Speech of Mr James Bradeshaw
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Speech of Mr James Bradeshaw
Forbes
The Speech of Mr James Bradeshaw.
Steuart
Speech of Mr. James Bradeshaw
Paton
Speech of Mr. James Bradeshaw
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Forbes
Vol. 1, 93—99Paton
Vol. 1, 48—50Credits
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| Date | 28 Nov 1746 |
| Person (author) | James Bradshaw |
| Place | Kennington Common |
remediation
in Forbes
Transcription
The Speech of Mr James
Bradeshaw.
It would be a Breach of Duty in
me to omit the last Opportunity of
doing Justice to those who stood in
Need of it. I think it incumbent
upon me the rather, because I am
the only Englishman, in this Part
of the World, who had the Honour
to attend his Royal Highness in
Scotland.
me to omit the last Opportunity of
doing Justice to those who stood in
Need of it. I think it incumbent
upon me the rather, because I am
the only Englishman, in this Part
of the World, who had the Honour
to attend his Royal Highness in
Scotland.
When I first joined the King’s For-
ces, I was induced by a Principle
of Duty only, &and I never saw any
Reason since to convince me, that
I was in the least mistaken; but,
on the contrary, every Day's Expe-
rience has strengthened my Opini-
on, that what I did was right &and
necessary. That Duty I discharged
to the best of my Power; and, as
I did not seek the Reward of my
Service in this World, I have no
doubt of receiving it in yethe next.
ces, I was induced by a Principle
of Duty only, &and I never saw any
Reason since to convince me, that
I was in the least mistaken; but,
on the contrary, every Day's Expe-
rience has strengthened my Opini-
on, that what I did was right &and
necessary. That Duty I discharged
to the best of my Power; and, as
I did not seek the Reward of my
Service in this World, I have no
doubt of receiving it in yethe next.
Under an Opinion that I could
do more good by marching with the Army 94 (94)
Army into Scotland, than by remain-
ing with the Manchester Regiment
at Carlisle, I obtained Leave to
be in My Lord Elcho’s Corps, for
I was willing to be in Action.
do more good by marching with the Army 94 (94)
Army into Scotland, than by remain-
ing with the Manchester Regiment
at Carlisle, I obtained Leave to
be in My Lord Elcho’s Corps, for
I was willing to be in Action.
After the Battle of Culloden, I
had the Misfortune to fall into
the Hands of the most ungene-
rous Enemy, that, I believe, ever
assum’d the Name of a Soldier;
I mean, the pretended Duke of
Cumberland, &and those under his
Command; whose Inhumanity ex-
ceeded any Thinganything I could have I-
magined in a Country, where the
bare Mention of a God is al-
lowed of. I was put into one of
the Scotch Kirks, together with a
great Number of wounded Pri-
soners, who were striptstripped naked,
&and then left to die of their Wounds,
without the least Assistance; &and
tho'though we had a Surgeon of our own
a Prisoner in the same Place,
yet he was not permitted to dress
their Wounds, but his Instru-
ments were taken from him on 95 (95)
on Purpose to prevent it; &and in Con-
sequence of this many expired in
the utmost Agonies. Several of
the wounded were put on Board
the Jean of Leith, &and there died in
lingering Tortures. Our general
Allowance, while we were Priso-
ners there, was half a pound of
Meal a Day, which was sometimes
increased to a Pound, but never
exceeded it; I my selfmyself was an
Eye-witness, that great Numbers
were starved to Death. Their
Barbarity extended so far, as
not to suffer the Men, who were
put on Board the Jean, to lie
down even upon planks, but they
were oblig’dobliged to sit on large Stones,
by which means their Legs swell’dswelled
as big almost as their Bodies.
These are some few of the Cru-
elties exercised, which, being
almost incredible in a Christian
Country, I am obliged to add
an Asseveration to the Truth of
them; &and I do assure you, upon the 96 (96)
the Word of a dying Man, as I
hope for Mercy at the Day of Judg-
ment, I assert nothing but what
I know to be true.
had the Misfortune to fall into
the Hands of the most ungene-
rous Enemy, that, I believe, ever
assum’d the Name of a Soldier;
I mean, the pretended Duke of
Cumberland, &and those under his
Command; whose Inhumanity ex-
ceeded any Thinganything I could have I-
magined in a Country, where the
bare Mention of a God is al-
lowed of. I was put into one of
the Scotch Kirks, together with a
great Number of wounded Pri-
soners, who were striptstripped naked,
&and then left to die of their Wounds,
without the least Assistance; &and
tho'though we had a Surgeon of our own
a Prisoner in the same Place,
yet he was not permitted to dress
their Wounds, but his Instru-
ments were taken from him on 95 (95)
on Purpose to prevent it; &and in Con-
sequence of this many expired in
the utmost Agonies. Several of
the wounded were put on Board
the Jean of Leith, &and there died in
lingering Tortures. Our general
Allowance, while we were Priso-
ners there, was half a pound of
Meal a Day, which was sometimes
increased to a Pound, but never
exceeded it; I my selfmyself was an
Eye-witness, that great Numbers
were starved to Death. Their
Barbarity extended so far, as
not to suffer the Men, who were
put on Board the Jean, to lie
down even upon planks, but they
were oblig’dobliged to sit on large Stones,
by which means their Legs swell’dswelled
as big almost as their Bodies.
These are some few of the Cru-
elties exercised, which, being
almost incredible in a Christian
Country, I am obliged to add
an Asseveration to the Truth of
them; &and I do assure you, upon the 96 (96)
the Word of a dying Man, as I
hope for Mercy at the Day of Judg-
ment, I assert nothing but what
I know to be true.
The Injustice of these Proceedings
is aggravated by the Ingratitude
of them, for the Elector of Hano-
ver’s People had been often o-
bliged by the Prince, who ordered
his Prisoners the same Allow-
ance of Meal as his own Troops,
&and always made it his particular
Concern, that all the wounded
should be carefully dressed, &and
used with the utmost Tenderness.
His extreme Caution to avoid yethe
Effusion of Blood, even with Re-
gard to Spies, when his own Safe-
ty made it almost necessary, &and
his surprizingsurprising Generosity to all
his Enemies, without Distinction,
certainly demanded different Treat-
ment; &and I cannot think, that an
English Army, under English Di-
rection, could possibly behave
with such unprovoked Barbarity.
is aggravated by the Ingratitude
of them, for the Elector of Hano-
ver’s People had been often o-
bliged by the Prince, who ordered
his Prisoners the same Allow-
ance of Meal as his own Troops,
&and always made it his particular
Concern, that all the wounded
should be carefully dressed, &and
used with the utmost Tenderness.
His extreme Caution to avoid yethe
Effusion of Blood, even with Re-
gard to Spies, when his own Safe-
ty made it almost necessary, &and
his surprizingsurprising Generosity to all
his Enemies, without Distinction,
certainly demanded different Treat-
ment; &and I cannot think, that an
English Army, under English Di-
rection, could possibly behave
with such unprovoked Barbarity.
With Regard to the Report
of his Royal Highness having or-dered97(97)
dered, that no Quarters should be
given to the Enemy, I am persuaded
in my Conscience, it is a wicked
malicious Lie, raised by the Friends
of Usurpation, in Hopes of an Ex-
cuse for the Cruelties committed
in Scotland, which were many
more &and greater than I have Time
to describe; for I firmly believe,
the Prince would not consent to
such Orders. even if it were to
gain the three Kingdoms.1
of his Royal Highness having or-dered97(97)
dered, that no Quarters should be
given to the Enemy, I am persuaded
in my Conscience, it is a wicked
malicious Lie, raised by the Friends
of Usurpation, in Hopes of an Ex-
cuse for the Cruelties committed
in Scotland, which were many
more &and greater than I have Time
to describe; for I firmly believe,
the Prince would not consent to
such Orders. even if it were to
gain the three Kingdoms.1
I would gladly enter into the
Particulars of his Royal Highness’s
Character if I was able; but his
Qualifications are above Descrip-
tion. All I can say, is, He is eve-
ry Thingeverything, that I could imagine
great &and excellent, fully deserv-
ing what He was born for— To
rule over a free People.
Particulars of his Royal Highness’s
Character if I was able; but his
Qualifications are above Descrip-
tion. All I can say, is, He is eve-
ry Thingeverything, that I could imagine
great &and excellent, fully deserv-
ing what He was born for— To
rule over a free People.
I die a Member of the Church
of England, which, I am satisfi-
ed, would flourish more under
the Reign of a Stewart, than it
does now, or has done for many Years. 98 (98)
Years. The Friends of the House of
Hanover say, They keep out Pope-
ry. But do they not let in Infi-
delity, which is almost become
(If I may so say) the Religion es^tablished?
of England, which, I am satisfi-
ed, would flourish more under
the Reign of a Stewart, than it
does now, or has done for many Years. 98 (98)
Years. The Friends of the House of
Hanover say, They keep out Pope-
ry. But do they not let in Infi-
delity, which is almost become
(If I may so say) the Religion es^tablished?
I think it every Man's Busi-
ness, by all lawful Means, to live
as long as he can, &and with this
View I made a Defence upon
my Trial, which, I thought, might
possibly do me Service. All that
the Witnesses swore on my Behalf
was strictly true, for I would much
rather die than be the Occasion
of Perjury. After Sentence my FrdsFriends
petitioned for my Life, and, if
it had been granted, I should
have been thankful for it; but
as it otherwise happens, I patient-
ly submit, &and have confident Hopes,
that, upon the Whole, it will be
better for me, for I suffer for hav-
ing done my Duty.
ness, by all lawful Means, to live
as long as he can, &and with this
View I made a Defence upon
my Trial, which, I thought, might
possibly do me Service. All that
the Witnesses swore on my Behalf
was strictly true, for I would much
rather die than be the Occasion
of Perjury. After Sentence my FrdsFriends
petitioned for my Life, and, if
it had been granted, I should
have been thankful for it; but
as it otherwise happens, I patient-
ly submit, &and have confident Hopes,
that, upon the Whole, it will be
better for me, for I suffer for hav-
ing done my Duty.
As I expected, so it happen’dhappened upon
my Trial, Mr Maddox perjured
himself; and, I am afraid, he is
so immersed in Wickedness, that it 99 (99)
it would be difficult for Him to
forbear it. Lieutenant Moore
swore he was acquainted with
me at Manchester, but I declare,
I was never in his Company be-
fore we met at Inverness. I
should think it a great Reflec-
tion upon the Honour of any
Government, to encourage Officers
to lay by their Swords &and become
Informers. I forgive both these, &and
all my Enemies.
my Trial, Mr Maddox perjured
himself; and, I am afraid, he is
so immersed in Wickedness, that it 99 (99)
it would be difficult for Him to
forbear it. Lieutenant Moore
swore he was acquainted with
me at Manchester, but I declare,
I was never in his Company be-
fore we met at Inverness. I
should think it a great Reflec-
tion upon the Honour of any
Government, to encourage Officers
to lay by their Swords &and become
Informers. I forgive both these, &and
all my Enemies.
I am convinced, that these Nations
are inevitably ruin’druined, unless yethe Royal
Family be restored, which, I hope,
will soon happen; for I love my
Country, and, with my parting Breath,
I pray God to bless it. I also beseech
Him to bless &and preserve my law-
ful Sovereign, King James yethe 3d,
the Prince of Wales, &and Duke of
York, to prosper all my Friends,
&and have Mercy on me,
are inevitably ruin’druined, unless yethe Royal
Family be restored, which, I hope,
will soon happen; for I love my
Country, and, with my parting Breath,
I pray God to bless it. I also beseech
Him to bless &and preserve my law-
ful Sovereign, King James yethe 3d,
the Prince of Wales, &and Duke of
York, to prosper all my Friends,
&and have Mercy on me,
James Bradeshaw.
Upon Kennington
Common, Friday,
November 28th,
1746.
Common, Friday,
November 28th,
1746.
Citation
Forbes, Robert. “The Speech of Mr James Bradeshaw.” The Lyon in Mourning,
vol. 1,
Adv.MS.32.6.16, fol. 59r–62r. The Lyon in Mourning Project,
edited by Leith Davis, https://lyoninmourning.dhil.lib.sfu.ca/