The Young Pretender
This narrative
by Neil MacEachain, the guide of Prince Charles and Flora Macdonald over the
seas to Skye, appeared in the New
Monthly Magazine for 1840 (pages 323-343). The original spelling (with many
variations) and grammar have been preserved.
We here present our readers with an
interesting document, never before published, which supplies many particulars
in the life of Charles Edward, commonly called the Young Pretender, from the
termination of the battle of Culloden, to his escape from Scotland into France.
It is a regular journal of the events which befel him during the time that he
wandered amongst the islands of Scotland, and is written by one of his
attendants, whose son settled in France[1], where he followed,
about twenty years ago, the occupation of a hairdresser. This person’s father
had been with his royal highness in all his misfortunes and disasters, during
which time he kept the journal in question. The prince had also given him two
miniatures, beautifully executed on copper; one that of himself, the other that
of the duke, afterwards Cardinal York. This document and its accompanying
relics were secured by our friend for a moderate amount of argent comptant, and
they are now before us. The internal evidence in favour or the authenticity of
the manuscript is quite clear; but its external appearance – the ink, the
handwriting, the spelling, the antiquity of the document, and the accompanying
miniatures, set the question quite at rest. We therefore give its contents
without further preface; merely observing that we have preserved the antique
phraseology of the original.
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T |
HE
misfortunate battle of Colloden being fought upon the 16th of April,
1746, his royal highness seeing that the day was irrecoverably lost, concluded
that his only business was to endeavour the saving of himself out of the hands
of his enemies: whereupon, having retired to a neighbouring eminence, hard by
the place of action, accompanied by a few of Fitz-James’s horse, there, having
made a little stop, not knowing whither to direct his course, when luckily one
Edmond Burk, the servant of one Alexander MacLeod, son of Mr. John MacLeod, of
Muiravine Side, rod accidentally by them, thinking to find his master among
them, whom he had not seen since the beginning of the battles. His master (who
happened to be there present with the prince), knowing him to be very well
acquaint with all the different rods of the highlands, ordered him to lead them
the safest and surest road to Glengarry: whereupon the prince, accompanied by
Master O’Sulivan[2],
Mr. Alan MacDowell, priest, and the said Alexander MacLeod, marched westward,
and arrived that night about eight o’clock to Thomas Gortlickshorge, a
gentleman of the name of Fraser, in Stratharagaig, where he met, as it was
said, with my Lord Lovat, and supt with him there that night
After supper the prince reckoning
it dangerous to stay so very near the enemy, the first night, we resolved to
continue his journey towards Glengarry; about break of day, finding himself
quite fatigued and worn out for want of rest, he consulted with his fellow
travellers, whither he might repair with most safty to take some hours repose.
They all concluded that the Castel of Invergary was the surest and safest place
for that purpose, and a great conveniency of concealment, and [that he] might
repose himself without any fear [there] till such time as he and his party
should take further resolutions. Being then prevailed upon by these reasons, he
immediately repaired thither, where he was received by Glengarry with the
greatest pleasure. When he sufficiently refreshed himself, he took a resolution
to proceed still further, fearing to stay long in one place. He departed that
same day from Glengarry, being the 17th in the evening, and
continued his root (route) towards Lochaber, and came that night to Donald
Cameron, of Glenpean's house,
where he passed the remaining part of
the night.
Next day being the 18th,
he set out for the Braes of Moror, and arrived in the evening at Angus Mack
Eachan’s house, son to Alexander McEachan, of Domondrack. He was so much fatigued
that night, that he could neither eat nor drink, and required the help of a man
to support him to his bed. The next day being the 19th, he ventured
to pass the whole day in a wood near the house, in order to recruit more
strength for a night walk; and accordingly when it was late, he set out for
Arasack, where he arrived about six in the morning, and went straight to Angus
MacDonald’s house in Borrodale, where he quartered after his landing, till he
marched out of the country. At his arrival here, he found a great many Mack
Donalds assembled together, who had lately escaped out of the battle of
Culloden –gentlemen of both Glengarry’s and Clanranald’s families. During the
eight days he stayed in that country, he had daily conferences with young
Clanranald. Colonel MacDonald of Barisdale, and several others of both
families, treating, which was the safest place, and surest method for his
concealment. After they had satisfied him as to that, they protested, and
assured him he should have nothing to fear, that they would stand by
him if he only would
stay among them to the last man. With this he seemed to be very much satisfied,
'till Mr. O’Neil and O’Sulivan, by the advice of Mr. Allan MacDonald, and one
Donald MacLeod, of Galtrigil, perswaded him in a private council, to quite that
country for good, and all; and as there was no appearance of succeeding
further, and that they lost all hopes of gaining the point they once undertook,
it was better to run for the Lewis, where Donald promised to procure a ship for
them as far as the Orkneys, and there, he assured them to find a ship to transport
them to France. The prince being prevailed upon by these convincing reasons,
ordered a ten-oar boat belonging to Angus MacDonald, of Borodale, to be seized
upon, and without any further consultation, he put to sea about six o’clock at
night, accompanied only by these persons who were the authors of the new
scheme, without acquainting any body of
any such design, till they were seen fairly under sail of the coast.
This night’s voyage was like to
cost them dire; for they were not long at sea, when there came
on such a terrible
roaring of thunder, preceed'd by such dreadfull flashes of lightning,
accompanied with a prodigious poure of rain, so that the whole elements seemed
to rebel against them, and threatened to send them every moment to eternity;
the wind, which continued to blow fair the whole night, coming about to the
north, quite contrary to their course, about twelve o’clock at night, made them
despair of continuing their intended voyage any further, and so [they] prepared
for death, as being sure to be shattered upon the rocks of the nearest shore.
Amidst all these dangers he appeared intrepide, and offered his service to
Donald MacDonald and Donald Macleod, seeing they were the only two that was of
any service in the boat, whilst all the rest was oblidged to give it up,
stiffened and benumbed with cold. They continued in that agony the whole night,
'till about break of day, when Rory MacDonald, who stood at the helm all the
time, discerning Benbicula in south-west, where he knew to be one of the best
harbours on that coast, and the wind blowing astern of them, he piloted them
into the harbour of Roshiness, within five long miles of Clanranald's house,
which being Sunday, and the 29th of Aprile.
They were no sooner landed but
they were seen by a herd of Clanranald’s who stayed in the place always to take
care of his master’s cattle, and seeing a number of men finely clad, and fully
armed, supposing them to be an enemy, he immediately made off, with a nimble
pair of heels, and carried the news of what he had seen to his master, as he
was at dinner with Mr. John MacAuley, Neil MacDonald, and several other
gentlemen. Clanranald, moved by this unexpected surprise, before he resolved
upon any thing, sent Donald MacDonald to know the certainty of what the herd
had told him. Master MacAulay, who was parish minister in the country, to
satisfie his own curiosity sent one of his auditors to learn what they were,
from whence they came, and where they were bound for, this fellow pretending to
have been sent thither by Clanranald, upon a report of a boat’s being land’d
there, and to examine what they were, learned, it was the prince who designed
to make for the Lewis in order to make his escape, who came back and told the
minister the same. The minister, judging that he could not meet with a better
opportunity to show his zeal and affection for the government, despatched a
courier that same day away to the Herris, with a letter to his father, who was
minister there, charging him to write immediately upon receipt of his letter,
to Mr. Colin MacKenzie, established minister at Stornaway, informing him of the
same, and ordering him to settle all measures with Seaforth’s factor there to
apprehend the prince at his first landing[3].
Donald MacDonald, who was sent by Clanranald
to learn the strength of the enemy, as it was believed, having returned,
acquainted him of the matter of fact, assuring, he spoke to Mr. Allen
MacDonald, who ordered him to tell Clanranald to come and see him, as he
designed to go off that night. Whereupon Clan and Neil MacDonald went privately
out of the town, and took their way straight to Roshiness, where they found the
prince, in the house with Mr. O’Sulivan, O’Neil, Mr. Allen MacDonald, and
Donald MacLeod. The prince received him very kindly, after having communicated
to him his design he took leave of him, and put to sea again that night, with
the same persons that accompanied him thither. The heavens proved more
favourable to them that night than the former, having met with no danger or
opposition, and at daybreak they came in to Loch Maddy, in north-west, where
they skulk’d the whole day, being the 30th, seeing they durst not
venter to sea in the daytime, for fear to be discovered by the several men of
war that guarded the coast at that time. They set out from Loch Maddy about six
o’clock, which was the ordinary hour they always departed, and landed in
Scalpa, in the Herris, early next morning, being the 1st of May.
Before they came near a house
they took borrow’d names and employments. Master O’Sulivan took that of Captain
Sinclair, the prince called himself William Sinclair, the captain’s son, O’Neil
changed his name into Neilson, and mate Master Allen named himself Dalrump1e,
and Rosman, and Donald MacLeod, master of the boat yt (that) brought
them thither, and swore the crew to attest the same.
After this ceremony was over,
they came to Donald Campbell’s house, who was the most sponsable gentleman in
that part of the country, but an enemy by his name, and a downright hypocrite
in his heart; and being asked by their landlord what they were, they told him
they were sea-fareing men from the Orkneys, who being homeward bound from
Irland, lost their ship near the Mull of Kintyre, and most of their crew, and
were thereupon forced to freight their present boat and crew from Mull, as fare
as the Lewis, where they hop’t to find vessel to transport them safe home to
their own country. The next day, being the 2nd of May, they sent
Donald MacLeod away to Stornaway before them to have a ship ready freighted,
and to get intelligence how the people stood affected, and to send them word
accordingly; which project would have had the intended success, were it not for
the imprudence of Donald, and MacAulay’s malicious letter.
As soon as he was arrived at
Stornaway he set about putting his commission in execution, and discharged
himself so well of that duty, that he got a ship frighted that same evening,
and wrote back to the prince, who remained still at Scalpa, to repair thither
as soon as possiable, but unwarily having gone to drink a bottle with the
captain of the ship, reposing too much trust in him, he disclosed to him all
the secret, whereupon the captain told him, if he should load the ship with
gold he would not employ her for that purpose: Having said this, he went and
published in all the streets of the town that the pretender (as he called him)
was to come to town, privately next night, and if Mr. MacLeod had not escaped
out of the town he had certainly been, apprehend’d that night. The prince, who
knew nothing of what was passing before aim, he set out upon the 3 of May for
Stornaway afoot, leaving orders with his crew to return home to the mainland
and restore the boat to the owner. That day he suffered a vast deal of cold and
fatigue, the day being so extreme bad; Donald MacLeod mett him about a quarter
of a mile without the town, and told him it was dangerous for him to venter
into it by reason they all got notice of his approach and were in an uproar all under
arms, and that all this was the effect of Mr. MacAulay’s letter.
The prince, raging with anger and
fear, retired that night to my Lady Kildin’s house, which lay about half a mile
of without the town, and there he passed the remaining part of the night,
notwithstanding that great manny of the mob made a dreadful noise about the
house a great part of the night. Having held a consultation with the lady what
was properest to be done, she told him that his only safety consisted in
returning to Benbicula again, under Clanranald’s protection, since his project in
coming thither misgave. In order thereunto, she procured them a boat to cross
Loch Stornaway, which was a nearer cut to return to Scalpa; where he left his
boat and crew, having taken leave of the worthy lady, he set out about four
o’clock in the morning, crossed the loch, and arrived back at Donald Campbell’s
house, that night, which was the fourth of May. He was no sooner arrived but he
found all the crew was gone except two, upon account the country people
threatened to apprehend them.
The prince fearing to make a stay
in any man’s house, who found out what he really was, and reckoning it
impracticable to find as many men as would manage his own boat so soon as he
would require (them), especially in the heart of an enemy’s country, he bought
a small boat from Donald Campbell, whom it was said, he bribed by giving him a
sum of money for to hold his tongue, and disown that he knew what he was. It
seemed very difficult for them now to get safe into Benbecula, by reason the
chanel was pestered with the English navy, sent there a purpose to hinder the
prince or any of his party to make their escape. He set out upon the 5th
from Scalpa, and rowed along the coast the whole night; as they passed the
mouth of the Finnasvay bay, they observed a ship in the harbour which they
believed to be the Baltimore sloop of war Thomas How Captain, a brother to my
Lord How in Irland, and being seen from aboard the Baltimore she immediately
sent off one of her long boats in pursuit of them, and chased them the whole
night: about 5 aclock in the morning, she came up pretty close to them, the
prince terrefied at the approach of the enemy, begg’d of the rowers to pull
away strongly for fear to fall a sacrifice in the hands of these ravenous
wolves, whereupon they ran in upon a ridge of rocks they observed betwixt them
and the land, and there sculked close by one of the rocks to observe what
course the Baltimore was to take next, while all of a sudden they saw her change her course, not able to find
them out. Despairing of success she returned to her harbour.
The prince and his party, taking
fresh courage, being free from danger that day, they determined as it was near
day to draw nearer the land, and sculk there, 'till it was late, that the men
might refresh themselves, for the fatigue of the ensueng night; they approached
to the shore, and found it to be a desert island, about two leagues from the
continent of the Herris, where, they found no living creature. They were turned
of provisions so short that a lippie of gradan oatmeal was all that remained to
them to satiate their hungry appetites, which some of the men took, put some
water about it with a little salt, and fell a eating of it. The prince seeing
them eat it as hearty, as if it had been better cheer, ask’t them whether it
tasted better than it look’t, they answered, if he would only try it, he would
be as well pleased with it as what they were, whereupon, calling for a little
of it, he eat it as contentedly as the most delicate dish that ever was served
upon his table, saying at the same time that it tasted pretty well, considering
the ugly appearance it made. It was not long after, when Providence cast more
plenty in their way, for one of the crew, who was more curious than the rest,
having gone to take a view of the island, found in the farther end of it
abundance of cod and ling, half a barrel of salt and a pot. Although they were
starving the whole day for hunger, yet .they durst not make a fire, by reason
they thought it dangerous to raise a smock upon the island, lest being seen
from the continent it might discover them. When it grew dark the prince ordered
the crew to carry some of the fish to the boat, when not a man, either simple
or gentle obeyed him, he himself, went in a passion and carried half a dozen of
them in his arms, and threw them in the boat, saying, since they were all so
gentle and scroupelous, that he would take the sin upon himself, and show them
the exemple; the whole crew dash’d, and confused, would have load’d the boat if
he permitted them. Now being about six o’clock, they put to sea, and landed in
Benbicula the next day, a little after sunrise, in the very same harbour which
they left some days before the 6th of May.
He set his foot no sooner ashore
but he sent an express for Clanranald, who came next night, having taken none
with him but Neil MacDonald who was there with him before. Upon Clanranald’s
arrival, he seemed quite easie, and told him that Providence had sent him under
his protection, where he hoped to be sheltered, and that he was to throw
himself in his hands to dispose of him as he thought fit. Clanranald assured
him he had nothing to fear, and that he would find a place for his concealment,
where none should have the least opportunity to see him, but such as he should
employ to carry to him whatever he wanted.
After he had sufficiently
refreshed himself for some days, it was thought dangerous to make any longer
stay at Roshiness, because being a place much frequented by boats from the
neighbouring countrys, they would be soon discovered; for this reason, he was
conducted from thence to Bareness, about three miles from Roshiness, where he
had the conveniency of a little hutt of a house that was in the place, the
entry of which was so very narrow, that he was forced to fall upon his knees
and creep in upon his belly, as often as he entered. This habitation not
pleasing him, he begged of Clanranald to send him into some Christian place
wherein he could have more room, and use more freedom and ease, for in that
monstrous hole he could never have satisfaction, which he said the devil had
left because he bad not room enough in it
The next day being the 10th
of May, it was determined to send him to Corrodall, a little pleasant glen in
South-West, belonging to Neil MacDonald, where there was two country-houses,,
and conveniency enough for his concealment. Neil was appointed for to conduct
him thither, whom he desired to remain still with him. About eleven aclock at
night, they set out with Neil, who was their faithful guide, toward Corrodale,
where they arrived next day about six in the afternoon; when they came near the
house, Neil left him under a rock while he went in to see if there were no
strangers there; and finding none but Ranald his brother, who had come thither
the day before by Neil’s own orders, he presently returned where he left the
prince, and conducted him to the house. He seemed extraordinary well pleased
with the house, which he swore look’t like a palace in comparison of the abominable
hole they had lately left. He sat upon a seat of green turf that was made up
for him that same evening, and after taking a refreshment of gradan
bread-and-cheese, and goats milk, upon which he fed very hearty, he desired his
feet to be washed, being extreme dirty, and very much galled by his night walk;
after which he smok’t a pipe of tobacco and went to bed, which being heather
and green rushes, he slept soundly 'till twelve next day.
During his stay at Corrodale,
which was five weeks, his ordinary conversation was talking of the army, and of
the battle of Culloden, and the highland chieftains, whose lamentable case he
deplored very much. One day as he was taking a walk in the morning with Neil
MacDonald only, the subject of their discourse was describing to Neil the
battle of Culloden, wherein he said his horse was shot under him; for (says he)
as I was riding up to the right wing, my horse began to kick, at which I was
much surprised, being very quiet, and peaceable formmerly, and looking narrowly
to him to see what was the matter with him, I observed the blood gushing out of
his aide. Oh! oh! says I (speaking of the horse), if this be the story with
you, you have no less than reason to be uneasie, whereupon I was oblidged to
dismount and take another. Then the conversation rowlled upon the order of the
battle, and how he was forced to condescend to give the right hand to the
Atholl-men and others, which he knew to be the MacDonald's right, meerly by the
perswation of my Lord George Murray, and several others, but however he did a
great deal of justice and honour to the Mack Donalds, by assuring Neil they
were the last that abandoned the field; and, moreover, that they would have had
certainly been cut all to pieces, had not the pickets come to their relief, to
whom he said, they owe an eternal obligation.
He blamed always my Lord George
as being the only instrument in loseing the battle, and altho’ that he, the
morning before the action, used all his rhetorick, and eloquence against
fighting, yet my Lord George out-reasoned him, 'till at last he yielded for
fear to raise a dissension among the army, all which, he attributed to his
infidelity, roguery, and treachery. He always flattered himself that the
highlanders were
still upon foot to hinder the enemy from harrassing their countrys, and
conceived great hopes that they would be able to stand it out, 'till they got a
relief from France. He was so fond to know what was passing among them, that he
sent his boat twice to Mudort for intelligence, and hearing of a skirmish
betwixt Cluny MacPherson and a party of the elector’s troops in Badanack, of
which Cluny had the better, it gave him no small joy: he had notice given him
likewise that Borrisdale, upon whose courage and conduct he lay a great stress,
was at the head of about three thousand men in Glenkuaak. All these, and manny
suchlike stories kept him still in top spirits, together with the expectation
of a French landing in England, where he perswaded himself the Duke of York was
landed at the head of ten thousand French, and assured those who durst not
contradict him of the same.
It gave him a great deal of
pleasure to look to the ships that passed in the Chanel every day, which he
flattered himself to be French, though they were realy some of the English
fleet sent thither to guard the coast, and hinder any of the Highlanders to
escape, and would have Neil to go and pilot to some harbour that they might not
be lost. It was wonderfull how he preserved his health all the time,
notwithstanding all the fatigue and troubles he underwent, and the bad usage he
met with very often; for I have not seen him one hour sick all the time I have
bad the honour to accompany him, save only eight days he was troubled with a
flux, which kept him very busie whi1e it lasted; he had always a good appetite,
and could eat any meat that came in his way, as well as those who was
accustomed to it from their infancy. He took care to warm his stomach every
morning with a hearty bumper of brandy, of which he always drank a vast deal;
for he was seen to drink a whole bottle of a day without being in the least
concerned.
He took a vast delight, when it
was a good day, to sit up a stone that was before the door of the house, with
his face turned twowards the sun; and when he was desired to move from thence
fearing to get a headache, he ordered them to pack about their business, that
he knew himself what was good for him, better than they could describe, that
the sun did him all the good in the world. Notwithstanding his melancholy fits,
yet at other times he was so hearty and merry, that he danced for a whole hour
together, having no other musick but some highland reel which he whistled away
as he tripped along. It happened one day as he was walking along the coast with
Neil and the rest of the gentlemen, being an excessive hot day, they spied a
number of young whales approaching pretty near the shore, and observing, them
to make straight for the rock whereon they sat down, he sent immediately for
his fusee, and as they came within his reach he fired at them; and being
informed some time before that Neil was an incomparable good swimmer, he
ordered him to strip and hall ashore the whale[4],
which he swore he had shot dead. Neil, in obedience to his order and to humour
him, began to strip very slowly till he saw the whale which had
received no hurt out
of sight.
During his stay at Corrodale,
Clanranald paid him several visits, as also all the gentlemen of the country,
who sent him presents of all they possessed, as he now despared of any
assistance from abroad, and wishing to be out of the Highlands. He thought of
setting about getting a ship to transport himself out of the kingdom. In order
thereunto, he sent off Mr. O'Neil and Captain Donald MacDonald Clanranald’s
son, who joined him at his return from the Lewis, in order to go to France,
thinking to get passage from the Lewis privately, to either Sweden or Denmark,
from whence they were to pass into France.
Having received fifty guineas
each, to defray their charges, they set out for the Herris, where they were no
sooner arrived but O’Neil, who was there with the prince before, was
immediately known, and if he had not made his escape back to Benbicu1a, he had
been apprehended without going any further, whereupon he returned to the
prince, who did not care much for him ever after. Captain MacDonald, who
pursued his journey towards the Lewis, met with the same fate at Stornaway,
there, having found
his uncle, Alexander MacLeod, he carried him with him to his own house, where
he lay concealed for a long time after, and returned to the prince no more.
The enemy, who was not idle all
this time to inform themselves about him, got sufficient intelligence that he
was in Wist, disposed of themselves so that it seemed impracticable for him to
escape. That he might lose no time, he sent Neil as minister plenipotentiary to
Boystile, to treat with him to procure a boat for him, and sufficient hands for
to manage it, in case of accidence – for now he was to attempt
to gain the
mainland, seeing there was no safety for him in Wist. Boystile, who did not go
near him all the time for fear of suspicion, sent him back word with Neil, that
he himself would come in person and consult with him what was properest to be
done. Boystile came next day, and was received by the prince with open arms,
and found some of the gentlemen of the country who came to see him the day
before, of whose number was Hugh Macdonald, of Ballissher, from Nort Wist, who
was ready to sacrifice his life and fortune for the prince’s safety (I
say).Boystile at his arrival found all these lying in their bed, very much disordered by the foregoing
night’s carouse, while his royal highness was the only one who was able to take
care of the rest, in heaping them with plaids, and at the same time merrily
sung the De profundis for the
rest of their souls.
Neil, who was straggling every
day about the neighbouring town for intelligence, and who never missed to come
in seasonable time with what news he gathered among the people, arrived, as the
Prince, Boystile, and the other gentlemen, were very busie and very hearty
taking their bottle. It was always the prince’s custom, whenever Neil returned
from any expedition, to learn from him privately what news he brought before it
was made public. Neil told him that two hundred of the Sky militia, head’d by
Hugh Macdonald, of Armidale, and Alexander MacLeod, of Ullish, was landed at
Barra, who was sent thither by my Lord Lowdian Campbell, and MacLeod, having
had an information that the prince was sculking in that country; and that these
gentlemen’s orders were, after a diligent search made in Barra, to pass into
South Wist, and to stay there guarding the coast and foords in the country
'till they were reinforced by a greater number; and, moreover, that Captain
Ferguson was Ordered to the Lewis for the same purpose, Captain MacKenzie to
the Herris, and the Baltimore to cruize upon the coast of Wist, so that it
seemed next to a miracle to have been able to escape. The prince, who always
appeared very gay and cheerful, notwithstanding his crosses and misfortunes,
was very much dejected at this news; which Boystile observing, begged of him to
be in no ways uneasie,
that the danger was not so great as what he apprehended, and that he, despite
of all the search of the enemy, would procure a place for him where he would
not be exposed to the least danger, till such time as a more favourable
opportunity offered for making his escape; and fearing least the enemy might
surprise them, being now three days in
the country, Boystile took leave of him in order to prevent their coming
so suddenly till he got time to fit into some other place.
Neil fearing the fickleness and
the inconstancy of the common people, who might perhaps be perverted from their
fidelity to discover him to his enemies, in hopes of a great reward, did not
think proper to stay there any longer; whereupon, having got into their boat,
which they always had nigh them, they set out about eleven o’clock at night,
without acquainting any body of their design, except tbose who were partakers
of it, and took the retreat towards Benbicula, and landed about break of day in
Jugia, a desert island, about three miles from Roshiness where they sculked for
eight days.
During their stay in this
solitude, he kept a private correspondence with Boystile about leaving the
country, as it appeared impossible for him to conceal himself any longer from
those cursed villains who left not a stone unturned to find him out. Boystyle,
who used all endeavours to effect his design to get him safely conveyed to
the mainland, lost no time to provide whatever necessaries their voyage
required; when unluckily he himself was taken prisoner, and carried away on
board the Baltimore, so that that design perished, and came to nothing.
Upon the news of Boystile’s being
made prisoner he expressed a great deal of regret for him, saying it was a
great pity he should fall into the hands of such ruffians, who would have no
regard for his merit, for really he was the honestest man (said he) I met with
since my stay in the isles. While he stayed upon the island he went about the
shore once or twice a day, to see if he could find out which was the most
commodious hole or cave for hiding him in case some of the men-of-war that kept
the channel still came to land any men. There he had occasion to see the Lady
Clanranald, who came from Roshiness to have the honour of seeing him before he
left the country, and carried along with her to him some of what necessaries he
wanted; he received her very kindly, made much of her, and thanked her for her
generosity, telling her next day at parting that he would not forget soon what
kindness he met with in the country. They had plenty of bread and other meats
during their retreat in that Patmos, but before the eight days was expired they
were obliged to leave the whole to another party of the MacLeods, who landed
upon the island from Skay.
After being chased from thence
they had no other resource but to return toward the south end of the country,
upon hearing that the Skay militia had departed from Boystile’s house two days
before, and were upon their march towards Benbicula, where they flattered themselves infallibly sure to find him.
About eight o’clock at night, upon the 12th of July, they put to sea
from Lockaskivay, and rowed the whole night along the coast, and as the day
began to dawn Neil advised them to land in Lochskiport, and to stay there 'till
it was late; but the prince, who was eager to be as far on that day as possibly
he could, would not condescend, and so continued their voyage the whole day.
About five in the afternoon they landed at Corrodale, where they refreshed
themselves 'till it was ten, and arrived next morning at sunrise at the mouth
of Lochymort, in South-Wist; they had not so much as one mouthful to eat that
night of any kind, and having made up a tent of the oars and sail of the boot,
he laid himself down upon a kind of a heather bed that was made for him, while
Neil stood sentry upon the rock before the tent door the whole night, after he
had placed two of the crew whom he could trust most, to about a mile off, as an
advanced guard.
When it was near day he asked
Neil whether it was possible to find any meat, who told him it was
impracticable by reason, the nearest town lay five miles off, whereupon he
roused up the rest, and got into the boat and rowed to Stialay, a small island
near the entry of Lock Boystile, within three long miles of Boystile’s house,
being the 14th of July in the evening. They were no sooner landed
and the tent made, than Neil posted off immediately to Boystile’s house for
provisions; when he arrived, he found all the family in bed, and having knocked
them up, he acquainted Boystile’s daughter who came first to the door with the
princes being upon the Island of Stialay, where he had but very ill
accommodations. She ran into the room where her stepmother was in bed, bringing
Neil along with her, who told the lady the miserable condition his royal
highness was in, she got up in the greatest hurry, and sent off what was
readiest to relieve them in the mean time, 'till such time she could get more
prepared against the next night, Neil returned, charging the lady at parting,
to learn what was passing among the enemy, and to inform him accordingly.
At his arrival he found the boat
ashore waiting him, and having passed to the island, the prince met him at his
landing, and asked of him if he got any meat. Neil told him that he brought
some fresh butter and cheese, and a few bottles of brandy. “Come, come,” said
he, “give me one of the bottles and a piece of the bread, for I was never so
hungry since I was born:” which being given him, he took two or three hearty
pulls of it before he came near the rest, which gave him so good an appetitite,
that he eat that night more than ever he was seen to eat at three ordinary
meals, and all the rest did proportionably. After supper he called for the
brandy-bottles, and drank the king’s and the duke’s healths: which done, he
wrapt himself in his plaid, laid down, and slept away the remaining part of the
night very soundly.
Next morning there was a
consultation held concerning the course they were to take from thence. Some
were of opinion that they should venter to run for the continent in the small
boat they had, of which the prince himself approved very much, saying he would
rather drown than fall into the hands of those profligate fellows who were in
pursuite of him. Others were of opinion that the safest step they could take
was to make for some one of the Southern Isles of Barra, and the rather because
the first party who came after him to the country, landed first in that island,
and it seemed very probable they would not return there again. They all agreed
to this last proposal, and that no time might be lost, they prepared every
thing to set off next day, if the weather favoured them. This project came to
nothing as well as the former for the Lady Boystile sent an express that same
afternoon, that one Captain Scot was landed at Barra from Fort William, with a
detachment of regular troops, in order to join the Skay militia in South-Wist,
and that they intended, according as she was informed, to be at her house by
ten o’clock next day, which she would inform him of, if possible, whatever
happened.
This news put them in a greater
consternation than ever, which obliged them to cross over to the other side of
Leck Boystile that night for the more security. Next day about break of day,
the prince sent off Rory MacDonald to learn whither Scot was arrived, and to
bring back word what was passing among them. Rory returned at eight o’clock,
and told the prince that the lady, her daughter, and all the servants, were
tied neck and heel in one house, in order to extort a confession from them of
the prince’s being in the country; while her seller and all her most valuable
effects were left to the mercy of the ungenerous soldiers, who were busie in
carrying the plunder to their boat. The news of the ladies ill-treatment struck
such a terror in the minds of the timorous crew, that they immediately sunk the
boat, and abandoned the prince and the few gentlemen who accompanied him. In
this desperate condition there was no remedy to be thought upon, but to dismiss
the few gentlemen that accompanied till then, and retire to the mountains;
whereupon having left every body to shift for himself (of whose number was
O’Sullivan, who was left under a rock with the best part of the prince’s
baggage), the prince, with Neil and MacO’Neil, made for the top of the nearest
hill, that from thence they might have a better view of their enemies motion,
and take further resolution how they were to dispose of themselves next.
I forget to tell that when
Captain Scot landed in South-Wist, Hugh MacDonald, who lay in Benbicula then
with his party, sent one of the country gentlemen, in whom he could repose a
great deal of trust, to tell the prince privately, that, as it seemed now
impossible for him to conceal himself any longer in the country, if he would
venter to be advised by him, though an enemy in appearance, yet a sure friend
in his heart, he would fall upon a scheme to convoy him to the Isle of Skay,
where he was sure to be protected by Lady Margaret MacDonald. The scheme was
this: to send his stepdaughter, Miss Florence MacDonald, to Sleet, to live with
her mother 'till the enemy was out of West. The prince at the same time was
ordered to dress in .woman’s close, that he might pass for her servant-maid,
and Niel was appointed to take care of both. The scheme pleased the prince
mightely, and he seemed very impatient to see it put in execution.
But to return to the top of the
hill, the prince with Neil and Mr. O’Neil remained there the whole day. About
sunset the prince told Neil that he entrusted himself in his hands, and that
his life and safety depended upon him, Neil answered that the charge was more
than what his life was worth: but yet, with God’s assistance, that he would
find means to preserve him from all danger, till every thing was got ready
to leave the
country. After this they took a refreshment of bread-and-cheese, and set out
towards the north end of the country, every body carrying his own share of the
baggage, the prince carried his own few shirts, O’Neil carried his own linnen,
and Neil carried the provision, his own gun and sword, and the prince’s fusee
and one of his holsters, while the other hung upon his own belt. As they were
going on, the prince clapt Neil’s shoulder, often telling him if ever it was
their good fortune to get free of their present troubles, he would make him
live easie all his days for the fatigue of that night. Neil was informed some
days before, that Miss Flora lived with her brother in a glen near Locheynort,
where they had all their cattle a grazing at that time, and which happened to
be very near the rod they were to pass that night.
When the prince was informed of
it, he would needs go to see her, and tell her of the message he had from her
stepfather. When they were near the little house where she was asleep, for her
brother was not at home, Neil left the prince and O’Neil at a little distance
off, 'till he went in and wakened her: she got scarcely on the half of her
close, when the prince, with his baggage upon his back, was at the door, and
saluted her very kindly; after which she brought to him a part of the best
cheer she had, among the rest was a large bowl full of creme, of which he took
two or three hearty go-downs, and his fellow-travellers swallowed the rest.
He discovered to her her
stepfather’s proposal, and ask’t whether she was willing to run the risque. She
joyfully accepted of the offer without the least hesitation; and that no time
might be lost, she was ordered immediately away to Benbicula to consult with
her stepfather and the Lady Clanranald, to get every thing in readiness as soon
as possible, and to send them word back again next day how all was going on
with them. Having taken leave of Miss Flora, they pursued their journey, and
about sunrise they arrived upon the side of a hill, three miles from Corrodale,
where they sate down under a rock in order to take some rest. The prince, as he
took no victuals the night before complained of hunger, and ask’t of Neil if he
had any thing to eat; Neil gave him a piece of bread-and-cheese that Miss
MacDonald had given him the night before. After he eat of it very heartily, he
laid himself down and slept, while Neil stood sentry upon him all the time;
when he and O'Neil was sufficiently rested, he ordered Neil to take some rest,
and sent O'Neil to mount guard in his turn.
When it was drawn late, the
prince ask’t Neil if there was any possibility of getting any supper; Neil told
him he would find enough and leaving the prince and O’Neil under the same rock,
he went and bought abundance of such cheer as the neighbourhood could afford.
The prince was prodigious impatient the whole afternoon for Miss Flora’s
answer, and despairing to hear a word from her that night, he sent off Neil, at
eight o’clock at night, to Benbicula, with strict orders to be back next day at
four in the afternoon, under pain of gaining his displeasure forever. Neil,
notwithstanding the fatigue and the length of the journey (which was thirty
miles backward and forward,) willingly condescended.
When he arrived at the fourds
which seperates Benbicula from South Wist, he found them all guard’d by the
Skay militia, who had sentries within a gun shot of each other from east to
west; their consigne was to let pass no person whatsoever until he was examined
first by the captin of the guard; by this means Neil was stopped, and was kept
prisoner there till next morning, when it was low water Neil was sent away to
the captain of the guard on the other side, who happened to be Hugh MacDonald:
when Neil went in he found Miss MacDonald, who was stopped in the same manner
by another party of the MacLeods, who had the guard two nights before, with
some other gentlemen at breakfast with Mr. MacDonald. Neil call’d miss aside,
and ask’t if every thing was ready, she told him as it was put out of her power
to go on the length of the Lady Clanranald, that nothing was as yet done, but
that she was going off within half an hour after to consult with the lady, and
designed to go to Roshiness, both of them, that same afternoon, and carry along
with them whatever clothes or provisions was requisite for the voyage, and she
begg’d of Neil to make all the hast possible to return to the prince, and,
without losing one moment of time, to make the best of his way to Roshiness,
where he would be sure to find them without fail.
Neil posted off immediately, and
arrived at the prince at the hour he had appointed, and found him under the
same rock where he had left him, he no sooner saw Neil come in sight than he
ran to meet him, and took him by the hand asking what news he had from Miss
Flora; Neil told him what orders he had from the lady (as he called Miss Flora)
after which they set out for Roshiness. The greatest difficulty for this
journey was to find a boat, to go by sea, as it was impossible to venture by
land, because, as I have already told, all the fourds were guarded by the MacLeods:
but God, who always provided whatever he had occasion for, removed this
difficulty also, for when they arrived at the side of Lockskiport, there they
found four country people, who had come there some days before to fish, with a
small yawl.
Neil knew them immediately, and
agreed with them for to ferry him and two other gentlemen that were with him
over to Fouay. where they expected to
meet with Ranald MacDonald (called Walpole); but when they landed upon the
island they found no living soul of either man or beast upon it; being, at this
time, clear daylight, they could not bring the boat no further, for fear to be
seen from the land, wherefore they ordered the boat men to land them on the
nearest rock of Benbicula, that from thence they might go afoot to Roshiness,
which done, Neil payed the boatmen and sent them away home. The prince sate
down upon the rock where they had land’d, and, being quite overcome for want of
rest, he fell asleep, and so did O’Neil; during the time they slept Neil
thought proper to take a walk roundabout for fear that any body should come
upon them at any unawares; but he had not gone ten yards from them, when he
observed an arm of the sea come in betwixt him and the rest of the land, which
formed an island: he returned immediately and informed the prince, who started
up like a mad man and walked to the end of the island at such a rate as if he
had a mind to fly over to the other side, but his career was soon stopped;
whereupon he fell a scoulding Neil as if it had been his fault, and the cursed
rascals (meaning the boatmen) who land’d them upon that desert island
designedly that he might starve with hunger and cold, in short, there was no
pacifying him, till, at last, Neil told him to comfort himself, that he would
sweem over to the other side and would bring a boat in half an hour’s time,
from that moment he never gave Neil one minute’s rest, till, to please him, he
began to strip, notwithstanding that it rained most prodigiously, when luckily
Neil observed a rock appearing in the middle of the sound, and begg’d of the
prince to allow him a little more time, that it seem’d very probable at low
water they could pass over with dry feet without being obliged to hazard his
life by sweeming, which was to be the ultimate resource, which happened
accordingly, for in less than three quarters of an hour’s time, they passed
over without wetting the soles of their shoes.
The prince seem’d as well pleased
when he got out of that labyrinth as if he was landed in France; he was so cold
(for the rain pierced to his very skin) that he trembled, the moor being so
plain that there was not the least bush, eminence, or hill to cover him from
the weather, and he was so hungry that he was not able to walk, having eaten
not a mouthful of any kind since the evening before. In this deplorable
condition it was hard to determine how to behave, but as there was no time to
be lost, despite of rain and weather, he continued his journey for Roshiness,
where he expected to find the ladies before him that night, When they had walkt
about a quarter of a mile, they lighted accidentally upon two sheelings, where
two of Clanranald’s tenant stay’d, who, seeing them coming, came to meet them.
Neil, to prevent their coming too nigh, stept on and met them; they enquired what
were these other two that came along with him.
Neil satisfied their curiosity by
telling them they were poor Irish gentlemen, who made their escape from
Culloden, and run to the country for shelter, and that it was an act of charity
if they had any kind of eatables to give them some refreshment, for that they
had not tasted meat for eight-and-forty hours before, whereupon the honest
fellows order’d them to go in; the door of the hut was so low and narrow, that
the prince was obliged to creep upon his belly. There they feasted splendidly
upon such cheer as there was to be had, which was mostly milk kind; being thus
sufficiently refreshed, they went off, and Niel was not thoroughly acquainted
in that rod, he brought one of the fellows with him for a guide to whom he gave
half a guinea for his pains. When they were within· three miles of Roshiness,
being at that time five in the afternoon, they laid down in a lock side among
high heather, which was all the shelter they had from the rain. There they past
the remaining part of the day, the prince shivering with cold all the time.
When it was late, they set out for Roshiness, the night turned so dark that
they could not see three yards before them, and the rain was so vehement, with
the wind blowing directly in their teeth, that they could scarcely look
where to set their foot; besides the rod
was so very bad, that the prince, despite of what care Neil and O’Neil could
take of him, fell at almost every step in some ditch or mire, where, very
often, he lost his shoes, which gave Neil a vast deal of trouble and pains
before he could fish them up again, being sometime obliged to put his hand to
the very shoulder in the puddle for them.
After having surmounted all these
troubles and difficulties, they at last arrived in the long wished for harbour.
When they came near the house, Neil left the prince and O’Neil about a
cannon-shot off, while he himself went in to see whether the ladies were come;
but finding none
but the man who took care of the house in bed with his wife, who told him that
twenty of the Skay militia who landed there two days before, were in a tent
about a quarter of a mile of the house, he returned to the prince with that
dismal news, which so enraged him, that he was like to tear his clothes to pieces,
not knowing where to run for safety, the enemy being every where.
The guide, though he did not
understand the language they spoke, yet understood the confusion they were in,
told them there was one of Clanranald's boomen not far off, into whose house they
might go with safety till they came to a further resolution. They immediately
betook themselves thither, and I leave the reader to judge what a bonny figure
they made when they came to examine themselves before light
all bespattered with
dirt and mud, after the foregoing night’s walk. There he resolved to return
Neil to Nuntown to inform Miss McDonald that he was arrived, and to hasten her
to come without any longer delay.
Neil, who foresaw clearly the
danger he would be exposed to, if he was left with a man who knew not one step
or the country, or where to retire to in case of necessity, absolutely denied
to part with the prince upon any account, and so Mr. O’Neil was obliged to go
upon that expedition; who was mighty well pleased to be intrusted with that
embassy, not so much to further the prince’s affairs, as to be in company with
Miss Flora, for whom he professed a great deal of kindness at that time. About
break of day, the Booman’s wife told Neil that it was dangerous for them to
stay in the house any longer, because the militia were wont to come every
morning to buy milk, whereupon Neil and his pupil went and lodged under a rock pretty
near the shore, where the Booman sent one of his derrymaids to give them
notice, from time to time, what was passing among their neighbour enemies.
It is almost inexpressible what
torment the prince suffered under that unhappy rock, which had neither height
nor bredth to cover him from the rain which poured down upon him so thick as if
all the windows of heaven had broke open, and, to compleat his tortures, there
lay such a swarm of mitches upon his face and hands as would have made any
other but himself fall into despair, which, notwithstanding his incomparable
patience, made him utter much hideous cries and complaints as would have rent
the rocks with compassion.
Neil, who stood all this time
aside him, could be of no more service to him than to let run to the ground the
rain which stagnated in the lurks of the plaid wherein he lay wrapt. In this miserable
condition he continued for about three hours, till their faithful scoote came
for the last time, and told them they might return to the house, for that the
militia was gone; Neil helped him to his feet, and they marched away to the
house where the good derrymaid took care to make a roozing fire for their
coming. He was no sooner entered but Neil stripped him of all his clothes from
top to toe, and hung rops round the house to dry them on; he sate down in his
shirt at the fireside as merry and hearty as if he was in the best room at
Whitehall. After he had warmed himself, he desired Neil to ask the wife if she
had any eatables. She said that she had nothing except a chapin of milk she
kept for her bairns, which Neil desired her to warm in a pot, and when it was
hot to froth it up with the machine made for that purpose. When all was ready,
the wife placed the pot before the prince and Neil, and gave them two horn
spoons as coarse as ever was made use of, the prince ask’t Neil what it was,
who told it was fresh creme, he not doubting but it was really so, and at the
same time believing it to be solid, pushed his hand to the very wrist in the
scalded milk, which made him draw back his hand in the greatest hurry, all full
of wrath, and dropt his spoon in the pot. Neil had all the difficulty
imaginable to keep his gravity, to hear him curse the wife and pot a hundred
times, calling her a vile witch for (says he) she contrived it a purpose that
we might burn ourselves. Neil, seeing him altogether out of humour, in order to
pacify him, told him he would take a stick and labour her to an inch of her
life with it, and immediately ran to an oar of the boat that was lying before
him to knock out her brains. The prince, believing him to be serious, begged of
him not to touch her, for, if he came to do her any hurt, she would certainly
run off and bring a party upon them.
After this repas, the prince
inclined to sleep a little, as he rested none the night before; but to get a
bed for him was the question – in short, there was no better shift than to take
the leaf of the door, and lay it down upon the floor, and spread an old ragged
sail over it, which Neil found in the house; there he slept some hours wrapt in
his wet plaid. The guide, who went with O’Neil the night before to Clanranald’s
house, returned towards evening, who brought along with him a rosted fowl, and
a couple of bottles of wine, and a letter from O’Neil to the prince, the
contents of which I could not find out,
though it's very probable he excused himself for not returning, under
pretence to hasten all matters for leaving the country. The prince supp’t very
heartily upon what the lady sent him, and afterwards slept soundly upon a
heather bed, which Neil made for him.
Next morning the prince wrote a
letter to O’Neil by the same. Post that brought the former, desiring him to
come to him that night; but O’Neil contented himself to return him an answer by
the same bearer, telling him he could not come, by reason that he waited Miss
McDonald and the Lady Clanranald, who was to come next day without fail.
The prince waited that day in the
house of Roshiness. Next morning Neil carried him to a hill half way betwixt
Roshiness and Nuntown; there they lay till the evening, when they returned to
their former quarters.
The prince seemed very uneasie
that night that neither Mac O’Neil nor the ladys did not come according to
promise; but the truth is they could not really come sooner, as they were busie
night and day to get his dress made for the prince, and whatever other things
he might have occasion for. The next day Rory McDonald, and one John McDonald,
who were to be two of our crew, arrived in the morning, and told that both boat
and crew were ready whenever he pleased.
Whereupon Neil carried the prince
to the same hill where they had sculked the day before, and leaving him in the
hands of the two McDonalds before mentioned, posted off himself to hurry the
ladys from Nuntown, and sent off O’Neil directly to the place where he left the
prince, when himself went with the Lady Clan, Miss Flora McDonald, Clanranald’s
daughter, and Mr. McDonald of Milltown, Miss Flora’s brother, about another
rod, where they were to have the conveniency of a boat to Roshiness.
The prince, who arrived first,
welcomed them ashore, and handed the Lady Clan to the house, while O’Neil took
care of Miss Flora. There they passed some hours very hearty and merry till
supper was served; which was scarce began, when one of Clanranald’s herds came
with the news that General Campbell was landing his men within three miles of
them. The supper thus ended, which was hardly begun – all ran to their boat in
the greatest confusion, every one carrying with him whatever part of the
baggage came first to his hand, without either regard to sex or quality, they crossed
Lochisguiway, and, about five in the morning, landed on the other side, where
they ended the supper.
About eight a servant come to the
Lady Clanranald to acquaint her that General Campbell, with a party of his men,
were at her house, and wanted that she should be there before twelve of the
clock, otherwise that her house should suffer for all. Here the lady and her
daughter took leave of the prince, and went off. Great was the debate betwixt
Miss Flora and O’Neil upon this occasion, who insisted strongly to leave the
country with the prince; but Miss McDonald would never condescend, because he
being a stranger, and consequently did not speak the language of the country,
would readily be taken notice of by the common sort, and so took leave of the
prince and Miss, made the best of his way to South Wist along with Milltown.
The company being gone,
the prince, stript
of his own c1oaths, was dressed by Miss Flora in his new attire, but could not
keep his hands from adjusting his head dress, which he cursed a thousand times.
There they lay till the evening, waiting impatiently for the night to set off.
Here they were alarmed by five wherries, the same, as they supposed that landed
the Campbells the night before in Benbicula, supposing, by taking this precaution,
to keep the prince from making his escape. But their fears were soon over; for
the wherries sailed by to the southward without ever stopping. After sunset
they got into their boat, which was managed by the following persons – Rory
McDonald, John McDonald, John McMurich, Duncan Campbell, and Rory McDonald of
Glengary family; the prince passed for Miss McDonald’s maid, and Neil McDonald
in the quality of a servant.
The weather
proving calm in the
beginning of the night, they rowed away at a good rate; but, about twelve,
there blew a gale of westerly wind, which eased the Bowers not little, but at
the same time there came on such thick mist as robbed them of the sight of all
lands; great was the debate among the boatmen upon this occasion, some asserted
that they lost their course, while others maintained the contrary, till their
dispute end’d at last to cease rowing till day would decide their error. In the
morning, the weather being quite clear, they rowed along the coast of Sky, but
the wind, shifting about to the north, blew at nine o’clock so strong in their
teeth, that for an hour and a half it was impossible to discern whether they
made any way or not.
The prince, who, all this time,
was not in the least discouraged, encouraged them to row still better, saying
that he would relive him that was most fatigued. The poor men, almost ready to
breathe out their last, at length made the point of Watersay on the north
corner of the Isle of Sky, where, having put into a cliff in a rock, they rested themselves for
an hour, and at the same time revived their drooping spirits with a plentiful
repas of bread and butter, while the water that fell from the top of the rock
furnished them drink.
This gave them fresh vigour for
to undertake the remaining part of their labour, the weather being quite calm
again, they rowed round the point close by the land. They had not gone far on
the other side when they spyed two centrys upon shore, one of whom approached
nearer, and ordered them to put to, but they rowed the faster; which he
observing, advanced as far as the sea would permitt him, bad them put to, a
second time in a more threatning manner, and seeing them like not to obey, he
cocked his piece, which he thought to fire upon them, but, as Providence
ordered it, she misgave, and so he was disappointed. The other who look’d on
all this time, made to heels to a neighbouring village, about a cannon shot
off, to acquaint their officer (if there was any) of what had happened.
The boatmen justly judging what
he was going about, made them now row for dear blood. They very soon saw the
event of their conjectures, for a body of about fifteen men, full armed,
marched straight from the village to the rock where their centry was post’d,
and if they had the presence of mind to launch out one of their boats (of which
they had two close by them) we must have been inevitably taken.
The prince by this time was
sensible of his error, in not allowing the men at parting from Uist, to have
any arms in the boat, which if they had had, were fully resolved to fight it
out to the last man, notwithstanding the inequality of numbers. The enemy
seeing it quite out of their power to execute their design in coming thither,
as we got fairly out of their reach, took a walk along the shore, without
giving the prince or crew any uneasiness, further than to gaze at them till
they landed in Kilbride in Troterniss within a cannon shot of Sir Alexander
McDonald’s house, twelve miles from the place where we saw the enemy.
In the neighbourhood of this
place was another party of the Sky militia, who was post’d there to examine all
boats that came from the isles, as they were pretty well assured that the
prince was there at that time. Miss and Neil having kept the prince in the boat
as well as they could, went to the house, leaving strict orders with the
boatmen not to stir from it till they came back, or some word from them, and in
case their curiosity led any body thither, who might perhaps take the liberty
to ask who was the person kept in the boat, to answer Miss McDonald’s maid, and
to curse her for a lazy jade, what was she good for, since she did not attend
her Mrs. (Mistress.)
When they were come near the
house, they were informed by servant that Sir Alexander was gone for Fort
Augustus some days before to wait upon Cumberland, and that there was no
company with the lady but two gentlemen, to wit, McDonald of Kingsbourg, and
Lieutenant McLeod, commander of the party before mentioned, and one Mrs.
McDonald who came the day before from. North Wist, and who was so strickly
examined by the party upon the point of Waternish (taking her to be the prince
in disguise), that she was at all the pains imaginable to keep off the
soldiers’ hands from examining her person too closely, which must have been the
Prince’s fate had he fallen into their hands.
Miss Flora having met with one
Miss McDonald, Lady Margaret’s gentlewoman, sent her to acquaint her lady that
she wanted to speak to her, who came back and carried Miss Flora to the lady’s
apartment, where she told all the circumstances of the prince’s escape from the
isles, and that she must harbour him as he came now under her
protection.
The lady, in the greatest
perplexity, was at a loss how to behave upon this occasion, for her hurry and
impatience hindred her to fall upon proper means to get the prince conveyed
privately to the house, especially at such an improper hour as eleven o’clock
of the day. Whereupon she sent for Kingsborough, to whom she disclosed the
whole secret. Kingsborough, without being in the least discomposed, explained
to her the danger the prince and her would be exposed to if she insisted to
have him brought to her house, where she was to entertain one of the king’s
officers that day, who could not miss to see and take notice of the person in
disguise, as well as every body else about the town.
Having got the lady at last to
yield, though with great reluctancy, he ordered Neil to return to the prince,
and to carry him to the back of a hill. a long mile from the house of Mungstot, and there to wait till
he came to join them, and ordered that some light clothes should be packt in
the form of a bundle, for the
prince to carry it on his back, as if it had been some of Miss Flora’s baggage;
which done, they set out for the hill, but they had not gone far, when tiring
of his burden, which he carried very awkwardly, threw it from him, leaving it
for Neil to carry, or leave, as he should think fit. It was in vain that Neil
insisted he would take it again, but he would never condescend, saying that he
had carried it long enough.
When they came to the place of
meeting they sate down upon the side of a hillock, where they wait’d for
Kingsborough. The prince, who was a long time silent and very pensive, ask’d
Neil whether he had carried his case of knives from the boat; Neil, who did not
miss them till then, answered he had not; “Then,” said the prince, “you must
return and look for them.” – “Shall I for the sakes of all the knives in the
universe, leave you here all alone?” reply’d Neil. – “There will be no fears of
me.” said he, “do you what you are ordered, for I must absolutely have it, so
no more words,” Neil still opposed, but in vain; seeing him at last quite out
of humour, and ready to fly in a passion, went, leaving him there within a gun
shot of the high rod, without a soul along with him.
When Neil returned he found
Kingsborough with him taking a glass of wine, which Lady Margarate MacDonald
had sent by Kingsborough, together with some few biscuits, of which he ate a
little, and gave the rest to Neil to keep for him till another occasion. About
an hour before sunset they set off for Kingsborough, where they were to be that
night. Miss Flora, who staid for dinner at Mungstot, that she might not be
suspected by Lieut. MacLeod, followed a horseback at some distance, and was
mightily diverted to hear several of the country people with whom she fell in
upon the road, as they returned from the meeting house at Mungstot; it being
Sunday, make their remark upon the behaviour of Betty Burk, her maid, which
name the prince borrowed when he left the Isle of Wist.
Neil, who walked a little behind
the prince, and Kingsborough, hearing the subject the fellows were upon, went
slower till they came up and joined him, but they, notwithstanding, continued
to speak with the same freedom as before, of the impudence and assurance of
Miss Burk, who was not ashamed to walk and keep company with Kingsborough, and
was no less vexed than surprised how he took so much notice of her, when he
never minded her mistress who was so near at hand. Betty very easie of what
would be said of her, went on always at such a rate, that she very often got a
piece before her fellow traveller, which gave occasion to some of the fellows
to cry out, “Curse the wretch do you observe, sir, (meaning Neil,) what terrible
steps she takes, how manly she walks, how carelessly she carries her dress,”
and a hundred such like expressions which they repeated over and over again.
But what they most took notice of
all was, when Kingsborough and his companion was come to a rivulet about knee
deep which crossed the high rod, to see Burk take up her petty coats so high
when she entred the water. The poor fellows were quite confounded at this last
sight, which made them rail out against Burk, calling her all the names in the
world, and ask’t of Neil if he was acquainted with her. Neil told them that he
knew nothing about her further than to hear she was an Irish girl who met with
Miss MacDonald in Wist, and uppon a report of her being a famous spinster of
lint, engaged her for her mother’s use.
The honest people soon after
parted with Neil and Miss Flora, and made for their different homes full of
astonish–
Cætera
desunt.
And here our information fails.
The document which we have placed before the reader, does however conduct us
very nearly to the period when the wanderings and sufferings of the Young
Pretender drew to a c1ose.
On the 6th of
September, his despairing adherents were cheered with the sight of' the Happy,
and the Prince of Conti, two French men-of-war; and on the 19th,
with twenty-five gentlemen, and one hundred and seven common men, the poor
remnant of his deserted followers, he embarked. The ships were seen by our
men-of-war off the coast of Cornwall, but escaped their pursuit, and on the 29th
of the same month landed their disconsolate cargo at Roscort, near Morlair.
Charles Edward afterwards gave
himself up to indolence and vice. He became a mere sot; and, like too many
others, lived to sully a name which once gave promise of true nobility.
[1]
We are
inclined to think that this man was a son of Neil Mackechan, or, originally,
Macdonald – a servant at first of Flora Macdonald’s father, and the trusty
companion and guide of Charles Edward in his wanderings. Neil had been brought
up in France. We also think that Neil himself was the author of this account
now presented to the reader; for, independently of other internal evidence, he speaks of
things which occurred, and of
conversations carried on when the prince was in company with Neil alone. Neil
would naturally fly the country when an opportunity presented; and in company
with his prince whom he had so devotedly served, and having been educated in
France, he no doubt would have settled there.
[2]
Colonel
Sullivan, an officer of considerable military
reputation,
who acted in the army of the prince in the capacity of engineer. In Ray's
History of the Rebellion will be found an interesting note of him.
[3]
The
presbyterians, who were then, as they are now, the parochial clergy of Scotland
were universally on the side of the house of Hanover, and gave the most willing
assistance to the government, and as willing opposition to the claims and plans
of Charles Edward.
A curious
instance of the determined conduct of one of these sturdy clergymen is given in
“The History of the Rebellion” by Ray, a volunteer in the army of the Duke of
Cumberland.
The prince or
pretender had issued an order to the clergy, to suspend their performance of
Divine worship. “Notwithstanding,” writes Ray, “Mr. Neal MacVicar continued to
perform divine service as usual: on which the pretender sent a messenger
requiring that he should pray for him, and forbid him to mention King George in
his prayers; yet Mr. MacVicar prayed for the roya1 family as usual, but in
mentioning his majesty he said “Bless the King; thou knowest what King I mean;
may the crown sit long easy on his head, &c. And for this man that has come
amongst us to seek an earthly crown, we beseech Thee, in mercy, to take him to
Thyself, and give him a crown of glory.”
[4]
“Not considering that that
office was fitter for dogs rather than for men; but, however,” &c. These
words occur in the MS, but are blotted out by the same hand, only not
sufficiently so as to render them illegible.