ed the
outposts and found all at their places. In the narrow streets of
Edinburgh the people were accustomed to transact all their business out
of doors. Next morning (Monday, 16th), the streets were already crowded
at an early hour with an anxious, vociferous crowd. At 10 o'clock a man
arrived with a message from the Prince, which he incautiously proclaimed
in the street. If the town would surrender it should be favourably
treated; if it resisted it must expect to be dealt with according to the
usages of war. Greatly alarmed, the people clamoured for a meeting, but
the Provost refused; he trusted to the dragoons to defend the city. A
little after noon, the citizens looking across from the Castle and the
northern windows of their houses, saw the dragoons in retreat from
Coltbridge As they watched the moving figures, the pace quickened and
became a regular flight; by the time the dragoons were opposite the city
on the other side of the Norloch, they were running like hares. They
made at first for their barracks at Leith, but the distance still
seemed too short between them and the terrifying Highlanders; they never
drew rein till they had reached Prestonpans, nor did they rest there
longer than an hour or two, but galloped on, and were at Dunbar before
nightfall. And yet they had not exchanged a blow with their foes! At the
first sight of a reconnoitring party of horsemen, panic had seized them
and they had fled. This was the celebrated 'Canter of Coltbridge.'

The effect on the city was disturbing in the extreme. A tumultuous
meeting was held in the council chamber, the volunteers were drawn up in
the streets. As they stood uncertain what to do a man on horseback--it
was never known who he was--galloped up the Bow, and as he passed along
the ranks, shouted 'The Highlanders are coming, sixteen thousand
strong.'

It was too much for the volunteers, they marched up to the Castle and
gave in their arms! Meanwhile, a packet was handed into the council
chamber signed C. P., and offering the same terms as in the morning,
only adding that the town must open its gates by two o'clock next
morning. The cry was unanimous to surrender, but to gain time deputies
were sent to the Prince at Gray's Mill, two miles from Edinburgh, to ask
for further delay. Hardly had the deputies gone when, in through the
opposite gate galloped a messenger from Dunbar, to say that Cope had
landed there with his troops. Opinion now swung round the other