Preston Fight Part 11

"Thousands," he said, "in England, as well as in Scotland, are leagued together to accomplish the end we have in view, and only wait the signal to rise, which will now be given them. Material a.s.sistance may be expected from France. The Duke of Ormond and Lord Bolingbroke have gone to Paris to induce the Regent to supply us with men and arms, and they hope to return with a French fleet. Furthermore, the Duke of Berwick has engaged to make a descent upon our western coast, with a large force."

"The Duke of Berwick's name would counterbalance that of Marlborough," said the Marquis of Huntly. "But we must not count upon the great Marshal of France till he has landed. Neither must we depend upon the fleet to be brought by Ormond and Bolingbroke. These are doubtful. But we can confidently rely upon our English allies."

"Have the Northumbrian Jacobites yet risen?" inquired the Marquis of Tullibardine.

"They are on the eve of rising," replied the Earl of Mar. "All the disaffected gentlemen throughout the kingdom are ready for action."

"Lord Derwent.w.a.ter, I presume, will take the command of the Northumbrian force?" observed the Earl of Nithsdale.

"He is the fittest to do so," replied the Earl of Mar. "But Forster of Bamborough, who is a High Church Tory, will probably be preferred. Forster is very popular with his party, and as the Tories are more influential with the commonalty in England than the Roman Catholics, we must have them heartily with us."

"Lord Derwent.w.a.ter resembles a Cavalier of Charles the First's time," observed Lord Nithsdale. "I should like to see him at the head of a division."

"And so should I," said the Earl of Mar. "But it cannot be for the reasons I have just mentioned. Neither he nor Lord Widdrington must have a command."

The Marquis of Huntly then addressed the a.s.semblage, and told them that before proceeding further, it would be necessary to appoint a Commander-in-Chief of the Scottish Forces, by which thenceforward the war could be conducted.

"I cannot doubt," he said, "on whom your choice will fall."

"The Earl of Mar," responded a hundred voices; "the Earl of Mar must be our commander-in-chief."

And again the swords were waved.

"I am proud, indeed, to be thus unanimously chosen," said the earl. "I consent to hold the post for the Duke of Berwick, to whom I shall at once relinquish it. What I lack in military skill and experience will be supplied by veteran warriors, one of whom I rejoice to see here."

And as he spoke he directed his glance towards a lofty figure, standing at the outskirts of the a.s.semblage.

So tall was this personage, who like all the others was arrayed in full Highland costume, that he towered almost head and shoulders above those in front of him, and of course could easily be distinguished.

"'Tis Brigadier Mackintosh to whom I specially alluded," said the earl. "He has had sufficient experience, for he has served, and with the greatest distinction, in Holland, Ireland, and France. I shall have a word to say to him anon."

Then addressing the Marquis of Huntly, he said: "I would not deprive myself of the great satisfaction your lords.h.i.+p has just given me, but I must mention that I had previously received a commission from King James, appointing me his lieutenant-general."

And taking a letter from his breast he placed it in his lords.h.i.+p's hands.

"This confirms our choice," said the marquis, after reading the letter aloud, amid great applause and reiterated expressions of satisfaction from the a.s.semblage.

"My first step," said the earl, when silence was restored, "shall be to set up the standard at Castle-town, and proclaim King James. The Fiery Cross shall then be sent round to summon the clans to war. My head-quarters will be fixed at Dunkeld."

"Within a month I will join you there with three thousand men," said the Earl of Seaforth.

"Your arrival will be impatiently expected, my lord," said Mar. "But by that time I hope to be in possession of Perth. How many men will your father, the Duke of Athole, give us, marquis?" he added to Tullibardine.

"Very few, in comparison with Lord Seaforth," replied the other. "But I will bring all I can."

"The duke, I know, is lukewarm in the cause," said Mar. "But since both his sons are pledged, there can be no fear of him."

"None whatever," replied Lord Charles Murray, the Duke of Athole's younger son.

Promises of substantial aid were then given by the Earls of Southesk, Panmure, and other n.o.bles, and by the chiefs Glengarry, and Gordon of Glendarule.

Last of all came Colonel Mackintosh, head of the powerful Clan Chattan. He engaged to raise six or seven hundred well-disciplined Highlanders, but stipulated that his kinsman, Brigadier Mackintosh of Borlum, should have the command of the regiment.

"Be it so, colonel, since you desire it," said Mar. "But I have a more important command for your brave kinsman. Tell Brigadier Mackintosh that I desire to speak to him," he added to Colonel Hay.

On hearing this order, those who were grouped around retired to a little distance, and a vacant s.p.a.ce was thus left for the old Highland warrior.

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II.

Brigadier Mackintosh of Borlum

A VERY remarkable person was Brigadier Mackintosh, Laird of Borlum, and since he is destined to play a conspicuous part in our story, it may be proper to describe him.

The redoubted Laird of Borlum, then, was an old campaigner, having served in Holland years ago, in Ireland under James the Second, where he gained laurels, but little pay, and in France, where he had attained the rank of brigadier, which he still held. Devotedly attached to James the Second, on the death of that monarch, he had transferred all his loyalty to his son. The Chevalier de Saint George had no more zealous adherent than the brave Laird of Borlum.

Brigadier Mackintosh, when we first behold him, standing beside the Earl of Mar, who had quitted his elevated position on the rock to talk to him, could not be far from sixty. Yet despite the hards.h.i.+ps he had undergone, he had few traces of age about him. His step was free, his glance piercing, his muscular power prodigious, and he could still run as fleetly, and endure as much fatigue as the youngest of his clan.

His personal appearance was very striking-features strongly marked and prominent, high cheek bones, a very firmly set mouth, and square chin. His eyes were grey and keen, and shaded by black brows, though his locks were blanched. His close-shaven cheeks were marked by many a scar.

The brigadier's expression was cautious, perhaps crafty, and sometimes so grim as to inspire terror. But on occasions his habitual sternness disappeared, and gave way to a winning bonhomie. Though a rigorous disciplinarian, he had always been liked by those who served under him. His enemies said that the brigadier did not object to plunder, and that his maxim was that war should pay its own expenses; but this was a principle pretty generally recognised by the Highlanders of the period.

"Why have you kept aloof, brigadier?" asked the earl.

"Because your lords.h.i.+p has others of mair importance to attend to than an auld trooper, who has only his sword to offer you."

"Hout awa! your sword is worth a thousand men, brigadier, and that ye ken fu' weel. You are the man of all others I must have with me, heart and hand."

"I am a man of few words as your lords.h.i.+p kens-I am ready to do your bidding."

"Aweel then, your kinsman, Colonel Mackintosh, has promised to raise a regiment of six or seven hundred Highland men."

"And so wad I, if I could only find the callants. But they are few and far to seek at Borlum."

"What say you to taking the command of the Clan Chattan?"

"That belongs to our chief, unless-"

"He chooses to resign it to another, and I approve his choice. Will you take it?"

"Gladly," replied the brigadier, his eyes sparkling with satisfaction. "Is this a' your lords.h.i.+p has to say to me, at present?"

"Ye are in a confounded hurry," cried the earl, detaining him. "Hear me to an end."

"My lord, I am all attention."

"When all our forces have a.s.sembled, a strong detachment, to consist of five or six regiments, will be sent south to march with the Lowlanders and the Northumbrian insurgents to London. You shall command the detachment. If any man can make a rapid march, you can, brigadier. Long before you reach London, you will have a considerable army, for you are certain to receive large reinforcements in every county through which you pa.s.s-especially in Lancas.h.i.+re and Ches.h.i.+re. You will, therefore, be able to give battle to all the forces the Hanoverian usurper can bring against you. Win that battle and the crown is gained for the prince."

The brigadier drew his broadsword and kissed the hilt.

"I swear to devote myself to this enterprise!" he cried. "Turn back who may, I never will!"

Thereupon, he bowed and retired, looking greatly elated.

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III.

How the Standard was set up, and King James proclaimed at Castletown

SHORTLY afterwards the whole party proceeded to the castle, where a grand banquet awaited them.

Even more wine was drunk on this occasion than on the previous day, and the company vied with each other in demonstrations of loyalty.

But the crowning act, that was to confound their enemies and confirm their friends, took place on the following day. The whole party a.s.sembled after breakfast, but without hounds or huntsmen.

A dozen st.u.r.dy bagpipers made the court ring with their shrill strains, announcing that the Earl of Mar was about to proceed to Castletown, which was not more than a mile off, attended by all the n.o.bles and chiefs, and all their va.s.sals and retainers, to set up the standard and proclaim King James.

The princ.i.p.al personages were on horseback-the rest on foot. At the head of the cavalcade was the Earl of Mar, and on his right rode Lord Charles Murray, who carried the standard.

The standard, which made a very splendid appearance, and excited general admiration, was of blue satin, embroidered on one side with the arms of Scotland, in gold. On the other side was a thistle, underneath which were the words, "No Union."

Pendants of white ribbon were attached to the banner: one of them bore the inscription, "For our wronged king and oppressed country:" the other, "For our lives and liberties."

The pipers marched on in advance, playing vigorously.

The morning was fine, but gusty, and Craigendarroch seemed to frown upon them. Several Highlanders joined the party as they marched on, and some old men, bare-legged women, young girls, and children, followed at a distance. But there were few inhabitants in that wild region.

On reaching Castletown, the cavalcade rode into the market-place, where all the townsfolk were a.s.sembled, and the pipers, who had marched in first and taken up a good position, played with redoubled vigour, while the standard was set up on the market-cross.

A loud shout was then raised by the whole concourse, after which silence was authoritatively enjoined, and a trumpet being sounded, the Earl of Mar read the proclamation in a loud clear voice that vibrated through every breast.

"By the decease of the late King James the Seventh, the imperial crown of these realms has lineally descended to his lawful heir and son our sovereign James the Eighth, and we the lords and others do accordingly declare him to be the lawful king over Scotland, England, and Ireland. We are bound by unalienable right to his family and person, and it is to be lamented that our fundamental const.i.tution has been destroyed by factions. The unhappy Union of Scotland and England is also to be deeply lamented-with many other matters, such as the bringing in a foreign prince unacquainted with British manners, customs, and language-the support of his designs by foreign troops-and the contempt with which the military services of British troops are treated. We are determined to resort to the last extremities, in order to remedy these grievances, and have our laws, liberties, and properties secured by the Parliaments of both kingdoms. In conclusion, we hope that undisturbed by a Usurper's interests and council from abroad, or by a restless faction at home, the blessing and aid of Heaven will be extended to the succour of the Royal Family of Stuart and their country from sinking under oppression."

The foregoing manifesto produced a very powerful effect, and the whole a.s.semblage, having listened to it with profound attention, were about to give vent to their feelings, when a circ.u.mstance occurred that filled them all with superst.i.tious terror.

By a sudden and violent gust, the silken banner was rent, and the gilded ball blown from the point of the spear, and falling at the feet of Mar's horse, caused the animal to rear.

The greatest consternation was occasioned by this inauspicious occurrence.

Nothing but blanched faces were seen around, and the shouts died away on every lip. Men shook their heads, and said it was ominous of ill, and even Mar himself was not free from uneasiness.

"When King Charles the First's standard was blown down at Nottingham," observed Lord Charles Murray to Brigadier Mackintosh, "it was thought to presage ill. What does this signify?"

The brigadier made no answer, but looked very grave.

The ill-omened incident cast a gloom over the party, from which they did not recover as long as they stayed together.

On quitting Castletown, the n.o.bles and chiefs took leave of their host, and departed each to his respective home, to get together his men, and make all needful preparations for taking the field.

Subsequently, King James was proclaimed at divers other places, and once again by the Earl of Mar at Kirkmichael, near Dumfries.

Meanwhile, the whole of the Highlands were literally in a flame-the Fiery Cross having been sent round in every direction to summon the clans. Such va.s.sals as neglected the mandate of their chief conveyed by this terrible sign-a cross, dipped in blood, and burning-were liable to the penalty of fire and sword. Rarely was the summons disobeyed, and never unpunished, until the pa.s.sing of the Clan Act by the Government.

Returning slowly from Dumfries, at the head of a thousand men-more than half of whom had joined him on the way-the Earl of Mar found his camp pitched by Colonel Hamilton and Clephane of Carslogie, in a beautiful situation on the side of the Tay.

Soon afterwards, such large reinforcements were brought him by the Earls of Strathern, Southesk, Marischal, and Panmure, that he found himself at the head of twelve thousand fighting men.

A most important achievement performed at this juncture by Colonel Hay gave additional eclat to the insurgents. This gallant officer had often boasted that he would capture Perth, and he now made good his word by surprising the garrison, and enabling Mar to occupy the city. Thenceforward Perth formed the head-quarters of the Scottish commander-in-chief.

Alarmed by the rapid progress of the rebellion, the Government of King George now began to take energetic measures for the repression of the outbreak. The Duke of Argyle hastened to Stirling, where troops were quickly concentrated, in order to keep the Highlanders in check, and prevent them from crossing the Forth.

All Scottish n.o.blemen or gentlemen, actually in arms, or suspected of favouring the Pretender, were summoned to appear forthwith in Edinburgh, and find bail for their future good conduct. But very few surrendered themselves. Most of them were eager to take the field, and displeased that Mar did not give battle to Argyle, before further succours could reach him at Stirling.

The Scottish commander-in-chief hesitated, though Colonel Hay and others of his advisers remonstrated with him. He had just received a letter from Mr. Forster, praying him to send a couple of regiments to help them to make a rising in North-umberland. This request he was quite willing to grant-indeed, he did more than was asked. He immediately sent off the detachment, which he had prepared to march through England, under the command of Brigadier Mackintosh.

END OF THE THIRD.

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