25/02/2005

an t-ainm ceart a bh’ air, ghabh e “Oliver Williams” air fhèin nuair a dh’fhàg e Lunnainn, oir bha e na fhear-brathaidh don riaghaltas. Nuair a ràinig e na Seumasaich, thuirt e gur e “Dòmhnallach” a bh’ air.

Ach bha aon duine am measg nan oifigearan Seumasach a bh’ air a bhith eòlach air nuair a bha e a’ fuireach ann am Baile Atha Cliath. Agus dh’aithnich e e. Thachair sin ann an Ashbourne air a’ chiad oidhche an dèidh dhaibh Derby fhàgail. Thuirt am fear a bha seo “Mr Bradstreet” ris. Gu fortanach do Bhradstreet bha am Morair Chill Mheàrnaig na sheasamh faisg air làimh agus mhìnich esan don Èireannach eile gur e “Dòmhnallach” a bh’ air. Tha e coltach gun deach fhàgail aig a sin.

Nuair a ràinig iad Macclesfield fhuair Bradstreet is oifigearan eile cuid oidhche ann an taigh. Bha e follaiseach nach robh bean an taighe taiceil do na Seumasaich. Thug Bradstreet don dàrna taobh i agus dh’fhaighnich e dhith gu dè a beachd air na reubaltaich is an ar-a-mach. Bhon fhreagairt aice thuig e gu robh i dha-rìreabh taiceil don Rìgh.

“Tha mi a’ faicinn gu soilleir,” thuirt Bradstreet, “gur ann air an aon ràmh riumsa a tha thu. ’S e sin gu bheil deagh ghean agad do Rìgh Deòrsa.” Lean an t-Èireannach air. “Na gabh iongnadh, a bhean mhath,” thuirt e. “Ma tha gràdh agad don Rìgh is don Riaghaltas, dearbh e dhomh le bhith a’ dèanamh na tha mi a’ dol a dh’iarraidh ort nuair a dh’fhalbhas sinn.”

Nuair a bha an t-arm air falbh sa mhadainn, bha aice ri dhol gu maor-ceartais anns a’ bhaile – fear a bhiodh dìleas don Rìgh. Bha aice ri innse dha gu robh teachdaireachd chudromach aice bho “Oliver Williams”. Bhiodh aig a’ mhaor-cheartais ri fios a chur gu Diùc Chumberland agus Diùc a’ Chaisteil Nuaidh gu robh na Seumasaich a’ dèanamh air Carlisle. Rinn am boireannach sin, agus ’s ann mar sin a dh’ionnsaich an Riaghaltas gu robh na Seumasaich dha-rìreabh a’ fàgail Shasainn is a’ tilleadh a dh’Alba.

Chaidh Bradstreet an cois an airm gu ruige Preston. Anns a’ bhaile sin, fhuair e cothrom teicheadh. Chaidh iarraidh air obair brathaidh a dhèanamh as leth nan Seumasach. Cha robh fios aig na Seumasaich fhathast gu robh e ag obair don taobh eile. Bha aige ri faighinn a-mach ca’ robh feachdan Chumberland is Wade, oir bha eagal air na Seumasaich gu robh iad an tòir orra. Dh’fhalbh Bradstreet air muin eich is cha do thill e. Chan eil mi cinnteach cia mheud duine a thuig aig an àm sin nach e an fhìrinn a bh’ aige ann an Derby. ’S dòcha gun robh cuid a’ smaoineachadh gun deach a chur an grèim no a mharbhadh leis na Hanoibhèirianaich.

Bha Bradstreet an dùil is an dòchas duais mhòr airgid fhaighinn bho Dhiùc a’ Chaisteil Nuaidh airson na rinn e. Ach bha briseadh-dùil a’ feitheamh ris. Bha uiread de dhuilgheadas aig an Èireannach ann a bhith a’ faighinn airgead bhon Diùc ’s gun do sgrìobh e don Rìgh. Dh’òrdaich an Rìgh gum faigheadh e ceud is fichead not mar dhuais. Not airson gach mìle de rathad eadar Derby agus Lunnainn.

Faclan na seachdaine: muin eich: horseback; claidheamh: sword; fear-brathaidh: spy; Baile Atha Cliath: Dublin; am Morair Chill Mheàrnaig: Lord Kilmarnock; maor-ceartais: Justice of the Peace; dìleas: loyal.

Abairtean na seachdaine: gum biodh X ga chumail an grèim: that X would be held in custody; nach bu chòir each no armachd a bhith aige: that he should have neither horse or weaponry; bha deagh bheachd aig na h-oifigearan eile air: the other officers had a good opinion of him; an cois arm nan Seumasach: along with the Jacobite army; thuirt e gur e “Dòmhnallach” a bh’ air: he said his name was “MacDonald”; a bh’ air a bhith eòlach air X: who had been acquainted with him; nach robh bean an taighe taiceil do: that the woman of the house wasn’t supportive of X; thug X don dàrna taobh i: X took her aside; dè a beachd air na reubaltaich: what was her opinion of the rebels; gu bheil deagh ghean agad do Rìgh Deòrsa: that you are well disposed towards King George; dearbh e dhomh: prove it to me; le bhith a’ dèanamh na tha mi a’ dol a dh’iarraidh ort: by doing what I am going to ask of you; bha aice ri innse dha gu robh teachdaireachd chudromach aice: she had to tell him that she had an important message; a’ trèigsinn Sasainn is a’ tilleadh a dh’Alba: forsaking England and returning to Scotland; chaidh iarraidh air obair brathaidh a dhèanamh as leth nan Seumasach: he was asked to spy for the Jacobites; ca’ robh feachdan Chumberland is Wade: where Cumberland’s and Wade’s forces were; gu robh iad an tòir orra: that they were in pursuit of them; bha X an dùil is an dòchas duais mhòr airgid fhaighinn: X hoped and expected to receive a large monetary reward; bha briseadh-dùil a’ feitheamh ris: disappointment was awaiting him; bha uiread de dhuilgheadas aig an Èireannach: the Irishman had such difficulty.

Puing-chànain na seachdaine: Na gabh iongnadh, a bhean mhath: don’t be surprised, good woman. Would you have been able to form the singular vocative form of the noun, bean (an dreach air “bean” anns an tuiseal ghairmeach)? Bean is a feminine noun so in the vocative it lenites but does not slenderise, just as is the case with feminine personal names – “a Mhòrag!”, “a Sheonag!” This contrasts with masculine personal names in the vocative eg “a Dhòmhnaill!”, “a Chaluim”. Similarly the adjective which qualifies bean here is also lenited but not slenderised.

Gnàthsan-cainnt na seachdaine: (1) ghabh e “Oliver Williams” air fhèin: he adopted the name “Oliver Williams”; (2) Fhuair Bradstreet is oifigearan eile cuid oidhche ann an taigh: Bradstreet and other officers obtained a night’s lodging in a house.