The Lyon in Mourning, Vol. 1: or a collection of speeches, letters, journals, etc. relative to the affairs of Prince Charles Edward StuartForbes, Robert
History
The Lyon in Mourning, Vol. 1: or a collection of speeches, letters, journals, etc. relative to the affairs of Prince Charles Edward Stuart
Forbes, Robert
Charles Edward, Prince, grandson of James II, King of England, 1720-1788; Jacobite Rebellion, 1745-1746 -- Sources
keeping off the bonnet.
In their way to this place the Prince in the night time happened to
fall into a bogue almost to the top of the thighs and MacLeod behoved
to pull him out by the armpits and thereby was bogued himself. The
Captain desired the servant lass, who could talk nothing but Erse, to
bring some water for his feet, which she did; and being much fatigued
he desired her to wash his feet and legs. When she was washing them
he said, 'You see that poor sick man there, I hope you'll wash his
feet too. It will be great charity, for he has as much need as I
have.' 'No such thing,' said she, 'although I wash the master's
feet, I am not obliged to wash the servant's. What! he's but a low
countrywoman's son. I will not wash his feet [Sidenote: _fol._ 244.]
indeed.' However, with much intreaty Malcolm prevailed upon the maid
to stoop so low as to wash poor Lewie's feet. While she was washing
them she happened to use him right roughly, and the Prince said to
Malcolm, 'O MacLeod, if you would desire the girl not to go so far
up.'
Malcolm importuned the Prince to go to bed and take some rest. The
Prince then asked who would keep guard for fear of an alarm? Malcolm
said he would do it himself. The Prince at last was prevailed upon to
throw himself upon a bed, but would not strip. Malcolm desired his
sister to go out, and sit upon the top of a knowe near the house and
keep watch while he and his servant Lewie should take some sleep,
which she accordingly did.
The Captain hearing that the landlord was coming towards home went
out to meet him. After saluting him he asked if he saw these ships of
war (pointing to them) that were hovering about upon the coast. Mr.
MacKinnon said he saw them very well. 'What,' said MacLeod, 'if our
Prince be on board one of them?' 'God forbid,' replied MacKinnon, 'I
would [Sidenote: _fol._ 245.] not wish that for anything.' 'What!'
said Malcolm, 'if we had him here, John? Do you think he would be in
safety enough?' 'I wish with all my heart we had him here,' replied
John, 'for he would be safe enough.' 'Well then,' said MacLeod, 'he
is here already. He is just now in your house. But when you go in
you must be careful to take no notice of him at all. He passes for
one Lewie Caw, my servant.' John faithfully promised to observe the
direction, and thought he could perform it well enough. But he was no
sooner entred the house than he could not hold his eyes from staring
upon Lewie, and very soon he was forced to turn his face away from
the Prince and to weep. In this house the Prince diverted himself
with a young child, Neil MacKinnon,[115] carrying him in his arms and
singing to him, and said, 'I hope this child may be a captain in my
service yet.'
[115] Son of said John.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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