Series 3 > Miscellany of the Scottish History Society (Fourth volume)

MADE BY CHARLES EDWARD STUART 31
To begin with, one 1 of the two English envoys we have
mentioned was immediately sent back to France to warn
Louis of Edward’s imminent arrival. The other was
ordered to go to Massa in the Lunigiana, which marches
with the Genoese Riviera, to await the coming of the
Prince and make the necessary preparations for continu¬
ing the journey through Genoese territory. To him were
consigned some of Edward’s belongings, for he had decided
to travel on horseback, disguised as a courier, without any
kind of baggage, accompanied only by a single servant.
One of these, a man of proved fidelity and courage and with
a good knowledge of the road, was told to be ready on a
certain date to proceed to France with one of the Court
gentlemen. He must on no account say a word to any one.
Since it was of the utmost importance that none of the
servants should have an inkling of the Prince’s departure,
this is how matters were arranged. The date was fixed
for 9th January and an important shooting party was
planned for that day at Cisterna, on the Via Appia, some
thirty miles from Rome, an excellent spot for sport on
account of the thick woods in which it stood. Thither
servants and huntsmen were dispatched, with all that was
necessary for the expedition. These preparations were
not unusual, as the Prince of Wales had been in the habit
of going there about this time of year with his brother,
the Duke of York, to shoot, generally for about a fortnight.
Very few people had been let into the secret; only those
who were to play a part in carrying out the plan. All this
was organised by the Scotsman Dumbarii,2 a man of rare
discretion and extraordinary activity, who had instructed
Edward in early days. There was some hesitation about
admitting the Duke of York to the plot. Edward would
1 Drummond of Balhaldie.
s James Murray, second son of the fifth Viscount Stormont, served on the
Jacobite side throughout the ’15, afterwards going to France. In 1718 he was
appointed a plenipotentiary for negotiating the marriage between Prince James
Edward and the Princess Mary Clementina Sobieska. In 1721 the Prince
created him Earl of Dunbar, and in 1725 Knight of the Thistle (Scots
Peerage, viii. p. 205). In 1724 James appointed him tutor to his son, Charles
Edward.