Series 2 > Origins of the 'Forty-five

160
MEMOIRS OF THE REBELLION
and told them that the Enzie was all in a ‘ vermine of
Red Quites.’1 But they were so averse to believe it, that
when they ran to an eminence and observed them at a
great distance they swore it was only muck heaps : the
man said it might be so, but he never saw Muck heaps
moving before. And after they were convinced it was I
a body of men, still they would only have it to be some 1
of Bland’s parties, till their Hussars, whom they had sent j
over to reconnoitre, returned and assured them the whole 1
Army under his Royal Highness was coming up.
Duke crosses the Spey
As to the Duke’s passing the Spey (vid. London Gazette, i
April 19th) :—The Soldiers had got a notion that all on
the other side Spey were rank Rebels, and so immediately j
seized a number of the sheep and other cattle as soon as
they got over. But as the case was quite otherways and 1
the people of that Parish had been longing for the Army
as their deliverers, on the minister’s representing this, j
and what had happened, to his Royal Highness, he im¬
mediately ordered all to be restored that could be got |
unkilled, and gave the minister £50 Ster. to divide among
the people for their loss, and if that did not do it directed
him to demand whatever would, and it should be ordered.
His Royal Highness took up his quarters in the minister’s, i
where the Duke of Perth, etc., had been but a few hours
before.
Aberdeen Militia
Immediately after the Duke’s leaving Aberdeen the
two towns raised several companies of Militia to prevent
their meeting with disturbance from any flying parties.
His Royal Highness named their Officers and gave them
authority to act. He also named twelve Governors to
have the direction of the N. Town, till they should be
allowed to choose regular Magistrates. There was also
a proposal for raising a County Militia, but the Duke’s
victory at Culloden made it to be dropped as useless.
1 Meaning ‘a verminous swarm of red-coats.’