Glen Collection of printed music > Printed music > Jacobite relics of Scotland > [First series]

NOTES. 187
with, much against James' inclinatiou. His speech to them, ou
taking leave of him in the court of Versailles, must affect the
hearts of those who most abhorred his political principles.
" Grentlemen," said he, " my own misfortunes are not so nigh
my heart as yours. It grieves me beyond what T can express, to
see so many brave and worthy gentlemen, who had once the
prospect of being the chief officers in my army, reduced to the
stations of private centinels. Nothing but your loyalty, and that
of a few of my subjects, who have been forced from their alle-
giance by the prince of Orange, and who, I know, will be ready
on all occasions to serve me and my distressed family, could mal^e
me willing to live. The sense of what all of you have done and
undergone for your loyalty, hath made so deep an impression on
my heart, that if ever it please God to restore me, it is impossible
I can be forgetful of your services and sufferings. Neither can
there be any posts in the armies of my dominions but what you
have just pretensions to. As for my son, your prince, he is of
your own blood, a child capable of any impressions ; and as his
education will be from you, it is not supposable that he can ever
forget your merits.
" At your own desires, you are now going a long march, far
distant from me. I have taken care to provide you with money,
shoes, stockings, and other necessaries. Fear God, and love one
another. Write all your wants particularly to me ; and depend
upon it always to find me your parent and king."
Having ended, he asked every officer his name, and wrote it
down in his pocket-book ; then made them a low bow, with his
hat in his hand, and prayed God to bless and prosper them.
In that campaign they behaved themselves, and fought, to the
astonishment of all that beheld them, both friends and foes ; but
many of them fell, or died in the hospitals of Spain. Intercession
was made for them, and an order was sent out, that every one of
them who chose might return to France, or to their own country;
but they declined both, returning for answer, " TlTat Louis had
been kind to their master, and they would fight for him as long
as they had a drop of blood to spend." They afterwards served
in the campaign on the banks of the Rhine, against Prince Louis