he action was entirely over before the
Comte de Nairne, with his command, cou'd reach nigh to the place. They
therefore return'd all to Penrith, and the artilirie marched up in good
order.

'Nor did the Duke of Comberland ever afterwards dare to come within a
day's march of the Prince and his army dureing the course of all that
retreat, which was conducted with great prudence and safety when in some
manner surrounded by enemies.'

NOTE 39

As the heathen deities contracted an indelible obligation if they swore
by Styx, the Scottish Highlanders had usually some peculiar solemnity
attached to an oath which they intended should be binding on them. Very
frequently it consisted in laying their hand, as they swore, on their own
drawn dirk; which dagger, becoming a party to the transaction, was
invoked to punish any breach of faith. But by whatever ritual the oath
was sanctioned, the party was extremely desirous to keep secret what the
especial oath was which he considered as irrevocable. This was a matter
of great convenience, as he felt no scruple in breaking his asseveration
when made in any other form than that which he accounted as peculiarly
solemn; and therefore readily granted any engagement which bound him no
longer than he inclined. Whereas, if the oath which he accounted
inviolable was once publicly known, no party with whom he might have
occasion to contract would have rested satisfied with any other.

Louis XI of France practised the same sophistry, for he also had a
peculiar species of oath, the only one which he was ever known to
respect, and which, therefore, he was very unwilling to pledge. The only
engagement which that wily tyrant accounted binding upon him was an oath
by the Holy Cross of Saint Lo d'Angers, which contained a portion of the
True Cross. If he prevaricated after taking this oath Louis believed he
should die within the year. The Constable Saint Paul, being invited to a
personal conference with Louis, refused to meet the king unless he would
agree to ensure him safe conduct under sanction of this oath. But, says
Comines, the king replied, he would never again pledge that engagement to
mortal man, though he was willing to take any other oath which could be
devised. The treaty broke oft, therefore, after much chaffering
concerning the nature of the vow which Louis was to take. Such is the
difference between the dictates of superstition and those of conscience.

GLOSSARY--Volume II.

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