Ossian Collection > History of the Highlands and of the Highland clans > Volume 3

SUBRENDER OF STIRLING. 177
bad uearly surrounded the town; but they did not complete the invest-
ment till next day, which was partly occupied in cutting down some
trees intended for fascines, on wliich they meant to construct a
battery. About eight o'clock in the evening they sent a drummer to
the east gate with a message; but, being fired upon by the sentinels, he
threw away his drum and fled. The insurgents fired several shots into
tlie town during tlie night, which were responded to by the volunteers,
who were all under arms, and posted in different parties at the different
bye-entries and paths into the town, and at such parts of the wall as
were deemed insufficient. During the night the utmost alarm prevailed
among the inhabitants, and few of them went to bed. Some fled from
the town, and others retired into the castle ; but the magistrates and
the other principal inhabitants remained all night in the council cham-
ber in which they had assembled, to give such direction and assistance
as might be necessary, in case an assault should be attempted during
the night.*
Nest morning the insurgents were discovered erecting a battery
within musket shot of the town, almost opposite to the east gate, in a
situation where the cannon of the castle could not be brought to bear
upon them. The volunteers kept up a constant fire of musketry upon
them ; but, in spite of this annoyance, the Highlanders completed the
battery before noon. Charles, thereupon, sent a verbal message to the
magistrates, requiring them instantly to surrender the town ; but, at
their solicitation, they obtained till ten o'clock next day to make up
their minds. The message was taken into consideration at a public
meeting of the inhabitants, and the question of surrender was long and
anxiously debated. The majority having come to tlie resolution that it
was impossible to defend the town with the handful of men within, two
deputies were sent to Bannockburn, the head-quarters of the Highland
army, who offered to surrender on terms ; and they stated that, rather than
surrender at discretion, as required, they would defend the town to the
last extremity. Afler a negotiation, which occupied the greater part of
Tuesday, the following terms of capitulation were agreed upon : viz.
that no demand should be made upon the town revenues, — that the
inhabitants should not be molested in their persons or effects, — and that
the arms in the town should be returned to the castle. Pending this
negotiation, the Highlanders, to terrify the inhabitants into a speedy
submission, as is supposed, discharged twenty-seven shots from the
battery into the town, which, however, did no other damage than beating
down a few chimney tops. After the arms were carried into the castle,
the gates were thrown open on Wednesday the eighth, and the High-
landers entered the town about three o'clock in the afternoon.f
Being in want of battering cannon for a siege, Charles had, before his
departure from Glasgow, sent orders to Lord John Drummond, to bring
• History of Sihling, p. 116. t Ibid. p. 130.