The Works of William Harrison Ainsworth

by William Harrison Ainsworth

  CHAPTER IX

  The Prince’s parting Injunctions to Lord Derwentwater 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 shore.

  As had been anticipated, 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 basement court where they found Lord Derwentwater and Lord Widdrington.

  The tidings brought by the two nobles 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 Derwentwater declared, that he was right glad to escape from it.

  Under these circumstances, 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 nobles, 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 shore.

  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 Derwentwater 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 Derwentwater.

  “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 noble consort, will, I am certain, give me a hearty welcome.”

  “That I will, my gracious liege, most assuredly, 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 assurance 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.

  CHAPTER X.

  The Escape

  ALL eyes were turned in the direction whence the sound had come, and a single masted vessel could be imperfectly distinguished, about half a mile off.

  “’Tis the sloop!” exclaimed Lord Widdrington.

  “Yes, I am summoned, and must go,” cried the prince. “Farewell! farewell!”

  On hearing the signal, the two men instantly pushed down the boat into the water. All was ready, for the valise had been previously placed inside it by the porter, together with a couple of firelocks.

  It had been arranged that the two nobles should accompany the prince to the sloop. Accordingly they entered the boat with him.

  As the bark quitted the strand, the prince stood up to wave an adieu to the ladies — but they were soon lost to sight.

  Rowed by two strong men, the boat made good way towards the sloop, and it seemed would soon reach her, when an unlooked for interruption occurred.

  A dark object was seen lying directly in their course, and as there could be no doubt it was a boat, much larger than their own, they turned aside to avoid it.

  As they did so, the larger boat was put in motion, with the evident design of giving chase, while a loud authoritative voice called out to the occupants of the smaller bark to stop.

  As may be imagined, the order was entirely disregarded, while Lord Widdrington urged the oarsmen to pull their hardest for the ship, and they made such exertion that they appeared to gain upon their pursuers.

  Of the purpose of the latter no doubt could now be entertained. It was certain they were endeavouring to intercept the prince’s flight, and effect his capture. How they had obtained information could only be surmised, but they had laid their plans well. The prince’s companions were greatly alarmed, but he himself maintained perfect composure.

  “’Tis the boat I beheld this morning from the castle walls,” he said. “I felt sure it meant mischief, though Mr. Forster thought otherwise. The men within it are armed.”

  “Luckily, we have arms,” said Lord Derwentwater, giving Lord Widdrington one of the muskets and keeping the other himself. “Shall we use them?”<
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  “Certainly,” replied the prince. “I will never surrender to those men.”

  A conflict, indeed, appeared inevitable, if they were overtaken, for a voice called out from the larger boat:

  “Stop! or we will fire.”

  As no notice was taken of the threat, except that the rowers redoubled their efforts, a shot was fired, and a bullet whistled past the prince’s head, but without doing any injury.

  Exasperated by the audacious act the two nobles discharged their muskets, and with good effect, as was shown by the outcries that followed.

  Evidently a couple of men were wounded, and great confusion was caused among the rest.

  In consequence of this they lost way, and the distance between the boats was perceptibly increased.

  However, they soon recovered, and continued the chase with fresh ardour, again shouting to the fugitives to stop.

  “Stand off, villains, or we will fire again!” cried Lord Derwentwater. “What do you mean by molesting us thus?”

  “We want the Pretender, and will have him,” rejoined the voice that had first spoken. “You had best deliver him up quietly. He shall not escape.”

  Though very well inclined to answer this insolent speech by a shot, Lord Derwentwater forbore, but the pursuers again fired, and this time one of the rowers was hit in the arm, so that he could not pull at the oars, whereupon Lord Widdrington took his place.

  But the change, though quickly effected, caused some little delay, and the pursuers gained upon them.

  An encounter now seemed imminent, and since the prince was determined not to yield, it might be fraught with most serious consequences.

  To avert these if possible, Lord Derwentwater shouted lustily to attract the attention of the captain of the sloop which was now not more than a furlong off.

  Captain Hawker was already on the alert, and prepared to render assistance. The firing had shown him the relative position of the boats, and comprehending exactly how matters stood, he thought it high time to interfere.

  Putting a speaking-trumpet, therefore, to his mouth, he roared out:

  “Sheer off, or I’ll sink you!”

  The warning reached the ears for which it was intended, but produced no effect.

  The men went on, as boldly as ever, determined not to be baulked of their prey.

  However, they were speedily checked, for Captain Hawker turned a swivel-gun upon them, and sent a shot through the bottom of their boat, which began presently to fill, and compelled them to look to their own safety.

  Being now disembarrassed from his pursuers, the prince got safely on board the sloop, after taking an affectionate leave of his friends.

  Their duty being now performed, the two nobles returned to Bamborough Castle without concerning themselves further about their pursuers, whose vociferations proved they were still afloat, and able no doubt, in some way or other, to reach the Home Island.

  The sheriff had still to be dealt with, but now the prince was safe they had little fear of him.

  Free from all peril, the sloop, with its important burden, passed tranquilly through the Fairway, and entered the open sea.

  BOOK III. — THE INSURRECTION IN SCOTLAND

  CHAPTER 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 assurances, 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, passive-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 assistance from France, as had been previously calculated upon, since the Regent, on assuming the government, had at once entered into friendly relations with George the First.

  Notwithstanding this unpropitious circumstance, 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 principal Scottish nobles, 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 Panmure, 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 nobles and chiefs in full Highland costume, and attended by their vassals and retainers, likewise in Highland dress, and all carrying guns upon the shoulder, assembled 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 vassals 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 repetition of the previous scene of slaughter took place.

  But as soon as the hunt was over, the nobles and chiefs attended by their vassals 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 assembled, 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 i
t 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 nobles and chiefs clustered around the speaker, drew their claymores, and their example being instantly followed by the vassals, 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.

  “Thousands,” he said, “in England, as well as in Scotland, are leagued together to accomplish the end we have in view, and only wait the signal to rise, which will now be given them. Material assistance may be expected from France. The Duke of Ormond and Lord Bolingbroke have gone to Paris to induce the Regent to supply us with men and arms, and they hope to return with a French fleet. Furthermore, the Duke of Berwick has engaged to make a descent upon our western coast, with a large force.”

  “The Duke of Berwick’s name would counterbalance that of Marlborough,” said the Marquis of Huntly. “But we must not count upon the great Marshal of France till he has landed. Neither must we depend upon the fleet to be brought by Ormond and Bolingbroke. These are doubtful. But we can confidently rely upon our English allies.”