Irish respecting a man having been
up, both having reference to an individual who had been engaged in
insurrection. It was accounted ill-breeding in Scotland about
forty years since to use the phrase rebellion or rebel, which
might be interpreted by some of the parties present as a personal
insult. It was also esteemed more polite, even for stanch Whigs,
to denominate Charles Edward the Chevalier than to speak of him as
the Pretender; and this kind of accommodating courtesy was usually
observed in society where individuals of each party mixed on
friendly terms.
NOTE 4, p. 38
The Jacobite sentiments were general among the western counties
and in Wales. But although the great families of the Wynnes, the
Wyndhams, and others had come under an actual obligation to join
Prince Charles if he should land, they had done so under the
express stipulation that he should be assisted by an auxiliary
army of French, without which they foresaw the enterprise would be
desperate. Wishing well to his cause, therefore, and watching an
opportunity to join him, they did not, nevertheless, think
themselves bound in honour to do so, as he was only supported by a
body of wild mountaineers, speaking an uncouth dialect, and
wearing a singular dress. The race up to Derby struck them with
more dread than admiration. But it is difficult to say what the
effect might have been had either the battle of Preston or Falkirk
been fought and won during the advance into England.
NOTE 5, p. 43
Divisions early showed themselves in the Chevalier's little army,
not only amongst the independent chieftains, who were far too
proud to brook subjection to each other, but betwixt the Scotch
and Charles's governor O'Sullivan, an Irishman by birth, who, with
some of his countrymen bred in the Irish Brigade in the service of
the King of France, had an influence with the Adventurer much
resented by the Highlanders, who were sensible that their own
clans made the chief or rather the only strength of his
enterprise. There was a feud, also, between Lord George Murray and
John Murray of Broughton, the Prince's secretary, whose disunion
greatly embarrassed the affairs of the Adventurer. In general, a
thousand different pretensions divided their little army, and
finally contributed in no small degree to its overthrow.
NOTE 6, p. 78
This circumstance, which is historical, as well as the description
that precedes it, will remind the reader of the war of La Vendee,
in which the royalists, consisting chiefly of insurgent peasantry,
attached a prodigious and even superstitious interest to the
possession of a piece of brass ordnance, which they called Marie
Jeanne.
The Highlanders of an early period were afraid of cannon, with the
noise and effect of which they were totally unacquainted. It was
by means of three or four small pieces of artillery that the Earls
of Huntly and Errol, in James VI's time, gained a great victory at
Glenlivat, over a numerous Highland army, commanded by the Earl of
Argyle. At the battle of the Bridge of Dee, General Middleton
obtained by his artillery a similar success, the Highlanders not
being able to stand the discharge of Musket's Mother, which was
the name they bestowed on great guns. In an old ballad on the
battle of the Bridge of Dee these verses occur:--
The Highlandmen are pretty men
For handling sword and shield,
But yet they are but simple men
To stand a stricken field.
The Highlandmen are pretty men
For target and claymore,
But yet they are but naked men
To face the cannon's roar.
For the cannons roar on a summer night
Like thunder in the air;
Was never man in Highland garb
Would face the cannon fair
But the Highlanders of 1745 had got far beyond the simplicity of
their forefathers, and showed throughout the whole war how little
they dreaded artillery, although the common people still attached
some consequence to the possession of the field-piece which led to
this disquisition.
NOTE 7, p. 93
The faithful friend who pointed out the pass by which the
Highlanders moved from Tranent to Seaton was Robert Anderson,
junior, of Whitburgh, a gentleman of property in East Lothian. He
had been interrogated by the Lord George Murray concerning the
possibility of crossing the uncouth and marshy piece of ground
which divided the armies, and which he described as impracticable.
When dismissed, he recollected that there was a circuitous path
leading eastward through the marsh into the plain, by which the
Highlanders might turn the flank of Sir John Cope's position
without being exposed to the enemy's fire. Having mentioned his
opinion to Mr. Hepburn of Keith, who instantly saw its importance,
he was encouraged by that gentleman to awake Lord George Murray
and communicate the idea to him. Lord George received the
information with grateful thanks, and instantly awakened Prince
Charles, who was sleeping in the field with a bunch of pease under
his head. The Adventurer received with alacrity the news that
there was a possibility of bringing an excellently provided army
to a decisive battle with his own irregular forces. His joy on the
occasion was not very consistent with the charge of cowardice
brought against him by Chevalier Johnstone, a discontented
follower, whose Memoirs possess at least as much of a romantic as
a historical character. Even by the account of the Chevalier
himself, the Prince was at the head of the second line of the
Highland army during the battle, of which he says, 'It was gained
with such rapidity that in the second line, where I was still by
the side of the Prince, we saw no other enemy than those who were
lying on the ground killed and wounded, though we were not more
than fifty paces behind our first line, running always as fast as
we could to overtake them.'
This passage in the Chevalier's Memoirs places the Prince within
fifty paces of the heat of the battle, a position which would
never have been the choice of one unwilling to take a share of its
dangers. Indeed, unless the chiefs had complied with the young
Adventurer's proposal to lead the van in person, it does not
appear that he could have been deeper in the action.
NOTE 8, p. 100
The death of this good Christian and gallant man is thus given by
his affectionate biographer, Doctor Doddridge, from the evidence
of eye-witnesses:--
'He continued all night under arms, wrapped up in his cloak, and
generally sheltered under a rick of barley which happened to be in
the field. About three in the morning he called his domestic
servants to him, of which there were four in waiting. He dismissed
three of them with most affectionate Christian advice, and such
solemn charges relating to the performance of their duty, and the
care of their souls, as seemed plainly to intimate that he
apprehended it was at least very probable he was taking his last
farewell of them. There is great reason to believe that he spent
the little remainder of the time, which could not be much above an
hour, in those devout exercises of soul which had been so long
habitual to him, and to which so many circumstances did then
concur to call him. The army was alarmed by break of day by the
noise of the rebels' approach, and the attack was made before
sunrise, yet when it was light enough to discern what passed. As
soon as the enemy came within gun-shot they made a furious fire;
and it is said that the dragoons which constituted the left wing
immediately fled. The Colonel at the beginning of the onset, which
in the whole lasted but a few minutes, received a wound by a
bullet in his left breast, which made him give a sudden spring in
his saddle; upon which his servant, who led the horse, would have
persuaded him to retreat, but he said it was only a wound in the
flesh, and fought on, though he presently after received a shot in
his right thigh. In the mean time, it was discerned that some of
the enemy fell by him, and particularly one man who had made him a
treacherous visit but a few days before, with great professions of
zeal for the present establishment.
'Events of this kind pass in less time than the description of
them can be written, or than it can be read. The Colonel was for a
few moments supported by his men, and particularly by that worthy
person Lieutenant-Colonel Whitney, who was shot through the arm
here, and a few months after fell nobly at the battle of Falkirk,
and by Lieutenant West, a man of distinguished bravery, as also by
about fifteen dragoons, who stood by him to the last. But after a
faint fire, the regiment in general was seized with a panic; and
though their Colonel and some other gallant officers did what they
could to rally them once or twice, they at last took a precipitate
flight. And just in the moment when Colonel Gardiner seemed to be
making a pause to deliberate what duty required him to do in such
circumstances, an accident happened, which must, I think, in the
judgment of every worthy and generous man, be allowed a sufficient
apology for exposing his life to so great hazard, when his
regiment had left him. He saw a party of the foot, who were then
bravely fighting near him, and whom he was ordered to support, had
no officer to head them; upon which he said eagerly, in the
hearing of the person from whom I had this account, "These brave
fellows will be cut to pieces for want of a commander," or words
to that effect; which while he was speaking he rode up to them and
cried out, "Fire on, my lads, and fear nothing." But just as the
words were out of his mouth, a Highlander advanced towards him
with a scythe fastened to a long pole, with which he gave him so
dreadful a wound on his right arm, that his sword dropped out of
his hand; and at the same time several others coming about him
while he was thus dreadfully entangled with that cruel weapon, he
was dragged off from his horse. The moment he fell, another
Highlander, who, if the king's evidence at Carlisle may be
credited (as I know not why they should not, though the unhappy
creature died denying it), was one Mac-Naught, who was executed
about a year after, gave him a stroke either with a broadsword or
a Lochaber-axe (for my informant could not exactly distinguish) on
the hinder part of his head, which was the mortal blow. All that
his faithful attendant saw farther at this time was that, as his
hat was fallen off, he took it in his left hand and waved it as a
signal to him to retreat, and added, what were the last words he
ever heard him speak, "Take care of yourself"; upon which the
servant retired.'--Some Remarkable Passages in the Life of Colonel
James Gardiner. By P. Doddridge, D.D. London, 1747, P.187.
I may remark on this extract, that it confirms the account given
in the text of the resistance offered by some of the English
infantry. Surprised by a force of a peculiar and unusual
description, their opposition could not be long or formidable,
especially as they were deserted by the cavalry, and those who
undertook to manage the artillery. But, although the affair was
soon decided, I have always understood that many of the infantry
showed an inclination to do their duty.
NOTE 9, p. 101
It is scarcely necessary to say that the character of this brutal
young Laird is entirely imaginary. A gentleman, however, who
resembled Balmawhapple in the article of courage only, fell at
Preston in the manner described. A Perthshire gentleman of high
honour and respectability, one of the handful of cavalry who
followed the fortunes of Charles Edward, pursued the fugitive
dragoons almost alone till near Saint Clement's Wells, where the
efforts of some of the officers had prevailed on a few of them to
make a momentary stand. Perceiving at this moment that they were
pursued by only one man and a couple of servants, they turned upon
him and cut him down with their swords. I remember when a child,
sitting on his grave, where the grass long grew rank and green,
distinguishing it from the rest of the field. A female of the
family then residing at Saint Clement's Wells used to tell me the
tragedy, of which she had been an eye-witness, and showed me in
evidence one of the silver clasps of the unfortunate gentleman's
waistcoat.
NOTE 10, p. 118
The name of Andrea de Ferrara is inscribed on all the Scottish
broadswords which are accounted of peculiar excellence. Who this
artist was, what were his fortunes, and when he flourished, have
hitherto defied the research of antiquaries; only it is in general
believed that Andrea de Ferrara was a Spanish or Italian
artificer, brought over by James IV or V to instruct the Scots in
the manufacture of sword blades. Most barbarous nations excel in
the fabrication of arms; and the Scots had attained great
proficiency in forging swords so early as the field of Pinkie; at
which period the historian Patten describes them as 'all notably
broad and thin, universally made to slice, and of such exceeding
good temper that, as I never saw any so good, so I think it hard
to devise better.'--Account of Somerset's Expedition.
It may be observed that the best and most genuine Andrea Ferraras
have a crown marked on the blade.
NOTE 11, p. 124
The incident here said to have happened to Flora Mac-Ivor actually
befell Miss Nairne, a lady with whom the author had the pleasure
of being acquainted. As the Highland army rushed into Edinburgh,
Miss Nairne, like other ladies who approved of their cause, stood
waving her handkerchief from a balcony, when a ball from a
Highlander's musket, which was discharged by accident, grazed her
forehead. 'Thank God,' said she, the instant she recovered,'that
the accident happened to me, whose principles are known. Had it
befallen a Whig, they would have said it was done on purpose.'
NOTE 12, p. 185
The Author of Waverley has been charged with painting the young
Adventurer in colours more amiable than his character deserved.
But having known many individuals who were near his person, he has
been described according to the light in which those eye-witnesses
saw his temper and qualifications. Something must be allowed, no
doubt, to the natural exaggerations of those who remembered him as
the bold and adventurous Prince in whose cause they had braved
death and ruin; but is their evidence to give place entirely to
that of a single malcontent?
I have already noticed the imputations thrown by the Chevalier
Johnstone on the Prince's courage. But some part at least of that
gentleman's tale is purely romantic. It would not, for instance,
be supposed that at the time he is favouring us with the highly
wrought account of his amour with the adorable Peggie, the
Chevalier Johnstone was a married man, whose grandchild is now
alive; or that the whole circumstantial story concerning the
outrageous vengeance taken by Gordon of Abbachie on a Presbyterian
clergyman is entirely apocryphal. At the same time it may be
admitted that the Prince, like others of his family, did not
esteem the services done him by his adherents so highly as he
ought. Educated in high ideas of his hereditary right, he has been
supposed to have held every exertion and sacrifice made in his
cause as too much the duty of the person making it to merit
extravagant gratitude on his part. Dr. King's evidence (which his
leaving the Jacobite interest renders somewhat doubtful) goes to
strengthen this opinion.
The ingenious editor of Johnstone's Memoirs has quoted a story
said to be told by Helvetius, stating that Prince Charles Edward,
far from voluntarily embarking on his daring expedition, was,
literally bound hand and foot, and to which he seems disposed to
yield credit. Now, it being a fact as well known as any in his
history, and, so far as I know, entirely undisputed, that the
Prince's personal entreaties and urgency positively forced
Boisdale and Lochiel into insurrection, when they were earnestly
desirous that he would put off his attempt until he could obtain a
sufficient force from France, it will be very difficult to
reconcile his alleged reluctance to undertake the expedition with
his desperately insisting upon carrying the rising into effect
against the advice and entreaty of his most powerful and most sage
partizans. Surely a man who had been carried bound on board the
vessel which brought him to so desperate an enterprise would have
taken the opportunity afforded by the reluctance of his partizans
to return to France in safety.
It is averred in Johnstone's Memoirs that Charles Edward left the
field of Culloden without doing the utmost to dispute the victory;
and, to give the evidence on both sides, there is in existence the
more trustworthy testimony of Lord Elcho, who states that he
himself earnestly exhorted the Prince to charge at the head of the
left wing, which was entire, and retrieve the day or die with
honour. And on his counsel being declined, Lord Elcho took leave
of him with a bitter execration, swearing he would never look on
his face again, and kept his word.
On the other hand, it seems to have been the opinion of almost all
the other officers that the day was irretrievably lost, one wing
of the Highlanders being entirely routed, the rest of the army
outnumbered, outflanked, and in a condition totally hopeless. In
this situation of things the Irish officers who surrounded
Charles's person interfered to force him off the field. A cornet
who was close to the Prince left a strong attestation that he had
seen Sir Thomas Sheridan seize the bridle of his horse and turn
him round. There is some discrepancy of evidence; but the opinion
of Lord Elcho, a man of fiery temper and desperate at the ruin
which he beheld impending, cannot fairly be taken in prejudice of
a character for courage which is intimated by the nature of the
enterprise itself, by the Prince's eagerness to fight on all
occasions, by his determination to advance from Derby to London,
and by the presence of mind which he manifested during the
romantic perils of his escape. The author is far from claiming for
this unfortunate person the praise due to splendid talents; but he
continues to be of opinion that at the period of his enterprise he
had a mind capable of facing danger and aspiring to fame.
That Charles Edward had the advantages of a graceful presence,
courtesy, and an address and manner becoming his station, the
author never heard disputed by any who approached his person, nor
does he conceive that these qualities are overcharged in the
present attempt to sketch his portrait.
The following extracts corroborative of the general opinion
respecting the Prince's amiable disposition are taken from a
manuscript account of his romantic expedition, by James Maxwell of
Kirkconnell, of which I possess a copy, by the friendship of J.
Menzies, Esq., of Pitfoddells. The author, though partial to the
Prince, whom he faithfully followed, seems to have been a fair and
candid man, and well acquainted with the intrigues among the
adventurer's council:--
'Everybody was mightily taken with the Prince's figure and
personal behaviour. There was but one voice about them. Those whom
interest or prejudice made a runaway to his cause could not help
acknowledging that they wished him well in all other respects, and
could hardly blame him for his present undertaking. Sundry things
had concurred to raise his character to the highest pitch, besides
the greatness of the enterprise and the conduct that had hitherto
appeared in the execution of it.
'There were several instances of good nature and humanity that had
made a great impression on people's minds. I shall confine myself
to two or three.
'Immediately after the battle, as the Prince was riding along the
ground that Cope's army had occupied a few minutes before, one of
the officers came up to congratulate him, and said, pointing to
the killed, "Sir, there are your enemies at your feet." The
Prince, far from exulting, expressed a great deal of compassion
for his father's deluded subjects, whom he declared he was
heartily sorry to see in that posture.
'Next day, while the Prince was at Pinkie House, a citizen of
Edinburgh came to make some representation to Secretary Murray
about the tents that city was ordered to furnish against a certain
day. Murray happened to be out of the way, which the Prince
hearing of called to have the gentleman brought to him, saying, he
would rather despatch the business, whatever it was, himself than
have the gentleman wait, which he did, by granting everything that
was asked. So much affability in a young prince flushed with
victory drew encomiums even from his enemies.
'But what gave the people the highest idea of him was the negative
he gave to a thing that very nearly concerned his interest, and
upon which the success of his enterprise perhaps depended. It was
proposed to send one of the prisoners to London to demand of that
court a cartel for the exchange of prisoners taken, and to be
taken, during this war, and to intimate that a refusal would be
looked upon as a resolution on their part to give no quarter. It
was visible a cartel would be of great advantage to the Prince's
affairs; his friends would be more ready to declare for him if
they had nothing to fear but the chance of war in the field; and
if the court of London refused to settle a cartel, the Prince was
authorised to treat his prisoners in the same manner the Elector
of Hanover was determined to treat such of the Prince's friends as
might fall into his hands; it was urged that a few examples would
compel the court of London to comply. It was to be presumed that
the officers of the English army would make a point of it. They
had never engaged in the service but upon such terms as are in use
among all civilised nations, and it could be no stain upon their
honour to lay down their commissions if these terms were not
observed, and that owing to the obstinacy of their own Prince.
Though this scheme was plausible, and represented as very
important, the Prince could never be brought into it, it was below
him, he said, to make empty threats, and he would never put such
as those into execution; he would never in cold blood take away
lives which he had saved in heat of action at the peril of his
own. These were not the only proofs of good nature the Prince gave
about this time. Every day produced something new of this kind.
These things softened the rigour of a military government which
was only imputed to the necessity of his affairs, and which he
endeavoured to make as gentle and easy as possible.'
It has been said that the Prince sometimes exacted more state and
ceremonial than seemed to suit his condition; but, on the other
hand, some strictness of etiquette was altogether indispensable
where he must otherwise have been exposed to general intrusion. He
could also endure, with a good grace, the retorts which his
affectation of ceremony sometimes exposed him to. It is said, for
example, that Grant of Glenmoriston having made a hasty march to
join Charles, at the head of his clan, rushed into the Prince's
presence at Holyrood with unceremonious haste, without having
attended to the duties of the toilet. The Prince received him
kindly, but not without a hint that a previous interview with the
barber might not have been wholly unnecessary. 'It is not
beardless boys,' answered the displeased Chief, 'who are to do
your Royal Highness's turn.' The Chevalier took the rebuke in good
part.
On the whole, if Prince Charles had concluded his life soon after
his miraculous escape, his character in history must have stood
very high. As it was, his station is amongst those a certain
brilliant portion of whose life forms a remarkable contrast to all
which precedes and all which follows it.
NOTE 13, p. 195
The following account of the skirmish at Clifton is extracted from
the manuscript Memoirs of Evan Macpherson of Cluny, Chief of the
clan Macpherson, who had the merit of supporting the principal
brunt of that spirited affair. The Memoirs appear to have been
composed about 1755, only ten years after the action had taken
place. They were written in France, where that gallant chief
resided in exile, which accounts for some Gallicisms which occur
in the narrative.
'In the Prince's return from Derby back towards Scotland, my Lord
George Murray, Lieutenant-General, cheerfully charg'd himself with
the command of the rear, a post which, altho' honourable, was
attended with great danger, many difficulties, and no small
fatigue; for the Prince, being apprehensive that his retreat to
Scotland might be cut off by Marischall Wade, who lay to the
northward of him with an armie much supperior to what H.R.H. had,
while the Duke of Comberland with his whole cavalrie followed hard
in the rear, was obliged to hasten his marches. It was not,
therefore, possible for the artilirie to march so fast as the
Prince's army, in the depth of winter, extremely bad weather, and
the worst roads in England; so Lord George Murray was obliged
often to continue his marches long after it was dark almost every
night, while at the same time he had frequent allarms and
disturbances from the Duke of Comberland's advanc'd parties.
'Towards the evening of the twentie-eight December 1745 the Prince
entered the town of Penrith, in the Province of Comberland. But as
Lord George Murray could not bring up the artilirie so fast as he
wou'd have wish'd, he was oblig'd to pass the night six miles
short of that town, together with the regiment of MacDonel of
Glengarrie, which that day happened to have the arrear guard. The
Prince, in order to refresh his armie, and to give My Lord George
and the artilirie time to come up, resolved to sejour the 29th at
Penrith; so ordered his little army to appear in the morning under
arms, in order to be reviewed, and to know in what manner the
numbers stood from his haveing entered England. It did not at that
time amount to 5000 foot in all, with about 400 cavalrie, compos'd
of the noblesse who serv'd as volunteers, part of whom form'd a
first troop of guards for the Prince, under the command of My Lord
Elchoe, now Comte de Weems, who, being proscribed, is presently in
France. Another part formed a second troup of guards under the
command of My Lord Balmirino, who was beheaded at the Tower of
London. A third part serv'd under My Lord le Comte de Kilmarnock,
who was likewise beheaded at the Tower. A fourth part serv'd under
My Lord Pitsligow, who is also proscribed; which cavalrie, tho'
very few in numbers, being all noblesse, were very brave, and of
infinite advantage to the foot, not only in the day of battle, but
in serving as advanced guards on the several marches, and in
patroling dureing the night on the different roads which led
towards the towns where the army happened to quarter.
'While this small army was out in a body on the 2Qth December,
upon a riseing ground to the northward of Penrith, passing review,
Mons. de Cluny, with his tribe, was ordered to the Bridge of
Clifton, about a mile to southward of Penrith, after having pass'd
in review before Mons. Pattullo, who was charged with the
inspection of the troops, and was likeways Quarter-Master-General
of the army, and is now in France. They remained under arms at the
bridge, waiting the arrival of My Lord George Murray with the
artilirie, whom Mons. de Cluny had orders to cover in passing the
bridge. They arrived about sunsett closly pursued by the Duke of
Comberland with the whole body of his cavalrie, reckoned upwards
of 3000 strong, about a thousand of whom, as near as might be
computed, dismounted, in order to cut off the passage of the
artilirie towards the bridge, while the Duke and the others
remained on horseback in order to attack the rear.
'My Lord George Murray advanced, and although he found Mons. de
Cluny and his tribe in good spirits under arms, yet the
circumstance appear'd extremely delicate. The numbers were vastly
unequall, and the attack seem'd very dangerous; so My Lord George
declin'd giving orders to such time as he ask'd Mons. de Cluny's
oppinion. "I will attack them with all my heart," says Mons. de
Cluny, "if you order me." "I do order it then," answered My Lord
George, and immediately went on himself along with Mons. de Cluny,
and fought sword in hand on foot at the head of the single tribe
of Macphersons. They in a moment made their way through a strong
hedge of thorns, under the cover whereof the cavalrie had taken
their station, in the strugle of passing which hedge My Lord
George Murray, being dressed en montagnard, as all the army were,
lost his bonet and wig; so continued to fight bare-headed during
the action. They at first made a brisk discharge of their firearms
on the enemy, then attacked them with their sabres, and made a
great slaughter a considerable time, which obliged Comberland and
his cavalrie to fly with precipitation and in great confusion; in
so much that, if the Prince had been provided in a sufficient
number of cavalrie to have taken advantage of the disorder, it is
beyond question that the Duke of Comberland and the bulk of his
cavalrie had been taken prisoners.
'By this time it was so dark that it was not possible to view or
number the slain who filled all the ditches which happened to be
on the ground where they stood. But it was computed that, besides
those who went off wounded, upwards of a hundred at least were
left on the spot, among whom was Colonel Honywood, who commanded
the dismounted cavalrie, whose sabre of considerable value Mons.
de Cluny brought off and still preserves; and his tribe lykeways
brought off many arms;--the Colonel was afterwards taken up, and,
his wounds being dress'd, with great difficultie recovered. Mons.
de Cluny lost only in the action twelve men, of whom some haveing
been only wounded, fell afterwards into the hands of the enemy,
and were sent as slaves to America, whence several of them
returned, and one of them is now in France, a sergeant in the
Regiment of Royal Scots. How soon the accounts of the enemies
approach had reached the Prince, H.R.H. had immediately ordered
Mi-Lord le Comte de Nairne, Brigadier, who, being proscribed, is
now in France, with the three batalions of the Duke of Athol, the
batalion of the Duke of Perth, and some other troups under his
command, in order to support Cluny, and to bring off the
artilirie. But the action was entirely over before the Comte de
Nairne, with his command, cou'd reach nigh to the place. They
therefore return'd all to Penrith, and the artilirie marched up in
good order.
'Nor did the Duke of Comberland ever afterwards dare to come
within a day's march of the Prince and his army dureing the course
of all that retreat, which was conducted with great prudence and
safety when in some manner surrounded by enemies.'
NOTE 14, p. 215
As the heathen deities contracted an indelible obligation if they
swore by Styx, the Scottish Highlanders had usually some peculiar
solemnity attached to an oath which they intended should be
binding on them. Very frequently it consisted in laying their
hand, as they swore, on their own drawn dirk; which dagger,
becoming a party to the transaction, was invoked to punish any
breach of faith. But by whatever ritual the oath was sanctioned,
the party was extremely desirous to keep secret what the especial
oath was which he considered as irrevocable. This was a matter of
great convenience, as he felt no scruple in breaking his
asseveration when made in any other form than that which he
accounted as peculiarly solemn; and therefore readily granted any
engagement which bound him no longer than he inclined. Whereas, if
the oath which he accounted inviolable was once publicly known, no
party with whom he might have occasion to contract would have
rested satisfied with any other.
Louis XI of France practised the same sophistry, for he also had a
peculiar species of oath, the only one which he was ever known to
respect, and which, therefore, he was very unwilling to pledge.
The only engagement which that wily tyrant accounted binding upon
him was an oath by the Holy Cross of Saint Lo d'Angers, which
contained a portion of the True Cross. If he prevaricated after
taking this oath Louis believed he should die within the year. The
Constable Saint Paul, being invited to a personal conference with
Louis, refused to meet the king unless he would agree to ensure
him safe conduct under sanction of this oath. But, says Comines,
the king replied, he would never again pledge that engagement to
mortal man, though he was willing to take any other oath which
could be devised. The treaty broke oft, therefore, after much
chaffering concerning the nature of the vow which Louis was to
take. Such is the difference between the dictates of superstition
and those of conscience.
GLOSSARY
A', all.
ABOON, abune, above.
AE, one.
AFF, off.
AFORE, before.
AHINT, behind.
AIN, own.
AITS, oats.
AMAIST, almost.
AMBRY, a cupboard, a pantry.
AN, if.
ANE, one.
ANEUCH, enough.
ARRAY, annoy, trouble.
ASSOILZIED, absolved, acquitted.
ASSYTHMENT, satisfaction,
AULD, old.
BAFF, a blow.
BAGGANET, a bayonet.
BAILIE, a city magistrate in Scotland.
BAIRN, a child.
BAITH, both.
BANES, bones.
BANG-UP, get up quickly, bounce.
BARLEY, a parley, a truce.
BAULD, bold.
BAULDER, bolder.
BAWBEE, a halfpenny.
BAWTY, sly, cunning.
BEES, in the, bewildered, stupefied.
BEFLUMM'D, flattered, cajoled.
BEGUNK, a trick, a cheat.
BEN, within, inside.
BENEMPT, named.
BICKER, a wooden dish.
BIDE, stay, endure.
BIELDY, affording shelter.
BIGGING, building.
BIRLIEMAN, a peace officer.
BLACK-COCK, the black grouse.
BLACK-FISHING, ashing by torchlight, poaching.
BLUDE, bluid, blood.
BODDLE, bodle, a copper coin, worth one third of an English penny.
BOGLE ABOUT THE BUSH, beat about the bush, a children's game.
BONNIE, beautiful, comely, fine,
BOUNE, prepared.
BRA', fine, handsome, showy.
BRANDER, broil.
BREEKS, breeches.
BRENT, smooth, unwrinkled.
BROGUES, Highland shoes.
BROO, brew, broth.
BRUCKLE, brittle, infirm.
BRUIK, enjoy.
BRULZIE, bruilzie, a broil, a fray.
BUCKIE, a perverse or refractory person.
BUTTOCK-MAIL, a fine for fornication.
BYDAND, awaiting.
CA', call.
CADGER, a country carrier.
CAILLIACHS, old women on whom devolved the duty of lamenting for
the dead, which the Irish call keening.
CALLANT, a stripling, a fine fellow.
CANNILY, prudently.
CANNY, cautious, lucky.
CARLE, a churl, an old man.
CATERAN, a freebooter.
CHIEL, a young man.
CLACHAN, a village, a hamlet.
CLAMYHEWIT, a blow, a drubbing.
CLASH, chatter, gossip.
CLATTER, tattle, noisy talk.
CLOSE, a narrow passage.
CLOUR, a bump, a bruise.
COCKY-LEEKY, a soup made of a cock, seasoned with leeks.
COGHLING AND DROGHLING, wheezing and blowing.
CORONACH, a dirge.
CORRIE, a mountain hollow.
COUP, fall.
COW YER CRACKS, cut short your talk, hold your tongues.
CRACK, boast.
CRAIG, the neck, the throat.
CRAMES, merchants' shops, booths.
CUT-LUGGED, crop-eared.
DAFT, foolish, mad, crazy.
DAUR, dare.
DEAVING, deafening.
DECREET, an order of decree.
DELIVER, light, agile.
DERN, hidden, concealed, secret.
DING, knock, beat, surpass.
DINGLE, dinnle, tingle, vibrate with sound.
DOER, an agent, a manager.
DOG-HEAD, the hammer of a gun.
DOILED, crazed, silly.
DOITED, having the faculties impaired.
DORLACH, a bundle.
DOW, a dove.
DOWF, dowff, dull, spiritless.
DRAPPIE, a little drop, a small quantity of drink.
EFFEIR, what is becoming.
ENEUGH, enough.
ETTER-CAP, a spider, an ill-natured person.
EVITE, avoid, escape.
EWEST, ewast, contiguous.
FALLOW, a fellow.
FAULD, fold.
FEARED, afraid.
FECK, a quantity.
FLEYT, frightened, shy.
FRAE, from.
GAD, a goad, a rod.
GANE, gone; gang, go.
GAR, make.
GATE, way.
GAUN, going.
GEAR, goods.
GHAIST, a ghost.
GIN, if.
GITE, crazy, a noodle,
GLED, a kite.
GLEG, quick, clever.
GLISK, a glimpse.
GOWD, gold.
GRANING, groaning.
GRAT, wept.
GREE, agree.
GREYBEARD, a stone bottle or jug.
GRICE, gryce, gris, a pig.
GRIPPLE, griping, niggardly.
GUDE, guid, good.
GULPIN, a simpleton.
HA', hall.
HAG, a portion of copse marked off for cutting.
HAGGIS, a pudding peculiar to Scotland, containing oatmeal, suet,
minced sheep's liver, heart, etc., seasoned with onions, pepper,
and salt, the whole mixture boiled in a sheep's stomach.
HAIL, whole.
HECK, a hay rack; at heck and manger, in plenty.
HET, hot.
HOG, a young sheep before its first shearing.
HORSE-COUPER, horse-cowper, a horse-dealer.
HURDLES, the buttocks.
HURLEY-HOUSE, a large house fallen into disrepair.
ILK, same; of that ilk, of the same name or place,
ILKA, every.
INGLE, a fire burning upon the hearth.
IN THE BEES, stupefied.
KEEPIT, kept.
KEMPLE, a Scotch measure of straw or hay.
KEN, know.
KIPPAGE, disorder, confusion.
KIRK, church.
KITTLE, tickle, ticklish.
LAIRD, lord of the manor.
LANDLOUPER, a wanderer, a vagabond.
LEDDY, a lady.
LIGHTLY, make light of, disparage.
LIMMER, a hussy, a jade.
LOON, a worthless fellow, a lout.
LOUP, leap, start.
LUG, an ear.
LUNZIE, the loins, the waist.
MAE, more.
MAINS, the chief farm of an estate.
MAIR, more.
MAIST, most, almost. MART, beef salted down for winter.
MASK, mash, infuse.
MAUN, must.
MERK, an old silver coin worth 13 1/3 pence, English.
MICKLE, large, much.
MORN, tomorrow.
MOUSTED, powdered.
MUCKLE, great, much.
MUNT, mount.
MUTCHKIN, a measure equal to about three quarters of an imperial
pint.
NA, nae, no, not.
NAIGS, horses.
NAIL, the sixteenth part of a yard.
NATHELESS, nevertheless.
NEB, nose, tip.
NE'ER BE IN ME, devil be in me.
OLD TO DO, great doings.
OWER, over.
PAITRICK, a partridge.
PANGED, crammed.
PARRITCH, oatmeal porridge.
PAUNIE, a peacock.
PECULIUM, private property.
PINNERS, a headdress for women.
PLACK, a copper coin worth one third of a penny.
PLAIDY, an outer covering for the body.
PLENISH, furnish.
PLOY, an entertainment, a pastime.
POTTINGER, an apothecary.
POWNIE, a pony.
POWTERING, poking, stirring.
PRETTY MAN, a stout, warlike fellow.
QUEAN, a young woman.
REDD, part, separate.
REISES, twigs, branches.
RESILING, retracting, withdrawing.
RIGGS, ridges, ploughed ground.
RINTHEROUT, a roving person, a vagabond.
ROW, roll.
ROWED, rolled.
ROWT, cried out, bellowed,
ROYNISH, scurvy, coarse.
SAE, so.
ST. JOHNSTONE'S TIPPET, a rope or halter for hanging.
SAIR, sore, very.
SALL, shall.
SARK, a shirt.
SAUMON, a salmon.
SAUT, salt.
SCARTED, scratched, scribbled over.
SCHELLUM, a rascal.
SCROLL, engross, copy.
SHANKS, legs.
SHEERS, shears.
SHOUTHER, the shoulder.
SICCAN, sic, such.
SILLER, money.
SILLY, weak.
SKIG, the least quantity of anything.
SMA', small.
SMOKY, suspicious.
SNECK, cut.
SORTED, put in proper order, adjusted.
SOWENS, the seeds of oatmeal soured.
SPEER, ask, investigate.
SPENCE, the place where provisions are kept.
SPRACK, lively.
SPRECHERY, movables of an unimportant sort.
SPUILZIE, spoil.
SPUNG, pick one's pocket.
STIEVE, firm.
STOOR, rough, harsh.
STRAE, straw.
STREEKS, stretches, lies.
SWAIR, swore.
SYNE, before, now, ago.
TAIGLIT, harassed, encumbered, loitered.
TAULD, told.
THAE, those.
THIR, these.
THOLE, bear, suffer.
THRAW, twist, wrench.
THREEPIT, maintained obstinately.
THROSTLE, the thrush.
TILL, to.
TIRRIVIES, hasty fits of passion,
TOCHERLESS, without dowry.
TOUN, a town, a hamlet, a farm.
TOY, an old-fashioned cap for women.
TREWS, trousers.
TRINDLING, rolling.
TROW, believe.
TUILZIE, a quarrel
TUME, toom, empty.
TURNSPIT DOGGIE, a kind of dog, long-bodied and short-legged,
formerly used in turning a treadmill.
TYKE, a dog, a rough fellow.
UMQUHILE, formerly, late.
UNCO, strange, very,
UNSONSY, unlucky.
USQUEBAUGH, whiskey.
VENY, venue, a bout.
VIVERS, victuals.
WA', wall
WAD, would.
WADSET, a deed conveying property to a creditor
WAIN, a wagon; to remove.
WALISE, a portmanteau, saddlebags.
WAN, won.
WANCHANCY, unlucky.
WARE, spend.
WEEL-FARD, weel-faur'd, having a good appearance.
WEISING, inclining, directing.
WHA, who.
WHAR, where,
WHAT FOR, why.
WHEEN, a few.
WHILE SYNE, a while ago.
WHILES, sometimes.
WHILK, which.
WHIN, a few.
WHINGEING, whining.
WINNA, will not.
WISKE, whisk.
YATE, gate.