ruin, for not doing what it was not in their power to do; that, if even compassion should induce him to allow a free communication between the castle and the town, the governor might just as reasonably require him to evacuate the city and abandon all the fruits of his victory; but if any wanton mischief were attempted, Charles added, he would make full reprisal upon the estates of the officers in the castle, "and even upon all who were known to be open abettors of the German government."* General Guest, to whom this answer was transmitted by the magistrates, promised to postpone the execution of his threat, until the return of an express sent to London for orders, provided that, in the mean time, no act of hostility were committed against the garrison of the castle. A few days afterwards, however, some Highlanders, who did not very clearly understand the terms of the agreement, fired on some people whom they saw carrying provisions up the hill. General Guest opened his fire immediately upon the streets of Edinburgh, and several of the inhabitants, as well as of the

* Charles's answer, dated Sept. 30, O.S., 1745, is printed in the collection of his State Papers.

Highlanders, were killed. The townspeople immediately renewed their intreaties to the prince, whose humanity would not allow him to sacrifice the city for a consideration of military prudence. He accordingly yielded. Supplies were allowed

to pass unimpeded into the fortress, the cannonade ceased, but all hopes of reducing the castle were at end.*

The generosity of Charles's character was equally displayed in his negociations for a cart e for the exchange of prisoners. Nothing could be of more importance to him, in the position in which he then was, than to obtain a recognition of the principle that the respective prisoners should not be treated as rebels. If his troops had only the ordinary hazard of battle and captivity before them, there was every reason to believe that many of his partisans would declare themselves with less hesitation. It was, there

* In his proclamation, Charles says: "As we have threatened, we might justly proceed to use the powers which God has put in our hands, to chastise those who are instrumental in the ruin of this capital, by reprisals upon the estates and fortunes of those who are against us; but we think it no way derogatory to the glory of a prince to suspend punishment, or alter a resolution, when thereby the lives of innocent men can be saved. In consequence of this sentiment, the blockade of the castle is hereby taken off."

fore, suggested by those about him, that one of the prisoners should be sent to London, to propose to the English government an exchange of all prisoners, and to declare that, if the proposal were not accepted, and if the English government put any of their prisoners to death as rebels, the prince would be obliged to proceed in a similar manner towards those who might fall into his hands. A few examples of severity, it was argued, would be sufficient to force the English government to consent to the proposed terms; and Charles was even given to understand, that his friends might reasonably claim from him, in such a matter, a slight sacrifice of his own feelings: but he stubbornly refused his assent, saying, "It is below me to make empty threats, and I will never put such as these into execution; I cannot in cold blood take away lives that I have saved in the heat of action." It may be questioned whether, in coming to this resolution, Charles did not allow himself to be guided by a one-sided principle of humanity, and whether the interests of his party and the security of his friends would not have been promoted by a contrary course; nevertheless, the motives by which

he was actuated entitle him to the esteem and respect of posterity, and ought, at all events, to have secured him against the calumnies so unsparingly poured out against him at a later period of his life, imputing to him a want of feeling and utter ingratitude towards those who had served him.

From what has just been said, it may be taken for granted that the prisoners of Preston were treated with great clemency. The officers were in a few days liberated on parole, and were allowed to reside in Edinburgh. The privates were subjected to little more restraint than the officers, until one of the latter broke his parole, when the whole of the prisoners were sent into custody at Perth. It was found difficult and expensive, however, to keep them in confinement, and, after a time, the majority were dismissed, on taking an oath not to serve against the house of Stuart. The remainder ranged themselves under the standard of Charles.

CHAPTER XIV.

CHARLES'S PROCLAMATION ISSUED AT EDINBURGH-CAMP

AT DUDDINGSTONE-FRENCH AMBASSADOR AT HOLY

ROOD-CHARLES'S COURT.

IF, in the cases above alluded to, Charles was led, by the magnanimity of his own character, to throw away advantages which lay within his reach, it must not be inferred that the suspension of hostilities, to which circumstances had constrained him, was allowed to pass away without diligent preparations to consolidate his power in Scotland and to extend it to England. The English government, as has already been mentioned, had appointed the 28th of October for the opening of parliament. On the 20th of the same month, Charles issued a proclamation, denouncing pretended parliament of the Elector of Hanover," warning the English not to attend it, and declaring it high treason for the Scots to do so. On the

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