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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| VI. | CHAP. VI. |
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 | CHAP. VI. The collected writings of Dougal Graham |  |
CHAP. VI.
The Duke's return. His Speech to the Army. March to Stirling. Explosion of St. Ninian's Church.
Guess ye if George was well content,
At Hawley's being so defeat,
And making such a foul retreat.
On Friday's night the deed was done,
This was on Sunday afternoon.
The council's call'd, and in all haste,
The Duke again they did request
To go, and take the whole command,
For to reduce the Highland band
That so disturbed Briton's peace,
Which was accepted by his Grace.
All things prepar'd for posting ways,
He on the road was near six days.
To Ed'nburgh town he came at last,
Which gave their sp'rits a quickning blast.
The troops review'd and brought together,
All for the field he did consider,
The Glasgow and the Paisley Core
He order'd home, knowing of more,
Six thousand Hessians beside dragoons
141
On pressing march towards the north,
Expecting battle, south side of Forth.
The Duke's Speech to his Army at Edinburgh, January 30th, 1746.
“Now Gentlemen, hear this of me,
“You're th'soldi'rs of a people free,
“Not like the poor starv'd slaves in France,
“Bound to a Popish ordinance.
“I know there's many of you here
“Who've shown your merit, that I can swear,
“Others, perhaps, n'er had occasion
“To show your valour in foreign nation,
“Yet think yourselves as good as they,
“I doubt not but part of you may;
“Tho' native soil you've yet possest,
“In foreign land no foes have fac'd,
“You descend from men, as well as they,
“Who never turn'd their backs to fly:
“I hope you're now resolv'd to fight
“All for your King and countries Right,
“'Gainst their rebellious resolution,
“Who're for turning order to confusion,
“A set of plunderers and thieves,
“Which in ev'ry age disturbs and grieves:
“Ay, learn'd from their fathers they are,
“In troublous times to raise up war:
“Boasting themselves in bauling words,
“To do great actions with broad swords:
“I think they'll prove to be small stops,
“In front of well disciplin'd troops.
“Stand and behold them in the face,
“And use your points in such a case.
“If you don't fly and break your line,
“By swords you can no danger find;
“But when you turn your backs to fly,
“You throw honour and life away;
“You murder by this means yoursell,
“And foes encourage to excel.
“Think on Tourney and Fontenoy.
“Fear not this Rabble, who wou'd destroy
“All that's good, if they had power.
“May heav'n protect us in battle hour!
“Remember you're for a right cause,
“Against subverters of the laws.”
“You're th'soldi'rs of a people free,
“Not like the poor starv'd slaves in France,
“Bound to a Popish ordinance.
“I know there's many of you here
“Who've shown your merit, that I can swear,
“Others, perhaps, n'er had occasion
“To show your valour in foreign nation,
“Yet think yourselves as good as they,
“I doubt not but part of you may;
“Tho' native soil you've yet possest,
“In foreign land no foes have fac'd,
“You descend from men, as well as they,
“Who never turn'd their backs to fly:
“I hope you're now resolv'd to fight
“All for your King and countries Right,
“'Gainst their rebellious resolution,
“Who're for turning order to confusion,
“A set of plunderers and thieves,
“Which in ev'ry age disturbs and grieves:
“Ay, learn'd from their fathers they are,
“In troublous times to raise up war:
“Boasting themselves in bauling words,
“To do great actions with broad swords:
“I think they'll prove to be small stops,
“In front of well disciplin'd troops.
“Stand and behold them in the face,
“And use your points in such a case.
“If you don't fly and break your line,
“By swords you can no danger find;
“But when you turn your backs to fly,
142
“You murder by this means yoursell,
“And foes encourage to excel.
“Think on Tourney and Fontenoy.
“Fear not this Rabble, who wou'd destroy
“All that's good, if they had power.
“May heav'n protect us in battle hour!
“Remember you're for a right cause,
“Against subverters of the laws.”
From Ed'nburgh town they march'd away
To Lithgow came that very day,
The Campbells on front also this night
Retook Falkirk, and put to flight
Part of the Highland troops were there,
Who straight for Stirling did repair;
But orders met them by the road,
That night to stop at the Torwood:
Because against the morning light,
Their army would be there on sight.
The council call'd at Bannockburn,
Where all agreed for to return
And fight the Duke, whate'er betide,
But his Lowland men would not 'bide;
These Nor'landers swore by their saul
That Cumberland would kill them all.
But the Higlanders made this reply,
That for their Prince they'd fight and die,
Where'er he went, they'd with him go
And face the Duke, tho' ten for two.
So then to morrow by break of day,
The Northern men march'd all away;
And yet the Clans they were so kind
As offer to fight if he inclin'd.
But all agreed to take the rout,
More of the Clans for to recruit:
Then all of them took to their heels,
Kept no high road; but cros'd the fields,
The nearest way unto the Frew,
For otherwise it would not do,
Stirling Militia the bridge had cut,
And on the water there was no boat,
But what was broken or haul'd away,
To keep the Forth when north they lay.
Their cannon and baggage, all forsaken,
Lay round Stirling and soon was taken.
Their magazine of powder and ball,
Falkirk plunder, tents and all,
Were stor'd up in St. Ninian's church,
An engineer enter'd the porch,
On purpose for to lay a train;
But too much haste did him atten'.
He broke one barrel, as they say,
Began the powder for to stray
All along upon the floor,
Without the threshold of the door.
Some people in the kirk there was,
The love of plunder was the cause,
The engineer backward did run,
And at the powder fir'd his gun,
Himself he thought quite secure too;
But to the air with it he flew.
Other eight persons there was slain,
And one blown up, but fell again,
So senseless, that he was thought dead,
As he lay on a midden-head.
He first fell on a thatched house,
Next on a midden, with a souse:
His clothes and hair were really sing'd,
Sat on the midden, curs'd and whing'd,
So stupid drove, knew not the cause
But own'd his mercy in such fa's.
But others were in pieces torn,
And from the church a long way born;
One safe before the pulpit lay,
When all above was blown away:
This roar did him so stupid drive,
He knew not whether dead or alive;
In flames and smoak he was benighted,
And own'd that he was fairly frighted.
Charles and his court from a hill top,
Stood and beheld the catastrop';
Then to the north they march'd away
Unto St. Johnston upon Tay.
To Lithgow came that very day,
The Campbells on front also this night
Retook Falkirk, and put to flight
Part of the Highland troops were there,
Who straight for Stirling did repair;
But orders met them by the road,
That night to stop at the Torwood:
Because against the morning light,
Their army would be there on sight.
The council call'd at Bannockburn,
Where all agreed for to return
And fight the Duke, whate'er betide,
But his Lowland men would not 'bide;
These Nor'landers swore by their saul
That Cumberland would kill them all.
But the Higlanders made this reply,
That for their Prince they'd fight and die,
Where'er he went, they'd with him go
And face the Duke, tho' ten for two.
So then to morrow by break of day,
The Northern men march'd all away;
And yet the Clans they were so kind
As offer to fight if he inclin'd.
But all agreed to take the rout,
More of the Clans for to recruit:
Then all of them took to their heels,
Kept no high road; but cros'd the fields,
143
For otherwise it would not do,
Stirling Militia the bridge had cut,
And on the water there was no boat,
But what was broken or haul'd away,
To keep the Forth when north they lay.
Their cannon and baggage, all forsaken,
Lay round Stirling and soon was taken.
Their magazine of powder and ball,
Falkirk plunder, tents and all,
Were stor'd up in St. Ninian's church,
An engineer enter'd the porch,
On purpose for to lay a train;
But too much haste did him atten'.
He broke one barrel, as they say,
Began the powder for to stray
All along upon the floor,
Without the threshold of the door.
Some people in the kirk there was,
The love of plunder was the cause,
The engineer backward did run,
And at the powder fir'd his gun,
Himself he thought quite secure too;
But to the air with it he flew.
Other eight persons there was slain,
And one blown up, but fell again,
So senseless, that he was thought dead,
As he lay on a midden-head.
He first fell on a thatched house,
Next on a midden, with a souse:
His clothes and hair were really sing'd,
Sat on the midden, curs'd and whing'd,
So stupid drove, knew not the cause
But own'd his mercy in such fa's.
But others were in pieces torn,
And from the church a long way born;
One safe before the pulpit lay,
144
This roar did him so stupid drive,
He knew not whether dead or alive;
In flames and smoak he was benighted,
And own'd that he was fairly frighted.
Charles and his court from a hill top,
Stood and beheld the catastrop';
Then to the north they march'd away
Unto St. Johnston upon Tay.
This great explosion, I heard say,
Was heard full forty miles away.
Duke William at Lithgow heard th'crack,
And cry'd, “Now Blackney's gone to wreck,”
Not knowing what the meaning was,
Till in Falkirk he heard the cause,
Now all of them had cross'd the Forth
Quite o'er the hills into the North.
The Campbells, and some troops of horse,
That night arriv'd at Stirling cross,
Who came harrassing the retreat,
And pick'd some straglers by the gate:
Blackney also sallied out,
And catch'd some strollers thereabout.
Many of them were so mischiev'd,
It shocked nature to perceiv't,
Legs and arms shot clean awa',
And some wanting the nether-jaw;
Some were out of the trenches drawn,
Being bury'd alive 'midst the san'.
The Campbells kept upon the chace,
And pick't 'em up in many a place.
Some cannon were found near the Frew,
Their horse, being weak, could not go thro'.
Much baggage left and several things,
With a Printing press, called the king's,
Which back to Stirling was return'd,
While Charles, by Crief, to Perth adjourn'd.
Was heard full forty miles away.
Duke William at Lithgow heard th'crack,
And cry'd, “Now Blackney's gone to wreck,”
Not knowing what the meaning was,
Till in Falkirk he heard the cause,
Now all of them had cross'd the Forth
Quite o'er the hills into the North.
The Campbells, and some troops of horse,
That night arriv'd at Stirling cross,
Who came harrassing the retreat,
And pick'd some straglers by the gate:
Blackney also sallied out,
And catch'd some strollers thereabout.
Many of them were so mischiev'd,
It shocked nature to perceiv't,
Legs and arms shot clean awa',
And some wanting the nether-jaw;
Some were out of the trenches drawn,
Being bury'd alive 'midst the san'.
The Campbells kept upon the chace,
And pick't 'em up in many a place.
Some cannon were found near the Frew,
Their horse, being weak, could not go thro'.
Much baggage left and several things,
With a Printing press, called the king's,
Which back to Stirling was return'd,
While Charles, by Crief, to Perth adjourn'd.
| CHAP. VI. The collected writings of Dougal Graham | |