BATTLE OF PRESTON-PANS, OR GLADSMUIR. 61 



proprietor, and were, no doubt, welcome visitors, even in the time of St. 

 Baldred, since the legitimate fare of the monastic cuisine were both at hand — 

 fish in the net and eggs in the nest. 



Owing to this circumstance. Dr. James Johnson has pointedly remarked, 

 that with so many geese in her neighbourhood — Tarpeice quondam custodia 

 rupis—t\\e Scottish " Capitol " has little to apprehend from surprise. 



The village of Preston-pans holds a conspicuous station in the catalogue of 

 provincial celebrity. Here the " battle of Gladsmuir" — that prosperous begin- 

 ning to a disastrous end, and the theme of many a song — was fought in 174-5. 

 The short-lived success which here crowned the ill-starred heir of the Stuarts, 

 resembled one of those bright, cloudless, mornings which lure the inexperienced 

 mariner out to sea — flatter him with a prosperous voyage, then change to a 

 hurricane, scatter Ids convoy, and leave him on rocks and quicksands. 



This was the first important action which introduced the campaign. The 

 moment that Prince Charles's arrival at Lochhaber was confirmed, Sir John 

 Cope, who held the chief command in Scotland, received instructions firon^ 

 government to concentrate his entire force; and, by acting with vigour and 

 decision, to crush the rebellion while it was yet in embryo. His failure in 

 the accomplishment of this mandate allowed the Prince and. his daily 

 increasing adlierents to direct their march upon the capital, where the royal 

 adventurer met with a friendly reception, and took up his quarters in the 

 palace of his ancestors. 



In the mean time the English army, having arrived by sea and advanced 

 from Dunbar to Haddington, took up their position within sight of the Highland 

 camp. The eve of the battle was spent by both armies in bivouac — nearly 

 equal in number, but very differently armed and appointed, circumstances 

 in which the force under Cope had greatly the advantage. At day-break the 

 Highland columns were in motion, and pressing eagerly forward, challenged 

 their antagonists to the combat. The right wing, vdth the duke of Perth at 

 its head, comprised the regiments of Clanronald, Glenco, Keppoch, and Glen- 

 gary ; the left, commanded by Lord George Murray, consisted of the Caraerons, 

 Stuarts of Appin, Macgregors, and Drummonds. The celerity with which the 

 Highlanders responded to the signal, and rushed to the charge, was highly 

 characteristic of their native impetuosity — a feature which modem disciphne 

 and a disuse of the broadsword have, in no small degree, softened and 

 restrained. Marching in rapid order up to the very mouths of the cannon, 

 which now played upon them, they discharged their muskets, and threw them 

 away as an incumbrance ; then drawing their claymores, and falling upon the 



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