The Lyon in Mourning, Vol. 1

Upon the different Accounts of the behaviour of the two executed lords (Kilmarnock and Balmerino), taken out of an English Newspaper

If Ford and Foster haply disagree,What is a trivial circumstance to me.But this of their two heroes I remark,Howe'er the historians leave us in the dark,Old Rough and Tugged much outmann'd the Earl,And tho' mistaken was a steady carl.The Earl's conversion is an obvious thing,If not to Christ, at least to George our king.

Arthurus, Dominus de Balmerino, decollatus 18 die Augusti 1746, ætatis suæ 58. By a Lady

Here lies the man, to Scotland ever dear,Whose honest breast ne'er felt a guilty fear.By principle, not mean self int'rest, sway'd,The victor left to bring the vanquish'd aid;His courage manly, but his words were few,Content in poverty, and own'd it too.In life's last scene with dignity appears,Not for himself, but for his country, fears;Pities the graceful partner of his fall,And nobly wishes he might die for all.Ev'n enemies, convinc'd, his worth approv'd: [fol. 404.]He fell admir'd, lamented, and belov'd.

The above turned into the form of an Inscription

Here lies Arthur, Lord Balmerino,Whose memory will be ever dear to his country.Religiously strict and judicious in the choiceOf his principles and maxims of life,With an inflexible constancy was he attached to them.He left the service of George, in which he bore some rank,To join the sinking cause of the injured James,After the woeful defeat at Dumblane.He was a man of great personal courageAnd remarkable modestyIn a corrupted age, asham'd of nothing but want.He bore unmerited poverty with a Roman greatness of soul.In the closing scene of lifeHe behaved with surprizing dignity,Expressing a warm regard for his unhappy countryAnd vindicating his own honour and that of the injured Charles P.Feelingly he express'd a generous concern for his companion,And nobly wish'd he alone might suffer for the cause.He triumphed over calumny, silenced his enemiesStruck with admiration at his uncommon intrepidity,And fell admired, lamented, esteemed by all.

Upon the same

Here Arthur lies, the rest forbear;There may be treason in a tear.Yet this bold soger may find roomWhere scepter'd tyrants dare not come.

[fol. 405.]

Upon the death of Sir Alexander MacDonald, 181 etc

If Heav'n be pleas'd when sinners cease to sin;If Hell be pleas'd when sinners enter in;If earth be pleas'd to lose a truckling knave;Then all are pleas'd – MacDonald's in his grave.

Spoken extempore on Lovat's Execution, by a lover of all those who will and dare be honest in the worst of times

None but the hangman, Murray,182 or some tool,Could from his heart say Lovat was a fool.Yet ev'ry coxcomb will explain and teachThe chain of causes that surpass his reach.When soft Kilmarnock,183 trembling, came to bleed,He fell a traitor and a wretch indeed.His coward soul the canting preacher awes,He weeps and dies a rebel to the cause.'Twas hope of pardon; 'twas fanatick fear;And none but Hanoverians dropt a tear.Brave Balmerino, whom no words can paint,Embrac'd his martyrdom and died a saint.He sprang triumphant to a better state,By all confest, superiour to his fate.If Ratcliffe's184 youthful crimes receiv'd their due, [fol. 406.]Ratcliffe was steady, bold and loyal too.This much be said, to palliate his offence,Howe'er he liv'd, he died a man of sense.But Frazer was a man by Heav'n decreedNot quite so legible for fools to read.Him in his manly labyrinth they mistook,And partial to their wit the clue forsook.He has no policy when none they find,And is not visible when they are blind.As the sun's course thro' various scenes does windFrom one great principle to one great end;So did his actions, words and deeds combineTo perfect and accomplish one design.For this alone he labours to be great;For this he courts his honours and estate;For this in secret he his faith conceals;For this invents a plot and then reveals;For this holds combat with domestick strife,And seizes, like old Rome, a Sabine wife;Wins confidence from artful foes by art,And on the statesman plays the statesman's part.The making one great stake, and that his last,He ventures all on the important castOn which the whole of's happiness depends,His life, his fortune, family and friends.All, all's too little for the glorious cause.If he had won (for there the difference lies),That very crowd his triumph would attendWho lately came, to view his noble end.

[fol. 407.]

Upon a young lady, who died on seeing her lover, 185 Mr Dawson, 186 executed on the 30th of July 1746

As the fair martyr her dear lover sawLie the pale victim of inhuman law,His gen'rous blood distilling all around,And life, swift ebbing, thro' each crimson wound;It seemed as if from mortal passion freedShe blest his death, for honour doom'd to bleed.But when, high-raised, she saw the panting heart,Now let thy handmaid, Heav'n! she cried, departBe Judge, O Thou, whose ballance sways above!Receive our souls to pardon and to love!At once she burst the feeble bonds of clay,And her free soul, exulting, springs away.To endless bliss, they issue, out of pain.One moment separates, and joins again.

The Contrast set in its proper light. Said to be done by a lady

Fam'd were the bards of old untainted days,When only merit felt the breath of praise.When Heav'n-born muses taught the tuneful lay,The brave to honour and the good display,Virtue's fair form, tho' hid in rags, to sing,And loath the baneful court and sinful king.But now (sad change!) no more the poet's themeTastes thy chaste waters, Hippocrenè's stream.His breast no more the sacred sisters urge, [fol. 408.]Of truth the patrons and of vice the scourge.Venal, he seeks the court, and shuns the lawn,On pride to flatter and on pow'r to fawn;Pour forth his incense at the country's shrine,And raise th' usurping race to race divine.He who would toil in Honour's ard'ous tractMust virtue seek alone for virtue's sake,For now to merit are unwonted thingsThe breath of poets and the smiles of kings.See where the rhiming throng on William wait,And patch up ev'ry worth to make him great;Sing how he triumph'd on fair Clifton's Green,And how his mind is lovely as his mien;Call ancient heroes from their seat of joy,To see their fame outshadow'd by a boy;Rob ev'ry urn and ev'ry page explore,And tell now Cæsar's deeds are deeds no more;No more shall guide the war, nor fire the song,But William be the theme of ev'ry tongue,While Brunswick-kings Britannia's throne shall grace,And George's virtues live in George's race.Such is the theme the flatt'ring songsters chuse,And oh, how worthy of the theme the muse!While, lo! a youth arises in the northOf royal virtues as of royal birth;Of worth, which in the dawn of ages, shewnWithout the claim of birth, had gain'd a throne.Tho' in him ev'ry grace and glory joinTo add new lustre to the Stewart's line;Tho' Vict'ry makes the youthful Charles her care, [fol. 409.]No bard attends on his triumphal car.On firmer base he builds his sure applause,Recover'd freedom and protected laws.Say, Scotland, say, for thou must surely know;You felt the rapture, and you feel the woe.Say, when he trode upon the kindly earth,The genial soil which gave his fathers birth,Did not his outstretched hand with bounty spreadPaternal blessings on thy children's heads;Hush them to peace amidst the din of war,And still the matron's sigh and virgin's fear?Bid peaceful plenty wave along the plainThe untouch'd harvest of the golden grain?Did not the youth, enliven'd with his flame,Glow for the fight and ardent pant for fame?Strove not each rev'rend sage and hoary sireHis worth to honour and his sense admire?Did not his form, with ev'ry beauty grac'd,Raise a chaste rapture in each virgin's breast?But when he quits the scene of soft delight,The graceful measure for the deathful fight,Say, saw thy plains (where many a deathless name,Where Bruce, where Wallace, fought their way to fame,Where Douglas, race heroick, nobly rose,Secur'd thy freedom and expell'd thy foes) —Saw they e'er one amongst the chieftain throng,So ripe in glory and in years so young;Whose pride not more to vanquish than to save,In conquest gentle as in action brave?Like Philip's son, victorious in the courseWith skill superiour and inferiour force;Like Xenophon, secure midst hostil bands, [fol. 410.]He led his glorious few from distant lands,And join'd to sense of head the fire of heart,Of one the courage, and of one the art.While virtue lives, while honour has a name,While acts heroic fill the rolls of fame,First in the list shall Gladesmuir have a place,And Falkirk-plain, mark, Hawley! thy disgrace.Now change the scene and show the sad reverse,Where winter blasts th' autumnal smiles disperse;Where the fierce Hanover directs the stormAnd Hawley joys his mandates to perform.To whom compar'd an Alva's name is sweet,Brave in the field tho' cruel in the State.See thro' the land how hostil fury burnsAnd peopled vales to rueful deserts turns!See how the smoking country round thee groans,Invokes in vain thy desolated towns!See age unrev'renc'd, dragg'd from peaceful easeAnd join'd in dreary jayls to loath'd disease!Before their sires see ravished maids complain,And raise their beaut'ous eyes to Heav'n in vain.Oh! more than savage, who pursue their rageOn bloom of beauty and the hoar of age!And what exploits exalt this hero's praise?Where spring the laurels which your poets raise?Spring they from conquest o'er the village tame,The sire enfeebled and the aged dame.View well this sketch and say of which the face [fol. 411.]Presents the royal mark of Scotland's race.He who would save thee from destruction's blast,Or he who lays thy beauties in the dust?So judg'd of old the good King David's heirWith nice discernment the deserving fair;Repuls'd the dame who cruel would destroy,And blest the feeling mother with her boy.

A CATCH, 1746

Here's a health to the King, the Prince and the Duke.May all loyal subjects say – God bless the three!Come weal or come woe, to my master I'll go,And follow his standard, wherever it be.I'll chear up my heart with a health to my master,In hopes of another Dundee or Montrose.I'm heartily griev'd for my Prince's disaster.God save him, and send him the heart of his foes!

To Mr. Secretary Murray, on his turning evidence. By the Rev. Mr. Thomas Drummond, Edinburgh, 1747

Quantum mutatus ab illoTo all that Virtue's holy ties can boast,To truth and honour and to manhood lost,How hast thou wand'red from the sacred road,The paths of honesty, the pole to God?O fallen! fallen from the high degreeOf spotless fame and pure integrity!Where all that gallantry that fill'd your breast, [fol. 412.]The pride of sentiment, the thought profest,Th' unbiass'd principle, the gen'rous strainThat warm'd your blood, and beat in ev'ry vein?All! all are fled! Once honest, steady, brave,How great the change – to coward, traitor, knave!O! hateful love of life that prompts the mind,The godlike, great and good, to leave behind;From wisdom's laws, from honour's glorious plan,From all on earth that dignifies the man,With steps unhallow'd wickedly to strayAnd trust and friendship's holy bands betray.Curs'd fear of death, whose bugbear terrors frightTh' unmanly breast from suff'ring in the rightThat strikes the man from th' elevated state,From ev'ry character and name of great,And throws him down beneath the vile degreeOf galley'd slaves, or dungeon villainy.O Murray! Murray! once of truth approv'd,Your Prince's darling, by his party lov'd;When all were fond your worth and fame to raise,And expectation spoke your future praise.How could you sell that Prince, that cause, that fame,For life enchain'd to infamy and shame?See gallant Arthur,187 whose undaunted soulNo dangers frighten, and no fears controul;With unconcern the ax and block surveys,And smiles at all the dreadful scene displays;While undisturb'd his thoughts so steddy keepHe goes to death, as others go to sleep.Gay midst their gibbets and devouring fire [fol. 413.]What numbers hardy in the cause expire!But what are these to thee? examples vain.Yet see, and blush, if still the pow'r remain.Behold the menial hand,188 that broke your bread,That wiped your shoes, and with your crumbs was fed;When life and riches proffer'd to his viewBefore his eyes the strong temptation threw,Rather than quit integrity of heart,Or act like you the unmanly traitor's part,Disdains the purchase of a worthless life,And bares his bosom to the butch'ring knife;Each mean compliance gallantly denies,And in mute honesty is brave and dies.While you, tho' tutor'd from your early youthTo all the principles of steddy truth;Tho' station, birth, and character conspireTo kindle in your breast the manly fire;Friends, reputation, conscience, all disclaim.To glory lost, and sunk in endless shame,For the dull privilege to breathe the air,For everlasting infamy declare,And down to late posterity recordA name that's curs'd, abandon'd, and abhorr'd.Go, wretch! enjoy the purchase you have gain'd. [fol. 414.]Scorn and reproach your ev'ry step attend.By all mankind neglected and forgotRetire to solitude, retire and rot.But whither? whither can the guilty flyFrom the devouring worms that never die;Those inward stings that rack the villain's breast,Haunt his lone hours and break his tortur'd rest?Midst caves, midst rocks and deserts you may findA safe retreat for all the human kind.But to what foreign region can you run,Your greatest enemy, yourself, to shun?Where'er thou go'st, wild anguish and despairAnd black remorse attend with hideous stare;Tear your distracted soul with torments fell,Your passions devils, and your bosom hell.Thus may you drag your heavy chain along,Some minutes more inglorious life prolong.And when the fates shall cut a coward's breath,Weary of being, yet afraid of death;If crimes like thine hereafter are forgiv'n,Judas and Murray both may go to Heav'n.

Satan transformed into an Angel of Light, or copy of a Letter from Mr. Evidence Murray, to his nephew, Sir David Murray, of seventeen or eighteen years of age, in jayl in the city of York, 1747

[fol. 415.] The pleasure it gave me to hear that the king had been graciously pleased to grant you a reprieve, was far greater than the world could perhaps be willing to imagine for one in my situation, as mankind is most apt to be concerned about their own misfortunes. As I look upon it as my duty to give you the best advice in my power, I would not fail to lay hold on the liberty granted me to observe some few things which I hope may be of service to you, when I may not have an opportunity to advise you by word of mouth.

I must first observe that the grace shown you must have proceeded entirely from a greatness of soul and a compassion of your youth, as it was not in the least in your power to atone for the offence. I know that you are brave, and I have no doubt but you are generous, the latter being ever looked upon as a concomitant of the former. Gratitude has always [fol. 416.] been esteemed one of the greatest virtues, and its opposite regarded in so vile a light that the antient Spartans punished it with death. Don't allow yourself to be too much elevated, but consider coolly on the uneasiness you have felt, and thereby judge of the favour you have received.

I hear there are zealots in the world who would willingly make mankind believe that they act from principle alone, and even would wish to die martyrs for their cause; and their lofty notions are ready to gain even on those of riper years. But be assured that at the bottom it is self-interest prevails. They only intend to promote their own ambitious views without the least regard to the welfare and happiness of others. Pull off their mask and they appear in their native dress. Some such you may meet with. But always remember the story of the cat and the monkey; for depend upon it, when your hands are [fol. 417.] in the fire they will hug themselves on being safe. That there ever have been such men is past dispute, and had there been none such, that you and I would not have been in our present situation is as undeniable. I shall now say a little to what I know is a tender point, but nevertheless may be gently touch'd.189

There are a certain set of men who can confine salvation to their Church alone; but though I am no divine I cannot help thinking it absurd to imagine that God Almighty made mankind to damn nine out of ten, which must be the case, if their maxim holds true. Our blessed Saviour died for both Jew and Gentile. But I will not insist upon the subject, as you may guess my meaning, and I hope will not fail to consider seriously of it. I could, and indeed I incline to say a good [fol. 418.] deal more, but that I don't care to crowd too many thoughts upon you all at once, so shall only further assure you that I am sincerely,

A Prodigy of Wickedness.

Copy of the Prince's Summons to the City of Edinburgh to surrender. Directed to the Lord Provost, Magistrates, and Town Council of Edinburgh

16 Sept. 1745

Being now in a condition to make our way into this capital of his Majesty's ancient kingdom of Scotland, we hereby summon you to receive us, as you are in duty bound to do. And in order to it we hereby require you upon receipt of this to summon the Town Council and take proper measures in it for securing the peace and quiet of the city, which we are very desirous to protect. But if you suffer any of the Usurper's troops to enter the town, or any of the canon, arms, or amunition now in it, whether belonging to the publick or to private persons, to be carried off, we shall take it as a breach of your [fol. 419.] duty and a heinous offence against the king and us, and shall resent it accordingly. We promise to preserve all the rights and liberties of the city, and the particular property of every one of his Majesty's subjects. But if any opposition be made to us we cannot answer for the consequences, being firmly resolved at any rate to enter the city, and in that case, if any of the inhabitants are found in arms against us, they must not expect to be treated as prisoners of war.

(Signed) Charles, Prince Regent.

From our Camp, 16th September 1745.

16 Sept. 1745

Upon the magistrates receiving the above, the inhabitants were called together and almost unanimously agreed to surrender the town, and sent deputies out to the Prince to treat with him, viz., Baillies Gavin Hamilton, John Yetts, and David Inglis, and James Norrie, Deacon Convener, to whom the Prince caused deliver the following answer.

His royal Highness the Prince Regent thinks his Manifesto and the King, his father's, Declaration, already published, are a [fol. 420.] sufficient capitulation for all his Majesty's subjects to accept of with joy. His present demands are to be received into the city as the son and representative of the king, his father, and obeyed as such when he is there.

His Royal Highness supposes that since the receipt of his letter to the provost and magistrates no arms or ammunition have been suffered to be carried off or concealed, and will expect a particular account of all things of that nature.

Lastly, he expects a positive answer to this before 2 o'clock in the morning, otherwise he will find himself obliged to take measures conform. By his Highness's command,

(Sign'd) John Murray.

At Gray's Mill, 16 September 1745.

17 Sept. 1745

After this a second deputation was sent to the Prince, viz., Provost Coutts and Baillie Robert Baillie, who brought the following answer.

His Royal Highness has already given all the assurances he can that he intends to exact nothing of the city in general, nor [fol. 421.] of any in particular, but what his character of Regent entitles him to. This he repeats, and renews his summons to the magistrates to receive him as such. By His Highness's command,

(Sign'd) John Murray.

Gray's Mill 3 o'clock in the Morning,

Tuesday, 17 September 1745.

A Narrative 190 given me by Mr. Alexander Murray, Printer, in Burnet's Close, Edinburgh

July.

About the beginning of July 1746 one Garnet, a dragoon in Lord Mark Ker's regiment, and son of one Garnet, a printer at Sheffield, came to the printing house of William Sands and Company at Edinburgh, and having been asked several questions in relation to the battle of Culloden, said: That he himself was engaged there; that the orders they received were To make no prisoners: That the reason of this severity was that the Duke had got notice before the armies were engaged that the rebels had given orders – To kill men, women, and children of their enemies, without distinction, for eight days [fol. 422.] after the battle, in case victory should declare for them; that he himself went to the field of battle the day after the engagement in the forenoon; that on coming near it, he heard a doleful noise; that on coming to the place he found that the noise he had heard was several of the wounded rebels who had crawled together were bemoaning one another's condition; that in a short while after he saw some small parties of the king's troops with officers on their head go through the field and shoot the wounded rebels; that six or eight of the soldiers fired together at different rebels, but did not receive the word of command from their officers, though they stood by and saw the service performed; that they went thro' the field thus; that some of the rebels seemed pleased to be relieved of their pain by death, while others begged of the soldiers to spare them, which, however, was no ways regarded; that the soldiers employed in this service were foot, so that he himself was only a spectator; that soldiers went, a day or two after to the field and did the [fol. 423.] like; that such severity would not have been exercised against a foreign enemy, and that at this time the French were treated with great humanity, as they are said to be remarkably human when conquerors; and that a written order was said to be found in the pocket of one of the rebels after the battle agreeing with the accounts above mentioned which the Duke had received before the engagement. This dragoon who named and designed himself as above seemed to be a discreet, ingenuous man.

Edinburgh, October 30th, 1746.

30 Oct. 1746

An officer of the Broadalbine Militia (who was among those who made openings in the stone walls, through which the dragoons passed) being told the above, did not believe it, and gave as his reason that a præmium having been given for every gun and sword brought to the king's camp after the battle, the men under his command were so busied in carrying guns and swords from the field of battle to the camp that he could scarcely keep a sufficient number of them to do duty, and yet [fol. 424.] he never heard of the rebels being thus killed in cold blood, which, being a thing very uncommon, he thought his men could not miss to observe and to tell him of it. This gentleman added, that he heard at that time of the order of the rebels for giving no quarter; that a particular serjeant in certain regiment was said to have it; that he asked it of him, but was answered he heard another serjeant had it, and went to two or three thus, and always found less reason to believe there ever was any such order.

8 Oct. 1747

N.B. – Edinburgh, October 8th, Thursday, 1747.

I visited Mr. Alexander Murray, printer, out of whose hand I received a copy of the above in his own hand-writ, and from which I have faithfully made the above transcript. The copy in Mr. Murray's hand-writ is to be found among my papers. Mr. Murray is the person who conversed with the dragoon and the Broadalbine officer in presence of Mr. James Cochran, co-partner [fol. 425.] in business with Mr. Murray. The said Mr. Cochran vouched to me the truth of the above narrative in every ace of it, as given by the dragoon and the officer.

Robert Forbes, A.M.

Copy of a Letter from Charles Gordon of Terperse 191 to his own lady

14 Nov. 1746

Dear Heart, – I now tell you that I suffer death to-morrow for my duty to God, my king, and country. I bless God I die in charity with all men. I think my butchered body will be taken care of and buried as a Christian, by order of Francis Farquharson, who has acted a father to me, and laid out a good deal of money to and for me, whereof you may expect a particular account, which I leave you on my blessing to repay him. I die with the greatest regret that I've been a bad husband to you, and I beg you'll pardon me in your heart, and that you'll express your goodness (as you'll answer to God [fol. 426.] and me in the everlasting world) by your care of and motherly looking to your children's salvation and right putting them to business in this world. I know not how many are alive; only set the boys to some right imployment while young, and strive to admonish the daughters in the fear of God. I herewith send you a note of what I would have done with the trifles I have a concern in, for you know the lump of my business.