 Section 68 of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Avahi in March 2020. The World's Story, Volume 10. England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales. Edited by Eva March Tappen. Section 68. The Flight of Mary Queen of Scots to England. 1568. By Sir Walter Scott. In 1565 Mary Queen of Scots married her cousin Lord Darnley, but his debauchery soon aroused her regret for the act. Two years later the house in which he lodged was blown up and his lifeless body was found. There is little question that the Earl of Bothwell was the murderer. The favour that Mary had shown him, and the fact that she married him almost immediately after his divorce from his young wife, aroused suspicion that she was privy to the murder. The Scottish nobles rose against her and she was taken to Edinburgh and thence to an island in Loch Leven. Escape from this place to England is described in the following extract. The editor. May I crave to know, said Rowland, whether if your grace were beyond the walls of the castle you could find means of conveyance to the firm land and protection when you are there. Trust us for that, Rowland, said the Queen, for to that point our scheme is indifferent well laid. Then, if your grace will permit me to speak my mind, I think I could be of some use in this matter. As how, my good youth, speak on, said the Queen, and fearlessly. My patron, the knight of Avonell, used to compel the youth educated in his household to learn the use of axe and hammer, and working in wood and iron. He used to speak of old northern champions who forged their own weapons and of the Highland Captain Donald's Nan Ord, or Donald of the Hammer, whom he himself knew and who used to work at the anvil with a sledgehammer in each hand. Some said he praised this art because he himself was of Gerald's blood. However, I gained some practice in it, as the Lady Catherine Satan partly knows, for since we were here I wrought her a silver brooch. I, replied Catherine, but you should tell her grace that your workmanship was so indifferent that it broke to pieces next day, and I flung it away. Believe her not, Rowland, said the Queen, she wept when it was broken and put the fragments into her bosom. But for your scheme could your skill avail to forge a second set of keys? No, madam, because I know not the words. But I am convinced I could make a set so like that hateful bunch which the Lady bore off even now that, could they be exchanged against them by any means, she would never dream she was possessed of the wrong. And the good dame, thank heaven, is somewhat blind, said the Queen. But then for a forge, my boy, and the means of laboring unobserved, the armorous forge at which I used sometimes to work with him is the round vault at the bottom of the turret. He was dismissed with the warder, for being supposed too much attached to George Douglas. The people are accustomed to see me busy there, and I warrant I shall find some excuse that will pass current with them for putting bellows and anvil to work. The scheme has a promising face, said the Queen, about it, my lad, with all speed, and beware the nature of your work is not discovered. Nay, I will take the liberty to draw the bolt against chance visitors, so that I will have time to put away what I am working upon before I undo the door. Will not that of itself attract suspicion in a place where it is so current already? said Catherine. Not a wit, replied Roland. Gregory the Armourer and every good hammerman locks himself in when he is about some masterpiece of craft. Besides, something must be risked. Part we then to-night, said the Queen, and God bless you, my children. If Mary's head ever rises above water, you shall all rise along with her. Roland succeeds in making the keys without being discovered. The Queen points out to him a tiny light in the house of one blink-holy, a gardener who lives across the lake, and shows him how she can signal to her friends who are there awaiting her. The keys had, with the wanted ceremonial, been presented to the Lady Lochleven. She stood with her back to the casement, which, like that of the Queen's apartment, commanded a view of King Ross, with the church, which stands at some distance from the town, and nearer to the lake, then connected with the town by straddling cottages. With her back to the casement then, and her face to the table, on which the keys lay for an instant, while she tasted the various dishes which were placed there, stood the Lady of Lochleven more provokingly intent than usual. At least it seemed to her prisoners, upon the huge and heavy bunch of iron, the implements of their restraint. Just when, having finished her ceremonious taster of the Queen's table, she was about to take up the keys, the page who stood beside her, and had handed her the dishes in succession, looked side-wise to the churchyard, and exclaimed he saw corpse candles in the vault. The Lady of Lochleven was not without a touch, though a slight one, of the superstitions of the time. The fate of her sons made her alive to omens, and a corpse light, as it was called, in the family burial place, boated death. She turned her head towards the casement, saw a distinct glimmering, forgot her charge for one second, and in that second were lost the whole fruits of her former vigilance. The page held the forged keys under his cloak, and with great dexterity exchanged them for the real ones. His utmost address could not prevent a slight clash as he took up the latter bunch. "'Who touches the keys?' said the Lady, and while the page answered that the sleeve of his cloak had stirred them, she looked round, possessed herself of the bunch, which now occupied the place of the genuine keys, and again turned to gaze at the supposed corpse candles. "'I hold these gleams,' she said, after a moment's consideration, to come not from the churchyard, but from the hut of the old gardener, Blink-Hooley. I wonder what thrift that child drives, that of late he hath ever had light in his house till the night grew deep. I thought him an industrious, peaceful man. If he turns resetter of idle companions and night-walkers, the place must be rid of him. "'He may work his baskets, pertains,' said the page, desirous to stop the train of her suspicion. "'Or nets, may he not?' answered the Lady. "'I, Madam,' said Rowland, for trout and salmon. "'Or for fools and knaves,' replied the Lady, but this shall be looked after tomorrow. I wish your grace and your company a good evening. Randall, attend us.' And Randall, who waited in the anti-chamber after having surrendered his bunch of keys, gave his escort to his mistress as usual, while, leaving the Queen's apartments, she retired to her own. "'Tomorrow,' said the page, rubbing his hands with glee as he repeated the Lady's last words. Fools look to tomorrow, and wise folk use to-night. "'May I pray you, my gracious Lige, to retire for one half-hour until all the castle is composed to rest? I must go and rub with oil these blessed instruments of our freedom. Courage and constancy, and all will go well, provided our friends on the shore fail not to send the boat you spoke of.' "'Fear them not,' said Catherine. "'They are truer steel. If our dear mistress do but maintain her noble and royal courage.' "'Thou art not me, Catherine,' replied the Queen. A while since I was over-born, but I have recalled the spirit of my earlier and more sprightly days, when I used to accompany my armed nobles and wished to be myself a man to know what life it was to be in the fields with sword and buckler, jack and napscap.' "'Oh, the lark lives not a gayer life, nor sings a lighter and gayer song than the merry soldier,' answered Catherine. "'Your grace shall be in the midst of them soon, and the look of such a Lige sovereign will make each of your hosts worth three in the hour of need. But I must to my task.' "'We have but brief time,' said Queen Mary. "'One of the two lights in the cottage is extinguished, that shows the boat is put off.' "'They will row very slowly,' said the page, or Kent where depth permits to avoid noise. "'To our several tasks. I will communicate,' was the good father. At the dead hour of midnight, when all was silent in the castle, the page put the key into the lock of the wicket which opened into the garden and which was at the bottom of the staircase that descended from the Queen's apartment. "'Now turn smooth and softly, thou good bolt,' said he, if ever oiled soft and rust. And his precautions had been so effectual that the bolt revolved with little or no sound of resistance. He ventured not to cross the threshold, but exchanging a word with the disguised abbot asked if the boat were ready. "'This half hour,' said the sentinel, "'she lies beneath the wall, too close under the islet to be seen by the warder, but I fear she will hardly escape his notice in putting off again.' "'The darkness,' said the page, and our profound silence may take her off unobserved, as she came in. Hill the brand has to watch on the tower, a heavy-headed knave who holds a can of ale to be the best headpiece upon a night watch. He sleeps for a wager.' "'Then bring the Queen,' said the abbot, "'and I will call Henry Satan to assist him to the boat.' On tiptoe, with noiseless step and suppressed breath, trembling at her every rustle of their own apparel, one after another the fair prisoners glided down the winding stair under the guidance of Rowland Graham and were received at the wicked gate by Henry Satan and the churchmen. The former seemed instantly to take upon himself the whole direction of the enterprise. "'My Lord Abbott,' he said, "'give my sister your arm, I will conduct the Queen, and that youth will have the honour to guide Lady Fleming.' This was no time to dispute the arrangement, although it was not that which Rowland Graham would have chosen. Catherine Satan, who well knew the garden path, tripped on before like a sylph, rather leading the abbot than receiving assistance. The Queen, her native spirit prevailing over female fear and a thousand painful reflections, moved steadily forward by the assistance of Henry Satan, while the Lady Fleming encumbered with her fears and her helplessness Rowland Graham, who followed in the rear and who bore under the other arm a packet of necessaries belonging to the Queen. The door of the garden, which communicated with the shore of the islet, yielded to one of the keys of which Rowland had possessed himself, although not until he had tried several, a moment of anxious terror and expectation. The ladies were then partly lit, partly carried to the side of the lake, where a boat with six rowers attended them. The man couched along the bottom to secure them from observation. Henry Satan placed the Queen in the stern. The abbot offered to assist Catherine, but she was seated by the Queen's side before he could utter his proffer of help. And Rowland Graham was just lifting Lady Fleming over the boat side when a thought suddenly occurred to him and explaining, Forgotten! Forgotten! Wait for me but one half minute! He replaced on the shore the helpless lady of the bed-chamber through the Queen's packet into the boat and sped back through the garden with the noiseless speed of a bird on the wing. By heaven he is false at last, said Satan. I ever feared it. He is as true, said Catherine, as heaven itself, and that I will maintain. Be silent, minion, said her brother, for shame if not for fear. Fellows, put off and row for your lives. Help me, help me on board, said a deserted lady Fleming, and that louder than prudence warranted. Put off, put off! cried Henry Satan. Leave all behind so the Queen is safe. Will you permit this, madam? said Catherine imploringly. You leave your deliverer to death. I will not, said the Queen. Satan, I command you to stay at every risk. Pardon me, madam, if I disobey, said the intractable young man, and with one hand lifting in Lady Fleming he began himself to push off the boat. She was too far them's length from the shore, and the rowers were getting her head round when Rowland Graham, arriving, bounded from the beach and attained the boat, overturning Satan on whom he alighted. The youth swore a deep but suppressed oath, and stopping Graham as he stepped towards the stern, said, your place is not with high-born dames. Keep at the head and trim the vessel. Now give way, give way. Row for God and the Queen. The rowers obeyed and began to pull vigorously. Why did you not muffled yours? said Rowland Graham. The dash must awaken the sentinel. Row lads and get out of reach for shot, for had not old hill the brand, the warder, subbed upon poppy porridge, this whispering must have waked him. It was all thine own delay, said Satan. Thou shalt reckon with me after for that and other matters. But Rowland's apprehension was verified too instantly to permit him to reply. The sentinel, whose slumbering had withstood the whispering, was alarmed by the dash of the oars. His challenge was instantly heard. A boat! A boat! Bring two or I shoot! And as they continued to ply their oars he called aloud, Treason! Treason! rung the bell of the castle and discharged his harcubus at the boat. The ladies crowded on each other like startled wildfowl at the flash and report of the peace, while the men urged the rowers to the utmost speed. They heard more than one ball whizz along the surface of the lake at no great distance from their little bark and from the lights, which glanced like meteors from window to window, it was evident the whole castle was alarmed and their escape discovered. Pull! again exclaimed Satan. Stretch to your oars or I will spur you to the task with my dagger. They will launch a boat immediately. That is cared for, said Rowland. I locked the gate and wicked on them when I went back and no boat will stir from the island this night. If doors of good oak and bolts of iron can keep men within stone walls. And now I resign my office of porter of Loch Levin and give the keys to the Kelpie's keeping. As the heavy keys plunged into the lake, the abbot, who till then had been repeating his prayers exclaimed, Now, bless thee, my son, for thy ready prudence puts shame to us all. I knew, said Mary, drawing her breath more freely as they were now out of reach of the musketry, I knew my squire's truth, promptitude and sagacity. I must have him, dear friends, with my no less true knights, Douglas and Satan. But where, then, is Douglas? Here, madam, answered the deep and melancholy voice of the boatman, who sat next to her and who acted as steersmen. Alas! was it you who stretched your body before me, said the Queen, when the balls were raining around us? Believe you! he said in a low tone that Douglas would have resigned to anyone the chance of protecting his Queen's life with his own. The dialogue was here interrupted by a shot or two from one of those small pieces of artillery called falconets, then used in defending castles. The shot was too vague to have any effect, but the broader flash, the deeper sound, the louder return which was made by the midnight echoes of Benarty, terrified and imposed silence on the liberated prisoners. The boat was alongside of a rude key or landing-place, running out from a garden of considerable extent, yet any of them again attempted to speak. They landed, and while the Abbot returned thanks-allowed to Heaven, which had thus far favoured their enterprise, Douglas enjoyed the best reward of his desperate undertaking in conducting the Queen to the house of the Gardener. Mary here learns that the Gardener was formerly a well-known Abbot. He gives her his blessing, horses are brought up, and soon the Queen and her friends are at the castle of Satan. Within a few days some six thousand men gather around her banner. Battle follows, Mary's troops are routed, and she herself has to flee for her life. It is decided that she shall appeal to the hospitality of Queen Elizabeth of England, and a message to that effect has been sent to the English warden. At this moment a bugle sounded loudly from the beach. It is the death-blast to Queen Mary's royalty, said Ambrosius. The English warden's answer has been received. It is favourable, doubtless, for when was the door of the trap closed against the prey which it was set for? Group not, Rowland, this matter shall be sifted to the bottom, but we must not now leave the Queen. Follow me, let us do our duty, and trust the issue with God. Farewell, good father, I will visit thee again soon. He was about to leave the garden, followed by Rowland, with half-reluctant steps. The ex-Abbot resumed his spade. I could be sorry for these men, he said. I, and for that poor Queen, but what avail earthly sorrows to a man of forescore? And it is a rare dropping mourning for the early Colward. He is stricken with age, said Ambrosius, as he dragged Rowland down to the sea-beach. We must let him take his time to collect himself. Nothing now can be thought on but the fate of the Queen. They soon arrived where she stood, surrounded by her little train, and by her side the sheriff of Cumberland, a gentleman of the house of Louther, richly dressed and accompanied by soldiers. The aspect of the Queen exhibited a singular mixture of alacrity and reluctance to depart. Her language and gestures spoke hope and consolation to her attendants, and she seemed desirous to persuade even herself that the step she adopted was secure and that the assurance she had received of kind reception was altogether satisfactory. But her quivering lip and unsettled eye betrayed at once her anguish at departing from Scotland and her fears of confiding herself to the doubtful faith of England. Welcome, my Lord Abbott, she said, speaking to Ambrosius. And you, Rowland Avonell, we have joyful news for you. Our loving sister's officer profess us, in her name, a safe asylum from the rebels who have driven us from our own. Only it grieves me we must he depart from you for a short space. Part from us, madam, said the Abbott. Is your welcome in England then to commence with the abridgment of your train and dismissal of your councillors? Take it not thus, good father, said Mary. The warden and the sheriff, faithful servants of our royal sister, deem it necessary to obey her instructions in the present case, even to the letter, and can only take upon them to admit me with my female attendants. An express will instantly be dispatched from London, assigning me a place of residence, and I will speedily send to all of you whenever my court shall be formed. Your court formed in England, and while Elizabeth lives and reigns, said the Abbott, that will be when we shall see two sons in one heaven. Do not think so, replied the Queen. We are well assured of our sister's good fate. Elizabeth loves fame, and not all that she has won by her power and her wisdom will equal that which she will acquire by extending her hospitality to a distressed sister. Not all that she may hereafter do of good, wise and great would blot out the reproach of abusing our confidence. Farewell, my page. Now, my knight, farewell for a brief season. I will dry the tears of Catherine, or I will weep with her till neither of us can weep longer. She held out her hand to Rowland, who, flinging himself on his knees, kissed it with much emotion. He was about to render the same homage to Catherine, when the Queen, assuming an air of sprightliness, said, Her lips, thou foolish boy, and Catherine coi it not. These English gentlemen should see that, even in our cold climb, beauty knows how to reward bravery and fidelity. We are not now to learn the force of Scottish beauty, or the metal of Scottish valor, said the sheriff of Cumberland courteously. I would it were in my power to beat these attendants upon her who is herself the mistress of Scottish beauty, as well come to England as my poor cares would make them. But our Queen's orders are positive in case of such an emergency, and they must not be disputed by her subjects. May I remind your Majesty that the tide ebbs fast? The sheriff took the Queen's hand, and she had already placed her foot on the gangway by which she was to enter the skiff, when the abbot, starting from a trance of grief and astonishment at the words of the sheriff, rushed into the water and seized upon her mantle. She foresaw it. She foresaw it, he exclaimed. She foresaw your flight into her realm, and for seeing it gave orders you should be thus received. Blinded, deceived, doomed, Princess, your fate is sealed when you quit this strand. Queen of Scotland, thou shalt not leave thine heritage. He continued, holding a still firmer grasp upon her mantle. True man shall turn rebels to thy will that they may save thee from captivity or death. Fear not the bills and bows whom that gay man has at his back. We will withstand him by force. O, for the arm of my warlike brother! Rowland Avenue, draw thy sword. The Queen stood irresolute and frightened, one foot upon the plank, the other on the sand of her native shore, which she was quitting for ever. What needs this violence, sir priest? said the sheriff of Cumberland. I came hither at your Queen's command to do her service, and I will depart at her least order if she rejects such aid as I can offer. No marvel is it if our Queen's wisdom foresaw that such chances this might happen amidst the turmoils of your unsettled state, and, while willing to afford fair hospitality to her royal sister, deemed it wise to prohibit the entrance of a broken army of her followers into the English frontier. You hear, said Queen Mary, gently unloosing her robe from the abbot's grasp, that we exercise full liberty and choice in leaving this shore, and questionless the choice will remain free to us in going to France or returning to our own dominions as we shall determine. Besides, it is too late. Your blessing, Father, and God speed thee. May he have mercy on thee, Princess, and speed thee also, said the abbot, retreating. But my soul tells me I look on thee for the last time. The sails were hoisted, the oars were plied, and went freshly on her way through the Firth, which divides the shores of Cumberland from those of Galloway, but not till the vessel diminished to the size of a child's frigate that the doubtful and dejected and dismissed fellow as of the Queen ceased to linger on the sands, and long, long could they discern the kerchief of Mary as she waved the oft-repeated signal of Adieu to her faithful adherents and to the shores of Scotland. End of Section 68 Section 69 of England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales Read for LibriVox.org by April 690, California, United States of America Sacking a Church in the Time of John Knox by John Prescott Knight, English artist, 1803-1881, painting Page 336 The Sacking of a Church is thus described by David Hume, Mounting the pulpit at Perth during the present ferment of men's minds. He, John Knox, declaimed with his usual vehemence against the idolatry and other abominations of the Church of Rome, and incited his audience to exert their utmost zeal for its subversion. A priest was so imprudent after this sermon as to open his repository of images and relics and prepare himself to say mass. The audience exalted to a disposition for any furious enterprise or as much enraged as if the spectacle had not been quite familiar to them. They attacked the priest with fury, broke the images in pieces, tore the pictures over through the altars, scattered about the sacred vases, and left no implement of idolatrous worship as they termed it entire or undefaced. They thence proceeded with additional numbers and augmented rage to the monasteries of the grey and black friars, which they pillaged in an instant. The Carthusians underwent the same fate, and the populace not content with robbing and expelling with the monks vented their fury on the buildings, which had been the receptacles of such abomination, and in a little time nothing but the walls of these edifices were left standing. The inhabitants of Coupar, in fife, soon after imitated the example. End of Section 69 This recording is in the public domain. Section 70 of England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Jennifer Fornier, Marshall, Virginia, USA. The World's Story Volume 10 England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales Edited by Eva March Tappan, Section 70 The Fate of Mary, Queen of Scots, 1587 by Sir Walter Scott Queen Elizabeth had two courses in her power, which might be more or less generous, but were alike just and lawful. She might have received Queen Mary honourably and afforded her the sucker she petitioned for, or, if she did not think that expedient, she might have allowed her to remain in her dominions at liberty to depart from them freely as she had entered them voluntarily. But Elizabeth, great as she was upon other occasions of her reign, acted on the present for mean and envious motives. She considered the Scottish Queen not as a sister and friend in distress, but as an enemy over whom circumstances had given her power and determined upon reducing her to the condition of a captive. Mary was no subject of hers, nor, according to the laws of nations, had the English Queen any right to act as umpire in the quarrel between the Scottish sovereign and her subjects, but she extorted in the following manner a sort of acquiescence in her right to decide from the Scottish Queen. The messengers of Queen Elizabeth informed Mary that their mistress regretted extremely that she could not at once admit her to her presence, nor give her the affectionate reception which she longed to afford her until her visitor stood clear in the eyes of the world of the scandalous accusations of her Scottish subjects. Mary at once undertook to make her innocence evident to Elizabeth's satisfaction, and this the Queen of England pretended to consider as a call upon herself to act as umpire in the quarrel betwixt Mary and the party by which she had been deposed and exiled. It was in vain that Mary remonstrated that, in agreeing to remove Elizabeth's scruples, she acted merely out of respect to her opinion and a desire to conciliate her favour, but not with the purpose of constituting the English Queen her judge in a formal trial. Elizabeth was determined to keep the advantage which she had attained, and to act as if Mary had, of her full free will, rendered her rival the sole arbiter of her fate. The Queen of England accordingly appointed commissioners to hear the parties and consider the evidence which was to be laid before them by both sides. The commission met at York in October 1568. At the end of five months' investigation the Queen of England informed both parties that she had, on the one hand, seen nothing which induced her to doubt the worth and honour of the Earl of Murray, while, on the other hand, he had, in her opinion, proved nothing of the criminal charges which she had brought against his sovereign. She was, therefore, she said, determined to leave the affairs of Scotland as she had found them. To have treated both parties impartially, as her sentence seemed intended to imply her desire to do, the Queen ought to have restored Mary to liberty. But while Murray was sent down with the loan of a large sum of money, Mary was retained in that captivity which was only to end with her life. Elizabeth continued to treat Mary as guilty, though she declined to pronounce her so, and to use her as her subject, though she was an independent sovereign who had chosen England for her retreat in the hope of experiencing that hospitable protection which would have been given to the meanest Scottish subject, who, flying from the laws of his own country, sought refuge in the sister kingdom. Always demanding her liberty and always having her demand evaded or refused, Mary was transported from castle to castle and placed under the charge of various keepers, who incurred Elizabeth's most severe resentment when they manifested any of that attention to soften the rigors of the poor Queen's captivity which mere courtesy and compassion for fallen greatness sometimes prompted. During this severe captivity on the one part and the greatest anxiety, doubt and jealousy on the other, the two Queens still kept up a sort of correspondence. In the commencement of this intercourse Mary endeavored by the force of argument, by the seductions of flattery and by appeals to the feelings of humanity to soften towards her the heart of Elizabeth. She tried also to bribe her rival into a more humane conduct towards her by offering to surrender her crown and reside abroad if she could but be restored to her personal freedom. But Elizabeth had injured the Queen of Scotland too deeply to venture the consequences of her resentment and thought herself, perhaps, compelled to continue the course she had commenced from the fear that, once at liberty, Mary might have pursued measures of revenge and that she herself would find it impossible to devise any mode of binding the Scottish Queen to perform when at large such articles as she might consent to when in bondage. Elizabeth had caused to regard the Queen of Scots with fear as well as envy and hatred. The Catholic Party in England were still very strong and they considered the claim of Mary to the throne of England as descended from the Princess Margaret, daughter of Henry VII, to be preferable to that of the existing Queen, who was, in their judgment, illegitimate, as being the heir of an illegal marriage betwixt Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, and various plots were entered into among the papists for dethroning Elizabeth and transferring the Kingdom of England to Mary, a sovereign of their own religion and, in their eyes, the lawful successor to the crown. As fast as one of these conspiracies was discovered, another seemed to form itself and, coming so closely the one after the other, produced one of the most extraordinary laws that has ever passed in England, declaring that if any rebellion or any attempt against Queen Elizabeth's person should be meditated by or for any person pretending a right to the crown, the Queen might grant a commission of twenty-five persons who should have power to examine into and pass sentence upon such offences. And after judgment given, a proclamation was to be issued, depriving the persons in whose behalf the plots or rebellion had been made, of all right to the throne, and it was enacted that they might be prosecuted to the death. The hardship of this enactment consisted in its rendering Mary, against whom it was levelled, responsible for the deeds of others, as well as for her own actions, that if the Catholics rose in rebellion, although without warrant from Mary or even against her inclination, she was nevertheless rendered liable to lose her right to succession to the crown and, indeed, to forfeit her life. Nothing short of the zeal of the English government for the reformed religion and for the personal safety of Elizabeth could have induced them to consent to a law so unjust and so oppressive. This act was passed in fifteen eighty-five, and following year a pretext was found for making it the ground of proceedings against Mary. Anthony Babington, a young gentleman of fortune and of talents, but a zealous Catholic and a fanatical enthusiast for the cause of the Scottish Queen, had associated with himself five resolute friends and adherents, all men of condition, in the desperate enterprise of assassinating Queen Elizabeth and setting Mary at liberty. But their schemes were secretly betrayed to Walsingham, the celebrated minister of the Queen of England. They were suffered to proceed as far as was thought safe, then seized, tried, and executed. It was next resolved upon that Mary should be brought to trial for her life under pretense of her having encouraged Babington and his companions in their desperate purpose. She was removed to the castle of Fatheringay and placed under two keepers, Sir Amius Paulet and Sir Drew Drury, a well-known hatred of the Catholic religion was supposed to render them inclined to treat their unfortunate captive with the utmost rigor. Her private cabinet was broken open and stripped of its contents. Her most sacred papers were seized upon and examined. Her principal domestics were removed from her person. Her money and her jewels were taken from her. Queen Elizabeth then proceeded to name commissioners, in terms of the act of parliament which I have told you of. She was a member of the most distinguished of her statesmen and nobility and were directed to proceed to the trial of Mary for her alleged accession to Babington's conspiracy. On the 14th October 1586 these commissioners held their court in the Great Hall of Fatheringay Castle. The evidence which was brought to convict the Queen of Scotland was such as would not now affect the life of the meanest criminal. Yet the commission had the cruelty to declare Mary guilty of having been accessory to Babington's conspiracy and of having contrived and endeavored the death of Queen Elizabeth contrary to the statute made for the security of the Queen's life and the Parliament of England approved of and ratified this iniquitous sentence. At any other period in the English history it is probable that a sovereign attempting such an action as Elizabeth meditated might have been interrupted by a generous and manly sense of justice and humanity peculiar to a free and high-minded people like those of England. But the despotic reign of Henry VIII had too much familiarize the English with the sight of blood of great persons and even of Queens poured forth by the blow of the executioner upon the slightest pretexts. And the idea that Elizabeth's life could not be in safety while Mary existed was in the deep sentiment of loyalty and affection which they entertained for their Queen and which the general tenor of her reign well deserved, strong enough to render them blind to the gross injustice exercised upon a stranger and a Catholic. Yet with all the prejudices of her subjects in her own favor Elizabeth would fain have had Mary's death take place in such a way as that she herself should not appear to have any hand in it. Her ministers were employed to write letters to these keepers insinuating what a good service they would do to Elizabeth and the Protestant religion if Mary could be privately assassinated. But these stern guardians though strict and severe in their conduct towards the Queen would not listen to such persuasions and well was it for them that they did not for Elizabeth would certainly have thrown the whole blame of the deed upon their shoulders and left them to answer it with their lives and fortunes. She was angry with them nevertheless for their refusal and called Paulette a precise fellow loud in boasting of his fidelity but slack in giving proof of it. As however it was necessary from the scruples of Paulette and Drury to proceed in all form Elizabeth signed a warrant for the execution of the sentence pronounced on Queen Mary and gave it to Davison, her secretary of state commanding that it should be sealed with the great seal of England. Mary received the melancholy intelligence with the utmost firmness. The soul, she said, was undeserving of the joys of heaven which would shrink from the blow of an executioner. She had not, she added, expected that her kin's woman would have consented to her death but submitted not the less willingly to her fate. She earnestly requested the assistance of a priest but this favour which is granted to the worst criminals upon which Catholics lay particular weight was cruelly refused. The Queen then wrote her last will and short and affectionate letters of farewell to her relations in France. She distributed among her attendants such valuables as had been left her and desired them to keep them for her sake. This occupied the evening before the day appointed for the fateful execution. On the 8th February 1587 the Queen still maintaining the same calm and undisturbed appearance which she had displayed at her pretended trial was brought down to the great hall of the castle where a scaffold was erected on which were placed a block and a chair, the hole being covered with black cloth. The master of her household, Sir Andrew Melville, was permitted to take a last leave of the mistress whom he had served long and faithfully. He burst into loud lamentations bewailing her fate and deploring his own in being destined to carry such news to Scotland. Weep not, my good Melville, said the Queen, but rather rejoice for thou shalt this day see Mary's stort relieved from all her sorrows. She obtained permission with some difficulty that her maids should be allowed to attend her on the scaffold. It was objected to that the extravagance of their grief disturbed the proceedings. She engaged for them that they would be silent. When the Queen was seated in the fatal chair she heard the death warrant read by Beale, the clerk to the privy council, with an appearance of indifference. Nor did she seem more attentive to the devotional exercises of the Dean of Peterborough in which as a Catholic she could not conscientiously join. She implored the mercy of heaven after the form prescribed by her own church. She then prepared herself for execution, taking off such parts of her dress as might interfere with the deadly blow. The executioners offered their assistance, but she modestly refused it, saying she had neither been accustomed to undress before so many spectators nor to be served by such grooms of the Chamber. She quietly chid her maids who were unable to withhold their cries of lamentation and reminded them that she had engaged in violence. Last of all, Mary laid her head on the block which the executioner severed from her body with two strokes of his axe. The headsman held it up in his hand and the Dean of Peterborough cried out, so perish all Queen Elizabeth's enemies! No voice save that of the Earl of Kent could answer Amen. The rest were choked with sobs into tears. This died Queen Mary, aged a little above forty-four years. She was eminent for beauty, for talents, and accomplishments, nor is there reason to doubt her natural goodness of heart and courageous manliness of disposition. Yet she was in every sense one of the most unhappy princesses that ever lived, from the moment when she came into the world in an hour of defeat and danger to that in which a bloody and violent death closed a weary captivity of eighteen years. End of Section 70 Section 721 of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales read for LibriVox.org by Sarah Hale Scotland Part 4 A Century of Unrest Historical Note When the time of Civil War between Charles I and the forces of Cromwell had come, the Scots as Presbyterians naturally united with the Parliament rather than the King. But when Charles II was restored to the throne he set to work to establish Episcopacy in Scotland. The Scotch-Pisbyterians known as Covenanters were savagely persecuted, but in 1690 under William and Mary the Presbyterian Church became the State Church. Scotland and England were in reality hardly better friends than they had been in the days of Banach Byrne or Floedon Field and the laws passed in Scotland made it evident that on the death of Queen Anne her successor would not be accepted as ruler of Scotland. In retaliation England passed laws that caused great commercial loss to the Scots. The only way to secure for each country what it most wanted was to unite the two under one Parliament. This was done in 1707. Since then the history of Scotland has been a part of that of Great Britain. By the terms of disunion it was agreed that on the death of Queen Anne she should be succeeded by Sophia, a niece of Charles I. As Sophia died before Anne Sophia's son George was made king. The Jacobites, supporters of the House of Steward had hoped that the line of James II would be restored and that his son James Edward the Pretender would be placed upon the throne. The Jacobites were chiefly in Scotland as the Stewards were a Scottish family. In 1715 there was an uprising of the Scottish Jacobites but they were defeated at the battle of Sheriff Muir and the rebellion was easily suppressed. A second uprising in 1745 at first met with some success and were finally dispersed by the defeat of Clodden. This was the last battle fought in Great Britain. End of Section 721 This recording is in the public domain. Section 72 of England, Scotland Ireland and Wales This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer visit LibriVox.org Recording by April 6,090 California, United States of America The World's Story Volume 10 England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales Edited by Eva March-Tappan Section 72 Why Jenny Gettys Through Her Stool at the Dean by Grace Greenwood St Giles Cathedral or the High Church as it is now called is not a very beautiful building but it has a venerable look and has many interesting historical associations. It was here that James VI took leave of his Scottish subjects as he was about to proceed to England to succeed Elizabeth and it is recorded that the people actually wept at losing him in St Giles Cathedral occurred a yet more important event than this Royal Farewell. Here on the 13th of October 1643 was sworn to and subscribed by the Committee of Estates in Parliament the Commission of the Church and the English Commission the Solemn League in Covenant between the English Puritans and the Scottish Presbyterians another league called the National Covenant had six years adopted by the Scottish people alone. As a defence against the encroachments of prelacy or episcopy the reformation in Scotland was much more thorough and hardy than in England. Some of the reformers were too stern hard and uncharitable but they had a stern hard work to do and so much persecution to endure that it is little wonder they could not keep themselves in their mind. Most of them were honest and earnest men who had the good of their country and the glory of God at heart the forms and titles of the English Church were not very different from those of the Church of Rome though the King was declared its head instead of the Pope but the Kirk of Scotland was as opposite as possible to the Church of Rome in its forms and government simple and strictly Republican the affairs of the Kirk were administered by representatives meeting in assemblies and elected by votes and no great head of the Church was acknowledged except Christ himself the Scottish people went out in a great body from the Church of Rome because their consciences condemned its corruptions and their proud spirits rebelled against its tyranny the English people were mostly driven out by their hot-headed King Henry VIII who had taken a spite against the Pope and for many years they secretly longed to get back and clung for dear life to as many of the Romish forms and ceremonies as their Pope-Kings would allow them so it could hardly be expected that there would be such sympathy between the English and Scotch Protestants though there was really very little difference between the doctrines they professed King James VI who was never more than half a man showed no affection or gratitude toward the Protestant clergy through whose power he had been placed on his poor mother's throne the stern old Presbyterian preachers were little to his taste they refused to flatter him but bolted out their disagreeable truths and thundered forth their rough reproofs and admonitions to his face on one occasion when an uncommonly free-spoken divine was preaching before him the storm of pious rebuke came so hot and heavy that the King jumping to his feet called out angrily Speak, sense, mon or come down for the pulpit the minister grew very red in the face but answered with becoming spirit I tell thee mon I will neither speak sense nor come down for the pulpit when in 1603 James was called to the English throne he determined to unite the religions as well as the governments of the two nations and disliking Presbyterianism he resolved that it should be made to yield to episcopacy and that Scotland should conform to England his first tyrannical act was to punish by banishment and in other ways six clergymen for holding a general assembly without his leave he next caused measures to be passed by the parliament at Perth restoring the order of bishops which the Kirk had abolished then by threats and bribery he affected the passage of laws introducing the rights and ceremonies of the English service into the Scottish church the day when parliament ratified these new laws called the five articles of Perth was long after spoken of as the Black Saturday alas, Scotland had many such black days the larger part of the clergy and laity refused to accept the new forms of worship and were cruelly punished for non-conformity in 1625 James VI died and was succeeded by his son Charles I who was put to death by Cromwell and his party in 1649 he had some amiable manly qualities he was a good husband and father which is more than could be said of many of the steward family but he was not a good king and he has been pitied more than he deserved I think chiefly because he was an elegant accomplished prince dignified, melancholy, handsome and wore his hair in long glossy curls over his shoulders it is very hard to lose one's head even if it has never been anointed and worn a crown but Charles put his to no good use and by his foolish acts seemed bent on getting rid of it he was rash, obstinate unreliable and despotic one of his most foolish and fatal undertakings was to carry out his father's plan of making the Scots conform to episcopacy he ordered his English bishops to prepare a liturgy or book of common prayer for the Scottish church and sent down his most royal commands that it should be universally adopted by the clergy and the people on Sunday, July 23rd, 1637 was the day appointed for the introduction of the new service book into the churches of Edenburg a multitude of people including all the great lords and magistrates of the city assembled at the high church of St. Giles the Dean of Edenburg was to officiate and at the time set for the service he came out of the vestry dressed in his suplex and trying to look solemn and priest-like feeling not a little nervous and awkward he passed to the reading desk and began reading the service in a loud but rather unsteady voice while the people looked on silently some curious and wondering as though at a show but the greater part soland and indignant among those who showed most horror and anger was an old woman by the name of Janie Gettys she was not learned nor great she was only the keeper of a green ball in High Street but she was a dame of spirit and a stanch Presbyterian who hated Episcopacy next to Romanism and Romanism next to the evil one himself this morning she sat on a little stool near the desk but sat very uneasily from the first boiling over with indignation when the Dean came out in his robes she tossed her nose in the air with disgust and muttered something about popish rags then she drummed impatiently with her foot fidgeted and frowned and took snuff and glowered at him with her twinkling black eyes at length when he came to announce the collect for the day it seemed she could control herself no longer but springing to her feet she caught up her stool and flung it at the poor Dean's head calling out at the top of her shrill voice Dale clicked the warn of thee the false thief my lug which translated into plain English means I am sorry to say something very like this the evil one give thee the colic dost thou dare to say the mass in my ears a very kind and impolite wish certainly but those were rude times and Dame Janet was very much excited the throwing of her stool was the signal for a general uproar all the women of the congregation rushed toward the desk threatening to tear the surplice from the Dean's shoulders but he very prudently slipped it off and while they were ripping and rending it to pieces made his escape and ran like a frightened hare till he reached his covert, the Deenery then the bishop of Edenburg mounted the pulpit to call the people to order but he soon dismounted for he was not only saluted by cries of a pope a pope and other hard names but a regular storm of stools and even stones for the men grown as courageous and excited as the women were all up in arms and chose rather to fight than to pray in the new way this riot was the beginning of a stout and universal resistance to the introduction of the service book the king was as obstinate as his subjects and sent commands to the magistrates to punish the rioters severely and enforce the reading of the liturgy then the people banded together and drew up and signed the great national covenant by which they bound themselves to oppose episcopacy and defend presbyterianism with their lives hundreds of thousands eagerly signed this covenant though they knew it might expose them to persecution and even to murder them some signed it with one hand raised to heaven and tears streaming down their cheeks and some drew blood from their arms with their pins in it to make their oaths more solemn such a people as this were a match for any tyrant as king charles found to his cost after declaring war against his rebellious scottish subjects and fighting several battles with the covenitors he was obliged to abandon his purpose and make to them some important concessions it was to a scottish army that he finally surrendered himself and I regret to say it was a scottish army that sold him to the English parliament when charles the first was put to death the parliament of scotland resolved to support his son charles the second provided he would sign the covenant this he did though he hated presbyterianism even more than his father and grandfather had done he said it was not the religion for a gentleman a singular objection for a prince to make who it seemed did not think any folly was ungentlemenly charles signed the covenant for nothing his scottish army was not strong enough to contend with the english forces and he was obliged to retire to the continent and there remained till after the death of the great protector from will that old lion out of the way he came back to england and ascended the throne and the people rejoiced as though this had been a happy event and not what it proved a heavy misfortune end of section 72 this recording is in the public domain section 73 of england, scotland, ireland and wales this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Sonya the world's story volume 10 england, scotland, ireland and wales the division of the northern part of scotland into valleys led to the formation of the inhabitants into small isolated groups that had little to do with one another some men of wealth or of unusual ability became chief of each group and the group received the name of clan clan or children the marriages of each clan generally came from the north from the north from the north the marriages of each clan generally occurred within itself moreover it was believed that both chief and followers were descended from some common ancestor thus the feeling of devotion to a leader was strengthened by the ties of relationship and the clan followed its chief spanner as if it had been that of a father the plaid was a piece of cloth two yards by four each clan had a plaid of a special arrangement of colors this plaid was wrapped about the body in graceful folds girded in at the waist and fastened with a silver clasp upon the breast the clan was sometimes called to warfare by the Pibrohoff the chief a wild irregular strain performed upon the bagpipe sometimes by a messenger who bore the fiery cross a cross of wood whose extremities were set on fire the editor Pibrohoff Donil do Pibrohoff Donil wake thy wild voice and you summon clan Conil come away, come away hark to the summons come in your war array gentles and commons come from the deep clan and from mountain Sir Rocky the war pipe and panon are at Invalokki come every hill plaid and true heart that bears one come every steel blade and strong hand that bears one leave untended to her the flock without shelter leave the corpse unintered the bride at the altar leave the deer leave the steer leave nets and barges come with your fighting gear broadswords and targes come as the winds come when forests are rendered come as the waves come when navies are stranded faster come faster and faster chief, vessel, page and groom tenant and master fast they come fast they come see how they gather wide waves the eagle plume blend it with heather cast your plaids, draw your blades forward each man's set Pibrohoff Donil do knell for the onset End of Section 73 this recording is in the public domain Section 74 of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales read for LibriVox.org by NEMA The Execution of Montrose 1650 by William E. Aitton Montrose was a Scottish statesman who served first in the Presbyterian army and later in that of King Charles on behalf of the king he made a dissent upon Scotland was taken prisoner by the Presbyterians and executed the editor he is coming he is coming like a bridegroom from his room came the hero from his prison to the scaffold and the doom there was glory on his forehead there was luster in his eye and he never walked a battle more proudly than to die there was colour in his visage though the cheeks of all were wan as they saw him pass that great and goodly man he mounted up the scaffold and he turned him to the crowd but they dared not trust the people so he might not speak a loud but he looked upon the heavens and they were clear and blue and in the liquid ether the eye of God shown through yet a black and murky battlement lay resting on the hill as though the thunder slept within all else was calm and still the grim Geneva ministers with anxious scowl drew near as you have seen the ravens flock around the dying deer he would not deign them word nor sign but alone he bent the knee and veiled his face for crisis dear grace beneath the gallow tree then radiant and serene he rose cast his cloak away for he attained his latest look of earth and sun and day a beam of light fell o'er him like a glory round the shriven and he climbed the lofty ladder as it were the path to heaven and came a flash from out the cloud and a stunning thunder roll and no man dared to look aloft for fear was on every soul there was another heavy sound a hush and then a groan and darkness swept across the sky the work of death was done end of section 74 this recording is in the public domain section 75 of England Scotland Ireland and Wales this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Thomas Peter the world story volume 10 England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales edited by Eva March-Tappen section 75 the burial march of Dundee 1689 by William E. Aiton Dundee or Claibor House was a Scottish soldier noted for his cruel enforcement of the Laws and acted against the Scottish Coventinters in 1689 he stirred up some of the clans to fight against William III of England they routed the English at Kilikranky but Dundee fell in the fight the editor on the heights of Kilikranky yesterday morning our army lay slowly rose the mist and columns from the river's broken way hoarsely roared the swollen torrent and the past was wrapped in gloom when the clansmen rose together from their lair amidst the broom then we belted on our tartans and our bonnets down we drew and we felt our broadsword's edges and we proved them to be true and we prayed the prayer of soldiers and we cried the gathering cry and we clasped the hands of kinsmen and we swore to do or die then our leader rode before us on his warhorse black as night well the Cameroonian rebels knew that charger in the fight and a cry of exultation from the bearded warrior as rose for we loved the house of clavus and we thought of Goodmont Rose and he raised his hand for silence soldiers I have sworn avow ere the evening star shall glisten on shall Haleon's lofty brow either we shall rest in triumph or another of the grams shall have died in battle harness for his country and King James think upon the royal martyr think of what his race endure think on him whom butchers murdered on the field of Magusmoor by his sacred blood I charge ye by the ruined hearth and shrine by the blighted hopes of Scotland by your injuries and mine strike this day as if the anvil lay beneath your blows the while be they covenanting traitors or the brood of false Argyle strike and drive the trembling rebels backwards or the stormy forth let them tell their pale convention how they fared within the north let them tell that highland honour is not to be bought nor sold that we scorn their prince's anger as we lull his foreign gold strike and when the fight is over if he look in vain from behind strike and when the fight is over if he look in vain from behind where the dead are lying thickest search for him that was Dundee and the evening star was shining onto Hallean's distant head when we wiped our bloody broadswords and returned to count the dead that we found him gashed and gory stretched upon the cumbered plain as he told us where to seek him in the thickest of the slain and a smile was on his visage for within his dying ear peeled the joyful note of triumph and the clownsman's clamorous cheer so amidst the battle's thunder shot and steel and scorching flame and the glory of his manhood past the spirit of the grim open wide the vaults of Athel where the bones of heroes rest open wide the held portals to receive another guest last of Scots and last of Freeman last of all the dauntless race who would rather die unsullied than outlive the lands disgrace though without lying hearted warrior reconaut of the after time honour may be deemed dishonour loyalty be called a crime sleep in peace with kindred ashes of the noble and the true hands that never failed their country hearts that never failed their country hearts that never failed their country hearts that never baseless knew sleep until the latest trumpet wakes the dead from earth and sea Scotland shall not boast a braver chieftain than our own Dundee End of Section 75 This recording is in the public domain Section 76 of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Thomas Peter The World Story Volume 10 England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales edited by Eva March-Tappen Section 76 The Massacre of Glencoe 1692 by P Hugh Brown Though the Highlanders had been defeated at Dunkel by the Cameroonians there were still another in a very restless state and it was feared that another rebellion might break out. It was in the West Highlands and especially in Argelshire where it is seen most likely that the rebellion would take place. The reason of this was that almost all the clans in that part of the country hated the Earl of Argyle and as he was a supporter of William this made the chiefs who were his enemies take the sight of James. What the government feared was that a French force would land in the Highlands and then many of the clans would be certain to join it and there would be another civil war. General McKay therefore was sent to the West Highlands with a body of soldiers and to over all the chiefs he built a fort at Inverlochie which he called Fort William after the name of the King. But the government was anxious to make sure that the chiefs would not again rise as they had done under Dundee. The first plan that was tried was often been tried before. A sum of money amounting to £12,000 was distributed among the chiefs to bribe them to be loyal to William. This did very little good however. Some of the chiefs refused to take the bribe and others accepted it but became no more loyal than before. Then in the year 1691 the government took a step which was to lead to a frightful crime. It proclaimed that if the chiefs did not take the oath of allegiance to William by the 1st of January 1692 they would be treated as outlaws and their lands would become the property of the King. By the appointed day all the chiefs had taken the oath except one Alexander MacDonald chief of the clan of MacDonald that inhabited the valley of Glencoe in the north of Argosher. He meant to take the oath but he foolishly put it off till it was too late. On the appointed day he went to Fort William but the officer there told him that he could not receive his oath and that the nearest place where it could be taken was Inverary. Inverary was at the other end of Argosher. Roads were deep in snow and MacDonald was an old man and unable to travel swiftly. When he arrived at Inverary it was five days after the appointed time. However he did take the oath and that should have saved him and his clan. Now the person who had most power in Scotland at this time was John Dalrymple the Secretary of State and he was determined to teach the Highland Chief such a lesseness would keep them quiet ever afterwards. He got William therefore to sign what were called Letters of Fire and Sword against the clan MacDonald without telling him that the chief had taken the oath. These letters of Fire and Sword had been quite common in Scotland and what they meant was that the persons against whom they were directed should be treated as rebels and hunted down till they were either slain or prisoners. One day, not a month after MacDonald had taken the oath a troop of 120 soldiers appeared in the Valley of Glencoe. Most of them were Highlanders and they were commanded by two men Major Duncanson and Captain Glenline both of them belonged to the clan of the Campbells who were the deadly enemies of the MacDonalds. The soldiers were hospitably received by the MacDonalds and for about a fortnight the strangers and their hosts lived together. At last, when their plans were ready the officers gave the orders which they had received from Dalrymple. One morning about five o'clock the old chief was shot as he was getting out of bed and his wife immediately met the same fate. The plan had been that every MacDonald should be massacred but as it was a dark winter morning many escaped among the neighbouring hills. Thirty-eight however were slain and among them were two children called a man of eighty. This was the Massacre of Glencoe one of the most frightful crimes in the history of Scotland. Instead of helping William as Dalrymple had intended it made his enemies still more bitter against him though of course, William had never thought that the letters of fire and sword would be carried out in such a cruel and treacherous way. End of Section 76 This recording is in the public domain. Section 77 of England, Scotland Ireland and Wales This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org The World's Story, Volume 10 England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales edited by Eva March Tappan Section 77 A rescue at the battle Preston Pans 1745 by Sir Walter Scott In 1745 Charles Edward the young pretender entered Scotland hoping to win the support of the Highland Clans. In this he succeeded to some extent and defeated a small English force at Preston Pans. The rescue of an English officer in the manner described really occurred in this engagement. The story was told to Scott when he was a boy of 15. The editor. When Fergus McIver and his friend had slept for a few hours, they were awakened and summoned to attend the Prince. The distant village clock was heard to toll free as they hastened to the place where he lay. He was already surrounded by his principal officers and the chiefs of clans. A bundle of peas straw which had been lately his couch now served for his seat as Fergus reached the circle the consultation had broken up. Courage, my brave friends, said the Chevalier and each one put himself instantly at the head of his command. A faithful friend is offered to guide us by a practicable though narrow and circuitous route which sweeping to our right traverses the broken ground and morass and enables us to gain the firm and open playing upon which the enemy are lying. This difficulty surmounted heaven and your good swords must do the rest. The proposal spread unanimous joy and each leader hastened to get his men into order with as little noise as possible. The army moving by its right from off the ground on which they had rested soon entered the path through the morass conducting their march with astonishing silence and great rapidity. The mist had not risen to the higher grounds so that for some time they had the advantage of starlight but this was lost as the stars faded before approaching day and the head of the marching column continuing its descent plunged as it were into the heavy ocean of fog which rolled its white waves over the whole plain and over the sea by which it was bounded. Some difficulties were now to be encountered insettable from darkness a narrow broken and marshy path and the necessity of preserving union in the march these however were less inconvenient to highlanders from their habits of life than they would have been to any other troops and they continued a steady and swift movement as the clan of Ivor approached the firm ground following the track of those who preceded them the challenge of a patrol was heard through the mist though they could not see the dragoon by whom it was made who goes there hush cried furgus hush let none answer as he values his life press forward and they continued their march with silence and rapidity the patrol fired his carabine upon the body and the report was instantly followed by the clang of his horses feet as he galloped off ilax and limanay la trot said the baron of brand word dean who heard the shot that lean will give the alarm the clan of furgus have now gained the firm plane which had lately born a large crop of corn but the harvest was gathered in and the expanse was unbroken by tree bush or interruption of any kind the rest of the army were following fast when they heard the drums of the enemy beat the general surprise however had made no part of their plan so they were not disconcerted by this intimation that the army was upon his guard and prepared to receive them it only hastened their dispositions for the combat which were very simple the highland army which now occupied the eastern end of the wide plain or a stubble field so often referred to was drawn up into lines extending from the morass towards the sea the first was destined to charge the enemy the second to act as a reserve and the prince headed in person remained between the two lines the adventurer had intimated a resolution to charge in person at the head of his first line but his purpose was deprecated by all around him and he was with difficulty induced to abandon it both lines were now moving forward the first prepared for instant combat the plans of which was composed formed each a sort of rapid phalanx narrow in front and in depth 10 12 or 15 files according to the strength of the following the best armed and best born for the words were synonymous were placed in front of each of these irregular subdivisions the others in the rear shouldered forward the front and by their pressure added both physical impulse and additional order and confidence to those who were first to encounter the danger down with your head waverly crowd furgus throwing off his own we'll win silks for our tartans before the sun is above the sea the clansmen on every side stripped their plaids prepared their arms and there was an awful pause of about three minutes during which the men pulling off their bonnets raised their faces to heaven and uttered a short prayer then pull their bonnets over their brows and began to move forward at first slowly waverly felt his heart as it would have burst from his bosom it was not fear it was not harder it was a compound of both a new and deeply energetic impulse that with its first emotion chilled and astounded then fevered and maddened his mind the sounds around him combined to exalt his enthusiasm the pipes played in the clans rushed forward each in its own dark column as they advanced they mended their pace and the recurring sounds of the men to each other began to swell into a wild cry at this moment the sun which was now risen above the horizon dispelled the mist the vapors rose like a curtain and showed the two armies in the act of closing the line of the regulars was formed directly fronting the attack of the Highlanders a glittered with the appointments of a complete army and was flanked by cavalry and artillery but the sight impressed the terror on the assailants forward sons of Ivor cried their chief or the Camarons will draw the first blood they rushed on with a tremendous yell the rest is well known the horse who were commanded to charge the advancing Highlanders in the flank received an irregular fire from their fuses as they ran on and seized with a disgraceful panic wavered halted disbanded and galloped from the field women deserted by the cavalry fled after discharging their pieces and the Highlanders who dropped their guns when fired and drew their broadswords rushed with headlong fury against the infantry it was at this moment of confusion and terror that waverly remarked an English officer apparently of high rank standing alone and unsupported by a field piece which after the flight of the men by whom it was wrought he had himself leveled and discharged the clan of MacIvor the nearest group of Highlanders within his aim struck with his tall martial figure and eager to save him from inevitable destruction waverly outstripped for an instant even the speediest of the warriors and reaching the spot first called to him to surrender the officer replied by a thrust with his sword which waverly received in his target and in turning it aside the Englishman's weapon broke at the same time the battle of the attacks of Dugald Mahoney was in the act of descending upon the officer's head waverly intercepted and prevented the blow and the officer proceeding further resistance unavailing and struck with Edwards generous anxiety for his safety resigned the fragment of his sword and was committed by Waverly to Dugald with strict charge to use him well and not to pillage his person promising him at the same time full indemnification for the spoil on Edwards right the battle for a few minutes raged fierce and thick the English infantry trained in the wars in Flanders stood their ground with great courage but their extended files were pierced and broken in many places by the close masses of the clans and in that personal struggle which ensued the nature of the Highlanders weapons and their extraordinary fierceness and activity gave them a decided superiority over those who had been accustomed to trust much to their array and discipline and felt that the one was broken in the other useless Waverly as he cast his eyes for the scene of smoke and slaughter observed Colonel Gardner deserted by his own soldiers in spite of all his attempts to rally them yet spurring his horse through the field to take the command of a small body of infantry who with their backs arranged against the wall of his own part Forest House was close by the field a desperate and unavailing resistance Waverly could perceive that he had already received many wounds his clothes and saddle being marked with blood to save this good and brave man became the instant object of his most anxious exertions but he could only witness his fall here Edward could make his way among the Highlanders who furious and eager for spoil now throng upon each other he saw his former commander brought from his horse by the blow of a sigh and beheld him receive well on the ground more wounds than would have let out 20 lives when Waverly came up however perception had not entirely fled the dying warrior seemed to recognize Edward for a fixed desire upon him with an upgrading yet disawful look and appeared to struggle for utterance but he felt that death was dealing closely with him and resigning his purpose and folding his hands as if in devotion he gave up his soul to his creator which he regarded Waverly in his dying moments did not strike him so deeply at that crisis of hurry and confusion as when it recurred to his imagination at the distance of some time loud shouts of triumph now echoed over the whole field the battle was fought in one and the whole baggage artillery and military stores of the regular army remained in possession of the victors never was a victory more complete scarce any escape from the battle accepting the cavalry who had left it at very onset and even these were broken into different parties and scattered all over the country end of section 77 this recording is in the public domain section 78 of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales read for LibriVox.org by Sonya the order of release by Sir John Everett Millay English painter 1829 to 1896 painting page 1888 in 1745 Charles Edward Stuart, the young pretender, grandson of James II the deposed King of England landed in the Highlands of Scotland the clans rallied about him and at Preston Pence he met and defeated a small English army after besieging Edinburgh in vain he set out at the head of a motley force of 6,000 men on an invasion of England when within two days march of London the coldness of his reception and the desertion of his soldiers forced him to turn back and soon after his army was destroyed at the battle of Culloden a price of 30,000 pounds was placed by the English government on the head of the young pretender but after hiding for five months among the Scottish Highlands he managed to escape to France the picture shows a Highlander who has been wounded and imprisoned delivered by an order of release brought by his wife carrying her baby on her left arm she presents the order to the jailer who with keys in his hand narrowly scans the paper the prisoner's collie dog jumps up and fawns on him as overcome with emotion at his unexpected release he lets his head fall on his wife's shoulder End of Section 78 this recording is in the public domain section 79 of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org the world's story volume 10 England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales edited by Eva March Tappan section 79 How Flora MacDonald Saved Prince Charlie 1745 by Charles Sanford Terry the moment was instinct with the need of action prompt and decisive O'Neill bluntly formulated his plan that Flora should somehow convey the prince to her mother's home in Skye the scheme was hazardous but Flora thought rather of the suspicion which would fall upon her chief so Alexander MacDonald then attended Cumberland O'Neill persisted and dwelt upon the honour and immortality that would redound to her Charles also assured her if he's undying gratitude and at length the brave girl consented they parted in the early morning she to Nunton Clan Reynolds home to make preparations Charles and O'Neill were born in Corridale in what imminent danger her prince stood was a parent of Flora from an incident on her way to Nunton she and her attendant Neil McCuckin had not proceeded far when they were challenged by a party of militia and having no passport were detained in custody by good fortune her stepfather was captain of the company and when he arrived next day second she told him the dangerous scheme to which she had committed herself details of it had no doubt been discussed already near Milton Charles was to go under the disguise of Betty Burke in one of his narratives O'Neill seems to suggest that it was Charles's own idea and Betty a good spinster was to accompany Flora to Armadale where Mrs. MacDonald had much lint to spin was a bold one but plausible passports however were needed and Flora begged her stepfather to grant them he complied readily for at heart he was a Jacobite and set her at liberty so with passports for herself Betty Burke and Neil McCuckin and a letter from Captain MacDonald to his wife recommending the virtues of that paragon amongst spinsters Betty Burke a journey to Nunton meanwhile Charles and O'Neill had reached the shelter of Corridale on the 22nd they received a message from Flora that all was well Neil no doubt was the bearer and he would report the good news of the passports but the hours passed and no signal came from Flora Charles became irritable and anxious as Neil has left on record O'Neill even declares that he had made up his mind to surrender that his buoyant nature should have bowed before a position seemingly hopeless may be forgiven him action was the blood of him suspense awareness for a moment the scheme agreed upon was in danger of breaking down entirely an alternative that Hugh MacDonald of Balsher should pilot the Prince Northward was proposed from Nunton and abandoned Betty Burke perforce donned her petticoats on the 23rd Neil managed to transport Charles and O'Neill to Weay next day found them on Bembecula scouting cautiously towards Rossinish the rendezvous they reached it at midnight three more days of heart eating anxiety passed slowly at length all was ready and on the 27th Flora, Lady Clan-Ranold and a Mrs. MacDonald escorted by O'Neill proceeded to Rossinish they found Charles the prey of myriad midges in a tiny hut cooking his dinner the heart, liver, kidneys etc of a bullock or sheep upon a wooden spit the fair was not regal but with Flora on his right hand and Lady Clan-Ranold on his left all dined very heartily dinner ended there was some jo-co-strollery regarding Betty Burke and her clothing Lady Clan-Ranold begged Charles to try on his unaccustomed gear and with some tears for the occasion dressed him in his new habit a coarse calico gown quilted petticoat of light colour a done coloured woollen cloak with a hood made Irish fashion to cover the lang odd hussy's boyish face and bristly chin a note of warning broke up the feast Captain John Ferguson and an advanced section of Campbell's men were already at Nunton the party scattered Lady Clan-Ranold to Nunton to explain her absence the rest to Loch Uscovach fresh alarms disturbed them there very wet and wearied they had made a fire upon a rock for them until nightfall but the blaze was observed and soon four armed wearies were making for the shore extinguishing the fire Charles and his party made for the heather and lay concealed there until the evening by eight o'clock June twenty-eight the post was clear and the moment of departure at hand O'Neill begged to be allowed to accompany his master Flora refused she had no pass for him and objected that he knew no Gaelic and had a foreigner likely to compromise them sadly he saw them depart for Flora one gathers took some of his heart with her he was made prisoner soon after and so remained until February seventeen forty-seven it was a clear summer evening when Charles set sail from Loch Ulchkabach over the sea to Skye but the fear promise was not fulfilled about a leak from shore the sea became rough and the wind blew half a gale with Ben Bacchula and its dangers behind him Charles seemed to be in good spirits and watched over the sleeping Flora while he sang songs to harden his crew with the morning the sea grew calm and the point of Vatanish rose before them their ubiquitous enemy was awaiting them three boats lay moored near the shore a shot whistled over them a summons to bring two bending to their oars the boatman drove their boat into a friendly creek there they rested and breakfasted and no pursuer being inside brought their charge in safety to kill Bride the first stage of the adventure was over but other help was needed for its accomplishment not far northward of kill Bride lay Monkstatt or Muckstott Lady Margaret McDonald's home thither Flora went with Neil leaving Charles upon the shore her arrival was sadly mistimed the militia were not far distant their commander, Lieutenant McLeod was in the house leaving Flora to hold him in conversation Lady Margaret left the room her husband was with Cumberland somewhat under suspicion already and Cumberland's elusive quarry was on the threshold of her house the situation was unnerving by good fortune her husband's factor McDonald of Kingsborough happened to be with her Captain Donald Roy McDonald also came at a hasty summons walking to and fro in the garden under the eye of the unsuspecting Lieutenant they concocted their plan Charles must be smuggled to Rasa Kingsborough undertook to see him to pour three and Donald Roy went off to find young McLeod of Rasa and to procure a boat she arranged Lady Margaret return to her visitors the comedy was not yet played out she pressed Flora to stay with her she had so often promised herself and so forth Flora ignorant of the garden plot declined the troublesome times called her to her mother at Armadale and she must travel thither without delay so after dinner she went to her mother, Neil, Mrs. John McDonald of Kirkipost and her maid an embarrassing addition to the party meanwhile Charles had been told of the new plan for his safety Kingsborough had sent a message by Neil bidding him conduct the prince to a hill on the road at the back of Monkstead Kingsborough joined him there later and brought refreshment a little wine and a few biscuits an hour before sunset they started taking the road towards Kingsborough's house Flora and her companions came up soon afterwards stalking along the road Betty Burke presented a strange figure Mrs. McDonald's maid observed her with some contempt never had she seen she declared such an impudent looked woman awkwardly she managed her skirts Flora was in an agony of fear and hastily drew her companion and her inquisitive maid to the front soon they left her and trudging on through the rain and darkness Midnight brought the fugitive to the shelter of Kingsborough's home Mrs. McDonald was already in her role when a message from Kingsborough told her that Milton's daughter was her guest give my service to her she answered from her room and tell her to make free with anything in the house for I am very sleepy and cannot see her this night soon her daughter wide-eyed and wondering burst in upon her mother she panted father has brought in a very odd muckle ill shaken up wife as ever I saw I never saw the like of her and he has gone into the hall with her on the heels of his daughter came Kingsborough himself clamouring for supper pray good man said his wife what company is this you have brought with you that you shall know in good time answered Kingsborough only make haste and get some supper Mrs. McDonald but compliant sent her daughter to the hall for her keys but the muckle woman was striding up and down the hall in a manner terrifying to be at hold the girl saw her and fled recently Mrs. McDonald appeared as she told Bishop Forbes in after days I saw such an odd muckle trollop of a carlin making laying wide steps through the hall that I could not like her appearance at all what a lang odd hussy is this she whispered to Kingsborough aside he would not satisfy her curiosity and demanded supper Charles in fact betrayed himself as she returned to the hall from her lada he came forward and saluted his hostess with a bristly kiss at once she divined half the mystery lang hussy was a man in disguise my dear said Kingsborough it is the prince fear for her good man and their home and anxiety over the meagerness of her lada tore her equally but she refused to sit down with royalty I know not how to behave before majesty she objected again Kingsborough reassured her and at length the comic prelude over all fell to to supper no need had mrs mcdonald to apologize for her fear Betty Burke ate heartily roasted eggs collops bread and butter and a comprehensive etc lingered in mrs mcdonald's memory as the successive causes of that memorable repast as to drink the deal adapt that he want in swim of 12 bottles of small beer she recalled God do him good alt she added piously for well I want he had my blessing to gay down with after supper Charles called for brandy and pledged his host and hostess then he asked for tobacco taking a broken pipe from his pouch Kingsborough found a clean pipe and tobacco to fill it the hour was towards daylight when they went to bed meanwhile at poor tree Roy mcdonald had been making arrangements for the voyage to rassa the day was far advanced when Charles and his party marched thither he left Kingsborough's house in his female gear but with the resolution to abandon it at the first opportunity the disguise in fact rather drew attention to its wearer than screened him from it for as Kingsborough remarked Charles feminine eos were also man like in a wood not far from Kingsborough Betty Burke shed her bucklings at poor tree Roy mcdonald young rassa and captain Malcolm McLeod were waiting for the prince at the inn he was wet to the skin when he arrived having on a plaid without bridges trues or even filibik Roy mcdonald offered his kilt then he fell heartily to the meat and after his meal called for tobacco quarter of a pound at fourpence haydney and smoked a pipe before his departure the moment of farewell had come Charles bad goodbye to Kingsborough and Neil McCuckin then turning to flora he said for all that has happened i hope madam we shall meet in st. James's yet so he and his new guardians made their way to the boat at his belt on one side he carried a bottle of poor tree whiskey on the other a bottle of Kingsborough's brandy and four shirts in a napkin he took with him a cold hen also from Kingsborough's larder then his pocket was a lump of sugar on his way to the boat he took the sugar from his pocket and gave it to Roy mcdonald for flora for i am afraid he said she will get no sugar where she is going our lady he called her Roy handed the sugar to Malcolm mccloud for the princess need was likely to be greater than flora's though he was to win through to freedom and she had a lot of activity his last thought was of flora tell nobody no not our lady which way i am gone he directed Roy mcdonald at the dawning of the day july the first he sailed from sky flora mcdonald was arrested and kept as a prisoner for several months but was then set free in 1947 in 1774 she and her husband came to north carolina but returned to scotland at the time of the american revolution the editor end of section 79 this recording is in the public domain recording by jane bennett section 80 of england, scotland and wales read for libravox.org by jane bennett island part one the golden age of erin historical note island was invaded by race after race and last of all about the year 1000 bc by the malesians or gales who are thought to have come from gall or spain at the time of their coming as held by a race of hunters known in legend as the daedunnans the malesians introduced agriculture and an elaborate legal system known as the brejon laws even in those earliest days poetry and music were cultivated in island and beauty of scenery was appreciated the five kingdoms into which island was divided were almost constantly at war with one another but about the second century the central kingdom of meath became predominant and under the semi-legendary king kormak who is said to have held high court at tara in the third century pagan island reached its highest glory at some time during the fifth century saint patrick preached christianity in the land and founded churches and schools saint columbar established a school at iona in 563 and since missionaries bore their message through the scottish lowlands and the north of england for at least two centuries island led all western europe in learning and was justly called the island of saints and scholars the progress of island was broken in upon by the savage attacks of the northmen which began at the end of the eighth century unfortunately there was too much rivalry among the irish chiefs for them to unite readily against even so dangerous a foe but at length by the efforts of the three kings nile, malaki and brian barul the power of the invaders was weakened and finally in 1014 brian barul met them and defeated them so thoroughly that never again did they attempt to raid upon the country after the defeat of the northmen warfare between the irish chiefs was so constant that a chronicler described the island as a trembling sod in the 12th century one dermaut king of leinster driven from his throne by permission of Henry II of England the Norman Earl of Pembroke known as strongbow came to his aid married his daughter Eva and later claimed the crown of leinster thus it was that the normans first entered the land end of section 80 this recording is in the public domain