05/24/2024
J’adore l’Ecosse ! J’adore l’histoire de l’Ecosse et des écossais. J’ai eu le bonheur d’y aller, pas assez longtemps à mon goût mais ce n’est que partie remise.
Je vous partage l’histoire des trois jacobites ! Fiction ou réalité ? À vous de décider. (Le texte est en anglais et je n’ai pas voulu le traduire pour ne pas perdre le sens).
Un voyage en Écosse ça vous tente ? On peut s’en parler !!!
The tale of three Jacobites
Once one of Scotland’s largest castles, Urquhart Castle on the banks of Loch Ness saw great conflict during its 500 years as a medieval fortress. Control of the castle passed back and forth between the Scots and English during the Wars of Independence. The power struggles continued, as the Lords of the Isles regularly raided both castle and glen up until the 1500s.
The last of the government troops garrisoned here during the first Jacobite Risings of 1689, blew up the castle when they left. Urquhart’s iconic ruins have become a mecca for tourists and locals alike over the years, but after the Battle of Culloden, it also gave safe refuge to three fleeing Jacobites.
In the aftermath of the battle, government troops were ordered to give “no quarter” to the rebels. They had a thirst for blood and immediately began butchering anyone thought to be connected to the Jacobite cause, not just men, but also women and children.
In the complete chaos that now followed defeat, three Jacobite soldiers made their escape.
One was a wounded officer, who with the help of the others, made their way to Loch Ness. From there they headed along the bank towards Aldourie Castle. As they scrambled onwards down the bank, it became quite obvious that the officer's wounds were slowing him considerably, and at their current pace, any government forces would soon catch up with them. One of the men, who was a native of the area, spied a small boat moored on the loch bank, and suggested that they should take the boat to the other side and hide themselves within the ruins of the old castle. Knowing his injuries were too severe to carry onwards, the officer agreed to the plan and the three men climbed aboard the boat and set off across the loch. It took them a few hours to cross, and upon landing on the opposing shore, they heaved up the boat and hid it within the trees. The three men secured themselves in a deep, hidden vault beneath Urquhart Castle, which was only known to a few locals. Luckily for our band of Jacobites, the local soldier Ewan, had been just such a person. The man tended to the wounds, and within no time at all, the exhausted three fell asleep within the depths of the castle. It was near midday before any of the men awoke, and it was about this time that the third man said, “I'm glad we're safe, but a bite to eat would be a godsend.” “I, very true,” said Ewan. “If only my beautiful Mary knew of our plight, she would endeavour to aid us.”
It was then a startled whisper arose from the officer. By God, our hiding place is discovered. Look at the shadow about the entrance. Ewan grinned wildly and with a deep laugh he called out, “That is the shadow of a friend.” In an instant, a short legged Scottish terrier sprang into the vault. “Kraken”, said the man while hugging his faithful friend. “This is the kindest visit you've ever paid me.” The men were overjoyed that they had not been found, and were quite happy to spend their time with the little dog. But knowing that the terrier had been let loose to find him, the hunter understood that his partner was concerned. This gave the man a cunning idea.
As the sun began to fall in the sky, Ewan crept out of the vault with his little friend and tied his garter to the dog. He then told the fearless Kraken to go home and bring back his wife and some supplies. Quickly, the wee dog sped off up the glen, heading straight for home.
Some four hours later, in the darkness of night, the little dog returned to the vault and the garter about him was gone. Ewan jumped up with great happiness, patting the dog's head and left the vault, only to return a moment later with a beautiful young woman covering the only entrance with an old travelling cloak and striking a light. Ewan would then introduce his betrothed, Mary McLachlan. The woman had understood immediately upon seeing the garter that she herself had woven, that her husband was in the area, and hastened to aid him with all the provisions she could carry. But most importantly for the other two fugitives, the delightful woman had brought a small flask of whisky. The men's thirst and hunger were satisfied, and during that night they told the woman of all that had happened and how the battle had been lost, and most importantly, their precarious position. The maiden told her side of the tale, the brutal efficiency of the government soldiers. How still, at this very moment, they were scouring the lands, hunting for the routed Jacobites. It was decided that the vault underneath the castle was the safest place to stay, and Mary would return each night to give the men food and whisky. Since she could pass along the roads more freely.
This plan would continue to work for some days, with the woman returning at night and leaving before daybreak so as to hide her comings and goings in the shadow of darkness. But then one day, young Mary did not appear and neither did the little dog. The men were much worried by this, but hoped the woman had seen soldiers and thought better of giving away their hiding space and perhaps returned home. Yet when the second night came and there was still no sign of the young woman, Ewan's fear of the government troops was quickly overcome by his concern for his betrothed. In spite of the danger currently scouring the Highlands, Ewan left the vault and ventured forth to find his beloved. The night was dark and the cold wind rattled through the silent glen as he slipped out of the ruins and headed for his home. He walked for some two miles, deathly afraid that the sound of each step would betray his position and lead him to certain death. Suddenly, in the distance, he heard musket fire, and with an impressive haste concealed himself within the bracken. Here he waited with bated breath, fearing who would come down the road. After a time, he heard movement behind him and spinning around with his sword drawn, he spotted the friendly face of his little dog. But the joy of finding him was quickly soured, as the man could see a thick cord wrapped around the animal's neck. He knew that this was not the work of his Mary, and a sudden horror crept over him. What if his love was captured and the dog was to lead the soldiers to the castle ruins? Wiping a cold sweat from his brow, Ewan was faced with a horrible decision. Did he warn his friends and flee, leaving Mary at the whims of the bloodthirsty soldiers or try to save his betrothed, possibly damning his friends to a cruel death. Either way, it did not take the man long to choose, and if he was to die trying to save the one he loved, then he would face it like a true Scot. Cutting the cord from the dog, he ordered it to follow at his heel and ventured forward on the road.
He eventually happened upon an old wooden barn with light streaming from its door and voices from within. He slowly crept closer to see who was there. A feeling of sudden terror rushed through him as he saw a band of government soldiers surrounding young Mary. “Come on now”. Called the leading officer. “That fool has let your dog escape. So now it is you who will lead us to the rebels. I am sure you prize your own safety and will guide me to the spot.” The man continued. “You shall walk with me until you point out the lurking place of these cowards.” Turning to his man, the man ordered them to remain ready and wait to hear his signal whistle, at which point they should advance to it with all haste. The commander roughly pulled at Mary and headed out into the darkness of night.
Ewan proceeded to follow the commander and his unwilling companion. All three continued on the old road to the castle, but once the barn was out of sight, the young woman stopped in her tracks. “Keep going”, shouted the officer. “I don't care one farthing for your life. And if you do not lead me to the rebels this instant, then this blade.” The man drew his sword and held the point against the woman. “Shall, in two minutes enter your heart.” Poor Mary trembled and shook as she told the man she would go no further. It was then the deep voice of Ewan sprang from the darkness. “Perhaps you should turn your weapon this way, brave soldier.” As the officer spun round, Ewan clubbed him hard with a large tree branch, knocking the man unconscious. As the sword and the officer fell to the ground, the young lovers were reunited in each other's arms. Mary thanked Ewan for coming to her rescue, and then asked if the officer between them was dead, but Ewan replied, “no, he lives. I would not dirty my hands in his blood. But quickly, we must go.” With all the speed the pair could muster, they ran to the ruined castle and warned the others.
It was in this way that the fugitive lovers escaped the aftermath of Culloden, and it was with much gratitude that they looked upon the ancient castle which had given them refuge and concealed their retreat. That very night, the lovers and their two companions fled from the castle and found safety in the forest of Badenoch, where they discovered the remnants of the Cameron forces led by Lochiel, the clan chief. With these troops, they made their way to the coast and the wounded officer boarded a ship bound for France. Ewan and Mary would not leave Scotland as they had no money, high rank or status to survive penniless on the continent. So the pair would stay near the coast, and with Ewan's Jacobite colours well and truly hidden, they would settle down and start a family there.
Original source Liath Wolf (YouTube)
