HISTORICAL INCIDENTS AFTER THE RESTORA TION. I11
that, when they were assembled in St Giles’s Church, and it was debated whether they
should stand on their defence or not, only three or four voices answered in the affirmative.
Rut while the citizens were still undetermiaed as to the terms of capitulation, the Nether
Bow Port was unwarily opened to let a coach pass out, on which a party of Highlanders,
who had reached the gate undiscovered, immediately rushed in and secured the city, took
possession of the guard-house, and seized on the arms and ammunition belonging to the
guard.
The Highland army encamped
in the royal park, in the neighbourhood of Duddingston, and the Chevalier himself
took possession of Holyrood Palace. The heralds were required to publish at the Market
Cross the commission of Regency which the Prince’had received from his father, and
which was accordingly done with all the usual ceremonies attending royal proclamations.
Multitudes of the inhabitants now flocked to the neighbouring camp, attracted by the
novelty of the sight, or their favour to the cause of the Stuarts, while the Palace was
crowded by numbers of the better class of citizens, who hastened to testify their fidelity
to the exiled family.
They were received by the Prince with the utmost affability and condescension; but this
did not prevent him issuing an order, requiring the inhabitants of the town and county of
Edinburgh to deliver up their arms at the Palace, and the city to furnish a great variety of
stores for the use of the army, under pain of military execution in case of failure. The
supplies were furnished accordingly, and the city gratified with the Prince’s gracious promise
of payment, so soon as the troubles should be over. The Castle, however, was held
by General Guest, a stanch adherent of the Government, and on the Highlanders appearing
in the city, he displayed the flag, and fired some cannon to warn them not to approach the
fortress.
The Highlanders, thus amply supplied, marched to Preston, about nine miles to the
eastward of the capital, where they defeated and put to rout the royal forces, under the
command of Sir John Cope. The dragoons fled from the field without halting till they
reached Linlithgow. Their baggage, artillery, and military chests all fell into the Prince’s
hands, who returned to the Palace of Holyrood in triumph. Notwithstanding the irregular
character of the Highland army, they behaved, in general, with great order and moderation ;
and such was the simplicity of the poor Highlanders, even in rapine, that it is said some of
them presented their pieces at passengers, and on being asked what they wanted, replied, (‘ a penny,” with which they went away perfectly satiefied.’
The Prince intimated, on his return to Edinburgh, that the ministers should have full
liberty to continue their usual duties on the following day, which was Sunday, the only
requirement being, that, in the prayers for the royal family, no names should be
specified.
Only one of the city ministers, named Hogg, availed himself of this permission, and
lectured in the forenoon in the Tron Church. But the Rev. Neil M‘Vicar of St Cuthbert’s
was of the true old covenanting metal, and not to be intimidated by the near neighbourhood
of the Jacobite forces. He sent word to the commander of the Castle of his intention
to continue the usual services of the day, and proceeded to his pulpit at the appointed hour.
The young Chevalier speedily followed this advance guard.
Scots Mag., rol, vii p. 442.
