The collected writings of Dougal Graham "Skellat" Bellman of Glasgow: edited with notes: Together with a Biographical and Bibliographical Introduction, and a Sketch of the Chap Literature of Scotland: by George MacGregor: In two volumes |
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| IV. | CHAP. IV. |
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 | CHAP. IV. The collected writings of Dougal Graham |  |
CHAP. IV.
Retaking of Carlisle by Cumberland. His return to London. Battle of Inverurie. The Rebels march from Dumfries by Glasgow to Stirling.
December, on the twenty-two,
The English round Carlisle they drew,
On south west side fix'd on a place
Which opposite the castle was.
The Duke all round it took a view,
And of the castle had no brow,
It seem'd to him like a dung hill,
Or like a German old brick kiln:
But yet their cannon play'd right smart,
Which caus'd them from the hills depart.
To capit'late the terms they crav'd,
Were, T'march with honour away to leav't.
The English round Carlisle they drew,
On south west side fix'd on a place
Which opposite the castle was.
The Duke all round it took a view,
And of the castle had no brow,
It seem'd to him like a dung hill,
Or like a German old brick kiln:
But yet their cannon play'd right smart,
Which caus'd them from the hills depart.
To capit'late the terms they crav'd,
Were, T'march with honour away to leav't.
The Duke reply'd, “That is a due
“Ne'er given to any rebel crew;
“But ne'ertheless take it I shall,
“Either with honour or not at all.”
Then in the dark time of the night,
He caus'd lay down, to cloud their sight,
Loads of straw and ricks of hay;
There dig'd a trench of turf and clay:
But batt'ring cannon he had none,
But small field guns to mount thereon;
Till from Whitehav'n, thirty miles away,
Drove heavy cannon on it to lay.
As soon as they began to fire,
They beat the walls as low as mire,
And made a breach both broad and wide,
In the castle wall on the west side;
To enter there, began to form,
And take the fort by bloody storm.
No quarters they propos'd to give,
Put all to death, not one to live;
When this they saw, without all doubt,
A flag of mercy they hung out;
But all that could obtained be,
Was pris'ners at the King's mercy.
From thence they were to London sent,
Where heads and hearts were from them rent
Some executed in that place,
And members dash'd into their face,
Their very hearts cut out alive,
Such butch'ry's horrid to descrive.
Many of the commons banish'd were
To plantations, I know not where,
John Hamilton the governor,
His head, from off his body shore,
Fix'd on a pole on the Scots-port,
Scots for the future to exhort,
By viewing the spectacles were there,
Against rebellion to have a care.
Two Lancashire men's heads also,
On th'English gate fixt as a show,
Whom they did English rebels call,
A proof Scots are not rebels all;
I only show there's part of both,
And for their fate, I say, “Oh, hogh!
A dreadful sight for human eyes,
For to behold such sacrifice
'Mong Christian people, as I think,
At what I've seen my heart does shrink;
When I view the place and on it ponder,
The bloody butch'ry that's been yonder,
I mean in the streets of Carlisle,
The mangling that was there a while.
Of such like acts I'll say no more,
But follow the subject just before.
“Ne'er given to any rebel crew;
“But ne'ertheless take it I shall,
“Either with honour or not at all.”
Then in the dark time of the night,
He caus'd lay down, to cloud their sight,
119
There dig'd a trench of turf and clay:
But batt'ring cannon he had none,
But small field guns to mount thereon;
Till from Whitehav'n, thirty miles away,
Drove heavy cannon on it to lay.
As soon as they began to fire,
They beat the walls as low as mire,
And made a breach both broad and wide,
In the castle wall on the west side;
To enter there, began to form,
And take the fort by bloody storm.
No quarters they propos'd to give,
Put all to death, not one to live;
When this they saw, without all doubt,
A flag of mercy they hung out;
But all that could obtained be,
Was pris'ners at the King's mercy.
From thence they were to London sent,
Where heads and hearts were from them rent
Some executed in that place,
And members dash'd into their face,
Their very hearts cut out alive,
Such butch'ry's horrid to descrive.
Many of the commons banish'd were
To plantations, I know not where,
John Hamilton the governor,
His head, from off his body shore,
Fix'd on a pole on the Scots-port,
Scots for the future to exhort,
By viewing the spectacles were there,
Against rebellion to have a care.
Two Lancashire men's heads also,
On th'English gate fixt as a show,
Whom they did English rebels call,
A proof Scots are not rebels all;
I only show there's part of both,
120
A dreadful sight for human eyes,
For to behold such sacrifice
'Mong Christian people, as I think,
At what I've seen my heart does shrink;
When I view the place and on it ponder,
The bloody butch'ry that's been yonder,
I mean in the streets of Carlisle,
The mangling that was there a while.
Of such like acts I'll say no more,
But follow the subject just before.
The Duke forthwith to London went,
And gen'ral Hawly to Scotland sent,
Who round by Berwick took his rout,
Near a full hundred miles about,
Ev'n by Newcastle and Dunbar,
It must be own'd the stretch was far,
Before he came to E'nburgh town
Fatigu'd were both foot and dragoon.
And gen'ral Hawly to Scotland sent,
Who round by Berwick took his rout,
Near a full hundred miles about,
Ev'n by Newcastle and Dunbar,
It must be own'd the stretch was far,
Before he came to E'nburgh town
Fatigu'd were both foot and dragoon.
While Charles did through England pass,
Lord Loudon lay at inverness,
And with him did two thousand men
To keep in awe the Highland Clan:
For several lairds their Clans did raise,
And some took part in both the ways;
Others kept them in their own bounds,
For preservation of their grounds,
And when Duke William gain'd the day,
It was for him, they then did say;
But if Charles had chanc'd to prevail
Some think they'd told another tale.
Yet Loudon to King George was true,
And by his conduct did subdue
Many who were as foes inclin'd,
And kept them in a neutral mind.
The Frazers' clan he drove away,
Who around Fort Augustus lay,
Commanded by lord Lovat's son,
He made them from that fort to run.
Lord Lewis Gordon lay from him south,
With lord John Drummond, a furious youth,
And brother to the Duke of Perth,
Who wish'd Loudon sent off the earth,
And under their command, it seems,
Was the French Regiment de Fitz James,
With Clan's rais'd on the northern shore,
About three thousand men or more,
Kept Aberdeen, Perth, and Dundee,
And all the low towns by the sea:
The fierce MacLeod lay west from them,
Who on George's side had rais'd his men,
Intending to take Aberdeen,
Knowing that Gordon lay therein,
He as far as Inverurie came,
In hopes next day to reach the same;
But Gordon of this was aware,
And for to meet him did prepare,
But march'd his men another way,
As tho' he would not on him stay.
West from the road he took his rout,
Altho' it was some miles about,
Kept hollow ways not to be seen,
Where woods and planting did him screen,
And 'bout the setting of the sun,
He spy'd them entering the town.
A halt he made, judg'd what to do,
Of's being there they nothing knew.
Much like his own their number seem'd,
Then for to fight, it best he deem'd:
And what favour'd his notion more,
He saw them billoting, a score
Or more into each country town,
At two miles distance all around.
When the full half of them were gone,
He thought it time to draw them on,
In full brigade at the town's end,
Before MacLeod ought of him kend:
The first intelligence some got
Was by the rattling of the shot.
Confus'd he was in this sad case
His men dispers'd, and few to face.
The foes assault, upon the hill
He rallied them near to the mill.
They fir'd full brisk on every side;
Yet Gordon's force was hard to bide,
They being to arms bred in France,
Knew how to retreat, and to advance.
MacLeod's men, in number few,
Quite raw and undisciplin'd too,
Lost nearly twenty upon the spot,
And forty fled gall'd by the shot.
The laird himself, to end the matter,
Did fly and could not make it better.
His men in crowds came running in,
Crying, Master did ye loss or win?
But for to rally in such a stour,
He had no time, might, or power;
The darksome night was coming on,
And his best men lay dead and gone,
Or wounded, they before him fled:
While Gordon brisk advancing made,
Whose loss that night was not heard tell,
Alledging that none of them fell;
He gained the field and town, 'tis true,
But yet 'twas judg'd he lost a few,
Whom they did bury in the night,
To keep their losses out of sight.
Lord Loudon lay at inverness,
And with him did two thousand men
To keep in awe the Highland Clan:
For several lairds their Clans did raise,
And some took part in both the ways;
Others kept them in their own bounds,
For preservation of their grounds,
And when Duke William gain'd the day,
It was for him, they then did say;
But if Charles had chanc'd to prevail
Some think they'd told another tale.
Yet Loudon to King George was true,
And by his conduct did subdue
Many who were as foes inclin'd,
And kept them in a neutral mind.
The Frazers' clan he drove away,
Who around Fort Augustus lay,
121
He made them from that fort to run.
Lord Lewis Gordon lay from him south,
With lord John Drummond, a furious youth,
And brother to the Duke of Perth,
Who wish'd Loudon sent off the earth,
And under their command, it seems,
Was the French Regiment de Fitz James,
With Clan's rais'd on the northern shore,
About three thousand men or more,
Kept Aberdeen, Perth, and Dundee,
And all the low towns by the sea:
The fierce MacLeod lay west from them,
Who on George's side had rais'd his men,
Intending to take Aberdeen,
Knowing that Gordon lay therein,
He as far as Inverurie came,
In hopes next day to reach the same;
But Gordon of this was aware,
And for to meet him did prepare,
But march'd his men another way,
As tho' he would not on him stay.
West from the road he took his rout,
Altho' it was some miles about,
Kept hollow ways not to be seen,
Where woods and planting did him screen,
And 'bout the setting of the sun,
He spy'd them entering the town.
A halt he made, judg'd what to do,
Of's being there they nothing knew.
Much like his own their number seem'd,
Then for to fight, it best he deem'd:
And what favour'd his notion more,
He saw them billoting, a score
Or more into each country town,
At two miles distance all around.
When the full half of them were gone,
122
In full brigade at the town's end,
Before MacLeod ought of him kend:
The first intelligence some got
Was by the rattling of the shot.
Confus'd he was in this sad case
His men dispers'd, and few to face.
The foes assault, upon the hill
He rallied them near to the mill.
They fir'd full brisk on every side;
Yet Gordon's force was hard to bide,
They being to arms bred in France,
Knew how to retreat, and to advance.
MacLeod's men, in number few,
Quite raw and undisciplin'd too,
Lost nearly twenty upon the spot,
And forty fled gall'd by the shot.
The laird himself, to end the matter,
Did fly and could not make it better.
His men in crowds came running in,
Crying, Master did ye loss or win?
But for to rally in such a stour,
He had no time, might, or power;
The darksome night was coming on,
And his best men lay dead and gone,
Or wounded, they before him fled:
While Gordon brisk advancing made,
Whose loss that night was not heard tell,
Alledging that none of them fell;
He gained the field and town, 'tis true,
But yet 'twas judg'd he lost a few,
Whom they did bury in the night,
To keep their losses out of sight.
This bloody battle, as they say,
Was fought the night before Yuil day,
At the end of Inverurie town,
Led on by Gordon and Drummond,
Against MacLeod and all his Clan,
Who did not well concert the plan:
Spreading his men so far a breed,
Was nothing like a martial deed:
For the one half they overthrew,
Before the other ought on't knew.
It was a trick of war ye ken
For making them more wise again;
No sooner Gordon got the town,
Than centries plac'd were all aroun',
Who kept patrolling through the night,
Lest MacLeod shou'd renew the fight;
But to the hills he did proceed,
There to bewail his luckless deed.
Gordon return'd to Aberdeen
Rejoicing he'd victorious been,
From thence to Stirling got his rout,
To join his Prince when thereabout.
Was fought the night before Yuil day,
At the end of Inverurie town,
Led on by Gordon and Drummond,
123
Who did not well concert the plan:
Spreading his men so far a breed,
Was nothing like a martial deed:
For the one half they overthrew,
Before the other ought on't knew.
It was a trick of war ye ken
For making them more wise again;
No sooner Gordon got the town,
Than centries plac'd were all aroun',
Who kept patrolling through the night,
Lest MacLeod shou'd renew the fight;
But to the hills he did proceed,
There to bewail his luckless deed.
Gordon return'd to Aberdeen
Rejoicing he'd victorious been,
From thence to Stirling got his rout,
To join his Prince when thereabout.
When from Dumfries they came away,
Hamilton they reach'd on the next day;
Knowing no danger then before them,
They levied all things fit to store them,
As horse, of which they had great need,
Many of them being rode to dead.
Of meat and drink they spier'd no price;
But little harm did otherwise,
Save changing shoes when brogues were spent,
For victuals sure they could not want.
To Glasgow they came the next day,
In a very poor forlorn way,
The shot was rusted in the gun,
Their swords from scabbards would not twin,
Their count'nance fierce as a wild bear,
Out o'er their eyes hang down their hair,
Their very thighs red tanned quite;
But yet as nimble as they'd been white;
Their beards were turned black and brown,
The like was ne'er seen in that town,
Some of them did barefooted run,
Minded no mire nor stony groun';
But when shav'n, drest and cloth'd again
They turn'd to be like other men.
Eight days they did in Glasgow rest,
Until they were all cloth'd and drest:
And though they on the best o't fed,
The town they under tribute laid,
Ten thousand Sterling made it pay,
For being of the Georgian way,
Given in goods and ready cash,
Or else to stand a plundering lash:
And 'cause they did Militia raise,
They were esteem'd as mortal faes:
For being oppos'd to Jacobites,
They plainly call'd them Whiggonites.
But, for peace sake, to get them clear,
Of ev'ry thing they furnish'd were,
A printing Press and two workmen
To print their journals as they ran.
Hamilton they reach'd on the next day;
Knowing no danger then before them,
They levied all things fit to store them,
As horse, of which they had great need,
Many of them being rode to dead.
Of meat and drink they spier'd no price;
But little harm did otherwise,
Save changing shoes when brogues were spent,
For victuals sure they could not want.
To Glasgow they came the next day,
In a very poor forlorn way,
The shot was rusted in the gun,
Their swords from scabbards would not twin,
Their count'nance fierce as a wild bear,
Out o'er their eyes hang down their hair,
Their very thighs red tanned quite;
But yet as nimble as they'd been white;
Their beards were turned black and brown,
124
Some of them did barefooted run,
Minded no mire nor stony groun';
But when shav'n, drest and cloth'd again
They turn'd to be like other men.
Eight days they did in Glasgow rest,
Until they were all cloth'd and drest:
And though they on the best o't fed,
The town they under tribute laid,
Ten thousand Sterling made it pay,
For being of the Georgian way,
Given in goods and ready cash,
Or else to stand a plundering lash:
And 'cause they did Militia raise,
They were esteem'd as mortal faes:
For being oppos'd to Jacobites,
They plainly call'd them Whiggonites.
But, for peace sake, to get them clear,
Of ev'ry thing they furnish'd were,
A printing Press and two workmen
To print their journals as they ran.
From Glasgow then they took their rout,
Lochiel he led his Clan about
By Cumbernauld, another way,
Lest Kir'ntilloch they should repay,
Which had killed two of their Clan,
That a spulzieing unto it came;
As they were passing through the town,
They by the rabble were knock'd down,
For which the place was taxed sore,
And dreaden much 'twould suffer more.
Near Stirling then, they all did meet,
Summon'd the town for to submit,
Militia therein were quartered,
And the townsmen also, armed,
Who did defend a day or two;
But found their force it would not do:
Though a good wall both stout and strong,
Lay on the south where they came on;
Yet 'tween the water and the town
It lay quite open, halfway roun'.
The bridge was cut on the south side,
The water deep they could not wade;
Their nearest pass was at the Frew,
Full four miles west and in their view.
Four thousand lay on the north side,
Threat'ning the town whate'er betide.
Glasgow Militia had left the place,
And to met Hawley at Ed'nbro' was.
Militia they had; but not enew,
Such duty was too hard to do.
Those who did ly on the north hand,
Were not of those were in England;
But with Lord Lewis Gordon came,
Brother to th'Duke of that same name,
Which he had raised in the north,
Help'd by lord John, brother to Perth,
Who did command Fitz-James's horse,
That came from France into Montrose:
Most of their riders Irish and Scots,
Nat'rally bent to join such plots,
Inclin'd to love the Stewart race,
Whose father's did that side embrace.
These foresaid Lords most active were,
Both men and money to prepare,
And would have rais'd some thousands more,
Had but six thousand French came o'er,
Which, time from time, they promised;
But the seas were too well guarded.
Lord Loudon lay into the north,
Long way beyond the Murray firth,
Twenty sev'n hundred men had he,
Which made the Frazer's Clan to flee,
When Fort Augustus they did besiege;
Yet in open field would not engage.
Likewise MacLeods, Grants and Munroe's,
Against the Stewarts in arms rose:
The Sutherlands and name of Gun,
To arms did against them run.
Sir Duncan Forbes, Lord president,
Caus'd many rise by his consent.
Thus, in the north, I you assure,
There was an army of great pow'r,
All upon the Georgian side,
Beside what was besouth the Clyde,
Who all in arms there did unite,
Unto the cause with noble sp'rit.
Also the brave men of Argyle,
Who were preparing all the while;
But could not find safe passage east,
Until they were from Glasgow past:
And then they went by Airdrie town,
When Hawley was through Lothian come,
Him join'd at Ed'nburgh where they lay
Preparing for the battle day;
Glasgow and Paisley troops were there,
To serve king George free volunteer.
Lochiel he led his Clan about
By Cumbernauld, another way,
Lest Kir'ntilloch they should repay,
Which had killed two of their Clan,
That a spulzieing unto it came;
As they were passing through the town,
They by the rabble were knock'd down,
For which the place was taxed sore,
And dreaden much 'twould suffer more.
Near Stirling then, they all did meet,
Summon'd the town for to submit,
Militia therein were quartered,
And the townsmen also, armed,
Who did defend a day or two;
But found their force it would not do:
125
Lay on the south where they came on;
Yet 'tween the water and the town
It lay quite open, halfway roun'.
The bridge was cut on the south side,
The water deep they could not wade;
Their nearest pass was at the Frew,
Full four miles west and in their view.
Four thousand lay on the north side,
Threat'ning the town whate'er betide.
Glasgow Militia had left the place,
And to met Hawley at Ed'nbro' was.
Militia they had; but not enew,
Such duty was too hard to do.
Those who did ly on the north hand,
Were not of those were in England;
But with Lord Lewis Gordon came,
Brother to th'Duke of that same name,
Which he had raised in the north,
Help'd by lord John, brother to Perth,
Who did command Fitz-James's horse,
That came from France into Montrose:
Most of their riders Irish and Scots,
Nat'rally bent to join such plots,
Inclin'd to love the Stewart race,
Whose father's did that side embrace.
These foresaid Lords most active were,
Both men and money to prepare,
And would have rais'd some thousands more,
Had but six thousand French came o'er,
Which, time from time, they promised;
But the seas were too well guarded.
Lord Loudon lay into the north,
Long way beyond the Murray firth,
Twenty sev'n hundred men had he,
Which made the Frazer's Clan to flee,
When Fort Augustus they did besiege;
126
Likewise MacLeods, Grants and Munroe's,
Against the Stewarts in arms rose:
The Sutherlands and name of Gun,
To arms did against them run.
Sir Duncan Forbes, Lord president,
Caus'd many rise by his consent.
Thus, in the north, I you assure,
There was an army of great pow'r,
All upon the Georgian side,
Beside what was besouth the Clyde,
Who all in arms there did unite,
Unto the cause with noble sp'rit.
Also the brave men of Argyle,
Who were preparing all the while;
But could not find safe passage east,
Until they were from Glasgow past:
And then they went by Airdrie town,
When Hawley was through Lothian come,
Him join'd at Ed'nburgh where they lay
Preparing for the battle day;
Glasgow and Paisley troops were there,
To serve king George free volunteer.
| CHAP. IV. The collected writings of Dougal Graham | |