The Fishguard Invasion by the French in 1797 Part 2

"They've English colours, sir," I said to Mr. Williams.

"Foreigners are deceitful," says he, "up to any tricks. I can see the scoundrels swarming on the decks." (For by this time he again had applied the spy-gla.s.s.) "Ah!" he continued, handing the gla.s.s to his wife who had joined us, "If it was but night now and a bit stormy, we might put out a false light or two and bring them on the rocks in no time."

This was the moment afterwards immortalised by a local bard in these words-

"Mrs. Williams Trelethin was know every tide From England to Greenland without guide.

Mrs. Williams Trelethin was take the spy-gla.s.s, And then she cry out-There they Wa.s.s!"

The three tall ships sailed on calmly, with the clear shining of the sea around them, dark objects in all that flood of light. They went northward-along our Pembrokeshire coast, where (had Providence so willed it) they might have made shipwreck on the sharp rocks anywhere. However the day was too fair to admit of any such hope.

The alarm spread quickly; men and boys came bounding over the gorse in every direction; even the women, with the curiosity of their s.e.x, came forth from their homesteads, leaving the cawl {51} and the children to mind themselves, while their natural caretakers gaped open-mouthed at the tall ships filled with untold dangers.

The crowd on the cliffs followed in the direction of the ships, keeping them ever in sight. Helter-skelter we ran along, crossing deep gullies, then along bare headlands covered only with gorse and large grey stones, then pa.s.sing under a great ma.s.s of rock, like to some gaunt castle or fort (but alas, lacking cannon), then, at rare intervals, where a stream ran into the sea, we would dip suddenly into a smiling little valley filled with trees and bushes. But the stones and crags prevailed greatly over the softer scenes. I had now entered so fully into the spirit of this race that all thought of my studies pa.s.sed away; the fear of the dominee was merged in the far greater fear of the French. And yet it was not wholly fear that possessed me, but a sort of tremor of excitement, and curiosity as to what might happen next. Noon pa.s.sed, but none stopped for food-nor even (till we came to a village) for a Welshman's comfort in perplexity-a gla.s.s of cwrw da. {52}

At two o'clock, for no apparent reason, the Frenchmen came to anchor.

This was opposite to a rocky headland called Carn Gwastad, which forms a portion of Fishguard Bay, some distance to the west of the town of that name, and, by reason of an intervening headland, quite invisible from it, and in truth from most other places. We had now come from St. David's Head, a distance of full ten miles, and I, for one, was glad to sit down on a gorse-bush and meditate a little as to what all these things might mean and where they were like to end, which I hardly dared to hope might somehow take the form of a bit of dinner for myself. To stay hunger I composed my mind for a nap while I reflected dreamily that my elders were taking more definite steps for the defence of their country; and the knowledge of this was gratifying to me.

[Picture: Carregwastad]

CHAPTER II.

THE LANDING.

Besides Mr. Williams' John, who had been despatched at full speed to St.

David's to rouse the inhabitants, another man was sent to give the news to the Lord-Lieutenant of the county, while others wended their way to various points on the range of mountains which divides Pembrokeshire into two parts; the result of their mission being apparent when night fell and beacons flared along the line of heights from Vrenny Vawr to Carn Englyn-the mountain of the angels, so named from the angel-visits received by a pious hermit who dwelt thereon, and who probably lacked more ordinary society.

Many other messengers were sent in various directions, but though in this way persons at a distance were warned of danger, many of those who dwelt close by were as yet insensible of it. Chiefest of these was the owner of the old manor house, Trehowel, situated just above the bay where the ships were lying-to-of which house we shall hear more anon. Mr. Mortimer was of a generous and confiding disposition-and, as a bishop should be, he was in truth-much given to hospitality. He was, moreover, about to celebrate the marriage of his son, and he had made ample provision of cakes and ale, not to mention meats and spirits for this purpose. The wedding was to be on the following day (Thursday, the 23rd of February, to be exact); the new daughter-in-law was much to his mind, and therefore heart and hand were even more lavish than usual, when, looking out seaward from amidst the bridal greenery, his spirit was stirred within him by the sight of the British flag.

Nothing would serve this hospitable gentleman but that the English officers should partake of his good cheer; so his orders flew forth in every direction-compliments and invitations to the officers, and directions to the servants as to the setting forth of a sumptuous repast.

In the meantime one of the great ships, heaving anchor, had quietly slipped round the corner-by which I would say, rounded the next headland, Pen Anglas, in an undemonstrative manner. Thus coming in sight of the men occupying the fort near Fishguard; these fired as in duty and fair observance bound-a salute to the flag that had braved a thousand years, and had never in all that considerable period of time been put to a viler use than the present, when-hey presto! down came the British colours with a run, and up flew the tricolour in its stead-the red, white, and blue colours of the Republic of the French.

The astonishment of those men in the fort at this unexpected transformation-scene must have been akin to an electric shock such as may be produced on the unwary by the careless placing of a hand on a magnetic eel. They had been completely deceived by the mock flag, and were more unprepared for the change than those men who had already scrutinised the three frigates with very doubtful eyes as they made their way along the coast of Pembrokeshire.

All disguise was now over; the enemy showed under their true colours at last, and convinced even the most liberal-minded (including Mr. Mortimer) that they were not English. Though truly if they had desired to appear under their most appropriate colour they should have sailed under the black flag of piracy, for the men on board these frigates were little better than freebooters. Many of the older persons present were minded to take them for a new and enlarged edition of the _Black Prince_-a pirate ship which had eighteen years previously brought his broadside to bear on the town of Fishguard, and kept up an animated fire all day with his six-pounders. However, he caught a Tartar-the master of a smuggling craft, who returned the fire with such goodwill, aided by clever hands and a cannon at the edge of the cliffs, that the _Black Prince_ sheered off. "Set a thief to catch a thief;" but it were ungrateful to think on that proverb.

It was this circ.u.mstance which caused the fort at Fishguard to be erected, one of whose nine-pounders had just, in courtesy, saluted the frigate, who, not caring to face the other seven guns of the fort in anger, turned round speedily, and rejoined her companions at Carn Gwastad Point without loss of time.

On her way she intercepted a sloop which had-perhaps out of curiosity, perhaps from some n.o.bler motive-ventured too near; probably the master of the sloop had not expected this sudden rearward movement-anyway he found himself a prisoner, and his boat a prize. I had jumped up from my reclining position, and stood watching his fate with anxiety and awe, knowing him to be a friend (for I was a Fishguard boy, and intimate with all the varieties of seamen to be found there), but being, at that distance, unable to tell which friend.

All the other boats in the bay stood out to sea with all speed, scudding away with white sails stretched, reminding even a matter-of-fact boy who abhorred poetry, similes, and all such inventions of schoolmasters, suggesting even to me the sudden, outspread, white wings of a flock of ducks frightened by the unwelcome appearance, from round the corner, of a fox. They got away safe, but the captive sloop was towed in triumph by the frigate back to Carn Gwastad, where she found her sister ships were already disgorging their freight of soldiers.

The sun was setting as the first boats set down their load on British soil. There were not many spectators of this act (the only one of a like nature since 1066, as far as my knowledge-not very profound-of history went), the inhabitants of the district, when they perceived that the landing was to be on their own coast, having dispersed as quickly as a swarm of ants amongst whom a foreign body is introduced-each one making with the utmost speed for his own home in order to retreat with his valuables (including his family) further into the interior. I, however, was but young, and concluded that my family, who lived in Fishguard, could very well take care of themselves; while it was possible that my father, who was a somewhat stern parent, might not even accept the (to me) absolute necessity of keeping an eye on the French as a valid excuse for departing from my studies at St. David's without leave from my master. I had a certain amount of fear of the French, I do not deny it; but it was as yet in the abstract, and was a very different thing from the absolute fear I had of my father when I caught him (and he caught me) in a bad mood. Besides, though I considered curiosity a childish and feminine quality, and as such infinitely beneath my dignity, still I must own I did feel a sort of craving desire to know what those people were going to do next. So, hidden in a gorse bush on a headland which commanded the creek, I watched the sun go down like a red ball into the sea, throwing a light as of blood on the muskets in the boats beneath me, making the dark figures that swarmed over the sides of the ships look darker and more grimy, lighting up the three-coloured flags that unfurled themselves to the night breeze. Then there came a long path of crimson right across the grey sea, which, dying out as the sun set, showed that this fair day was gone-a day too fair and sweet to be the setting for foul deeds.

Suddenly there rose a shriek, or, rather, a succession of shrieks breaking through the twilight quiet, and a young woman shot out like an arrow from the back door of Trehowel, darted past me without pausing to answer a question, and, shrieking all the time, fled away into the interior, clutching tightly in her hand a foaming jug of beer. I heard afterwards that she ran on for miles, still clutching that jug of beer, which she had been drawing for the (supposed) English officers; when at last her master had awakened to the fact that the French were actually at his doors. She ran thus for miles, not even stopping to drink the beer.

She was shortly after followed by Mr. Mortimer himself, who came across the courtyard laughing in spite of the seriousness of the occasion, for he must needs smile at a joke. He spied me, for indeed I had jumped up to question Sally, and he came towards me.

"The poor maid has had a scare," said he, with a twinkle still in his eye. "But, in truth, Dan, my boy, I suppose it is time to be off."

"Oh, there's a pity," said I; "about Master Mortimer's wedding-and all the meats and drinks!"

"Well, yes, I never meant them for the parley-vous," said he, mounting his horse which one of his farm-boys had brought out; "but I dare say they'll enjoy them all the same-they won't be wasted."

He turned in the saddle to give a last look at his old house, standing dark against a yellow-green twilight sky, pranked out with all the mockery of boughs and flowery arches. The trees in the courtyard had not yet put forth their leaves, but branches of myrtles and ever-blooming gorse and great bunches of primroses had made the place gay. Mr.

Mortimer's face changed as he looked; he made no movement with the reins; he was very loath to leave his home. In his mind's eye he was viewing the heap of smoking ruins he might see when next he came, and he seemed to be resolving to meet fate and the French on his own threshold, when a woman's quick step came out of the now-deserted house.

"Oh, master," she cried, running up to us, "ar'n't you off yet! Quick, there isn't a minute; they are coming up the hill. For the young master's sake," she whispered. "Remember, you have got the money and the papers. Quick!"

He nodded, then shaking his rein, rode off without a word.

"And what are you going to do, Nancy?" said I. "Isn't it time for you to be off too?"

"Oh, no odds about me. I'll slip off somehow, but I must get the silver spoons first."

Then she turned from me, and her voice broke suddenly.

"Wherever is Davy-oh, wherever is he?" she sobbed.

"Cheer up, Nancy, my maid," said I, being well acquainted with her, and only ten years younger-an inequality made up for by my superior station and parts. "Wherever Davy is he's in mischief-that you may take your davy of; but he always comes out of it somehow."

I hope the reader will pardon this expression, but I was not at this time even a curate-being but fifteen-and the chance of my ever attaining that station seemed but remote.

At this moment the clang of arms and the sound of high-pitched voices broke on our ears.

"I'll have those spoons if I die for it!" exclaimed Ann, who was not much given to the melting mood. "Run, Dan, make for Fishguard as fast as you can." And without another word or a sign of personal fear, Ann George disappeared into the house.

I will not deny now, after the lapse of so many years, that my heart at this moment beat unpleasantly fast. I had already watched the landing of some of the French troops, but from a considerable distance, and there had been something unreal about the scene, something like to play-acting, or a dream; but now that I actually heard their voices, the effect was very different. They were really here, close by; there was no mistake about it. I had an almost overwhelming desire to take to my heels and run for it, but in spite of a very real fear, two feelings restrained me-one was a hesitation on account of Nancy, whom it seemed mean to desert; the other was that curiosity to which I have already alluded, and which powerfully possesses most of the inhabitants of these regions, but more especially the females. The twilight was rapidly sinking into darkness as I crouched lower among the bushes and peered out with eyes which doubtless resembled those of a frightened bird. Never hare in its form felt more of a flutter at the heart than I experienced as those screeching, and yet savage, voices drew nearer and nearer. I did not understand French, but if I had I trust I should not have understood the nature of the expressions those men were using. It must be remembered that at that time we were accustomed to think of a Frenchman as of a two-legged tiger-which we spelt with a y-and then perhaps the horror that thrilled me may be understood. Suddenly the vague terror was turned into reality, as between me and the dusky sky loomed forth a wild figure, then another and another, then a confused crowd.

I could stand no more. With one bound I pa.s.sed from behind my bushes in through the back door of the house-

"Nancy, hang those spoons!" I spoke in Welsh, and I fear my expression was still more forcible. "Come this minute, I'll wait no longer."

"Why, who asked you to wait?" said Ann George, ungratefully. "I thought you'd be half-way to Goodwick ere this."

At this moment her speech was interrupted by a sound as of thunder at the front door, while the parlour window came flying into the room before the b.u.t.t-ends of French muskets. Even Ann George thought it now high time to take her leave.

So we departed as quickly and as silently as possible through the back door, while the front door was being shivered to atoms, and the enemy was pouring into the house over its remains. Quickly, indeed, we went now and the falling night favoured us; the enemy's own noise too rendered the slight addition of our footfalls totally un.o.bservable. All the s.p.a.ce between Trehowel and the cliffs swarmed with Frenchmen, and the uproar was bewildering.

"They'll make short work with your master's ale, Nan," I gasped, as we ran along under the cover of the earthen banks topped with gorse.

"Aye, and of the wine and the spirits, and of all the poor young master's wedding feast. Oh, indeed, I wish I had known they were coming when I was baking those pies and brewing that ale!"

I did not waste my breath by inquiring the reason of this aspiration, for the hill was rather heavy on my lungs, and her meaning was obvious. In a very short time we had reached Brestgarn, the abode of a worthy divine, the Rev. David Bowen, whom we found about to depart hurriedly, he having been no quicker to hear the alarming tidings than his neighbour at Trehowel; but, having heard it, he and his family were off for the interior as fast as horses and fright could take them. Only one of his servants, a man named Llewelyn, volunteered to stay behind, to keep, as far as in him lay, an eye upon his master's place and goods.

"Let us go to the top of Carnunda," suggested this man. "We can see everything from there."