Origins of the 'Forty-five : $b and other papers relating to that rising
History
Origins of the 'Forty-five : $b and other papers relating to that rising
Jacobite Rebellion, 1745-1746
When it was near day he asked Neil whether it was possible to find any
meat, who told him it was impracticable, by reason the nearest town lay
five miles off, whereupon he roused up the rest, and got into the boat
and rowed to Stialay, a small island near the entry of Loch Boystile,
within three long miles of Boystile’s house, being the 14th of July
in the evening. They were no sooner landed and the tent made, than
Neil posted off immediately to Boystile’s house for provisions; when
he arrived, he found all the family in bed, and having knocked them
up, he acquainted Boystile’s daughter who came first to the door with
the princes being upon the Island of Stialay, where he had but very
ill accommodation. She ran into the room where her stepmother[492] was
in bed, bringing Neil along with her, who told the lady the miserable
condition his royal highness was in, she got up in the greatest hurry,
and sent off what was readiest to relieve them in the mean time, ’till
such time she could get more prepared against the next night. Neil
returned, charging the lady at parting, to learn what was passing among
the enemy, and to inform them accordingly.
At his arrival he found the boat ashore waiting him, and having passed
to the island, the prince met him at his landing, and asked of him if
he got any meat. Neil told him that he brought some fresh butter and
cheese and a few bottles of brandy. ‘Come, come,’ said he, ‘give me
one of the bottles and a piece of the bread, for I was never so hungry
since I was born’; which being given him, he took two or three hearty
pulls of it before he came near the rest, which gave him so good an
appetite, that he eat that night more than ever he was seen to eat at
three ordinary meals, and all the rest did proportionably. After supper
he called for the brandy-bottles, and drank the king’s and the duke’s
healths; which done, he wrapt himself in his plaid, laid down, and
slept away the remaining part of the night very soundly.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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