Jacobites in Edinburgh
 Edinburgh Castle
The following message was delivered between ten and eleven in the forenoon by Mr Alves, a gentleman of Edinburgh, who had passed the Highland army on the road, and been intrusted with it by the Duke of Perth. Mr Alves was put into prison that afternoon by the Provost, for having been so imprudent as to communicate the message to the people on the streets, instead of confining it to his lordship's own ear.
"From our Camp, 16th September 1745. "Being now in a condition to make our way into the capital of his Majesty's ancient kingdom of Scotland, he hereby summon you to receive us, as you are in duty bound to do; and in order to it, we hereby require you, on receipt of this, to summon the Town-council, and to take proper measures for securing the peace of the city, which we are desirous to protect. But if you suffer any of the usurper's troops to enter the town, or any of the cannon, arms, or ammunition now in it (whether belonging to the public or to private persons) to be carried off, we shall take it as a breach of your duty, and a heinous offence against the king and us, and shall resent it accordingly. We promise to preserve all the rights and liberties of the city, and the particular property of everyone of his majesty's subjects. But if any opposition be made to us, we cannot answer for the consequences, being firmly resolved, at any rate, to enter the city; and in that case, if any of the inhabitants are found in arms against us, they must not expect to be treated as prisoners of war. CHARLES, P.R." History of the Rebellion of 1745 by Robert Chambers, pages 92 & 93. Town officials went by carriage to Slateford at eight o'clock and returned at ten o'clock with a letter from Prince Charles reiterating his demands to be peaceably admitted to the town and pointing out that his father's declaration was sufficient to guarantee the protection of the city. "His Royal Highness the Prince Regent thinks his manifesto, and the King his father's declaration, already published, are sufficient capitulation for his Majesty's subjects to accept with joy. His present demands are to be received into the city as the son and representative of the king his father, and obeyed as such when he is there. "His Royal Highness supposes that since the receipt of his letter to the Provost and Magistrates, no arms or ammunition will have been suffered to be carries off or concealed, and will expect a particular account of all things of that nature. "Lastly, he expects a positive answer to this before two o'clock in the morning, otherwise he will find himself obliged to take measures conform. By his Royal Highness's command, JOHN MURRAY 'At Gray's Mill, 16th Sept. 1745' History of the Rebellion of 1745 by Robert Chambers, pages 92 & 93 An account of the Jacobite entry to Edinburgh. The army rushed into the streets swords in hand with cries made as if on the battlefield. The people living near the gate were wakened by the noise and looked out of their windows to see Jacobite soldiers in the streets. The bagpipes screamed out a pibroch such as might have suited a day of fight. The pibroch was called "We'll awa to Sherramuir to haud the Whigs in order". According to the report of an aged female, whose mother, servant at the time to Commissioner Cochrane, father of the mechanical Earl of Dundonald, saw the scene described above from her master's windows in the Netherbow. History of the Rebellion of 1745 by Robert Chambers, page 96 |
Netherbow Gate, Edinburgh. Demolished in the Victorian period.
Canongate Tolbooth Prison
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