Preston Fight: or, The Insurrection of 1715

Just then, an elderly personage, with silver locks that fell over his shoulders, and wearing a priestly garb, entered the hall. It was Father Norham, who had come to see who the earl had brought with him. The good priest had a kindly and benevolent expression of countenance, and fixed his keen grey eyes inquiringly on the stranger, with whose appearance he was greatly struck.

After a few moments’ scrutiny he consulted Lord Derwentwater by a look, and his suspicions being confirmed, he most respectfully returned the reverence made to him by the prince.

Having given some orders to the butler, Lord Derwentwater conducted his guest to the library which opened from the hall, and they were followed by Charles Rad-clyffe and the priest.

Further disguise was now unnecessary, and no inquisitive observer being present, the prince was treated by all with the respect that was his due.

The impression of the priest and Charles Radclyffe was that he was come to prepare a rising, and when they learnt his real design they could scarcely conceal their disappointment. Neither of them, however, ventured to offer a remonstrance, till Father Norham, being urged by the prince to speak out, said:

“I fear your majesty will find the queen impracticable. Moreover, she has already named the Elector of Hanover her successor.”

“But she may change her mind, good father.”

“Her ministers will not allow her to do so, my liege. They are resolved upon a Protestant succession – and so is she. Renounce your religion, and you will succeed – not otherwise.”

“I have already said as much to his majesty,” observed Lord Derwentwater. “But he entertains a better opinion of the queen than I do.”

“I am unwilling to believe that she will disregard her father’s dying injunctions,” said the prince. “Bear in mind that she has never seen me. When we meet, the voice of natural affection will make itself heard. She will then become sensible of the great wrong she has done me, and hasten to make atonement. She will feel that by her wicked and unnatural conduct she has incurred Heaven’s displeasure. Her own children have been taken from her. Other severe chastisements may follow, if not averted. These are the arguments I shall employ.”

“And they will fail in effect, my liege, because her heart is hardened, and she is blind to her sinfulness,” said the priest. “She would rather sacrifice her brother than help to re-establish our religion.”

“Trust me, my liege, Father Norham has formed a just estimate of the queen’s character,” said Lord Derwentwater. “‘Tis vain to appeal to good feelings, where none exist.”

“But I do not believe she is so utterly devoid of natural affection as her conduct would seem to bespeak,” said the prince. “You shall judge from what I am about to tell you. I have solicited a private interview with her in Saint James’s Palace, and she has granted my request.”

“Granted it!” exclaimed Lord Dervventwater in astonishment, that was shared by the others.

“Ay,” replied the prince. “My letter was conveyed by a faithful friend, and the answer to it was that her majesty would see me. Nothing more. But that was all I asked. She felt compunction for her ill doing, or she would have refused my request.”

“But how will you obtain admittance to her, my liege?” asked Lord Derwentwater.

“Easily,” replied the prince. “The Earl of Mar will usher me into her presence.”

“This certainly seems favourable, and alters my view of the matter,” said the earl. “Yet it may be a device of Harley to ensnare your majesty. Are you certain that your letter reached the queen?”

“My emissary would not deceive me,” replied the prince. “He is as loyal as yourself.”

“If I may speak plainly to your majesty,” remarked Charles Radclyffe, “I would say that I have still great doubts. The queen may delude you with false hopes to keep you quiet.”

“Nay, she will keep her promise if she makes it. Of that I am convinced,” said Father Norham.

At this juncture the butler entered to say that luncheon was served, upon which the earl conducted his guest to the dining-room, where a very substantial repast awaited them.

The Chevalier de Saint George had not breakfasted, and his early morning’s ride having given him a good appetite, he did ample justice to the broiled trout from the Devil’s Water, and the cutlets of Tyne salmon set before him.

As the servants were present during the repast, he was treated merely as an ordinary visitor, and the conversation between him and the earl was conducted entirely in French.

This circumstance excited the suspicion of Mr. Newbiggin, the butler, who from the first had been struck by the stranger’s appearance and manner, and he soon became convinced that Mr. Johnson, as the prince was called, was a very important personage.

On quitting the dining-room, the butler found the earl’s chief valet in the entrance-hall, and said to him:

“I can’t make out this Mr. Johnson, Thirlwall. I should like to know what you think of him?”

“I’m puzzled, I own,” replied the other. “He seems to me like a Frenchman.”

“No more a Frenchman than his lordship is, Thirlwall. But I shouldn’t wonder,” said the butler, knowingly, “if he has been brought up at a French court.”

“At the Court of Saint Germains?” cried Thirlwall.

“Precisely,” said the butler.

“Why, you seem to insinuate that it’s the Chevalier de Saint George in person, Newbiggin.”

“I’ve my own idea on that point, Thirlwall,” said the butler. “If it should turn out as I suspect, we’re on the eve of an insurrection. The prince wouldn’t come here on a trifling errand. But keep quiet for the present – this is mere conjecture.”

The butler then returned to the dining-room, while Mr. Thirlwall hurried to the servants’ hall, where he retailed all he had just heard, with some additions of his own.

In less than half-an-hour it was known among the whole household that his majesty, King James the Third, had arrived, in disguise, at the castle.

III. – NICHOLAS RIBBLETON

If any confirmation were wanted of the suspicions now generally entertained by Mr. Newbiggin and the rest of the servants that a rising was imminent, it was afforded by the earl, who took his guest, as soon as luncheon was over, to see the arms stored in the old tower.

The inspection occupied some time, for three or four chambers had to be visited, each full of muskets, calivers, pistols, cartouche-boxes, powder-horns, shot-bags, belts, swords of various sizes and make, hatchets, pikes, halberts, black leather caps, drums, kettle-drums, trumpets, fifes, and other martial instruments. In a vault beneath the basement floor were bestowed several barrels of gunpowder.

When the examination was finished, the prince expressed himself delighted with the preparations made.

“You told me you could arm and equip two or three hundred men, cousin,” he said. “And I now perceive you did not exaggerate. But where are the men?”

“I have but to ride to Alston Moor, my liege, to find them, and bring them back with me,” said Charles Rad-clyffe.

“Men and arms are ready,” said the earl. “Shall we raise the standard?” he added, lifting up the flag.

At this moment, as if in response to the appeal, shouts were heard outside, and several voices exclaimed:

“Long live King James the Third!”

“Is this premeditated, cousin?” said the prince.

“No, by my faith,” replied the earl. “But it seems your majesty’s presence has been discovered – how I know not. Shall I send away the troublesome varlets?”

“‘Twere needless, since the discovery has been made,” said the prince, who did not seem much displeased.

“Your majesty need feel no uneasiness,” observed Father Norham, who formed one of the party. “There are no traitors at Dilston. All here are loyal, and would die rather than betray you.”

“On that assurance I shall not hesitate to show myself to them,” said the prince. “Attend me, I pray you, cousin.”

The massive door being thrown open, a singular spectacle was seen.