Glen Collection of printed music > Printed text > Jacobite minstrelsy

MINSTRELSY. 99
O wae be 'mang ye Southrons, ye traitor loons a.' !
Ye baud him ay down, wha's back's at the wa' :
I' the eerie field o' Preston your swords ye wadna
draw ;
He lies i' cauld iron wha wad swappit ye a 1 .
terest that the reader can hardly be displeased at its length, more
particularly, as it exhibits a memorable instance of that heroic in-
trepidity to which the female heart can rouse itself on trying occa-
sions, when man, notwithstanding his boasted superiority, is but too
apt to give way to despondency and despair. The tenderness of con-
jugal affection, and the thousand apprehensions or anxieties that
beset it in adversity, the long pressure of misfortune, and the dread
of impending calamity, tend uniformly to overwhelm the spirits and
distract the mind from any settled purpose ; but it is possible that
those sentiments may be absorbed in a more energetic feeling, in a
courage sustained by the conflicting influence of hope and despera-
tion. Yet, even thus prepared, the mind may be inadequate to the
attainment of a long and perilous enterprise ; and, in the present
case, we have the testimony of Lady Nithsdale herself, that she would
have sunk at the prospect of so many and such fearful obstacles, had
she not relied with firmness on the aid of Providence. The detail of
her narrative will show how greatly this reliance contributed to
strengthen and regulate the tone of her resolution, not only in every
vicissitude of expectation and disappointment, but in what is more
trying than either, the sickening intervals of suspense and doubt.
Extract of a letter from Lady Nithsdale to her sister Lady Lucy Herbert,
Abbess of the Augustine Nuns at Bruges: —
On the 22d of February, which fell on a Thursday, a petition was
to be presented to the House of Lords. #*-•** T h e
subject of the debate was, whether the King had the power to par-
don those who had been condemned by Parliament. * * *
* * * * " As the motion had passed generally, I thought I
could draw some advantage in favour of my design. Accordingly,
I immediately left the House of Lords, and hastened to the Tower,
where, affecting an air of joy and satisfaction, I told all the guards I
passed by, that I came to bring joyful tidings to the prisoners. I de-
sired them to lay aside their fears, for the petition had passed the
House in their favour. I then gave them some money to drink to
the lords and his majesty, though it was but trifling; for I thought
that if I were too liberal on the occasion, they might suspect my
designs, and that giving them something would gain their good hu-
mour and services for the next day, which was the eve of the execu-
tion. The next morning I could not go to the Tower, having too
many things on my hands to put in readiness; but in the evening
when all was ready, I bent for Mrs. Mills, with whom I lodged, and
I acquainted her with my design of attempting my lord's escape, as
there was no prospect of his being pardoned; and this was the last