Preston Fight Part 10

The company remained at table; the prince's chair being instantly removed, and the vacancy filled up. All this was the work of a few moments.

Shortly afterwards, the sheriff was ushered into the room, and seemed greatly surprised by the sight of so large a party, for which he was evidently unprepared.

While he was hesitating what to do, Mr. Forster arose, and greeting him in a friendly manner, said: "I hope you are come to dine with me, Sir William. I shall be very glad of your company, I a.s.sure you."

"But I have business of importance, sir," cried the sheriff.

"We will discuss that after dinner," said Forster.

"I am very sorry to interrupt you, sir, but-"

"Nay, I will take no refusal," cried Forster, leading him to the table.

At a sign from Forster a chair was then brought, and placed next his own, and the sheriff was almost forced into it.

Jesmond, who had entered the dining-room at the same time as his superior officer, stationed himself behind the chair, wondering what would happen next, but not venturing to interfere.

"What will you take, Sir William-some venison? There is a fine haunch at the other end of the table."

"You ought to take a prisoner, Sir William," whispered Jesmond.

"So I will presently," replied the sheriff in the same tone. "But I will begin with the venison. Is the Pretender here?"

"I don't see him, Sir William," replied the official, looking round inquisitively at the guests. "But I can't quite distinguish the features of the persons at the bottom of the table. Stay! there is some one rather like him next to Sir John Webb."

"Be quite sure you are right," said the sheriff. "It won't do to make a second mistake."

Meantime, the venison was brought, and proved so good that the sheriff made no objection to a few more slices. At the same time he very readily accepted Mr. Forster's challenge to a gla.s.s of claret.

He was now in a much better humour, and partook of several other dishes, and repeatedly emptied the goblet which was constantly replenished by the butler.

The generous wine did its duty, and he almost forgot his errand. He had no one now to remind him of it, for Jesmond had been lured to the sideboard by the butler, and a flask of claret proffered him. He did not decline the attention. Since his chief was enjoying himself, he did not see why he should not follow his example.

But it was not merely Mr. Forster who was attentive in the extreme to his unwelcome guest. Lord Derwent.w.a.ter and Lord Widdrington, with both of whom Sir William Lorraine was well acquainted, though political and religious differences kept them apart-these two proud n.o.bles, we say, quite unbent, and were excessively complaisant, inviting him to take wine, and conversing very familiarly with him.

Sir John Webb pursued the same course, and as he drank a gla.s.s of wine with the sheriff, he gave him a knowing look, just to remind him of the recent adventure. Sir William laughed very good-humouredly.

Thus the dinner went on, and the sheriff became yet more cheerful, as was naturally to be expected, for he had now drunk a good deal of claret.

With the removal of the cloth, the ladies disappeared, for they knew what was likely to occur, and then an immense bowl of punch was placed before the host for the delectation of such as preferred that pleasant beverage to claret.

Unfortunately for himself, Sir William yielded to the seduction. At that precise juncture he meant to have a.s.sumed an authoritative air, preparatory to carrying out the business that brought him thither; but a b.u.mper of punch caused him to postpone it to a later moment.

Jesmond was no longer there to watch over him, and incite him by his observations.

That vigilant official had been taken to the butler's pantry, where he, too, had his share-somewhat more than his share of a strong bowl of punch. Punch was his weakness, as well as that of the sheriff, and he found the temptation irresistible.

It must not be supposed that while their leader was thus cared for, the yeomen were neglected. On the contrary they were very well attended to. They were told that the sheriff had ordered them to dismount, and they very readily obeyed. Their horses were accommodated in the squire's roomy stables, and they themselves were conducted to the s.p.a.cious servants' hall, where all that was left-and it was no slight matter-of the abundant dinner was set before them, together with as much strong ale as they chose to drink. They were not served with punch, like their betters, but they were offered usquebaugh, and we may be sure they did not refuse the stimulating liquor, which nearly resembled whisky, pretty freely.

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IX.

The Prince's parting Injunctions to Lord Derwent.w.a.ter and Anna

ON quitting the dining-room before the scene of revelry commenced, the ladies left the mansion to its noisy occupants, and repaired to the castle-gaining admittance in the same manner as the prince. They found his highness in the guard-room alone, pacing to and fro. He questioned them eagerly as to how all was going on.

"The scheme has completely succeeded," said Lady Webb. "In two hours' time-if they go on as they are now doing-the sheriff and his party will be quite incapable of offering any opposition to your majesty's departure. As to their attacking the castle, that is quite out of the question."

"Your majesty may depend that my brother will take good care of your chief enemy," said Dorothy. "The others will be entertained in the servants' hall-so well entertained that they are not likely to stir till your majesty is safe on board the Saint Abbs."

"Excellent!" cried the prince. "Good wine has never been turned to better account than on the present occasion. I own I doubted the success of the scheme, but I did not know the habits of my Northumbrian lieges so well as Mr. Forster. The sheriff appears to have fallen very easily into the snare."

"He was skilfully dealt with," laughed Anna-"caught before he knew what he was about."

After a little further discourse, they came forth into the court, where they continued till such time as it began to grow dark, when they mounted the outer walls, and gazed at the dusky, yet glimmering expanse spread out before them.

The tide was coming in, and they could distinguish the white line formed by the waves, and hear their sound as they broke upon the sh.o.r.e.

As had been antic.i.p.ated, the night was fine, and the wind favourable for the prince's voyage. Already, the beacon had been lighted on Prior Castell's Tower, so that the position of the rocky islands could be discerned. As far as could be made out, there were no ships or smaller craft in the Fairway.

The boat destined for the prince was lying upon the beach, but could be easily pushed into the sea, and two men were standing near it.

Having made these observations, the prince and the ladies with him returned to the bas.e.m.e.nt court where they found Lord Derwent.w.a.ter and Lord Widdrington.

The tidings brought by the two n.o.bles were highly satisfactory. No fear now of any interruption from the sheriff. He was discussing a second bowl of punch with Mr. Forster, and when that was finished, a third would be brought in. His followers were equally well employed. So much boisterous merriment was going on in the house, Lord Derwent.w.a.ter declared, that he was right glad to escape from it.

Under these circ.u.mstances, and since no interference could be expected, the prince determined to repair at once to the beach, and there await the signal from the ship.

All his slight preparations for the voyage being completed he had only to bid adieu to his fair companions; for the two n.o.bles, of course, would not quit him till the last moment. But the ladies were equally desirous to attend him, and he could not refuse their request.

So the whole party quitted the castle by the private entrance, and followed by the gate-porter carrying the prince's valise proceeded towards the sh.o.r.e.

The night was dark, as already stated, but the windows of the mansion were lighted up, and the din of merriment resounded from within. The noise was welcome to the prince, as it convinced him that his enemies were occupied.

Lord Widdrington guided the party through the heaps of sand collected at the foot of the lofty rock on which stood the fortress, until they gained the beach.

It was now nearly high water, and only a strip of sand intervened between the sea and the rock. But the boat was still lying where the prince had descried it from above, and the men were close beside it, awaiting orders.

It was then that the prince addressed a few parting words to Lord Derwent.w.a.ter and his betrothed.

"When I come back, and I mean to come back soon," he said, "I trust I shall find that the contract which I witnessed has been followed by a yet more binding ceremony, and that two persons in whom I take the deepest interest have been for ever united in the silken bonds of matrimony by our Holy Church. Do not delay. When a matter like this has been settled, the sooner it is carried out the better."

"There shall be no delay on my part-that I promise your majesty," said Lord Derwent.w.a.ter.

"And none on yours, I trust, fair lady?"

"None," she replied, but in accents so low that they were scarce heard above the sound of the waves as they flowed within a few yards of them.

"All then will go well," said the prince. "May our next merry meeting be at Dilston! where the lovely bride, as well as her n.o.ble consort, will, I am certain, give me a hearty welcome."

"That I will, my gracious liege, most a.s.suredly, if I am there," she rejoined.

"If you are not there, I won't enter the castle," said the prince. "But find you I shall-or there is no truth in man or woman."

"Nay, my liege, I only meant that you may perchance return before the marriage has been solemnised."

"Have I not said that it must not be delayed?" rejoined the prince. "I now lay my commands upon you both to that effect, and I trust I shall not be disobeyed."

"I will take care that your majesty's injunctions are fulfilled," said Lady Webb.

"With that a.s.surance I shall depart in better humour with myself than I should have done otherwise," said the prince. "My voyage has not been altogether fruitless. If I have not succeeded in my own design I have helped a dear friend to a charming wife-and that is something."

Just then, a flash of light was seen in the Fairway, and next moment the sound of a gun was heard; the loud report being echoed by the rocks behind the party.

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BOOK THE THIRD.

THE INSURRECTION IN SCOTLAND.

I.

The Hunting in Braemar

NOT till the accession of George the First did the general insurrection take place, for which the partisans of the Pretender had been preparing so long.

During the latter years of Anne, who was so much and so deservedly beloved by the people, the Jacobites had remained quiescent, believing that in the political crisis certain to arise on the queen's death, the Chevalier de Saint George would be called to the throne.

Disappointed in this expectation, they determined not to tolerate a rule adverse to the religion of the majority, and hateful to all.

In the year 1715, at which date we shall resume our story, a formidable plot spread throughout England and Scotland, causing the greatest alarm to the Government by the avowed intention of the conspirators to depose the reigning monarch, whom they described as a tyrannous usurper, and restore the ancient sovereignty.

Aware of the designs of his enemies, King George made an appeal to the Nation, in which he said, that after his solemn a.s.surances, and the opportunities he had taken to do everything that might tend to benefit the Church of England, it was unjust and ungrateful to doubt him, and he refused to believe that the people could be so far misled by false representations as to desire to place a Popish Pretender on the throne.

In an address to his majesty by the Lord Mayor, James the Third was denounced as an impostor, who proposed to govern the kingdom by Popish maxims, while the High Church Tories, who were regarded as the Pretender's main supporters in England, and more dangerous than the Roman Catholics themselves, were stigmatised as "Non-resisting rebels, pa.s.sive-obedience rioters, abjuring Jacobites, and Frenchified Englishmen; monsters, whom no age or country ever produced till now."

The first movements of the Jacobites were checked by the death of Louis the Fourteenth, and the appointment of the Duke of Orleans as Regent; thus precluding any hope of immediate a.s.sistance from France, as had been previously calculated upon, since the Regent, on a.s.suming the government, had at once entered into friendly relations with George the First.

Notwithstanding this unpropitious circ.u.mstance, the Chevalier de Saint George, who felt that his position had become critical, sent orders to the Earl of Mar and some others of his adherents that a general rising should take place without delay.

The prince's command was promptly obeyed by the Earl of Mar, who embarked in disguise in a coal-sloop at Gravesend, accompanied by Major General Hamilton and Colonel John Hay, brother of the Earl of Kinnoul. Eventually the earl and his companions reached Braemar Castle in Aberdeenshire in safety.

The forests of Braemar were celebrated for red deer, and under the pretext of a grand hunting-match, the earl invited all the princ.i.p.al Scottish n.o.bles, and chiefs of clans, whom he knew to be opposed to the Union, and attached to the Stuarts. His list of guests included the Marquis of Huntly, eldest son of the Duke of Gordon, the Marquis of Tullibardine, eldest son of the Duke of Athole; the Earls of Nithsdale, Marischal, Traquair, Errol, Southesk, Carnwath, Seaforth, Linlithgow, and Pan-mure, with nearly a dozen others. Among the chiefs of clans were Glengarry, Campbell of Glendarule, and Mackintosh. They well knew why they were invited, and came attended by numerous followers.

It was a grand sight to see all these n.o.bles and chiefs in full Highland costume, and attended by their va.s.sals and retainers, likewise in Highland dress, and all carrying guns upon the shoulder, a.s.sembled in front of the castle, preparatory to setting out on the hunt. With them were several couples of large deer-hounds held in leash by the huntsmen.

No one was better pleased with the sight than the Earl of Mar. Such a goodly attendance augured well for the cause.

Full of glee, and expecting famous sport, the hunting party set out for a defile in the forest into which they knew the deer would be driven. Here the terrified animals were found, and great slaughter was made among them.

The rest of the day was devoted to feasting and carousing. Much venison was eaten-much wine drunk. Nor were the va.s.sals neglected-but fared as well as their lords. As they could not, however, be accommodated in the castle, they found a couch amid the heather.

Early next day, the party again set out for the defile, and a repet.i.tion of the previous scene of slaughter took place.

But as soon as the hunt was over, the n.o.bles and chiefs attended by their va.s.sals repaired to a rendezvous agreed upon in the forest, where they found the Earl of Mar with General Hamilton and Colonel Hay.

When the entire party had a.s.sembled, the earl mounted upon a fragment of rock, jutting from the turf, and addressed them.

He told them that the honour and independence of Scotland were at stake, and that all true Scotsmen who prized their liberty, must fly to arms to deliver their beloved country from the oppression under which it groaned, and restore their deeply-wronged sovereign to the throne, now occupied by the tyrannous Hanoverian Usurper. The Union-that bane of Scotland-must be abolished. Bitterly did he regret that he had ever countenanced the hateful measure, but he would make amends by helping to effect its dissolution. But they must not stop there. Scotland had many other grievances, all of which would be redressed when their rightful king was restored-and restored he should be soon.

On this, an extraordinary scene ensued. All the n.o.bles and chiefs cl.u.s.tered around the speaker, drew their claymores, and their example being instantly followed by the va.s.sals, more than two hundred broad-swords flashed in the sun.

At the same time shouts were heard of "No Union!" "Down with the Hanoverian Usurper." "Long live King James the Eighth!"

Pausing till the shouting was over, the Earl of Mar then went on.