Preston Fight Part 21

They were waited on by a couple of men servants, who had been discovered in the butler's pantry, and were supplied with abundance of claret.

At the conclusion of the repast King James's health was drunk by the whole party with loud cheers. Not only was the steward compelled to join in the toast, but to drink "Success to the insurgent army."

When the moment of departure arrived, and the steward thought he was about to get rid of his unwelcome visitors, Colonel Oxburgh said to him: "We shan't part company at present, Mr. Bancroft. I shall be compelled to take you with me to Lancaster."

"As a prisoner, colonel?"

"As a prisoner, sir!"

"But what have I done? What crime have I committed?"

"That General Forster will judge. I have his orders to arrest you."

"Your orders, if I mistake not, are to arrest Colonel Charteris."

"Exactly. But in arresting you I don't think I shall be far wrong."

"I can a.s.sure you, sir-"

"Nay, 'tis vain to deny it. From the first I suspected you were Colonel Charteris, and my suspicions have since become confirmed. 'Twill be best to accompany me quietly. Resistance will be useless."

"Very well," rejoined the other. "Since you have seen through my disguise, I won't attempt to maintain it longer. I am Colonel Charteris. Allow me to put up a few things, and I will go with you. Don't be alarmed. I give you my word of honour I will return."

"Your word of honour!" exclaimed Colonel Oxburgh, contemptuously, "I place little reliance upon it. A guard must accompany you while you make your preparations."

"You wrong me by this distrust, colonel," said Charteris, as he quitted the room, closely followed by a couple of troopers.

Ascending the great staircase, he proceeded deliberately along a corridor, until he came to a particular bed-chamber, where he stopped, saying to the guard, as he went in, "I won't detain you long."

The troopers remained at the door. But as he did not come forth within a reasonable time, they entered the room, and to their astonishment and dismay found it empty.

They searched about-in the closets, behind the curtains, under the bed, and in every place, likely and unlikely, but failed to find him-nor could they comprehend how he had got off, since there appeared to be no other exit but the door.

On going down-stairs, they found Colonel Oxburgh impatiently awaiting them in the hall. The entrance door was standing wide open, and showed the troop drawn up outside, and ready for instant departure. The colonel was greatly exasperated when he learnt what had happened.

"I ought to have known better," he mentally e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed, "than to trust a man without a spark of honour. However, if he falls into my hands again, he shall not escape so easily."

Though despairing of success, Colonel Oxburgh would not leave without making an effort to recapture the fugitive.

On careful examination of the bed-chamber in question, he discovered a secret door, connected with a pa.s.sage leading to the ruins of the old castle, where no doubt the fugitive had found a safe hiding-place. As it was evident further search would be useless, Colonel Oxburgh departed with his men.

Little did he think as he rode down the hill that Colonel Charteris was watching him from the summit of the keep, and laughing at the clever manner in which he had outwitted his visitor.

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IV.

Sir Henry Hoghton and the Quaker

AWARE that the rebels were marching towards Lancaster, the Whig inhabitants of the town endeavoured to make some defensive preparations, and were materially aided in their efforts by Sir Henry Hoghton, of Hoghton Tower, member of Parliament for Preston, and Colonel of the Lancashire Militia.

Having ascertained that a ship called the Robert, of five hundred tons burthen, belonging to Mr. Lawson, a wealthy Quaker of Lancaster, was lying at Sunderland-a small sea-port situated at the estuary of the Lune-Sir Henry went to Mr. Lawson to endeavour to negotiate with him for the use of the guns.

"When I tell you, Mr. Lawson," he said, "that those cannon of yours will enable us to keep the rebels out of the town, I am sure you will let us have them."

"Thou shalt have them on one condition, friend," replied the Quaker. "And on one condition only."

"Name it," cried Sir Henry, eagerly.

"Thou shalt give me a bond for ten thousand pounds to insure my ship, the Robert, against any damage she may sustain from the rebels, when they learn I have parted with the cannon to be used against them."

"Zounds! Mr. Lawson," exclaimed Sir Henry, "excuse my swearing-but you are enough to provoke a saint-how the deuce can you expect me to agree to such absurd conditions? I refuse them. Moreover, I tell you as a magistrate, that the cargo on board the Robert shall at once be seized, unless you consent to surrender the cannon. Now, sir, what have you to say to that?"

After a moment's reflection, the Quaker replied, "I have simply to say, friend, that I agree."

"I am glad to hear it," observed Sir Henry. "You will deserve the thanks of your fellow-townsmen."

"But recollect, friend," said the Quaker, "that the cannon will be of no use to thee, unless thou hast sufficient men to cover the town. Thou hast six hundred militiamen at Preston. Thou must bring them forthwith to Lancaster. There is also, unless I am misinformed, a regiment of dragoons at Preston, commanded by Colonel Stanhope. They would be useful here."

"Colonel Stanhope cannot move his dragoons without an order from General Wills," said Sir Henry. "And as to the militia, I can't bring them here because I should deprive Preston of its main defence."

"That is unfortunate," observed the Quaker. "The best fighting men in Lancaster are Jacobites, and likely to help the rebels. I would not trust them to serve the cannon."

"I begin to think you are a Jacobite yourself, Mr. Lawson," observed Sir Henry. "Since you raise all these difficulties you must order the Robert to leave Sunderland, and move to some other port."

"I can't do it, friend," observed the Quaker. "The rebels would consider the step as an injustice to themselves, and a.s.suredly resent it."

"This truckling to the rebels proves you to be a Jacobite," said Sir Henry, angrily; "but I will consult my brother magistrates, Mr. Rigby and Colonel Charteris, and if they are of my opinion, we will issue a warrant and seize the arms."

"Do as it seems good to thee, in regard to the cannon, friend," rejoined the Quaker. "But counsel thy brother magistrates not to blow up the bridge, as I hear is their intention. They will not thereby hinder the entrance of the rebels, since the river is pa.s.sable at low water both for horse and foot, and will do great damage to the town."

"There you are right," said Sir Henry. "The bridge shall not be destroyed. Have you any further complaints to make?"

"Yea, verily," replied the Quaker. "I have to complain that a barrel of gunpowder hath been improperly and imprudently wasted by him thou callest Colonel Charteris."

"How so?" demanded Sir Henry.

"Because he hath caused Samuel Satterthwaite to cast it into the town-well."

"Perhaps he thought Sam Satterthwaite might sell it to the rebels."

"Wherefore not use it against them himself? I am a man of peace, and Colonel Charteris is a man of war. Yet methinks, the order to spoil the powder would have come more aptly from me, than from him. Most a.s.suredly, however, I would have given no such direction."

"I can easily believe it, Mr. Lawson," replied Sir Henry. "You know the value of gunpowder, having an armed vessel of your own."

"I know its utility at this moment," rejoined the Quaker, "when an insurrection has to be quelled."

"Or aided," said Sir Henry, significantly. "Well, I won't argue with you further, Mr. Lawson. You shall have due notice when the arms are seized."

"I am not much afraid of that," muttered the Quaker, as Sir Henry took his departure.

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V.

How the Prisoners in Lancaster Castle were released

FAR from presenting a stern and threatening aspect to the rebels, the old town of Lancaster seemed to smile upon them as they approached it.

The sun shone brightly on the castle hill, giving a cheerful air to the ancient fortress that crowned it, and no cannon were planted at its walls. No militia, no dragoons, were drawn to dispute the pa.s.sage of the bridge. On the contrary, a great number of ladies and gentlemen were collected there, mingled with the townsfolk-most of whom were in their holiday attire-to give them welcome.

Headed by the Earl of Derwent.w.a.ter, mounted on his dapple-grey steed which had borne him well throughout the whole of the long march, the insurgents came joyously on, and were received with shouts by the concourse a.s.sembled at the foot of the bridge-the ladies waving their kerchiefs enthusiastically.

The good looks and chivalrous appearance of the earl were well calculated to impress the female portion of the beholders, who manifested their admiration in the way we have stated.

Riding with his sword unsheathed, Lord Derwent.w.a.ter occasionally bowed in acknowledgment of the attention paid him. Close behind him rode his brother, Charles Radclyffe, and Captain Wogan, both of whom were thought handsome men, but nothing compared with the earl, who captivated all the ladies of Lancaster.

Entirely composed of gentlemen of good family, almost all of them young, very well dressed, and extremely well mounted, and of course not having at all the air of common soldiers, the Earl of Derwent.w.a.ter's regiment caused great excitement.

Flattered by their reception, these young gentlemen bowed to the ladies, and in some instances persuaded themselves that their salutations were returned. Perhaps it might have been so, since it is certain the ladies were not displeased.

General Forster was not so much admired, and the ladies declared he was not fit to have the command of such an army; but they praised Lord Widdrington's regiment, and wondered how so many fine young men could have been got together.

The Scottish n.o.bles and the Lowland corps delighted them, but they were quite astounded by the Highlanders, with whose picturesque garb they were not familiar.

They could not help contrasting these fierce-looking savages, as they styled them, with the handsome Englishmen, and Brigadier Mackintosh, with his tall, stalwart figure and grim countenance filled them with terror.

After crossing the bridge without any other interruption, except the very agreeable one described, the insurgent army marched to the market-place, followed by an immense concourse. Here the Highlanders formed themselves in a body round the cross, and the whole of the cavalry, having their swords bared, drew up around them. General Forster with the English and Scottish n.o.bles were stationed in the centre of the throng.

King James the Third was then proclaimed amid the hearty cheers of the mult.i.tude. This done, the troops moved away, and were billeted and quartered in every part of the town. While the proclamation was being made, Captain Gordon had remarked a person at the open window of a stationer's shop, kept by a certain Christopher Hopkins, evidently engaged in counting the numbers of the insurgents, and entering the particulars with great care in a small memorandum book. Suspecting that the man's design was to afford information to the Government, Captain Gordon went to the shop as soon as the crowd began to disperse, and then found that the individual he had seen preparing the report was Christopher Hopkins himself. Interrogated by Captain Gordon, Hopkins admitted that he had taken down the numbers of the insurgent army, and, moreover, had given the report to his friend Ralph Fairbrother, who was about to take it to General Carpenter at Newcastle.

As Hopkins refused to give any further information, Captain Gordon ordered his immediate arrest, and directed that he should be kept in strict custody till Ralph Fairbrother was found. Fairbrother's residence was discovered, but he had already set out on his errand. A reward of thirty pounds was offered for his capture, but proved ineffectual.

Amongst those who witnessed the entrance of the insurgent army into the town were the prisoners in the castle, who had contrived to get upon the leads of the building, and saluted their deliverers, as they styled them, with loud cheers.

Several of these unlucky individuals had been confined for political offences, and as most of them were Jacobites, they confidently calculated upon liberation.

Amongst them was the celebrated Tom Syddall, a blacksmith of Manchester, who had headed the mob at the time of the Sacheverel riots, and a.s.sisted in pulling down the Presbyterian meeting-houses in that town. For these offences the "Mob Captain," as he was styled, was placed in the pillory, and imprisoned in Lancaster Castle.

Tom Syddall, we may mention, had a son quite as ardent a Jacobite as himself, whose exploits during the rebellion of 1745 have been recounted in another work.

A consultation was held by General Forster with Lord Derwent.w.a.ter and the other leaders as to the propriety of releasing the debtors as well as the Crown prisoners in the castle, when it was decided that the former only should be set free.

Accordingly, Colonel Oxburgh, who by this time had returned from his unsuccessful visit to Hornby Castle, was directed to order their immediate discharge, and for this purpose went up to the castle, without a guard and only accompanied by Mr. Patten, the chaplain of the force.

On entering by the portal of the Gateway Tower, above which was an effigy of John of Gaunt, they were respectfully received by an officer, to whom Colonel Oxburgh gave General Forster's order for the liberation of the Crown prisoners, and while the colonel and the chaplain walked on into the s.p.a.cious castle-yard, the order was taken to the governor.

Ere many minutes had elapsed, loud shouts, that made the old towers ring, announced that the order had been complied with, and soon afterwards some thirty individuals, most of them very shabbily attired, rushed tumultuously into the court, and gathering round Colonel Oxburgh, shouted "Long live King James the Third!"

Foremost among them was a short, strongly built man, with a plain, honest countenance, marked by a bold determined expression, who looked like what he had been-a blacksmith.

"Are you not Tom Syddall?" inquired Colonel Oxburgh.

The man replied in the affirmative, whereupon the colonel shook hands with him, as did the chaplain, and both expressed their satisfaction at being instrumental in setting him and his fellow-prisoners at liberty.

"You have all been imprisoned for your attachment to your rightful sovereign," said Colonel Oxburgh, "and it is our duty to liberate you. As to you, Syddall," he added, "I know you to be a brave fellow, and I expect you will join us."

"Such is my design, colonel," he replied. "And what is more, I can bring all these my friends with me. Have I said too much?" he added, appealing to them.

"No! no!" they responded unanimously. "We will all join."

"I am right glad to hear it," said the colonel. "Your friends will form a small troop, Syddall, and I make no doubt General Forster will give you the command of it."

All being now arranged, Colonel Oxburgh and the chaplain quitted the castle, and proceeded to the general's quarters, followed by the newly-liberated prisoners. General Forster was very much pleased by this accession of force, and confirmed Colonel Oxburgh's promise by appointing Syddall captain of the little troop.

That night, Brigadier Mackintosh sent a party of Highlanders to search for arms at every house in the town. They took with them Mr. Parkinson, the mayor, a staunch supporter of the Government, and compelled him to a.s.sist in the search. Their orders were to plunder the houses of all such persons as refused compliance with their commands.

While the search for arms was still going on, Captain Wogan came to Forster's quarters, and said: "General, I have just received information of six pieces of cannon on board the ship Robert, now lying at Sunderland, five miles from this town, and propose, with your sanction, to take a detachment with me to-morrow morning and seize them."

"Do so, by all means," said Forster.

"Sir Henry Hoghton intended to seize these ship guns, and bring them here for the defence of the town," continued Captain Wogan, "and for that purpose had taken off the wheels of some of his carriages. But his design being frustrated by our approach, I have got possession of the carriage-wheels, and mean to use them as he intended for the cannon."

"Capital!" exclaimed Forster, laughing heartily.