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
After the battle of Culloden I had the misfortune to fall into the
hands of the most ungenerous enemy that I believe ever assum'd the
name of a soldier, I mean the pretended Duke of Cumberland, and those
under his command, whose inhumanity exceeded anything I could have
imagined in a country where the bare mention of a God is allowed of.
I was put into one of the Scotch kirks together with a great number
of wounded prisoners who were stript naked and then left to die of
their wounds without the least assistance; and tho' we had a surgeon
of our own, a prisoner in the same place, yet he was not permitted to
dress their wounds, but his instruments [Sidenote: _fol._ 95.] were
taken from him on purpose to prevent it; and in consequence of this
many expired in the utmost agonies. Several of the wounded were put
on board the _Jean_, of Leith, and there died in lingering tortures.
Our general allowance while we were prisoners there was half a pound
of meal a day, which was sometimes increased to a pound, but never
exceeded it; and I myself was a eye-witness that great numbers were
starved to death. Their barbarity extended so far as not to suffer
the men who were put on board the _Jean_ to lie down even upon
planks, but they were obliged to sit on large stones, by which means
their legs swell'd as big almost as their bodies.
These are some few of the cruelties exercised, which being
almost incredible in a Christian country, I am obliged to add an
asseveration to the truth of them; and I do assure you [Sidenote:
_fol._ 96.] upon the word of a dying man, as I hope for mercy at the
day of judgment, I assert nothing but what I know to be true.
The injustice of these proceedings is aggravated by the ingratitude
of them, for the Elector of Hanover's people had been often obliged
by the prince, who ordered his prisoners the same allowance of meal
as his own troops, and always made it his particular concern that
all the wounded should be carefully dressed and used with the utmost
tenderness. His extreme caution to avoid the effusion of blood, even
with regard to spies when his own safety made it almost necessary,
and his surprizing generosity to all his enemies without distinction
certainly demanded different treatment. And I cannot think that an
English army under English direction could possibly behave with such
unprovoked barbarity.
With regard to the report of his royal highness having [Sidenote:
_fol._ 97.] ordered that no quarters should be given to the enemy I
am persuaded in my conscience it is a wicked malicious lie, raised
by the friends of usurpation in hopes of an excuse for the cruelties
committed in Scotland, which were many more and greater than I have
time to describe. For I firmly believe the Prince would not consent
to such orders even if it were to gain the three kingdoms.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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