Jacobite Poem Narrated by Jim Taylor

From the book “Forbes of Pitsligo” The attempt to establish an overseas trading empire on the Darien Isthmus, and its failure (blames on the jealousy of the English Merchants) in 1698-1700 saw the beginnings of the association between Jacobitism and Scottish national Identity. This was further enhanced in 1707 by the Union of Parliaments when the Jacobites same out firmly against a formal political and economic union. By this time the Jacobite claim had passed to James VIII, the Old Pretender, after the death of James VII in 1701. Finally, the death of Anne, last daughter of James VII, in 1714 made the dividing lines of loyalty very clear. People had to choose between a distant Hanovarian branch to the royal family, or direct male descent as – the Ol Pretender. Fot people such as the 4th Lord Pitsligo, the choice was clear. He had retired from parliament in 1706 when the Treaty of Union was being framed, and had no loyalty to the Hanovarian monarch who could not even speak English. Thus when the Old Pretender landed at Peterhead on 22nd December 1715 Alexander Forbes 4th Lord Pitsligo had no hesitation in joining the Old Pretender’s Standard. He was fighting for his country, his religious beliefs and what seemed to him, the rightful king. There was no doubt in his own mind that God and good were on his side. Some pf the strength of feeling can be seen from this popular Jacobite song sung throughout the North East of Scotland at the time.