William Harrison Ainsworth

“ As they were riding slowly up the lane leading to the Fishergate avenue, they caught the sound of horses' feet behind them, and stopped to listen.
It was so dark that nothing could be seen distinctly, but they heard voices, and Captain Douglas drew a pistol and called out, “Who goes there?”
“A friend,” replied a voice.
“To whom?” demanded Douglas. “To King James, or King George.”
“I am no rebel,” replied the person who had spoken. “But it seems you are, and I am therefore bound to make you a prisoner. It will be useless to resist, for I have a dozen men with me.” ”

“ But to win a kingdom, you must have an army. And the prince has no army.”
“He could have one very soon,” cried Anna.
“Yes, that is certain,” added Dorothy. “A small army could be raised in this county. Lord Derwentwater could bring five hundred men. And my brother, Mr. Forster could raise a troop.”
“Tell this to the prince, when you go back,” cried Anna. “Say that the Jacobite ladies of England are dying to behold him.”
“That will bring him, if anything will,” laughed the prince. ”

“ You have right on your side. The crown belongs to your majesty and not to Queen Anne. If she won't surrender it, take it! Such is the advice that an old man, who has spoken to the king, your father, and your royal uncle, dares to give you. Pardon my freedom, sire!”
“I not only pardon it, but am obliged to you for speaking so freely,” replied the prince, in a gracious and encouraging tone. “What will you say if Queen Anne should surrender the crown to me?” ”

“ Do not imagine, because I have come hither in disguise, that I am afraid to trust myself with you, or, in the slightest degree, doubt your fidelity. The Earl of Derwentwater, your master, is my best friend, and dear to me as a brother. No one can live with him without sharing his sentiments. I could not, therefore, have any distrust. But I feared that in the excess of your zeal you might not keep guard upon your tongues, and I am very desirous that my landing in England, and arrival at Dilston, should not be known for the present. ”

“ The game was too hazardous—the stake too high. Never, since his marriage, had he been separated from his beautiful countess, and the thought of quitting her—even for a brief season—was intolerable. He told her of his fears, and she laughed at them.
“I should not love you half so well as I do,” she said, “if I did not believe you would fight for King James—fight for him to the death. Should a rising take place, you must join it—must take a prominent part in it.”
“Since I wedded you, dearest Anna, life has acquired such value in my eyes, that I am not disposed to throw it away lightly.” ”

“ They might have helped the Earl of Mar to win a battle. Poor fellows! they will now be transported and sold as slaves. My heart bleeds for them.”
“We Scots have all cause to regret that we ever crossed the Border,” said Lord Kenmure. “But we have done our best for King James, and if we had been supported, we might have succeeded. We have had a High Tory general, yet not one of the party has joined us.”
“No one can have been more disappointed than myself,” said Forster. “If we had only reached Manchester——”
“Why did we not reach that town? tell us that,” cried Brigadier Mackintosh. ”

“ By that time the entire rebel force must be drawn up in the market-place to surrender arms. None must be absent, on any pretence whatever, and on pain of severe punishment. For the execution of this order, I look to you, General Forster, to you, my Lord Derwentwater, to you, my Lord Widdrington, to you my lords,” turning to the Scottish nobles, “to you, brigadier, and to you, Colonel Mackintosh.” ”

“ By to-morrow these feelings of irritation will have calmed down, and then you will see that I have granted all I could.”
“Nothing has been granted,” said Colonel Mackintosh. “We shall be worse off to-morrow than we are to-day. Come with me my lord. Let us die together at Preston.”
“You cannot depart,” said Wills, authoritatively. “Tomorrow you may have an opportunity of proving your bravery. To-night you must remain here. Let them be taken to their quarters, colonel,” he added to Churchill. ”

“ You will soon be convinced of the fact.”
“I am convinced now,” cried Colonel Oxburgh. “But you cannot wonder at my incredulity, and you see it was shared by all my friends. Since such is the case, gentlemen,” he added, turning to the others, “we must remain where we are for a few minutes. We must not present ourselves to the king till we learn that it is his majesty's pleasure to receive us.”
“I have no doubt upon the point, colonel,” said the butler; “and I will venture to take you to his majesty at once, if you will allow me.” ”

“ I could desire nothing better.”
“I trust, ere long, Windsor Castle may be yours, my liege,” said Lord Derwentwater; “and then you will think little of Dilston.”
“Dilston cannot vie with Windsor, that is certain, cousin. Nevertheless, it is a splendid place, and you are fortunate in possessing it. The mansion only wants one thing to make it perfect. You can guess what I mean. But I will tell you plainly. A lady ought to grace it.”
“I shall wait till your majesty is restored before I take a wife,” said the earl.
“Why wait?” said the Chevalier de Saint George. ”

“ Here is a general who refuses to march or fight—who declares the enemy is at a distance when he proves to be close at hand—who has intimate relations with a lady, who acts as a spy—and who proposes to surrender, and makes terms for himself, while we desire to continue the contest—can we doubt that he is a traitor?”
“You do not expect us to sympathise with you because you have an incompetent leader?” said Colonel Churchill.
“Incapacity is one thing—treachery another, colonel,” said Captain Dalziel. “We Scots all believe Forster has played us false. I do not think his life is secure. ”

“ 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. ”

“ Fire lighted up the prince's eyes as they spoke, but it faded away.
“It cannot be,” he said. “It cannot be.”
“What cannot be, my liege?” cried Anna, regarding him fixedly. “Not the insurrection? Not the march to London?”
“No,” he replied. “The Earl of Mar, in his letter counsels me to make no immediate movement.”
“For what reason?” demanded Lord Derwentwater in surprise.
“He gives no reason,” rejoined the prince. “But Lord Mar knows the feeling of the clans, and evidently deems the present juncture unpropitious to a rising.” ”

“ The chief commander, however, made no direct answer, but turning to the Northumbrian leader, observed:
“What says General Forster?”
“'Tis a bold step, and requires consideration,” replied the other.
“The blow must be struck at once, or not at all,” said Mackintosh. “While we are deliberating the chance will be lost.”
“We have not sufficient horse,” rejoined Forster.
“We have enow for our purpose,” said Lord Derwentwater. “My lord, in the king's name, I ask you to make the attack.”
“Ha! this sounds like a command,” cried Lord Kenmure, angrily. ”

“ Lord Kenmure shrugged his shoulders.
“I have given you my decision, and I shall adhere to it.”
Lord Derwentwater could not repress an exclamation of rage.
Mackintosh looked equally angry, but felt it was useless to interfere.
“We shall be better prepared on some future day,” observed Forster.
“Never!” exclaimed the brigadier, contemptuously. “Never shall we be better prepared than now! Never shall we have the enemy at greater advantage!''
“At all events, let us stay where we are,” said Lord Derwentwater. “General Carpenter will think we are retreating if we march to Hawick.” ”

“ Immediately afterwards, the Earl of Nithsdale, the Earl of Wintoun, the Earl of Carnwath, and his brother Captain Dalziel, rode up to the spot, and stopping Colonel Oxburgh, who was about to depart, demanded an explanation.
“We have been betrayed by Forster—that is all that can be told,” cried Mackintosh, scornfully.
“General Forster is no traitor, my lords,” said Oxburgh, firmly. “I have just seen Wills, who refuses to make any treaty with us, and insists that we shall lay down our arms. ”

“ Decidedly, he was like his sister, if a rather coarse man can be said to resemble a delicate girl. No one had better horses than Tom Forster—not even Lord Derwentwater—no one had better claret, and you might have plenty of it—perhaps, rather too much.
Tom Forster kept a pack of fox-hounds, and hunted regularly; and as he was hospitable, jovial, and good-humoured, he was exceedingly popular. Dorothy constantly rode to hounds, and was greatly admired for courage and skill, for she often gained the brush. ”

“ Even to Father Norham, she had not entirely laid bare her heart.
One day, when she was at confession in the small chamber, employed for her private devotions, and which was furnished with an altar and a crucifix, the good priest thus addressed her:
“I grieve to find, dear daughter, that you still keep back from the Earl, your husband, the secret that has so long weighed upon your breast. This ought not to be. He is entitled to your fullest confidence, and any concealment from him even of a trivial matter is sinful.” ”

“ Claret there was in abundance, and a goblet was devoted to a young pair of whose recent betrothal Lord Widdrington had just heard. The health of King James was drunk at the close of the repast, which was not prolonged beyond an hour. At the expiration of that time the horses were brought round.
After glancing round the entrance-hall, which was panelled with oak, and decked with trophies of the chase and ancient weapons, and admiring the carved oak staircase, the prince went forth, and mounted his steed—Lord Widdrington holding the bridle. ”

“ 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. ”

“ The picturesque beauty of the spot was materially heightened by a lofty bridge flung across the hollow, and leading from the castle to the deer-park.
From this bridge, the stately structure, with the charming and diversified scenery around it, could be contemplated to the greatest advantage.
The park boasted many ancient oaks and ash-trees, and was well stocked with deer; the neighbouring moors abounded with grouse, the smaller streams with trout, and the Tyne with salmon. Better shooting and fishing could not be had than at Dilston. ”

“ None can be better acquainted with the feeling of the country than myself and my friends, who have visited the houses of half the Jacobites and High Church Tories in the North of England, and I can state positively that a rising would be hailed by many influential persons with the greatest enthusiasm. Should your majesty decide on leading the army in person—as I trust you will—thousands will flock to your standard, and you will find yourself resistless as well from the number of your followers as from the justice of your cause. ”

“ They should get basket-hilted broad swords like our ain, saddles wi' high pommels and holsters, and as to those riding-whips, I should like to lay them across the shoulders of the bearers.”
“The men certainly look better equipped for flight than for attack,” replied Lord Charles. “But we must not judge them too harshly. They may fight well in spite of their dress swords, and charge even with race-horses.”
“Vera true,” replied the brigadier, laughing. “And here comes General Forster.” ”

“ The squire called out loudly as he drew near the crags, and in answer to the cry, forty or fifty armed insurgents suddenly appeared at various points; while an equal number of horsemen, headed by Lord Derwentwater and Mr. Forster, came from behind the rocks.
Confounded by this unexpected sight, and instantly comprehending the snare into which he had fallen, the magistrate would have fled, but before he could stir, his bridle was seized by Squire Hall, who exclaimed:
“You threatened to arrest me, Sir William. Now you are my prisoner.” ”

“ Long before the hour appointed for the betrothal, the little chapel was filled. All the household craved permission to witness the ceremony, and none were refused. The guests entered at the same time, and found places where they could. But little room was left, as may be imagined, when all these persons were accommodated. In the large pew were the prince with Charles Radclyffe, Mr. Forster and his sister—the latter looking bright and blooming as usual. ”

“ The yeomen who had hitherto blocked up the gateway were now removed by Charles Radclyffe, and there was nothing to prevent the departure of the intruders, when a large upper window of the mansion was opened, and the Countess of Derwentwater appeared at it.
In her hand she bore a silken banner, embroidered with the badge of the Chevalier de Saint George. Waving the banner above the assemblage, she called out in a loud clear voice, distinctly heard by all, “Long live King James the Third! and down with the Hanoverian Usurper!” ”

“ At this juncture, however, Lord Widdrington came forth, and shook hands very heartily with one of the recruits, a very fine-looking man.
“Who is that handsome and distinguished-looking person?” said the countess to her lord, who had followed her to the window.
“That is Mr. Townley, of Townley,” replied the earl. “He is Lord Widdrington's brother-in-law, and belongs to one of the oldest families in Lancashire. I am rejoiced to see him here.''
“And so am I,” cried Forster, joyfully. “Mr. Townley is a great acquisition. But who is the person next him?” ”

“ I embarked at Dunquerque without a single attendant, and in this disguise, and landed yesterday at Sunderland.”
“And right glad I am to welcome your majesty to Dilston,” said the earl. “But let me implore you to change your plans, and instead of supplicating Queen Anne for the crown, that of right belongs to yourself, snatch it from her brow! Should you decide thus—and I believe it will be for the best—I will undertake, within a week, to raise a large force—while thousands will flock to your standard in Scotland. ”