NOTES.
1. Of the Scottish Guard of the French kings a short account has already been given in the body of this work. Those who wish to see a more particular narrative of their exploits will find it in the 'History of the First Foot,' and L'Escosse Française of A. Houston. In 1717 the Guard had dwindled down to four-and-twenty Scottish gentlemen, who were commanded by the Comte de Maillé. The following letter or bond of service, given in 1625 by the heir of Ardlogie to 'my Lord Gordon,' styled Marquis of Gordon in France, will best explain the constitution of the Garde du Corps Ecossais at the time of our story.
'Be it kenned to all men by these present letters, I Adam Gordon, apparent of Ardlogie, forsomuch as it has pleased the right noble lord, George Lord Gordon, son to the right noble marquis, George Marquis of Huntlie and Captain-in chief of the companie of Scottish Gensdarmes, under the most Christian king Lotus XIII. of France and Navarre, to admit me one of the said companie, therefore I, the said Adam Gordon, heir of Ardlogie, and also John Gordon of Ardlogie and Patrick Gordon of Boigheidis, cautioners and suretis for me, &c., &c., bind and oblige us, and ilk one of us, conjunctlie and severallie, &c., that I, the said Adam Gordon, shall duly observe and keep the whole musters, duly prepared with one man and two horses, armed at all points, with one case of pistols, at such places and time as the said captain or commissary shall give warrant and direction to that effect, and also, that I shall be ready and prepared to go to France or elsewhere, to attend my service, at all occasions whensoever I shall be required by my captain, &c., upon forty days' advertisement so to do, and in case I fail in performance of this present bond, or any part thereof, in that case, I and my cautioners oblige ourselves conjunctlie and severallie to content and pay to the said captain or his assignees the sum of one thousand and fiftie French crowns, &c., &c.—This promise written by Alex. Litster in Auld Aberdeen, and subscribed by us at Aberdeen, the 8th day of June, 1625, before these witnesses Sir Alexr. Gordon of Cluny, knight, Patrick Hamiltoun, servitor to my Lord Gordon, and John Gordon, filler up of the premises.'—See 'Spalding Club Miscellany,' vol. iv. 'The Gordon Papers,' etc.
The following commanders of the Scottish Guard appear in the old lists of the French army, during the monarchy:—
'24 March 1422.—JEAN STUART, Seigneur d'Arrelay et d'Aubigné.
" JEAN STUART, Seigneur d'Aubigné, fils du précédent,
Chevalier de l'Ordre.
" ROBERT STUART, cousin du précédent, Seigneur
d'Aubigné, fait Maréchal de France en 1515.
" JACQUES HAMILTON, Comte d'Arran.
" JEAN STUART, Seigneur d'Aubigné (brother of
Mathew, Earl of Lennox).
" HENRI, Prince d'Ecosse.
" CHARLES, Prince d'Ecosse.
" GEORGE GOURDON, Marquis d'Hunteley, l'an
1625.
" JACQUES, Duc d'York, frère de Charles II.
After this, the Guard was commanded by captain-lieutenants, whose names were as follows:—
ANDREW LORD GRAY, High Sheriff of Forfar.
The MARÉCHAL SCHOMBERG (by request of Charles II.)
1667.—LE CHEVALIER DE HAUTEFEUILLE.
" LE MARQUIS DE PIANEZZI, appellé ordinairement le
Marquis de Livourne.
1682.—LE MARQUIS DE MOUCY.
" LE MARQUIS DE ROUCY.
1707.—LE MARQUIS DE NESLE.
" LE COMTE DE MAILLÉ.'—(Vide Père Daniel's Histoire.)
2. The privileges of the Scots in France were most ample, and were every way similar to those enjoyed by French subjects. These privileges were fully defined and confirmed by Henry, King of France in 1558, by a letter of naturalisation registered in the Parliament of Paris, in the Great Council and Chamber of Accompts; and in the same year the same privileges were conferred on the French by the Parliament of Scotland. The French document is as follows, briefly translated:—
'HENRI PAR LA GRACE DE DIEU ROY DE FRANCE, to all present and to come, health. As, since the marriage before spoken of, between our very dear and beloved son, the royal dauphin, and our very dear and beloved daughter, the dauphiness and queen of Scotland, his spouse, the deputies of the estates of her kingdom have made the oath of fidelity to my son as their true and natural lord; by means of this, the subjects of the two realms (which have now long been allied in mutual friendship, favouring and succouring each other) will have permission to approach the royal families of Scotland and France, as if they were one, and desiring, for the better establishment of this league, and to fortify this friendship between our dear subjects, and those of the kingdom of Scotland, and to afford the inhabitants of that loyal country greater facility for visiting the king and queen, when they wish to do so, or of residing near them, or of seeing them, as good and loyal subjects, we give them the same favours, graces, and privileges which are enjoyed by our own people.
'We, having considered these things, and for several other great and reasonable causes, give all the inhabitants of the kingdom of Scotland, subjects of our son, the royal dauphin, and our dear daughter, his wife, permission, by this our authority, to reside and remain in this our kingdom, to have, hold, and possess, any benefice, dignity, or ecclesiastical office, which they can justly and canonically attain, les bons titres, which are not contrary to the privileges of the church in France, and to keep and enjoy, and to receive and uplift, the fruits and revenues thereof.
'They may also acquire in this kingdom lands or seigneuries under us, all and each of these goods, moveable and immoveable, together with all they may gain by gift or succession, we give them permission to dispose of by last will or otherwise, as they wish, and that their heirs, or others, to whom they may dispose of them, can succeed, take, and keep possession of their gifts, like other natives of our kingdom, without our Procureur General, or any other officer hereafter acquiring any right of interference; and that the subjects of the kingdom of Scotland may enjoy their benefits without molestation. And to all those who wish it, we ordain that they may possess in our kingdom lands and seigneuries, as in the kingdom of Scotland; but subject to our obedience, without being questioned or paying to our successors any indemnity, the sum or value of which we have, in consideration, discharged in favour of our dear son and daughter, by this present act, signed under our hand. We announce to all judges, and others whom it may concern, &c., to the courts of Parliament, Grand Council, and Accompts of Paris, to all our bailiffs, seneschals, prevosts, and others, our justiciars and officers, or their lieutenants, present and to come, that of our kindness, we give licence and permission to all the inhabitants of the kingdom of Scotland to enjoy these benefits peaceably and without molestation, for such is our will and pleasure, &c., &c.
'Donné à Villiers-cousterez, au mois de Juin, l'an de grace mil cinq cents cinquante et huict. Et de nostre regne le douziésme.'
Until the Revolution, the effects of all strangers, Scots excepted, dying in France were liable to seizure by the law of the land, though the heir was upon the spot; and the reader may remember Sterne's indignant outburst on this subject in the introduction to his 'Sentimental Journey.' Many traces of the ancient Scoto-French alliance may be found in Scotland, and the memory of it lingers yet in the hearts and traditions of the peasantry in the south of France, who still remember the achievements of the Garde du Corps Ecossais.
3. The following is the letter referred to in the note to chapter LX.:—
Toul, le 6 Xbre, 1852.
'MONSIEUR,
'J'ai répondu à votre honoré du 28 Avril, 1851, qu'il n'y a plus de traces, dans la Cathédrale du Toul, du monument qui a été élevé à la mémoire de Sir John Hepburn, ou que du moins je n'en ai aucune connaissance.
Depuis ce temps, le Gouvernement a fait faire une grande restoration, qui a fait connaître exactement le lieu où votre compatriote a été inhumé.
Mais le cercucil a été scrupuleusement respecté, et le caveau exactement refermé, et le lieu reste dans l'état ancien, jusqu'à ce que le ministère aura pris une détermination sur la restoration de la partie de l'édifice où se trouve le tombeau; le monument a probablement été détruit par la tourmente révolutionnaire de '93: l'année prochaine, je pourrai vous communiquer la description exacte du cercueil et de la pierre qui a été cachée, en grande partie, par d'énormes bois d'échafaudage.
'Aujourd'hui, je puis vous faire connaîre l'inscription, qui est sur une plaque de plomb, placée sur le cercueil, vous la trouverez ci-dessous.
Daignez agréer, Monsieur, l'homnage de votre serviteur,
'GEORGES.
'Curé de la Cathédrale.'
'DOM . OSSA . JOHANNIS . HEBVRNISCOTI . EQVITISAVRATI . EXERCITVS . GALLICI . CAMPI . MARESCALLI . QVAID-TABERNAS . SCLOPETO . TRAIECTVS . OCCVBVIT . VIII. IDVS . IVLII . MDCXXXVI. REQVIESCAT IN . PACE.
'J'ai l'honneur de vous faire observer que l'inscription ci-dessus est tout-à-fait conforme à l'original, et qu'en 1836 ce n'est point Louis XIV., mais bien Louis XIII., qui occupait le trône de France.'
'G.
'M. James Grant, &c., Edinburgh.'
THE END.
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