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A letter for Gaelic learners with Roddy MacLean.

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Litir 295: Dudley Bradstreet

an t-ainm ceart a bh’ air, ghabh e “Oliver Williams” air fhĂšin nuair a dh’fhĂ g e Lunnainn, oir bha e na fhear-brathaidh don riaghaltas. Nuair a rĂ inig e na Seumasaich, thuirt e gur e “DĂČmhnallach” a bh’ air.

Ach bha aon duine am measg nan oifigearan Seumasach a bh’ air a bhith eĂČlach 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 dĂšidh dhaibh Derby fhĂ gail. Thuirt am fear a bha seo “Mr Bradstreet” ris. Gu fortanach do Bhradstreet bha am Morair Chill MheĂ rnaig na sheasamh faisg air lĂ imh agus mhĂŹnich esan don Èireannach eile gur e “DĂČmhnallach” a bh’ air. Tha e coltach gun deach fhĂ gail 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 dù 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 rĂ mh riumsa a tha thu. ’S e sin gu bheil deagh ghean agad do RĂŹgh DeĂČrsa.” Lean an t-Èireannach air. “Na gabh iongnadh, a bhean mhath,” thuirt e. “Ma tha grĂ dh agad don RĂŹgh is don Riaghaltas, dearbh e dhomh le bhith a’ dĂšanamh 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 dĂŹleas don RĂŹgh. Bha aice ri innse dha gu robh teachdaireachd chudromach aice bho “Oliver Williams”. Bhiodh aig a’ mhaor-cheartais ri fios a chur gu DiĂčc Chumberland agus DiĂčc a’ Chaisteil Nuaidh gu robh na Seumasaich a’ dĂšanamh air Carlisle. Rinn am boireannach sin, agus ’s ann mar sin a dh’ionnsaich an Riaghaltas gu robh na Seumasaich dha-rĂŹreabh a’ fĂ gail 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 dhĂšanamh 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 tĂČir orra. Dh’fhalbh Bradstreet air muin eich is cha do thill e. Chan eil mi cinnteach cia mheud duine a thuig aig an Ă m sin nach e an fhĂŹrinn a bh’ aige ann an Derby. ’S dĂČcha gun robh cuid a’ smaoineachadh gun deach a chur an grĂšim no a mharbhadh leis na HanoibhĂširianaich.

Bha Bradstreet an dĂčil is an dĂČchas duais mhĂČr airgid fhaighinn bho DhiĂčc a’ Chaisteil Nuaidh airson na rinn e. Ach bha briseadh-dĂčil a’ feitheamh ris. Bha uiread de dhuilgheadas aig an Èireannach ann a bhith a’ faighinn airgead bhon DiĂčc ’s gun do sgrĂŹobh e don RĂŹgh. Dh’ĂČrdaich an RĂŹgh gum faigheadh e ceud is fichead not mar dhuais. Not airson gach mĂŹle de rathad eadar Derby agus Lunnainn.

Faclan na seachdaine

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

Abairtean na seachdaine

Abairtean na seachdaine: gum biodh X ga chumail an grĂšim: that X would be held in custody; nach bu chĂČir 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 “DĂČmhnallach” a bh’ air: he said his name was “MacDonald”; a bh’ air a bhith eĂČlach 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 dĂ rna taobh i: X took her aside; dĂš a beachd air na reubaltaich: what was her opinion of the rebels; gu bheil deagh ghean agad do RĂŹgh DeĂČrsa: that you are well disposed towards King George; dearbh e dhomh: prove it to me; le bhith a’ dĂšanamh 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’ trĂšigsinn Sasainn is a’ tilleadh a dh’Alba: forsaking England and returning to Scotland; chaidh iarraidh air obair brathaidh a dhĂšanamh 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 tĂČir orra: that they were in pursuit of them; bha X an dĂčil is an dĂČchas duais mhĂČr airgid fhaighinn: X hoped and expected to receive a large monetary reward; bha briseadh-dĂčil a’ feitheamh ris: disappointment was awaiting him; bha uiread de dhuilgheadas aig an Èireannach: the Irishman had such difficulty.

Puing-chĂ nain na seachdaine

Puing-chĂ nain 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 MhĂČrag!”, “a Sheonag!” This contrasts with masculine personal names in the vocative eg “a DhĂČmhnaill!”, “a Chaluim”. Similarly the adjective which qualifies bean here is also lenited but not slenderised.

GnĂ thsan-cainnt na seachdaine

Gnàthsan-cainnt na seachdaine: (1) ghabh e “Oliver Williams” air fhùin: 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.

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