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Memoirs of Major Alexander Ramkins (1718) By: Daniel Defoe (1661?-1731) |
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Majr. Alexander Ramkins , A HIGHLAND OFFICER, Now in Prison at AVIGNON . BEING An Account of several remarkable Adventures during about
Twenty Eight Years Service in Scotland, Germany, Italy,
Flanders and Ireland ; exhibiting a very agreeable and instructive
Lesson of Human Life, both in a Publick and
Private Capacity, in several pleasant Instances of his
Amours, Gallantry, Oeconomy, & c. LONDON : Printed for R. King at the Queen's head, and
W. Boreham at the Angel in Pater noster row, 1719. Price 1s. 6d. Stich'd, and 2s. Bound.
THE PUBLISHER TO THE READER
I Think it proper to inform the Reader that these Papers were deliver'd
into my Hands by a near Kinsman of the Authors, who lately came from the
Southern Parts of France. His Design in imparting these Memoirs to me,
was (as I quickly perceiv'd) to know my Sentiments of the Performance.
It seems the Gentleman had been sour'd by French Practises, and was
willing that the World should be no longer a Stranger to what was the
ground of his distast. The Author appears very well qualify d for his
Task, and opens a Scene of Politicks which the good natur'd part of
Mankind will scarce think human Race capable of. Those that are
acquainted with the Person of Major Ramkins, assure me, that the late
King fames never had a more active and diligent Servant, and that he was
one never wanting in his Station. If I am of a contrary Opinion to the
Publick in judging these Remarks worthy of the Press, 'tis what I do not
at present find my self convinc'd of. One Benefit at least may be
expected from 'em, that they will induce all true Britains to be
cautious, and not imbark themselves in a foreign Interest for the
future, if not for the sake of their Country, at least for their own
Sakes. I will not anticipate the Contents, but only take the freedom to
acquaint the Reader in General. That it will be one of the greatest
Paradoxes in future Ages to read, that the Court of St. Germains
should have been a Sleep, and impos'd upon for Twenty Eight Years
successively, unless their being trick'd by the greatest of Politicians,
be a Circumstance to take off from the Surprize .
THE MEMOIRS OF Alexander Ramkins, &c.
I was not above Seventeen Years of Age when the Battle of Gillycranky
was fought between the Two Highland Generals, the Lord Viscount Dundee
and Mackay . And being then a Stripling at the University of Aberdeen
and understanding that several Clans were gathering into a Body in
defence of King James III sold my Books and Furniture of my Lodgings,
and equipp'd my self to observe the Martial Call, I found my self
prompted with. I arriv'd in a few Days near the Field of Battle, and
joyn'd my self with a broken Body of Men who were making up towards the
Mountains to recover themselves after the Fatigue of Battle. The
Noviceship I went through in the Highlands , was no improper Foundation
for the course Method of living I have been since engag'd in for above
Twenty Seven Years; during which Time, I have run through all those
Hardships which are incident to one who seeks a Preferment in Fire and
Smoak. While I strolled about in the Highlands , it was my good Fortune to be
under the Tuition of an old Officer, who let me into many of those
little Secrets which are not unserviceable to such as Design to make the
whole Earth the Theatre of their Life; but what I chiefly valued this
old Gentleman's Conversation for, was the Happiness I had to be a Hearer
of some of his Politick Lessons, of which he was a great Master, having
furnish'd himself by Fifty Years Practice, with the best Idea's of that
kind. Upon a certain Day when our Party were out, some upon Foraging, and
others to get Intelligence, I being alone in a Cottage with this old
Captain, and being desirous to know his Opinion of the Affairs of
Europe in general, as also what was like to be the Issue of that
Cause we had undertaken. The old Captain willing to satisfy my Curiosity
as far as his Skill would reach, pulled out some Remarks he had made
upon the Year 1640... Continue reading book >>
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