A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS IN EDINBURGH AND DISTRICT DURING THE JACOBITE OCCUPATION, SEPTEMBER TO NOVEMBER 1745 Printed from Original Papers in the possession of C. . S. Chambers, Edinburgh W. & R. CHAMBERS, LIMITED LONDON AND EDINBURGH 1907 Edinburgh : Printed by W. & R. Chambers, Limited. INTRODUCTION. THE lands of Woodhouselee, until 1657 called Fulford, lying in the parish of Glencorse and county of Mid-Lothian, during the latter part of the 17th century belonged to Sir William Purves of Abbeyhill, Bart., of whom there is a legend (not uncontested, however) that he was the original prototype of Allan Ramsay's 'Sir William Worthy' in The Gentle Shepherd. Be that as it may, he had unquestionably been Solicitor-General under King Charles II., and late in life he sold his property to James Deans of Woodhouselee, advocate, who had married his daughter Rosina, A later James Deans of Woodhouselee married Bethia, daughter of Sir Robert Pringle of Stitchel, and dying 7th May 1720, was succeeded by his son, Robert Deans. The last, who was a surgeon in Edinburgh, sold part of his estate to Alexander Pitcairn in 1727. Daughters of the family had married into the houses of Ramsay of Whitehill, Purves of that ilk, and 2063417 4 INTRODUCTION. Drummond of Concraig, and one (in 1747) became the wife of the Rev. William Wishart, D.D., Principal of the University of Edin- burgh. A sister, moreover, of Robert Deans, Margaret Deans, had married, in 1718, Alex- ander Pitcairn, W.S., a son of David Pitcairn of Dreghorn, and it was to him that Wood- houselee was conveyed in 1727. Mrs Pitcairn died in 1741 ; but before her death her husband had sold, in 1734, his portion of Woodhouselee to a new proprietor named Patrick Crichton. The new laird, though he claimed descent from a junior branch of the Crichtons, Viscounts Frendraught, was a saddler and ironmonger in the Canongate of Edinburgh, and it is not un- likely that it was he who was the writer of the Diary of the year 1745, which is now first published under the title of The Wood- houselee MS. Patrick Crichton did not long possess the estate, and the knowledge of his short tenure might quite naturally have led him piously to describe it as 'owr poor hyred sheeld of Woodhouselee.' He parted with the lands in 1749 to William Tytler, Clerk to INTRODUCTION. 5 the Signet, the father of Lord Woodhouselee, acquiring (in exchange perhaps) Newington House, which had been possessed by Mrs Tytler, the widow of Mr Alexander Tytler, writer, and the mother of his successor in Woodhouselee. We thus see that Patrick Crichton was a man of means and of some position. His firm was a good one, and lasted for some generations. If we are right in thinking he may have been the writer of this Diary, we would greatly like to know more about him ; but, unfortunately, little can be found in the records. His wife's name has not transpired, although he was married before 1740. He was about fifty-five years of age in 1745, the year in which the Diary was written, and was then a successful burgess of Edinburgh. He died near Edinburgh, 27th April 1760, leaving a son, Alexander Crichton of Newington (17401808), who registered arms as such in 1763. He was a coach- builder for many years, very much respected in Edinburgh, and was, in turn,* father of * His wives' names are given in the Monumental Inscrip- tions of Greyfriars. His son is mentioned there also. 6 INTRODUCTION. two sons Captain Patrick Crichton of the 57th Regiment, Treasurer of the City of Edinburgh (1761-1823), who will be found noticed in Kay's Original Portraits, the father of Sir Archibald William Crichton of Russian fame; and Sir Alexander Crichton (1763 1856), Physician to the Emperor of Russia, of whom there is an account in the Dictionary of National Biography. Whether Patrick Crichton was the writer of the Woodhouselee MS., now printed, or not, it was without doubt written by the occupier of the estate of Woodhouselee during his time ; and it is much concerned with the doings of the neighbouring Pentland proprietors during the troublous ' Jacobite ' year. The MS. passed into the possession of Mr Archibald Stewart Denham, who had an in- teresting collection of Jacobite and Whig papers. He in turn gave it to Dr Robert Chambers, when he was at work on his excellent History of the Rebellion. It was seen, about the same time, by Sir Walter Scott, who thought it worth publishing. It has remained, however, for its present owner, INTRODUCTION. 7 Dr Chambers's grandson, Mr Charles E. S. Chambers, to print it in its present form. Whoever he was, the author of the MS. was a keen Whig and a pious Presbyterian. Deeply distrustful of Archibald Stewart, the Lord Provost, whom he regarded (perhaps rightly enough) as a Jacobite but thinly disguised, he felt that the inadequately defended city of Edinburgh had been betrayed into the enemy's hands. The narrative, therefore, though it has little of historic novelty in it, is all the more interesting as it is written from the point of view of a sincere Whig, a standpoint now too often lost to sight owing to the overpowering glamour of Jacobite romance. The writer, we see, regarded the success of a ' Popish ' or an ' Italian ' prince with horror ; to him the Jacobite poets, Ramsay and Hamilton of Ban- gour, were only 'the mungerall burluesque poet ' and ' the nationall poetic good for nothing lad,' and his Diary shows with much vigour the dread the countryside had of the invading Highland ' Banditti.' There is little new in the account given of the battle of Preston- pans ; but we are glad to have the narrative 8 INTRODUCTION. of the contest between the Castle and the Jacobite army. The fear of the citizens when shells were flying is tellingly indicated, and the writer quaintly expresses his feelings when he writes, 'I saw a musket ball was battered upon the stons in Grasmarket, and a gentle- man missed it narrowly.' Many entries allude to members of the min- istry of Edinburgh, and particularly to the clerical family of Bannatyne, or Ballantyne, evi- dently on terms of great intimacy with the writer. Hugh Ballantyne, frequently men- tioned, was the young probationer to the ministry of whom we read much in the Auto- biography of the Rev. Dr Alexander Carlyle. He, with young Carlyle, was a volunteer in the Town Guard of Defence in 1745, and later, having become a clergyman, died Feb- ruary 26, 1769, the much-respected minister of Dirleton. The exciting chase, as a spy, of his brother, the Kev. George Ballantyne, minister of Craigie, by Andrew Lumisden, who afterwards became the Prince's chief secretary, and his disarming by the minister who escaped with difficulty from INTRODUCTION. 9 the hue and cry of the irate Highlanders, is new, at least to us, and is told here with much spirit, among the events of the first week of October 1745. The perplexities of the Presbyterian ministers, the most zealous of whom were Dr Webster and the outspoken and rash Mr Mac Vicar, are much animadverted on, and the writer greatly deplores Edinburgh's silent Sabbaths and their cause, and even appends a prayer for forgiveness, with a hint that the silence enduring as long as four Sun- days may be Divine punishment for ' the stage plays, dancing assemblies, and consorts of music ' which were 'former abominations.' Mentioned in the Diary are many petty spoliations by the Highlanders, who scoured the country; but in spite of their enumeration, and with the excep- tion perhaps of a few cases of real oppression, they all tend to show how moderate the demands of the Jacobites were when they had the country prostrate at their feet. They 'gul- ravished ' a public-house perhaps, ' stole ' or took many horses ; attacked one or two houses for example, from Woodhouselee on October 16th they stole some 'linings/ and even 'beat the B 10 INTRODUCTION. evergreens for concealed things,' but without doing much harm ; still, like the writer, we can 'sumpathise' with the startled householders dis- tressed on such occasions. We get a good idea in the part of the Diary which deals with the visits of these 'rowgs' of the fear that was felt by the small lairds of the Pentlands lest they should be misused. Yet, when the Highlanders did appear, the two Appin Stewarts who acted as ' escort ' to Mrs Philp of Greenlaw were found to be 'civil,' and conversed pleasantly enough, even telling the writer humorously of the way they traced the fact that an East Lothian miser had concealed riches in his house. 'He was shilling peas when they came in and would give them nothing, but was so cairfull as to pick up a peas or two (which) had fallen ; but they searched and hitt upon all his money.' The narrative of the Quaker brewer's demand for redress from Prince Charles for the robbery of his goods, given in the Diary (p. 82), is very favourable to his brave outspokenness. We give the account of his meeting with the Prince from Ray's Compleat History of the Rebellion (p. 62), so that it may be com- INTRODUCTION. 1 1 pared : ' The fair dealing Quaker makes his Application to their prince, assuring him " That method he pursu'd would never prosper, or answer his Expectation ; for, said he, our George takes only a Part of our Money, but Thou even verily takes all; and Thou may'st as well take my Life, as talce away the Prop that supports it," upon which complaint fche Highland Prince answered, TJiat he (Mr Areskine) was many Tears in debt to the Revenue of his father's Excise, and it was but the proper Dues to his Government;' but we much prefer the version given by our author. Incidentally we meet many things small in themselves which are valuable as being at- tested by the observation of a contemporary witness. We are glad to read of the 'more polite sight' he beheld, the view of Prince Charles Edward and his suite before the entry of Edinburgh. The description of the dress of the Prince by another eye-witness has in itself a curious interest also. Neither is it unpleasing to have a truthful if hostile spectator's descrip- tion of the Proclamation on September 17th, which differs slightly from Boyes's history, 12 INTRODUCTION. even though he describes it as a 'commick f ars ; ' nor, though it may not be of great historic value, do we disdain to know, as we are told here, that the wife of Secretary Murray of Bronghton rode with the army 'in huzare dress/ accoutred with pistols, and wore in her cap 'a white plumoshe feather,' as it gives details we would not willingly be without. The MS. is printed now as it was penned. We find that the Lothian Scots in which it was written is full of forcible words, some of which, though very expressive, are now almost obsolete. We have, however, for the benefit of the modern reader, ventured to punctuate the Diary, and we have added a few notes to point out the identity of the lesser known names which occur in it, in the hope that this perhaps may be the means of making it of more real interest to the local historians of Mid-Lothian. A. FRANCIS STEUART. EDINBURGH, June 1906. THE WOODHOUSELEE MS. 1745. SABBATH, September 15, the Highlanders were at Linlithgow and owr two Irish Regements of Dragowns stood at the west end of Corstorphin. Edinburgh was alarmed the fyer bell by Archibald Stewart (Alenbank and Lanton) provost. His order was rung which disperssed all the churches the time of lectur or the morn- ing service. Letters came from Mr Philpe * of Greenlaw to his Lady at Glencorse Church, and we were allarmed with ac- cownt Prince Charles and his Highland bandits were at Corstorphin two miles from Edinburgh and three from us at Woodhows Lea. Mr John Wilson our minister t deterred the people in church * John Philp of Greenlaw. t Of Glencorse Parish, from 1699 to his death, 14th July 1757, in his 81st year. He married in 1707, Christian, daughter of William Douglas of Baads. 14 THE WOODHOUSELBE MS. with a long sermon and ane ill-timed exortation after which I had not patience to hear owt, considering the enemie was at the gaits. Upon the letter Mrs Philp went in to town. She was in owtmost terror and amazement for her husband (she said) and her dear child which were in Edinburgh. One of the elders, George Straiton, by his master Mr Mowbry's warning, went owt in time of sermon to dryve off his horses to the hills, the rest of the congregation satt qwiet, only owr familie left parte of the tediows ill timed exortation. I and the two children went to the tope of Leepshill, and with my prospect viewed these two regements of dragoons at the west end of Corstorphin to the northward of the highway where the two rods joyn. Edinburgh had a good dale of zeale and spirit. There had been 800 volenteers raised. There was the King's signe manuall for a 1000 men lately come down, the walls were put in better order, and barricads of turfe at the gaites, and some canon planted. Generall THE WOODHOUSELEE MS. 15 Ghest* had given the King's armes to those volunteers, the town gaird was full. All these with the 2 Regs, of Dragowns might have resisted and prob- able defeat fowr thowsand or a few more ill armed ill accowtered fatigued High- landers, but this wanted a cheife magis- trat to conduct the numbers and there spirit and the Lord Provost was justly suspected of corresponding with the rebells by means of his cowsin Sir James Stewart of Goodtrees and by sevral John Stewart t professor of naturall phylosophie. It was said that of the train band captains 12 of 15 were Jacobit and the Command- ant a Jacobit, the town was full of freinds to Prince Charles, and being now harvest the Heighlanders of there partie, man and weeman, had been sent up a good number under pretext of harvest work. But the Provost's conduct cast a damp upon all, he was slow in his de- * Guest. t He died 12th May 1759, at Edinburgh. Scots Magazine. 16 THE WOODHOUSELEE MS. liberations bacward in executing things agreed, he fixed upon a dismall signall the ringing the alarmer or fyer bell to call the volonters or the burgers, and this was a publick intimation to the rebell freinds within and withowt the city. The volunteers had old crassey officers the provost named there, captains George Drumond,* commissioner of excise, old provost McCallie, Ja. Nimmo, awditor of excise, Sir George Preston, Kerr gold- smith &c.t of these George Drummond had some resolution, Sir George Preston was hearty when the call was by the alarem bell to march to Grasmarket in order to march to Corstorphin. Only Drummond and Prestons companies marched down and of these many looked as going to execution (for this is the place of hanging). Some of the zelows bretheren ministers of Edinburgh that had lifted * Late Lord Provost. t James Kerr of Bughtrig, M.P., Edinburgh, 1747-54. Died 24th January 1768. He was said to be 'much in the confidence of the late Mr Pelharn.' Letters of the Right Hon. Lady Jane Douglas, p. 89. THE WOODHOUSELEE MS. 17 there hearts failed them they crayed owt it was a mad attempt; so said Moderator Wishart* and flaming Mr Alexander Web- ster ; t they acted like prists, and Georg Drummond was for leaving his body on the city walls. All was confusion and they were not knitt by disiplin and awthority and were raw men they were betrayed, betrayed, by the Kings liftenent the cheif magistrat, so they returned. The rebells approched with good disiplin for to give them there due never did 6000 theiving naked ruffiens with uncowth wappons make so harmeless a march in a civilised plentifull cowntry, and the dis- siplin was so severe they hanged up one or two at Lithgow for pilfering. Sabath * Rev. Wm. Wishart, D.D., elected moderator 9th May 1745. He was made Principal of the University of Edinburgh, and died 12th May 1753. His second wife (who was three times married) was Frances Deans of Woodhouselee. t Minister of the Tolbooth Church. Died 25th January 1784. 'By his importunity with the lamented Colonel Gardiner, it has been stated, the fatal encounter at Preston in 1745 was hastened.' Scott's Fasti, i. 51. C 18 THE WOODHOUSELEE MS. night they marched to Winchburgh three or 4 miles from Lithgow the Irish Dragowns General! Hamelton and Collonell Gardeners regements marchd in towards Edinburgh. The pannick in the good town incressed, every one wishd for day light. Monday the 16 came with all the con- fusion and false alarmes the rebells had the best intelligence by the cannals showld have given it the other way and the expresses with suspected letters to the Highland host had Lord Provost of Edin- burgh his pass and two of them had been stoped by the military at Corstorphin and stoped with such pass in there pocket. To notice all the particulars in a dis- tracted city were impossible, babell at the dispertion was such ane other runing owt runing in and runing abowt was all was done. A port had been left open and it was fund so in the patroling and after the orders were strick to shut and the kees showld have been with the Provost. This was suspitious being one Moonday THE WOODHOUSELEE MS. 19 befor day, and was deemed to give enter- ance to the stragling forruners of the enirnie, the patrole ordered it to be shutt. Soon one Moonday the military went to Coltbridge a mile west from Edinburgh, and there the dragowns lay ; and abowt 150 foot of town gairds, and new levies by the Kings signe manwall. They had been late in procuring this, and of the 1000 the town were to raise by subscription so dilatory were they tho one months pay was signed 3 days befor they had gott only 120. I saw the military &c. at the Cowt bridge Collonel Gardener I spoke with. He was in bad habit of body, and had come from Scarsburgh waters, and his regiment was fatigwed having had long marches and watchings for three days befor. They lookd very unlicke men wowld stand to it. I saw Generall Hamilton's sqwadron they looked better, but alace they were Irishmen ! The foot, near the east end of the bridge, they looked licke men for the purpose but they were a handfull. 20 THE WOODHOUSELEE MS. By some infatwat cowncill of regency Generall John Cope with the infantry was ordered to give up in a maner the key of North Brittan and march north and he was returning by sea from Aber- deen with ane harassed foot batalions had danced a 200 miles march to Inverness and Aberdeen, and now cooped upon transports, and no word of there arivall. In short the Highlanders had all the advantages and there leaders all the in- teligence they cowld desire and on they came with there bagpipes and plaids, rusty rapiers, matchlocks, and fyerlocks, and tag rag and bob taile was there. September 16 they dined at Todshawgh abowt 6 miles west from town and I was with Collonel Gardener abowt 3 afternoon when one of the scowts came in and said that 400 of the Highland advance gaird was on the north east poynt of Corstorphin hill. I took leave of Gardener and retired cross the fields and saw the dragowns mownt. They made 3 lowd huzaas and rod off to the north- THE WOODHOUSELEE MS. 21 ward and thane twrned east, and it is said they did not draw brydle till they came to Muselburgh and there they refrashed and marched one. It was said the reason they past Edinburgh was this that Generall Fowx* who had come from England had concerted with Provost Stewart that so many foot as possible showld march owt to the military and that these foot supported by the horse showld make a stand and receive the rebells. That he waited, and when non came he sent off ane edecamp who re^ twrned with this that the provost wowld give no answer : That after his returne he waited three howres, and then rod off withowt noticing the town. The city was in a fray upon the military going off but whither befor or after I cannot now say. The provost ordered his dolefull alarme by bell of ominows sownd, and this was ane .unconcerted signall to call the inhabitants under ther pannick to see if they wowld defend or surrender. * Fowkes. 22 THE WOODHOUSELEE MS. The meeting was confused, but the result was 'yow volunteers surrender yowr ariues to the Castle and disband' which was done, and George Drummond who had declared for leaving his body on the walls, made a pedantick speach when they came to disband, and all the noble captains absconded. The next order was a deputation to the pretended Prince from the honowrable and galant magis- trats and Gavin Hamilton, eldest bailie, sent with it to Colington, for by this way the rebells were to parad, to shun the fyring from the Maiden Castle, for these mowntaneers do not love the noise of great guns. As a conseqwence of this abject deputation the ports were thrown open, and all the eniuiie invited to come in at discretion withowt previous articles of capitulation, or the towngaird or train- bands armes being put owt of the way, and no dowt, had the offer been made, the Castle had received them and keeped them from the Highlanders handling canons and all. THE WOODHOUSELEE MS. 23 Honest men must shift for themselves, the scurle wheelers take possession by break of day and this Tewsday, Septem- ber 17, marches the heavy bagage on the sowth syde of Breads Craiges. I saw the cavillcade and all the Highland wifes along with the bagage, and 3 or 400 men as a gwarde. They crossed the Lintown rod I was walking along to Edinburgh and I was a little alarmed to be within ther hale becaws the straglers of all bagag men ar iregular but they they [sic] were in tope spirits with the prospect of a warme qwarters and plenty, upon the kind Lord Provosts invitation. I crossed there rod after they had past Morton, and came up with ane honest farmer in Collington Mains whos horses and cariages they had pressed. He told me they had plundered and brock all his furnetur, they had robbed 6 silver spoons. I took off the by rode to Brade, and went down to Canaan muir, and at a distance I had a politer sight. This 24 THE WOODHOUSELEE MS. was the pretended Prince his retenew and gardes. They had past befor I came up but ther rear was in vew. The tennant there told me the Prince was in Higland dress a velvet bonet, both gold lace ringed abowt both at the head ring and the seeming above. He was supported by the titular Duke of Perth on his right hand, Lord Weems his sone Lord Elcho on his left, and all the hillskipers in rank and file. Generall Preston deput governowr from the Castle fyred three cannon shott which made them start and halt, tho they were withowt vew and with- owt reach. The Prince stopet at Grange and drunk some bottles wine. He marched one keping withowt reach till he came to the Abby Pallace, as he twrned down by the Kings park he was informed Generall Cope had landed at Dunbar. He answered ' Is he by God ? ' It was said he had some fright he and his retenew when they passed by the D. . . . walke being in vew of the THE WOODHOUSELEE MS. 25 Castle, but to Holyroodhouse he came abowt eleven. September 17. I entered the town by the Bristol port which I saw to my indignation in the keeping of these caterpillers. A boy stood with a rusty drawen sword and two fellows with things licke guns of the 16 centurie sat on each syde the entry to the poors howse, and these were catching the vermin from ther lurking places abowt ther plaids and throwing them away. I said to Mr Jerdin,* minister of Liberton, ' ar these the scownderalls have surprised Edinburgh by treachery?' He answered 1 1 had reither seen it in the hands of Frenchmen, but the divell and the deep sea are both bad.' When I came to the head of the stairs leads to the Parliament Gloss I cowld scarce pass for throng, and the Parliament Gloss was crowded with them for they were to make the parad at reading the manefesto * The Eev. John Jardine, D.D., afterwards of the Tron Church. Died 30th May 1766. D 26 THE WOODHOUSELEE MS. and declaration from the Cross. I saw from a window near the Cross, north syde of the High Streeat, this commick fars or tragic commody. All these mountan officers with there troupes in rank and fyle marched from the Parliament Closs down to surrownd the Cross, and with there bagpipes and loosie crew they maid a large circle from the end of the Luickenboths to half way below the Cross to the Cowrt of Gaird, and non but the officers and speciall favowrits and one lady in dress* were admitted within the ranges. I observed there armes, they were guns of diferent syses, and some of innormowows lengh, some with butts tured up lick a heren, some tyed with puck threed to the stock, some withowt locks and some matchlocks, some had swords over ther showlder instead of guns, one or two had pitchforks, and some bits of sythes upon poles with a cleek, some old Lochaber axes. The pipes plaid pibrowghs when they were making ther * Probably Mrs Murray of Broughton. THE WOODHOUSELEE MS. 27 circle thus they stood rownd 5 or six men deep. Perhaps there was a strategem in this appearance to make us think they were a rabbell unarmed in this publick parad show, for a greate many old men and boys were mixed and they certanly conceiled there best men and armes thus for they have 1400 of the most daring and best melitia in Europe. However the parad went on, the Crosse to the east was covered with a larg fine Persian carpet. The Lyon Heralds in there formalities, coats on, and bleasons displayed, came attended but with one trumpet to the theatur or to the Cross. They were five in number, Ereskin, Lyon Clerk, on his left, Roderick Chalmers, pursevant and herald panter, the others were Clerk son, pursevant, Gray and one I knew not. All the streat and the windows and forstairs were crowded and sylence being made the manefesto was read in the name of James 8. of Scot- land England France and Ireland King was a full indemnity and pardon granted 28 THE WOODHOUSELEE MS. for all crimes commited, I presume prior to this publication, the malt tax and all other grivences to be removed, the churches secured the Church of England as by law established and these of Scot- land and Ireland according to the lawse of the severall kingdoms. I presume puting the Church of England first the lawse of this and the neighbowr kingdom were understood the laws in favowrs of Episcopacie, but tender conscienceses were to be indulged, this might extend to papists, lining manufactory and fishing to be encuraged, and liberty and property secure, and all this given owt at Rome, December 1743, and the 43 year of owr reigne. The Prince Regent's declaration was a reswming all and confirming it and dated from Paris,* Thus the winds blew from Rome and Paris were to work owr thraldome. The papers were cairfully dispersed every where amongst the people, and in the little armie the King had and emissaries had been bussie * 16th May 1745. THE WOODHOUSELEE MS. 29 every where. Chalmers the herald * pro- nunced all this manefesto and declaration with ane awdable strong voice. I cowld hear at my distance distinctly, and many much further, for there was profownd silence after all these military dismissed with bagpipes playing and a fashon of streamers over ther showlders and the chime of bells from the High Church steaple gave musicall tunes all the whill. The honest partie had no human refuge to look to but Generall John Cope and his batalions, and the two dastardly Irish regiments of dragowns. These poltrown sqwadrons, to look back by some infatuat Cowncill in the Regency what owr shutelcok Lord Advocat had proposed, was peremptorly ordered by a Commitee of the Regency at London that John Coope showld march from * Boyes in his History of the Rebellion, says, on the other hand, that the Proclamation, &c., was read by David Beatt, a Jacobite teacher in Edin- burgh ; we have here, however, the testimony of an eye-witness. 30 THE WOODHOUSELEE MS. Stirling with the few forces raw un- disiplined and attack the rebels and the street any emptie fellow General George Wade had paved a good way with a gloriows bridg over the River Tay some years agou and this wowld facilitat there march so one went owr generall and his batalions but near to his distraction, for the conspiracy was strong and he not able to face them and a retreet was dangerows. That great and good patriot Duncan Forbes of Coloden, Lord Presedent, was in the North and sent express to the generall to escape with his forces to Inverness, and to Inverness they came, a harrasing disgrasfull march, and undertook a new fatigue and marched to Aberdeen with ther feild train of allearm amonition and bagage. Was ever in Scotland heard or seen such dancing and deray 1 Transports a great many were sent from Leith to bring up owr armie from Aberdeen becawse they durst not march by land in the Kings terretories. The rebells had got the com- THE WOODHOTTSELEE MS. 3l mand off all by giving up the keys of Scotland the pass at Stirling and they pass the Forth 7 or eight miles above Stirling town and castle. They came and looked at Stirling in there way but the castle and gereson scared them for a cannon ball grased within 12 ells of the Princes sacred person. He said 'the doges bark but dar not byte.' John Cope, Generall (for this name showld alwise be so placed) took with him in his transports, by advice of Presedent Forbes, some Highlanders of the clans McKyes and Monroes, and so owr last hopes in Scotland landed at Dunbar, but alace to late, for these wild bandits had gott warme plentifull interteanment and amonition and armes at Edinburgh and some 100 of volenteers with ther white cocades joyned them, and it was thowght in John Cope's absence the dragowns had been practiced upon and debawched. However they joyned him and forward from Dunbar he marched. He marched above 3000 foot and dra- 32 THE WOODHOUSELEE MS. gowns a train of 8 or 10 field pices, a morter, 2 colverns and suitable wagons of ammonition, cannon ball shots car- trege shot, gun powder &c. they came to Tranent and spread in the grownds between that and Cockenie. The Prince was in the Abby of Holiroodhows and his Heighland gang spread in Sant An's yeards and towards the brea face or brow of the descent under Salesburg. The Prince had read his demand upon the town on Wednesday September 18, 1000 tents each to hold 6 men, pans for readying ther victwals 6000, and shoes and stokings. It was good plaids were not asked. Owr gallant generall sends them a chalange to face him in the open field the trumpet returns. This night or towards morning the Castle threw some bombs and colveren shells into ther camp and did some execution. Among many ministers of Edinburgh had fled to the Castle was Mr Alex- ander Wabster, and his servant was so treacherows as to run off befor to the THE WOODHOUSELEE MS. 33 rebells, and informe of the design of throwing the bombes, and insolently sent to his master for his weages telling his howse showld be plundered unless he had them. September 19, they were so alarmed with the rude salute of the Castle they marched owt and it was thowght the Prince was not safe in the palace ; they marched with great speed and came up with the K[irig's] little armie soon aneowgh. On Fryday the 20, when they were gon, the ministers of Edinburgh and all the useles hands turned owt of the Castle. The High- landers had marched in two divisions from Musleburg and fixed one a rising grownd sowthward above Tranent. It was said they consisted of 1000, as good men as are in Europe, 1000 indiferent good and 1400 good for nothing old men, shepherds, and boys, the Kings Own showd enrage by huzaing and forwardness to attack them. The Prince's men some of them were ordered down to ane old church yeard dyke or some walls near E 34 THE WOODHOUSELEE MS. Tranent, but owr field pices dislodged them. Infatwation is a strange thing. Owr generall in his great wisdom thowght fitt not to attack them, but formed his battell and stood, under armes all Frayday night. The enimie's leaders had more con- duct and stratagem and better intelegence. The forme of battell was the foot in the center flanked by the field artilery eight on each syde, and the horse one each wings, and a trowp of dragowns behind the cannon, the Prince had intelegence of all this, but poor Cope had no in- telegence all night. The rebell were wiser than to attack in front such a disposi- tion with a body of reserve, and a great many gentlemen, some noblemen and many Presbiterian ministers. They, the rebells, marched in the silence of the night down to the seasyde near Cockenie and befor day, or in the twea- light, marched up upon the flank of the Kings armie. They marched 3 men abreast up some corenstuble grownd in a long train and than turnd or wheeled THE WOODHOUSELEB MS. 35 abowt to make a front. They came on with furiows precipitation. This discon- certed all the poor generalls fyne dis- position and he was in surprize and confusion, the canon was turnd and gave 2 or three discharges but they wheeled and formed. The Highland troups battell came on so furiowsly that in a moment they were in sword in hand. The dragowns run off at the first fyer. Some of Gardener's men advanced abowt 15 or 16 but that was the most. The foot stood after the horse were gon, but ther was no orders from the generall what to doe, and all went soon to con- fusion. The trowpes of horse behind to gwarde the artilery never advanced to defend them, and the Highlander came up and seased them and the pultrown Irish fled. The rebells turned the Kings cannon upon us but were slow in charg- ing and not good marksmen with great guns. Cope had the gunners of the Fox man of war and a good ingeniows mathematic master Richard Jack for his 36 THE WOODHOUSELEE MS. artilery men, but lie lost artilery, amoni- tion, and all, and it may be fittly called the Chase of Cockenie or Tranent reither than the battell, for never deers run faster befor hownds than these poor betrayed men run befor a rabbell. Disiplined they were, but had no head and no confidence in there leaders. They were surprised in the twelight by men came on with a resolut rage. 'Tis said the reserve gwards the noblemen and gentlemen call upon the dragowns flying called owt 'treachery, treachery.' To doe justice to a few there were some companys of foot with a few horse stood some time to it near Cockenie, but these were soon overpowered and estrayed among inclosures. The Chase continowed and many fell. It is thowght in the time of the short resistance more of the wilde men were killed than of owrs, for the cannon did some exe- cution, but we sustained a great loss in the flight by the agility of these mowntaneers. Poor Cope (I can scarce THE WOODHOUSELEE MS. 37 give credit to it but evry on says it) fled in to the Fox man of war in the Firth. I can scarce give credit that owr brave generall Sir John with his Bath rid ruband wowld turne ad- merall. It was a melancholy schen. Brave men lost, perhaps by the treachery of some, and surely by the bad con- duct of a commander who was sur- prised first in the Heighlands and made a narow escape, and fattaly douped in this melancholy chase. Poor Collonell Gardener one of the best men and ex- perienced officers was lost. It is said he was against the generall's disposition but the good man was in so bad a state of health he cowld not have lived long, and few if any in the military were so much in a habitwall preparation for death as he, they have lost some of less valow, but some of there good men. This skirmish in the twealight covered the cowardice of many, for some of the men the rebells had forced owt deserted them to the number of some 100 s and were 38 THE WOODHOUSELEE MS. strugling early throw Pentland hils. Owr dragowns it can never be known in the duskishness of the morning whither the officers were treacherows as there men were cowherds and there horse raw and unmanaged, for it is certain, in the wheeling, the horse on the wings did the first execution and trod down and distressed and confused owr foot some of owr dragowns with there horses, all in fro' and foame, to show the fright, were seen near Edinburgh and taking to the hills by eight a clock, Saturday, the 21 of September, and some of them came earlier to the Castle gate, and some of the Higland foot had deserted were disarmed at Achendinie, and said they had been prest men and had no licking to the cawse. It seems strange that Cope disarmed the King's forces of their most usefull wapon against Highlanders, and when they marched north he ordered all there swords to be laid up in Stirling Castle, so that at the time of ingaging not one of them had a sword ; they had THE WOODHOUSELEE MS. 39 not there bagenets screwed when they were attacked, and non to give the word of command. Two of Copes aidecamps wer in the Castle at 9 o'clock in the morning. There was a great slawghter in the chase and many prisoners taken abowt eighty officers and 1300 or 14 private men. The Prince trod the field and sent to Edinburgh for surgions to cure the wownded. The generall is gott to Bervick with disgrace. The Heigh- landers had not all there force ingag'd, they say only abowt 1700 procured this totall rowt. This was a melancholy day to those that love peace and qwiet for the Highlanders returned towards Edin- burgh. The Prince lay at Pinkey house on Saturday night, and came to the Palice on Sabath evening with bagpips playing, and the body of the armie re- mained at Dudeston. The Castle had given them some disturbance by some bombs thrown in to ther campe made them keep this distance. The Prince wowld alow no rejoicing for this victory, and 40 THE WOODHOUSELEE MS. there was a proclamation to this effect, but returning heaven thanks for there success. There was ane incident in the streat of Edinburgh the day of the battell. One Olephant of Gask came owt of the Writers Cowrt hearing that 4 dragowns were flying up the streat to the Castle, and demanded them to dis- mownt. Two did, but seing but one man they took heart and fyred there pistols and if the blow had not been diverted had cutt Gask down they went off to the Castle hill. Edinburgh had a silent Sabbath, Sep- tember 22, there was no sermon but at West Church,* which is just in the eye of the Castle. September 23, a proclamation was emitted, granting protection &c. to cowntry * The Rev. Mr M 'Vicar prayed there : ' Bless the King: Thou knows what King I mean; may the crown sit long easy on his head, &c. And for this man that is 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.' Ray's History, p. 53. THE WOODHOUSELEE MS. 41 houses, but with a strange clawse in the end of it. The same day ane other against rejoisings with a clawse of thanks,- giving and offering protection to ministers of the gospell in there functions, and a third proclamation of indemnity to volun- teers, but with and under such conditions as few will accept. This was published September 24. Wednesday, September 25, I went to town most of the zelows inhabitants were fled. Highlanders with guns and swords stragling here and there and evry where ; abowt 5 or 600 had come up and more were expected. Some are allowed to goe home with there bagage and a strong detachment is sent to Glasgow, and are to demand or leavie contribution from that town and all the other lesser towns in proportion. This citie has answered the demand for 1000 tents. I saw parte go in cartes for Dudeston escorted by a Higland detachment with bagpipes and collowrs. They are to forme there camp there, and are pruffing with the artilery 42 THE WOODHOUSELEE MS. Cope threw away and learning I suppose to manage a field train, for I heard them all the rode as I came home fyring the cannon. The Prince keeps open Cowrt and is forming personall gairds. I saw at Nether Bow a good many of the King's soldiers that have listed with them and have white cocades which is the badge of that gange. I saw old Stirling of Keir* at the Cross with his white cockad, and Mr Smith of Bulint who was out 1715, walking with him; but he has since gott ane estate by the wine tread in France, and has not dis- tingwished himself by white cocade. The officers are all liberat upon parroll they wer at first all put in D[uke] of Qwenesbery's howse in Cannongate. The common soldiers ar closs confined in * James Stirling of Keir was 'out' in 1715. t Charles Smith of Boulogne. Died, aged 80, 25th August 1768 ; married, Barbara, daughter of Sir Hugh Paterson of Bannockburn. He obtained a protection from the Old Chevalier 9th November 1740 (Rou- vigny's Jacobite Peerage)) and was much mixed up in Jacobite plots. THE WOODHOUSELEE MS. 43 Cannonget prison, and in the Church. The Princes men have the town gwaird and they make gward at the Wighows neir church and Nether Bow, and have sentries at the tolboth and other places they think proper. They ar to have shoes stockings and water cantons from the town of Edinburgh. As I went to town I heard on the way that they had been in sarch of such as had dis- armed some of there straglers particularly at Bow Bridge on my rod ; they had tyed a fellow neck to heel and were to carry him off under pretext of this crime but he redeemed him self by paying 20 shillings. They went to Straiton mill and took free qwarter and some money. If all the clans come up as is talked they will eate up this poor place if they continow long here. One September 25, being the last Wedensday of the month and the pres- betery day, some ministers conveened, in the Society of Propogation there publick hall, to concerte what to doe. They had 44 THE WOODHOUSELEE MS. seen the Prince's proclamation and sent a message to Lord Provost. His answer was that he had no awthority nor cowld act under any, but that he had conversed severalls and from these understood that no minister was to be trowbled for what was done in the church. The bells had rung on the 22, morning and midd-day but no minister nor congregation ap- peared ; they are to act in harmony and resolve not to pray in ambigwows generall termes as the Jacobit Episcopal clargie have long done, but either explicitly as uswall formerly or to [o]rnett praying for the Goverment al togither, but they have appointed ane other metting this September 26 the result is non ar to preach Sabbath, September 29. September 26, the ministers unanimowsly resolved there showld be no publick wor- shep on Sabath 29 of September. The Cannonget kirk is full of prisoners and they have done considerable damage in it by spoylling the seats the rest of ther prisoners are in the tennes-cowrt and THE WOODHOUSELEE MS. 45 in the prisons. They allow the poor fellows but one penny a day for mentin- ence and talk of carrying them into captivity to Blair of Atholl in the Highlands ; the Prince to seem generows sends them some small gratuity of bread and drink. The Fox man of war interups ther passage boats allowing non to pass but such as have Generall Preston's pass. A message was sent that he wowld allow the Kings subjects to pass and repass to Fyfe that were sent by the Prince or Duke of Perth. He gave a rowgh answer that if the Prince or Duke of Perth or any of there gang came in his way he wowld give them a pass for hell. It was strang in Provost Stewart at 11 at night, September 16, to send for Mr Webster, minister of Edenburgh, after they had agreed to surrender the town and the volunteers had given there muskets in to the Castle, and propose that he and the volunteers showld take 46 THE WOODHOUSELEE MS. up armes and capitulat sword in hand. Mr Webster said this was of a pice with the rest of the vilanows contryvance or words to that purpose. When Bailie Gavin Hamilton waited on the Prince at Colington he asked what was come of the armes ? Hamelton answered that the towns armes were in there gaird and magasin, but the volenteer armes in the Castle. He showd displeaswr, but Hamil- ton answered that the volunteer armes belonged to the Castle so it was thowght the Provost was for the volunteers re- suming the Kings armes, and as, he said, to capitulat sword in hand, but it was suspected this was to betray them and there armes into the rebells hands. Ane other odd conduct was that the Moonday night, befor the surrender, Generall Pres- ton detached a party from his garison to naile or carry off the canon from the walls. The officer had the command was Major Roberton's sone. He sent to the provost for allowance to come into his jurisdiction. In his dilatory way he said THE WOODHOUSELEE MS. 47 he must have this from the Generall himself, upon which he sent up and the Generall told him the party marched by his order, and he and Generall Ghest were of opinion he showld ludge the gaird armes and towns magazin in the Castell ; but Lord Provost absolutely re- fused this or to allow them to enter to cary off or spoyll the cannon on the city walls. There passed us at Woodhowslea on there way to Linton the Prince's Secretary Murray of Brughton in his way to Linton in Twedell with a party mownted one Collonell Gardener's dragoon horse. The occasion was Brughton's lady was comming to town escorted by some Higland gan[g] Mr Charles Hope of Craigehall his ser- vant was in the inns at Linton and this lady, who is dawghter to Collonel Ferguson who was one of the flamingest Williamit whiges, so far is gon into the spirit of the gang. She ordered Mr Hope's two horses to be secured in the stable and his servant searched and he 48 THE WOODHOUSELEE MS. had upon him some valowable juels and 1000. II. in money and nots all which was seased and her husband has come owt to convoy in this treaswr. Mr Thomas Fairholme his book keeper in his cownting rowme has left him and put on the badge of the disorderly time and wrote his master ane insolent letter for 5 II he pretended to want of his weages, which was sent to him directly, many servants have practised this and insulted there masters, particularly Mr Webster's servant the minister of Edin- burgh. It is strange that John Traile, bookseller,* who disgwised himself under a stride cloack of sanctitie and dispersed the Whitfild Methodist papers and piows packeds has declared for those disorders, but his cowsin Sir James Stewart t was * In the Parliament Close. t Of Good trees (or Gutters), 1712-80; married Lady Frances Wemyss, sister of Lord Elcho. His sister, Agnes Steuart, was -wife of Henry David, Lord Cardross. Their grandmother, Lady Steuart, was Agnes, daughter of Mr Kobert Traill, minister of Edinburgh. THE WOODHOUSELEE MS. 49 his ludger and Lady Fanny Stewart is in his howse with her husband. It is ane insult upon common sence Sir James his practise, he has been ane oppen tool and now that the Prince is come he, Sir James of Gutters, and Lord Cardros whom he has seduced, ar under arrest by the Prince as is pretended and owt upon paroll ; they shall not leave the place so long as the Prince is here. Severall of the new cocad gentlemen have chainged there dress into the High- land habit. Such strange phynomina ap- pear upon this success. One knows not whom to trust for men partie the pre- vailing interest here other things might have been expected from them. Hard by the field of action they rifled Collonell Gardener's cowntry howse and abused it. Mr Nisbet, surgeon, has his howse at the end of Preston town, they came in upon him. He offered them a glass of wine and refreshment but they held a pistol or two to his breast and threatned. The old man tooke of his wifes watch G 50 THE WOODHOUSELEE MS. and rings and gwted his howse and they served the minister of Trenent in the same sawse. After as they will have it called ther victory at Gladsmuir they did many such. The Highlanders goe owt a marrod- ing and spoyll the cowntrie. They had come to Lord Somervell's howse of Drum, and frighted the minister under the notion he had been with Cope and beat him with there swords. They took Mr Gordon for my Lord's sone. Lord Sommervell gave them money and twrned them off but when on Wedensday, September 25, they re twrned he had given his tennants and colers* a signall by ringing the howse bell they con- veened and oposed them and kiled two, but the Highlanders killed as many of them and wownded one. My Lord com- pleaned to Lord George Murray and he told they had no awthority and wished he had cawse dispach them all that came in that shape. Next night * Colliers. THE WOODHOUSELEE MS. 51 they spoyled the tennants at Swanston. They went in and complained to the Prince and he said he wowld cawse heng them had done the injury if they wowld poynt them owt. Mr Balenton's two dawghters and Grissell fled from Edinburgh. They told us Sabath, September 29, some white cockad gentlemen came and frighted the meeting at sermon there the end of after- noon sermon for the Castle threatned to fyer, and all the people were in confusion. The occasion of there qwit- ting Edinburgh was that the Highlanders stope the communication of Edinburgh with the Castle and keep gward at Weighhowse and in Twrnpickis in Castle - hill the Generall sent to the Prince to complain and he refuses to remove his gairds so there was warning given that the Castle was to fyre down the streets, and evry one was flying to the cowntrie they may demolish the weighowse and perhaps drope bombs upon the streat if not open a vew to the cross by 52 THE WOODHOUSELKE MS. knocking down Luckenbothes under pre- text of a story that two officers had contrair parole given gon to the Castle and returned they have carryed off so many of the officers in six or seven coaches. I hear they have spoyled all the gentlemens seats in East Lothian and the gentlemen had fled. They cached Will Sandelands of Eastbarens and browght him in prisoner till he pay 30 II. in name of cess. These ar perhaps but the beginings of evell. The Prince is resolut and wowld have all fall befor him, but as Captain Baver of the Fox man of war said, Who that has a drope of British blood in his wame can befreind a Popish Prince with a mane- festo dated at Roome ? Glasgow it is said gave 5000 II and some tartans &c. they have lett owt the town sisteren in Castle hill, and the watter runs down the streats. The order for the Castle fyring down the town had come to Cragie, Cope, and Dundas ; that is to owr Advocat, owr THE WOODHOUSELEE MS. 53 Generall, and owr Solisitor, at Bervick upon Tweed, for these gentlemen ar now in garison these had keeped the warrant signed by owr Secretary the Marqwis of Tweedal at London, and forwarded a copie to Generals Preston, Gwest, and Fowx now in the Castle and attested it, but these generalls de- murred and only gave the alarme which occasioned the hubbub and rwning owt of town and they have demolished a frontire solitary howse built by Allan Ramsy on the north skirt of the hill. This howse was called the mungerall burluescke poet* Ramsie's goos paye it resembling such a figure, t and upon pretext of the Highlanders nestling abowt it and throwing up trinshes and ther demolishing the town cisteren of water that stood near it ; this howse is laid in rubish the mattrasses or guners sent from the towr demolished it with some 8 or 10 cannon shot this * Ramsay was a Jacobite. t The ' goose-pie ' is now occupied by Kamsay Lodge. 54 THE WOODHOUSELEE MS. was done October 1, 1745, abowt 5 at night and small shott discharged att the same time. The Castle sent off ane express September 30 for positive orders and are to have ane answer in G days, o to the fait of the city by fyring down the streats. By this demolishing they have made Lochiall Cameron is said to be wounded who was the politest man of the partie and for softer measwrs, but had foolishly said he wowld surprise the Castle with a 120 men, but he and some of his Cameron trybe ar killed in the rowing of Ramsies Goospye howse. My nigh- bo wr Syme was frighted by some country men his mear and his demee- picke sadle he thowght in hazard, coming from town, by some strolling Highlanders October 1., but it was only two cowntry men jocked him and in the darke bid him dismownt. The Castle continowed fyring October 2. and killed severall Heighlanders one destracted fellow, a gardener, was shot THE WOODHOUSELEE MS. 55 for not answering when 3 times called to passing under the sowth syde of the Castle. Some ball were shot down the streat aimed as was thowght near the tolboth gait where ar severals of the gang. It passed throw two of the churches. This crew is all over infesting East Lothian and the gentlemen fled they now demand payment from the new bank of there notts they have, and threaten military execution on the governors. Perhaps Cope's military chist and much of the 5000 II they had from Glasgow is in this coyn. The Castle powrs down small shott from muskets and pertreg shot* from the cannon when any of them dars peep owt. 'Tis said Lochiell was behind some howse in the hill and the fall or flying of some stons hurt his showlder. 'Tis not safe being in Lawn or Grassmarkets, I saw a musket ball was battered upon the stons in Grassmarket and a gentleman missed it narrowly. * 'Paitrick' i.e. partridge shot. 56 THE WOODHOUSELEE MS. October 3 I went to town this day, saw the fyring upon Liviston yeard hows it is demolished, and the Highlanders disludged. They had gott into West kirk too and the ministers escaped they thowght to have seased them and did ring the bell twise for Thursday week- day sermon. All the 40 or 50 cannon shott and the rapps of small armes is to keep a comunication for provisions to the Castle, and the Prince has sworen death to any come or goe from it, and placarded his orders publickly. Constant allarmes were given the Castell in conse- qwence of a resolution taken at Holy- roodhows to cutt of all comunication, as the Prince called it, betuext the Castle and owr Capitall and this was fixed at the Cross on the gaits by Cadie Byers, and at all ports but the West Port wher I advised the Cadie not to go for fear of the Castle when he gave me my copie at Bristo Port, but Byers put it wp evrywhere else where the playhows bills use to be affixed. There followed THE WOODHOUSELEE MS. 57 this fyring great guns demolishing and burning howses in Livistons yeard upon the Castle hill, and fyring down the streat October 3, 4, 5, 6, and many of the Prince's party killed and some ino- cent persons [who] did not keep owt of the way. Some days above 60 cannon shot a day and muskets withowt number, volys, platoon shot, an