Page 144 - A Jacobite Exile

fellows glad to exchange the troubles at home for service abroad. There
have been quite a crowd of men round our quarters, for, directly the news

spread that the company was landing, our countrymen flocked round, each
eager to learn how many vacancies there were in the ranks, and whether we

would receive recruits. Their joy was extreme when it became known that
Jamieson had authority to raise a whole regiment. I doubt not that many of
the poor fellows are in great straits."

"That I can tell you they are," Sir Marmaduke broke in. "We have been

doing what we can for them, for it was grievous that so many men should
be wandering, without means or employment, in a strange country. But the
number was too great for our money to go far among them, and I know that

many of them are destitute and well-nigh starving. We had hoped to ship
some of them back to Scotland, and have been treating with the captain of a

vessel sailing, in two or three days, to carry them home."

"It is unfortunate, but they have none to blame but themselves. They should

have waited until an invitation for foreigners to enlist was issued by the
Swedish government, or until gentlemen of birth raised companies and

regiments for service here. However, we are the gainers, for I see that we
shall not have to wait here many weeks. Already, as far as I can judge from
what I hear, there must be well-nigh four hundred men here, all eager to

serve.

"We will send the news by the next ship that sails, both to Scotland and to
our own country, that men, active and fit for service, can be received into a
regiment, specially formed of English-speaking soldiers. I will warrant that,

when it is known in the Fells that I am a major in the regiment, and that
your son and mine are lieutenants, we shall have two or three score of stout

young fellows coming over."

The next day, indeed, nearly four hundred men were enlisted into the

service, and were divided into eight companies. Each of these, when
complete, was to be two hundred strong. Six Scottish officers were

transferred, from Swedish regiments, to fill up the list of captains, and
commissions were given to several gentlemen of family as lieutenants and