night in his tent he was accosted by Mr Congalton of Congalton, his brother-in-law, who, observing him look pensive and grave, when all the other officers appeared so cheerful, inquired the reason. Brymer answered that the Highlanders were not to be despised, and that he was afraid his brother officers would soon find that they had mistaken the character of the Highlanders, who would, to a certainty, attack the royal army, with a boldness which those only who had witnessed their prowess could have any idea of. These gloomy forebodings were not the result of an innate cowardice-for this officer was, as he showed, a brave maubut from a well-founded conviction that Cope's men could not stand the onset of such a body of Highlanders as Charles had assembled. Brymer. was killed, with his face to the enemy, disdaining to turn his back when that part of the line where he was stationed was broke in upon by the Highlanders.*

The loss on the side of the Highlanders was trifling. Four officers, t and between thirty and forty privates, were killed; and five or six officers, and between seventy and eighty privates, wounded.‡

After the termination of the fight, the field of battle presented an appalling spectacle, rarely exhibited in the most bloody conflicts. As almost all the slain were cut down by the broadsword and the scythe, the ground was strewed with legs, arms, hands, noses, and mutilated bodies, while, from the deep gashes inflicted by these dreadful weapons, the field was literally soaked with gore. An instance of the almost resistless power of the broadsword occurred when a Highland gentleman, who led a division, broke through Mackay's regiment: a grenadier, having attempted to parry off with his hand a blow made at him by the gentleman alluded to, had his hand lopped off and his skull cut above an inch deep. He expired on the spot.§

It was a most fortunate circumstance that the Highlanders, having no revengeful feeling to gratify on the present occasion, were easily induced to listen to the dictates of humanity. After the fury of their onset was abated, they not only readily gave, but even offered quarter; and when the action was over, displayed a sympathy for the wounded, rarely equalled, and never surpassed. A Highland officer thus exultingly notices the conduct of his companions in arms. "Now, whatever notions or sentiments the low country people may entertain of our Highlanders, this day there were many proofs to a diligent spectator, amidst all the bloodshed, (which at the first shock was unavoidable,) of their humanity and mercy; for I can, with the strictest truth and sincerity, declare, that I often heard our people call out to

Home, vol. iii. p. 96.

These were Captain Robert Stewart of Arshiel's battalion; Captain Archibald Macdonald of Keppoch's; Lieutenant Allan Cameron of Lindevra; and Ensign James Cameron of Lochiel's regiment.

↑ Account published by the Highland army.-Kirkconnel MS.

§ Caledonian Mercury, 25th September, 1715.

the soldiers if they wanted quarter; and we, the officers, exerted our utmost pains to protect the soldiers from their first fury, when either through their stubbornness or want of language they did not cry for quarters, and I observed some of our private men run to Port Seton for ale and other liquors to support the wounded. And as one proof for all, to my own particular observation, I saw a Highlander supporting a poor wounded soldier by the arms till he should * * * and afterwards carry him on his back into his house, and left him a sixpence at parting."*

In their attentions to the wounded, the Highlanders had a powerful example in Charles himself, who not only issued orders for taking care of the wounded, but also remained on the field of battle till mid-day to see that his orders were fulfilled. Finding the few surgeons he had carried along with him inadequate to meet the demands of the wounded, he despatched one of his officers to Edinburgh to bring out all the surgeons, who accordingly instantly repaired to the field of battle. As the Highlanders felt an aversion to bury the dead, and as the country people could not be prevailed upon to assist in the care of the wounded,† Charles experienced great obstacles in carrying through his humane inteutions. Writing to his father, on the evening of the battle, he thus alludes to them: ""Tis hard my victory should put me under new diffi culties which I did not feel before, and yet this is the case. I am charged both with the care of my friends and enemies. Those who should bury the dead are run away, as if it were no business of theirs. My Highlanders think it beneath them to do it, and the country people are fled away. However, I am determined to try if I can get people for money to undertake it, for I cannot bear the thought of suffering Englishmen to rot above the ground. I am in great difficulties how I shall dispose of my wounded prisoners. If I make a hospital of the church, it will be lookt upon as a great profanation, and of having violated my manifesto, in which I promised to violate no man's property. If the magistrates would act, they would help me out of this difficulty. Come what will, I am resolved not to let the poor wounded men lye in the streets, and if I can do no better, I will make a hospital of the palace and leave it to them."

*Lockhart Papers, vol. ii. p. 491.

+ Lord George Murray says, that when traversing the field of battle in the afternoon he observed that some of Cope's men, "who were the worst wounded, had not been car ried to houses to be dressed; and though there were several of the country people of tha neighbourhood looking at them, I could not prevail with them to carry them to houses but got some of our people to do it.”—Jacobite Memoirs, p. 42.

All the wounded privates of both armies were carried to the different villages adjoin ing the field of battle. Those of Cope's officers who were dangerously wounded were lodged in Colonel Gardiner's house, where surgeons attended them. In the evening, the remainder, (who had given their parole,) accompanied by Lord George Murray, went to Musselburgh, where a house had been provided for their reception. Some of them walked, but others, who were unable to do so, had horses provided for them by his lordship. The house into which they were put was newly finished, and had neither table,

When congratulating themselves on the victory they had obtained, the Highlanders related to each other what they had done or seen. In stances were given of individual prowess which might appear incredible, were it not well-known that when fear seizes an army all confidence in themselves or their numbers is completely destroyed. On this occasion "the panic-terror of the English surpassed all imagination. They threw down their arms that they might run with more speed, thus depriving themselves by their fears of the only means of arresting the vengeance of the Highlanders. Of so many, in a condition from their numbers to preserve order in their retreat, not one thought of defending himself. Terror had taken entire possession of their minds."* Of the cases mentioned, one was that of a young Highlander about fourteen years of age, scarcely formed, who was presented to the prince as a prodigy, having, it was said, killed fourteen of the enemy. Charles asking him if this was true, he replied, "I do not know if I killed them, but I brought fourteen soldiers to the ground with my sword." Another instance was that of a Highlander, who brought ten soldiers, whom he had made prisoners, to the prince, driving them before him like a flock of sheep. With unexampled rashness, he had pursued a party of Cope's men to some distance from the field of battle, along a road between two inclosures, and striking down the hindermost man of the party with a blow of his sword, called aloud at the same time, "Down with your arms." The soldiers, terror-struck, complied with the order without looking behind them; and the Highlander, with a pistol in one hand and a sword in the other, made them do as he pleased. Yet, as the Chevalier Johnstone observes, these were "the same English soldiers who had distinguished themselves at Dettingen and Fontenoy, and who might justly be ranked amongst the bravest troops of Europe."†

bed, chair, nor grate in it. Lord George caused some new thrashed straw to be purchased for beds, and the officers on their arrival partook of a tolerable meal of cold provisions and some liquor, which his lordship had carried along with him. When about to retire,

the officers entreated him not to leave them, as being without a guard, they were afraid that some of the Highlanders, who were in liquor, might come in and insult or plunder them. Lord George consented, and lay on a floor by them all night. Some of the offi cers, who were valetudinary, slept that night in the house of the minister. Next day, after the departure of the prince for Edinburgh, the officers had quarters provided for them in Pinkie-house. The other prisoners, privates, were quartered in Musselburgh and the gardens of Pinkie for two nights, and were afterwards removed, along with the officers, to Edinburgh. The latter were confined for a few days in Queensberry-house, when they were released on parole, and allowed to reside in the city, on condition that they should hold no communication with the castle. The privates were confined in the church and jail of the Canongate. Such of the wounded as could be removed were put into the Royal Infirmary, where great care was taken of them. One of the officers having broke his parole by going into the castle, the others were sent to Perth. The privates were removed to Logierate in Athole; and the wounded were dismissed as they recovered, on taking an oath that they should not carry arms against the prince before the 1st of January, 1747.-Jacobite Memoirs, p. 42. Lockhart Papers, vol. ii. p. 451. Caledonian Mercury.

• Johnstone's Memoirs, p. 93.

+ Ibid. p. 40

After doing every thing in his power for the relief of the wounded of both armies, and giving directions for the disposal of his prisoners, Charles partook of a small repast upon the field of battle, and thereafter proceeded to Pinkie-house, a seat of the marquis of Tweeddale, where he passed the night.

Among the traditionary and somewhat amusing anecdotes recently collected respecting the events of the "Forty-five," that told of the chaplain of the earl of Traquair is certainly incorrect. It is said that the priest attempted to take half a dozen of Cope's dragoons prisoners at Peebles, early in the forenoon of the day of the battle of Preston, and was only prevented by a zealous whig magistrate, who, sallying out of his cow-house with a dung fork in his hand, threatened to run the daring Catholic through the body if he persisted in detaining the king's men. Fortunately for the priest, he has left under his own hand a document, now among the Stuart Papers, which vindicates him from this charge, and shows, that about the time he is reported by the Peebles tradition to have been engaged in the unseemly occupation of attempting to make prisoners some of his majesty's troops, he was on the field of battle, at the distance of about twenty miles from the scene of his imagined military exploits, discharging, in all probability, the duties of his vocation amorg the dead and dying. The document alluded to, a copy of which will be found in the Appendix, is a letter from the Rev. James Leslie, the aforesaid chaplain, to Mr Peter Grant, agent for the Scotch catholic clergy at Rome, dated 27th May, 1752. It contains some very curious and interesting details as to the part Leslie acted in the great drama of the Rebellion.

NOTE. As no proper numerical arrangement of the papers selected from the Stuart Archives, which are to form the Appendix to the present volume, can be conveniently made till its conclusion, a table of references to the papers alluded to in the above and subsequent notes, will be given immediately before the Appendix, by glancing at which table, the Numbers of the documents in the Appendix will be at once ascertained.

CHAPTER IV.

Return of Charles to Holyrood-house-Revulsion in public opinion-Alarm in Eng. land-Charles resolves to remain for a time in Edinburgh-Measures to increase his army-Messengers despatched to France, and to the Highlands-Acts of sovereignty exercised by Charles-Council appointed-Blockade of the Castle of Edinburgh-Dis. order in the City-Blockade removed-Exertions of Lord President Forbes in the north-Ineffectual attempt to seize him-The Chevalier joined at Edinburgh, by Lord Ogilvy, Gordon of Glenbucket, and Lord Pitsligo-Second Manifesto of Prince Charles-Proclamation against robbers-Arrival of supplies from France-Resolution of Charles to march into England-Preparations-Deportment of Charles at Holyrood-Declaration of the Highland army-Preparations of the Government— Riot at Perth on the King's birth-day.

In the evening of Sunday the twenty-second of September, the day after the battle of Preston or Gladsmuir, as that affair is named by the Highlanders, Charles returned to Holyroodhouse, and was received by a large concourse of the inhabitants, who had assembled round the palace, with the loudest acclamations. His return to the capital had been preceded by a large portion of his army, which, it is said, made a considerable display as it marched up the long line of street, leading from the Water-gate to the castle, amidst the din of a number of bagpipes, and carrying along with it the enemy's standards, and other trophies of victory which it had taken upon the field.

Apprehensive that the alarm, which Cope's disaster would excite in the city, might obstruct the public worship on the Sunday, Charles had sent messengers on the evening of the battle, to the dwellinghouses of the different ministers, desiring them to continue their ministrations as usual; but although the church bells were tolled at the customary hour next morning, and the congregations assembled, one only of the city clergymen appeared, all the rest having retired to the country. The minister who thus distinguished himself among his brethren on this occasion was a Mr Hog, morning lecturer in the Tron church. The two clergymen of the neighbouring parish of St Cuthbert's, Messrs Macvicar and Pitcairn, also continued to preach as usual, and many inhabitants of the city went to hear them. No way dismayed by the presence of the Highland army, they continued to pray as usual for King George; and Mr Macvicar even went so far in his pray ers, as to express a hope that God would take Charles to himself, and that instead of an earthly crown, he would "give him a crown of glory."