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  THE MANCHESTER REBELS

  OF

  THE FATAL '45.

  Faithful unto Death Page 246.]

  THE MANCHESTER REBELS

  OF

  THE FATAL '45

  BY

  WILLIAM HARRISON AINSWORTH

  With faltering voice, she weeping said, "O, Dawson, monarch of my heart! Think not thy death shall end our loves, For thou and I will never part!"

  SHENSTONE.

  WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY FREDERICK GILBERT

  LONDONGEORGE ROUTLEDGE AND SONSBROADWAY, LUDGATE HILLNEW YORK: 416 BROOME STREET

  1880

  BY W. HARRISON AINSWORTH.

  _Uniform with this Volume, each with Six Illustrations._

  THE TOWER OF LONDON. WINDSOR CASTLE. ROOKWOOD. THE LANCASHIRE WITCHES. GUY FAWKES. SAINT JAMES'S; OR, THE COURT OF QUEEN ANNE. OLD SAINT PAUL'S; A TALE OF THE PLAGUE AND THE FIRE. CRICHTON. THE FLITCH OF BACON; OR, THE CUSTOM OF DUNMOW. MERVYN CLITHEROE. THE MISER'S DAUGHTER. JACK SHEPPARD. BOSCOBEL; OR, THE ROYAL OAK. OVINGDEAN GRANGE; A TALE OF THE SOUTH DOWNS. THE SPENDTHRIFT; A TALE. THE STAR-CHAMBER. PRESTON FIGHT; OR, THE INSURRECTION OF 1715.

  INSCRIBED

  TO THE

  RT. HON. THE EARL OF BEACONSFIELD,

  K. G.,

  WITH EVERY SENTIMENT

  OF

  RESPECT AND ADMIRATION.

  PREFACE.

  All my early life being spent in Manchester, where I was born, bred,and schooled, I am naturally familiar with the scenes I have attemptedto depict in this Tale.

  Little of the old town, however, is now left. The lover of antiquity--ifany such should visit Manchester--will search in vain for thosepicturesque black and white timber habitations, with pointed gablesand latticed windows, that were common enough sixty years ago. Entirestreets, embellished by such houses, have been swept away in thecourse of modern improvement. But I recollect them well. No greateffort of imagination was therefore needed to reconstruct the old townas it existed in the middle of the last century; but I was saved fromthe possibility of error by an excellent plan, almost of the precisedate, designed by John A. Berry, to which I made constant referenceduring my task. Views are given in this plan of the principal housesthen recently erected, and as all these houses were occupied by PrinceCharles and the Highland Chiefs during their stay in Manchester, Icould conduct the Rebel leaders to their quarters without difficulty.One of the houses, situated in Deansgate, belonged to my mother'suncle, Mr. Touchet. This is gone, as is Mr. Dickenson's fine house inMarket Street Lane, where the Prince was lodged. Indeed, there isscarcely a house left in the town that has the slightest historicalassociation belonging to it.

  When I was a boy, some elderly personages with whom I was acquaintedwere kind enough to describe to me events connected with PrinceCharles's visit to Manchester, and the stories I then heard made alasting impression upon me. The Jacobite feeling must have been stillstrong among my old friends, since they expressed much sympathy withthe principal personages mentioned in this Tale--for the gallantColonel Townley, Doctor Deacon and his unfortunate sons, Jemmy Dawson,whose hapless fate has been so tenderly sung by Shenstone, and, aboveall, for poor Tom Syddall. The latter, I know not why, unless it bethat his head was affixed on the old Exchange, has always been a sortof hero in Manchester.

  The historical materials of the story are derived from the CHEVALIERDE JOHNSTONE's _Memoirs of the Rebellion_, and DR. HIBBERT WARE'sexcellent account of Prince Charles's sojourn in the town, appended tothe _History of the Manchester Foundations_. But to neither of theseauthorities do I owe half so much as to Beppy Byrom's delightfulJournal, so fortunately discovered among her father's papers at KersalCell, and given by DR. PARKINSON in the _Remains of John Byrom_,published some twenty years ago, by the Chetham Society. Apart fromthe vivid picture it affords of the state of Manchester at the period,of the consternation into which the inhabitants were thrown by thepresence of the Rebel Army, and the striking description given in itof the young Chevalier and his staff, the Journal is exceedinglyinteresting, and it is impossible to read it without feeling as if onewere listening to the pleasant chat of the fair writer. Pretty Beppyis before us, as sprightly and as loveable as she was in life. In nodiary that I have read is the character of the writer more completelyrevealed than in this.

  Of Beppy, the bewitching, and her admirable father, I have endeavouredto give some faint idea in these pages.

  While speaking of the Chetham Society, which has brought out so manyimportant publications, edited with singular ability by the learnedPresident MR. JAMES CROSSLEY, DR. HIBBERT WARE, MR. WILLIAM BEAMONT,CANON RAINES, and others, I desire to express the great satisfaction Ifeel at learning that a very large collection of the letters ofHUMPHREY CHETHAM, and some of his friends and contemporaries, havebeen placed, for publication, in the hands--and in no better handscould they have been placed--of CANON RAINES.

  Unquestionably, this will be the crowning work of the Chetham Society,and at last, from the able editor of _The Journal of NicholasAssbeton, of Downham_, we shall no doubt receive an adequate biographyof the great Lancashire worthy.

  To return to my tale. I must not omit to mention that the tragicincident I have connected with Rawcliffe Hall really occurred--thoughat a much more remote date than is here assigned to it--at BewseyHouse, an old moated mansion, near Warrington, still, I believe, inexistence.

  At one circumstance I must needs rejoice. Since the publication ofthis Tale, and incited, I am told, by its perusal, MR. SAMUELBRIERLEY, of Rochdale, has put together a very interesting collectionof anecdotes relating to the visit of Lochiel, with a small portion ofthe Highland Army, to Rochdale, in 1745.[1]

  [1] "Rochdale in 1745 and 1746." By an Old Inhabitant. Rochdale, John Turner, Drake Street, 1874.

  These stories, I understand, were narrated to MR. BRIERLEY by hisgreat grandmother, who died in 1806, aged ninety-three. That they werewell worth preserving will be apparent from some extracts which Ipropose to make from the little work.

  Here is a well-told incident which might be entitled "Lochiel and theLancashire Lad."

  "On the 25th November, 1745, the rebel army, supposed to be 5,000 or6,000 strong, and composed of cavalry, infantry, and artillery,arrived at Lancaster, under the personal command of Prince Charles,who gave instructions that the greater portion of this force should,on its arrival at Preston, proceed to Manchester by way of Wigan, andthe smaller part through Blackburn and Rochdale, and thus concentratethe main body at Manchester. The latter portion was seen marching overAshworth Moor, under the command of Lochiel of Glengarry, where theyhalted to have refreshment, which consisted of oatmeal steeped inwater. Most of the country people fled on their approach, but therewas one who stood looking on, and that was James Lomax, ofWoolstenholme; he was asked to join the army but feigned not tounderstand the question, but said he would jump agen the measter(pointing to Glengarry) o'er that big stone fence, for a gallon ofale. The bet was accepted, and Lomax had the first jump. Being a litheand supple fellow, he cleared it at a bound, ran down the back of thefence wall, and was no
more seen. The officers and men laughed at thisincident; and Lochiel, on turning round, perceived a streak of smokerising from the top of Knowle Hill. This and Lomax disappearing sosuddenly, caused great perplexity to those in command; and suspectingthat there might be a surprise before they got to the town, the troopswere ordered to fall in and make ready, and the advanced scouts tokeep a watchful eye both right and left of the road."

  Another very amusing story relates to a Highlander who was billeted atthe Union Hotel.

  "One of the privates, a kilted man, went into the kitchen and spoke toBetty the cook, told her she was a bonnie lassie, and said, 'Wull yelet me put a piece of bread in the drippin?' pointing to the beef onthe spit; she replied, 'Naw, haw winnut,' but at the same time hethrew a piece of black bannock into the dripping pan, and cook said ina loud voice, 'Hom noan gooin to hav ony o thaw impidunce,' at thesame time throwing out the bread with her basting spoon, into theashes. This so exasperated the Scot that he placed his hand on hissword, but Betty, as quick as thought, got the basting spoon full ofhot dripping, and threw it at him, covering his face, hands, and bareknees with it, thereby causing him to scream with the burning pain; atthe same moment Mally Garlick, who had been paring potatoes, said, 'Dogo away, for this dog is breakin out of his cage,'--she had privatelyopened the door, and the dog rushed at the Scot, and chased him out ofthe house, tore a large piece out of the back part of his kilt, whichhe had to get repaired before he could decently attend another parade.But the scalds or burns inflicted upon him proved more serious thanwas anticipated, and he was placed under the medical skill of DoctorMoult. The doctor recommended a short rest from his laborious duties;this rest, with the unremitting attentions bestowed upon him by therelenting cook, led to mutual affection, and when he recovered henever rejoined the invading force, but married her who had caused hisinjuries, settled in the town, became a thriving tradesman, and hasdescendants here who are highly respectable and wealthy."

  Our last extract describes the interview of Valentine Holt, a youngvolunteer in the Stuart cause, with Prince Charles.

  "After a little conversation, Lochiel wrote him a note and told him togo to Manchester forthwith, and present it at the house of Mr.Dickenson, at the top of Market Street Lane, which is now called thePalace Inn, and wait for an answer--the interview lasted only a fewminutes. Clegg and Holt then went into the churchyard, and the latterlooked upon his native town and the hills surrounding, and said with asigh, 'I feel a presentiment that I shall never see my native townagain. Ah, my dear mother, do forgive the many faults of an erringson. I confess I have caused thee many pangs of sorrow, and I leavethe town with an idea that if I get weaned from my wild companions, Imay become a wiser and a better man.' These and other sorrowfulthoughts came crowding upon his mind, and Clegg observing that he wasin deep thought, proposed to have a parting glass in the neighbouringtavern; after which he departed for Manchester, along what are nowcalled the back lanes of Castleton, as at this time there was no roadby Pinfold. He arrived at Manchester late in the evening, and wasstirring early on the morrow; being at the house aforementioned at 10a.m., he presented the letter given to him by Lochiel (which wasdirected in such a way that Holt was unable to imagine who it was for)to the orderly standing at the door; the latter appeared astonished,looking at Holt with a scrutinising eye, and told him he must wait atthe door until he delivered the letter. He returned in a few minutesand ushered Holt into a room in which was seated a young man, tall,well-built, with a handsome face, auburn hair, and good eyes; thelatter speaking to Holt, said, 'You are the young man from Rochdale(this was no less a person than the Prince himself) who has offered tojoin our cause?' Holt replied 'I am.' 'I hear you use the rifle withunerring aim.' The Prince taking up a loaded rifle that was in thecorner, said, 'You see that jackdaw on the ridge of the houseopposite, try to bring it down!' Holt fired, and it rolled down theroof. 'Ah! very good,' exclaimed the Prince, and calling in theorderly, said, 'Tell Dickson that he must enrol this man as Sergeantin the Manchester contingent.'"

  CONTENTS.

  CHAP. PAGE

  Book I.--Atherton Legh.

  I. HOW THE INFANT HEIR WAS STOLEN 1

  II. MANCHESTER IN 1745 6

  III. INTRODUCES DR. DEACON, DR. BYROM, AND COLONEL TOWNLEY 9

  IV. SIR RICHARD RAWCLIFFE 19

  V. INTRODUCES OUR HERO 23

  VI. ADVICE 26

  VII. RENCOUNTER NEAR THE OLD TOWN CROSS 28

  VIII. BEPPY BYROM 32

  IX. THE TWO CURATES OF ST. ANN'S 37

  X. CONSTANCE RAWCLIFFE 40

  XI. THE BOROUGHREEVE OF MANCHESTER 44

  XII. THE RESCUE 47

  XIII. CONSTANCE MAKES A DISCOVERY 52

  XIV. ST. ANN'S-SQUARE 57

  XV. HOW SALFORD BRIDGE WAS SAVED FROM DESTRUCTION 63

  XVI. TOM SYDDALL 67

  XVII. HOW TOM SYDDALL WAS CARRIED HOME IN TRIUMPH 71

  XVIII. THE MEETING IN THE GARDEN 76

  XIX. MRS. BUTLER 79

  XX. THE JACOBITE MEETING IN TOM SYDDALL'S BACK ROOM 86

  XXI. BEN BIRCH, THE BELLMAN OF MANCHESTER 90

  Book II.--Prince Charles Edward in Manchester.

  I. HOW MANCHESTER WAS TAKEN BY A SERJEANT, A DRUMMER,AND A SCOTTISH LASSIE 94

  II. THE PROCLAMATION AT THE CROSS 99

  III. FATHER JEROME 103

  IV. GENERAL SIR JOHN MACDONALD 106

  V. HELEN CARNEGIE'S STORY 112

  VI. CAPTAIN LINDSAY 115

  VII. A RESIDENCE IS CHOSEN FOR THE PRINCE 117

  VIII. INTERVIEW BETWEEN SECRETARY MURRAY AND THE MAGISTRATES 120

  IX. ARRIVAL OF THE FIRST DIVISION OF THE HIGHLAND ARMY.LORD GEORGE MURRAY 122

  X. THE DUKE OF PERTH 125

  XI. ARRIVAL OF THE SECOND DIVISION 127

  XII. THE YOUNG CHEVALIER 129

  XIII. THE PRINCE'S INTERVIEW WITH MRS. BUTLER ANDTHE TWO DAMSELS 134

  XIV. THE PRINCE'S MARCH TO HEAD-QUARTERS 137

  XV. THE PRINCE'S LEVEE 140

  XVI. THE ILLUMINATIONS 148

  XVII. A QUARREL AT SUPPER 151

  XVIII. CAPTAIN WEIR 154

  XIX. CAPTAIN WEIR IS INTERROGATED BY THE PRINCE 162

  XX. THE DUEL 165

  XXI. CASTLE FIELD 169

  XXII. FATHER JEROME COUNSELS SIR RICHARD 176

  XXIII. THE PRINCE ATTENDS SERVICE AT THE COLLEGIATE CHURCH 180

  XXIV. THE PRINCE INSPECTS THE MANCHESTER REGIMENT 182

  XXV. AN UNSATISFACTORY EXPLANATION
184

  XXVI. THE RIDE TO RAWCLIFFE HALL 187

  XXVII. RAWCLIFFE HALL 189

  XXVIII. A STARTLING DISCLOSURE 192

  XXIX. THE MYSTERIOUS CHAMBER 194

  XXX. A TERRIBLE CATASTROPHE 197

  XXXI. SIR RICHARD RAWCLIFFE'S CONFESSION 202

  XXXII. ATHERTON'S DECISION IS MADE 208

  Book III.--The March to Derby, and the Retreat.

  I. AN OLD JACOBITE DAME 212

  II. ATHERTON'S GIFT TO CONSTANCE 215

  III. A RETREAT RESOLVED UPON 220

  IV. HOW THE MANCHESTER REGIMENT WAS WELCOMED ON ITS RETURN 224

  V. A FRESH SUBSIDY DEMANDED 227

  VI. A FALSE MESSAGE BROUGHT TO HELEN 230

  VII. A COURT-MARTIAL 235

  VIII. HELEN PLEADS IN VAIN 239

  IX. TOGETHER TO THE LAST 242

  X. MR. JAMES BAYLEY 246

  XI. THE VISION 249

  XII. THE RETREAT FROM MANCHESTER TO CARLISLE 253