Down guns they threw, and swords they drew,
And soon did chase them aff, man;
On Seaton's crafts they buff'd their chafts,
And gart them rin like daft, man.

"The bluff dragoons swore blood and oons!
They'd make the rebels run, man ;'
And yet they flee when them they see,
And winna fire a gun, man.

They turn'd their back, the foot they brake,
Such terror seized them a', man;

Some wet their cheeks, some

And some for fear did fa', man.

"The volunteers prick'd up their ears,

And vow gin they were crouse, man;
But when the bairns sawt turn to earns't,
They were na worth a louse, man.
Maist feck gade hame, O fie for shame!
They'd better staid awa', man,
Than wi' cockade to make parade,
And do nae gude at a', man.

"Monteith the great, when

Unwares did ding him owre, man
Yet wadna stand to bear a hand,

But aff fu' fast did scour, man,
O'er Soutra hill, ere he stood still,
Before he tasted meat, man.
Troth, he may brag of his swift nag,
That bore him aff sae fleet, man.

"And Simpson, keen to clear the een
Of rebels far in wrang, man,

1 [In the march from Haddington to Preston, the officers of Cope's army assured the spectators, a multitude of whom attended them, that there would be no battle; for as the cavalry and infantry were joined, the Highlanders would not venture to attack so complete an army.]

[Monteith, the minister of Longformacus, a volunteer, who happening to come the night before the battle upon a Highlander in a defenceless posture, threw him over, and carried his gun as a trophy to Cope's camp.]

Did never strive wi' pistol's five,'

But gallop'd wi' the thrang, man;
He turn'd his back, and in a crack
Was cleanly out o' sight, man.
And thought it best, it was nae jest,
Wi' Highlanders to fight, man.

"Mangst a' the gang, nane bade the bang
But twa, and ane was ta'en, man;
For Campbell rade, but Myrie staid,
And sair he paid the kane, man;
Four skelps he got, was waur than shot,
Frae the sharp-edged claymore, man ;.
Frae many a spout came running out
His reeking het red gore man."

"But Gard'ner brave did still behave
Like to a hero bright, man;
His courage true, like him were few
That still despised flight, man.
For king and laws, and country's cause,
In honour's bed he lay, man,
His life, but not his courage, fled,

While he had breath to draw, man.

"And Major Bowle, that worthy soul,

Was brought down to the ground, man,

His horse being shot, it was his lot,

For to get mony a wound, man.
Lieutenant Smith, of Irish birth,

Frae whom he call'd for aid, man,
But full of dread, lap o'er his head,
And wadna be gainsaid, man.

"He made sic haste, sae spurr'd his beast,
'Twas little there he saw, man;

1 [Mr Simpson, also a presbyterian minister, and a volunteer in the army, said, that he would convince the rebels of their error by dint of his pistols, having for that purpose two in his pockets, two in his holsters, and one in his belt.]

[Myrie, a student of medicine from Jamaica, another volunteer, was miserably mangled by the broadswords of the Highlanders.]

1 [So widely did these lines circulate their scandal, as to call forth in the Edinburgh Courant, " I, the said Major Bowles, do affirm it to be an infamous falsehood, Lieutenant Smith not being in the same squadron with me: nor did any officer of the corps refuse me his assistance on that occasion, &c. Witness my hand, at Prestonpans, this 1st of January, 1746. (Signed) RICHARD BOWLES." The limited circulation of this exculpatory evidence, found somewhat insufficient towards wiping off the stain, Lieutenant Smith had next recourse to "use and wont" of his countrymen, and proceeded to Haddington, from whence he sent a challenge to the author. "Gang away back," said honest Skirving to the bearer of the message, "and tell Mr Smith that I hinna time to come to Haddington to gie him satisfaction; but tell him an' he likes to come here, I'll tak a look o' him, an' if I think I'm fit to fecht him, I'll fecht him ; an' if no, I'll just do as he did-I'll rin awa."]

[The individual here alluded to had neither time to face the field nor see the fray; "the night before," he slept, it was understood, in his own house in the Cuttle, west of Prestonpans, somewhat beyond a mile from the battle field, and ere he could get on his "gelding grey" on the following morning, the King's army was routed.]

3 [Captains Rogers and Brymer,.of Lee's regiment, were both killed.

"Some Highland rogues, like hungry dogs,

Neglecting to pursue, man,

About they fac'd, and, in great haste,
Upon the booty flew, man.
And they, as gain for all their pain,
Are deck'd wi' spoils o' war, man;
Fu' bauld can tell how her nain sell
Was ne'er sae praw pefore, man.

"At the thorn-tree, which you may see
Bewest the meadow mill, man,
There mony slain lay on the plain,
The clans pursuing still, man;
Sic unco hacks, and deadly whacks,
I never saw the like, man;

Lost hands and heads cost them their deads,
That fell ne'er Preston dyke, man.

"That afternoon, when a' was done,
I gaed to see the fray, man;
But had I wist what after past,
I'd better staid away, man;
On Seton sands, wi' nimble hands,
They pick'd my pockets bare, man,
But I wish ne'er to dree sic fear,

For a' the sum and mair, man."

In this battle," says Home, "there were not wanting instances of generous valour on the side of the vanquished," and after allusion to the fate of the gallant veteran, Colonel Gardener, who had served in the armies of the Duke of Marlborough, adds, "Captain Brymer of Lee's regiment, the only officer in the King's army who had seen Highlanders attack regular troops (at the battle of Sheriff nuir), and the only person who seemed to think that there was any thing formidable in their attack, when the rebels broke in upon that part of the line where he stood, disdained to turn his back, and met a hero's death, with his face to the enemy."-Hist. Chap. 6.]

CHAPTER LXXIX.

Prince Charles's Proclamations on returning to Edinburgh -Results of his Victory at Preston-his Plans and Levies-his Council and Court at Holyrood House-Arrival of French Vessels with Supplies-Duplicity of Lord Lovat-its Unfortunate Results to Himself and to the Prince —Resolution of Charles to March into England, in Opposition to many of his Advisers-his Arrival at Carlisleat Preston-at Manchester, where he receives an English Reinforcement-Alarm of Government-Resolution of George II. to take the Field in Person-Arrival of Charles at Derby-his undiminished Confidence of Success, although Surrounded by Government Forces-Lord George Murray urges Retreat, to which the Prince reluctantly Consents.

[1745.]

THE night after the battle of Preston, the Chevalier slept at Pinkie House, near Musselburgh;1 the next morning he returned to Duddingston, and entering the capital, was received with the acclamations of the populace, and all the honours which

["Charles remained on the field of battle till midnight, giving orders for the relief of the wounded of both armies, for the disposal of his prisoners, and preserving, from temper, or from judgment, every appearance of moderation and humanity."-HOME, c. 6.

2

["The Highlanders by whom the Prince was surrounded, in VOL. XXVI.

M