took a small house at Knaresborough. It now became matter of wonder
that she should have preferred a blind man to Dickinson, she being
as handsome a woman as any in the country. A lady having asked her
why she had refused so many good offers for Blind Jack; she answered,
“Because I could not be happy without him:” And being more particularly
questioned, she replied, “His actions are so singular, and his spirit
so manly and enterprising, that I could not help liking him.” Metcalf
being interrogated, on his part, how he had contrived to obtain the
lady, replied, That many women were like liquor-merchants, who purchase
spirits above proof, knowing that they can _lower_ them at home; and
this, he thought, would account why many a rake got a wife, while your
plodding sons of phlegm were doomed to celibacy.
He now went to Harrogate, as usual, with the exception of _one_
house. Meeting with a butcher there one day, and drinking pretty
freely, a wager was proposed to Metcalf, that he durst not visit his
mother-in-law. He took the wager, mounted his horse, and riding up to
the kitchen-door, called for a pint of wine. There being then only
women in the house, they all ran up stairs in a fright. He then rode
into the kitchen, through the house, and out at the hall door, no one
molesting him. As there were many evidences to this act of _heroism_,
he returned, and demanding the stakes, received them without opposition.
The Harrogate season being on the decline, he retired to Knaresborough,
where he purchased an old house, intending to build on its scite the
next summer. Assisted by another stout man, he began to get stones up
from the river; and being much used to the water, took great delight
in this sort of work. Meeting with some workmen, he told them the
intended dimensions of his house, and they named a price, by the rood,
for building it: but Metcalf, calculating from his own head, found
that their estimate would not do; so letting them the job by lump
agreement, they completed it at about half the sum which they would
have got by the rood.
He now went to the Oak, to demand his wife’s cloaths, but was refused:
on a second application, however, he succeeded. His wife having brought
him a boy, and some genteel people being the sponsors, they employed
their good offices to heal the breach between the families, and were so
fortunate as to succeed. On the birth of a daughter (the second child)
Mrs. Benson herself was godmother, and presented Metcalf with fifty
guineas.
He continued to play at Harrogate in the season; and set up a
four-wheel chaise, and a one-horse chair, for public accommodation,
there having been nothing of the kind there before.—He kept those
vehicles two summers, when the innkeepers beginning to run chaises, he
gave them up; as he also did racing, and hunting; but still wanting
employment, he bought horses, and went to the coast for fish, which
he took to Leeds and Manchester; and so indefatigable was he, that he
would frequently walk for two nights and a day, with little or no rest.
Going from Knaresborough to Leeds in a snow-storm, and crossing a
brook, the ice gave way under one of his horses, and he was under the
necessity of unloading to get him out; but the horse as soon as free
ran back to Knaresborough, leaving him with two panniers of fish,
and three other loaded horses, which, together with the badness of
the night, greatly perplexed him:—After much difficulty, however,
he divided the weight amongst the others, and pursuing his journey,
arrived at Leeds by break of day.
Once passing through Halifax, he stopped at an inn called the Broad
Stone. The landlord’s son and some others who frequented Harrogate
seeing Metcalf come in, and having often heard of his exploits,
signified a wish to play at cards with him: he agreed, and accordingly
they sent for a pack, which he desired to examine a little. The man
of the house being his friend, he could depend upon his honour in
preventing deception. They began, and Metcalf beat four of them in
turn; playing for liquor only. Not satisfied with this, some of the
company proposed playing for money; when engaging at shilling whist,
Metcalf won fifteen shillings. The party who lost then proposed to play
double or quit, but Metcalf declined playing for more than shilling
points; till at last yielding to much importunity, he got engaged for
guineas, and, favoured by fortune, won ten, the whole sum late in
the possession of the loser, who took up the cards, and going out,
soon returned with eight guineas more: Metcalf’s friend examined the
cards, to see that they were not marked; and finding all fair, they
went on again, until those eight pieces followed the other ten. They
then drank freely at Metcalf’s cost, he being in good circumstances
to treat. About ten at night he took his leave, saying he must be at
Knaresborough in the morning, having sent his horses before. On his
way he crossed the river Wharfe about a mile below Poole: the water
being high, his horse swam, but he got safe home; and this ended his
pursuits as a fishmonger, the profits being small, and his fatigue very
considerable.
From the period of his discontinuing the business of fishmonger,
Metcalf continued in the practice of attending Harrogate, as a player
on the violin in the Long-room, until the commencement of the Rebellion
in 1745.
The events of that period having been so numerously and so minutely
detailed, that any one the least conversant in the history of this
country cannot be unacquainted with the origin, progress, and
termination of the civil commotions which agitated it,—it would appear
unnecessary to obtrude the narration of them here, further than may
seem needful to introduce the part in which Metcalf bore a personal
share. The circumstance of his commencing soldier, was at that time,
and will still by the reader, be looked upon as a very extraordinary
proceeding of one in his situation.
The alarm which took place, in consequence of that event, was general;
and loyalty to the reigning Sovereign, and Government, with measures
for resistance to the Rebel Party, shone no where more conspicuous than
in the County of York.
Amongst the many instances which mark this, none were more striking
than the signally gallant conduct of the late WILLIAM THORNTON, Esq; of
Thornville.
The opinion of that gentleman, as delivered at the General County
Meeting held at the Castle of York, was, that the four thousand men,
(for the raising, cloathing, and maintaining of which _ninety thousand
pounds_ had been subscribed) should be embodied in companies with the
regulars, and march with the King’s forces to any part where their
services might be required.—This mode of proceeding, however, not
meeting the opinion of the majority of the gentlemen present, he
determined to raise a company at his own expence.
In consequence of that resolution, Mr. Thornton went to Knaresborough
about the first of October, 1745; and Metcalf having for several
years been in the practice of visiting that gentleman’s mansion,
(particularly at the festive season of Christmas, where, with his
violin and hautboy, he assisted to entertain the family) Mr. Thornton
was well acquainted with his extraordinary disposition, and, imagining
that he might be of service to him in his present undertaking, sent
for our blind hero to his inn, treated him liberally with punch, and,
informing him “that the French were coming to join the Scotch rebels,
the consequence of which would be, that if not vigourously opposed,
they would violate all our wives, daughters, and sisters,” asked him if
he had spirit to join the company about to be raised. Metcalf instantly
giving an affirmative answer, was asked whether he knew of any spirited
fellows who were likely to make good soldiers; and having satisfied his
patron on this head also, he was appointed an assistant to a serjeant
already procured, with orders to begin recruiting the next day. This
service went on with rapid success: several carpenters, smiths, and
other artificers were engaged, to all of whom Metcalf promised great
military advancement, or, in default of that, places of vast profit
under Government, as soon as the matter was over, which he called only
a _bustle_; thus following the example of other _decoy ducks_, by
promising very unlikely things.
Such was their success, that in two days only they enlisted one hundred
and forty men, out of whom the Captain drafted sixty-four, (the number
of privates he wanted) and sent immediately to Leeds for cloth of a
good quality for their cloathing. The coats were blue, trimmed and
faced with buff; and buff waistcoats. The taylors he had employed
refusing to work on a Sunday, he rebuked their fanatical scruples in
these words: “You rascals! if your houses were on fire, would you not
be glad to extinguish the flames on a _Sunday_?” which had the desired
effect. Arms being procured from the Tower, the men were constantly and
regularly drilled. Such of them as had relations in the public line,
would frequently bring their companions to drink, for the benefit of
the respective houses; and Metcalf never failed to attend one or other
of those parties, his fiddle and hautboy contributing to make the time
pass agreeably: and the worthy Captain was liberal in his allowance
of money for such festive purposes, insomuch that had he wanted five
hundred men, he could easily have obtained them. Soon after he brought
them to Thornville, where he ordered every other day a fat ox to be
killed for their entertainment, and gave them beer seven years old,
expressing a great pleasure at its being reserved for so good a purpose.
He now began to sound the company as to their attachment to the cause
and to himself. “My lads,” said he, “you are going to form a part of
a ring-fence to the finest estate in the world! The King’s army is on
its march to the Northward; and I have the pleasing confidence that
all of you are willing to join them.”—They replied, as if one soul had
animated them, “We will follow you to the world’s end!”
All matters being adjusted, the company was drawn up, and amongst them
BLIND JACK made no _small_ figure, being near six feet two inches
high, and, like his companions, dressed in blue and buff, with a large
gold-laced hat: So well pleased was the Captain with his appearance,
that he said he would give an hundred guineas for only _one eye_ to
stick in the head of his _dark_ champion.
Jack now played a march of the Captain’s choosing, and off they moved
for Boroughbridge. Capt. Thornton having a discretionary route, took
his march over the moors, in expectation of meeting some of the
straggling parties of the rebel army; and quartered at several villages
in his way, where he was kindly received, and visited by the heads of
the genteelest families in the neighbourhood, who generally spent the
evenings with him. Metcalf being always at the Captain’s quarters,
played on the violin, accompanied by a good voice, “_Britons! strike
home_,” and other loyal and popular airs, much to the satisfaction of
the visitors, who frequently offered him money, but this he always
refused, knowing that his acceptance of it would displease his
commander.
Arriving at Newcastle, they joined the army under the command of
General Wade, by whose order they were united with Pulteney’s regiment,
which, having suffered much in some late actions abroad, was thought
the weakest. Captain Thornton gave orders for tents for his men, and a
marquee for himself, for which he paid the upholsterer eighty guineas.
He pitched them on Newcastle Moor, and gave a pair of blankets to each
tent. Jack observed to his Captain, “Sir, I live next door to you:
but it is a custom, on coming to a new house, to have it warmed.” The
Captain knowing his meaning, said, “How much will do?”—Jack answered,
“Three shillings a tent;” which the Captain generously gave, and said,
“As you join Pulteney’s regiment, they will smell your breath;” so he
gave them ten guineas, being one to each company. On the night of their
entertainment, the snow fell six inches.
After stopping here for about a week, the General received intelligence
of the motions of the rebels, and gave orders to march by break of day
for Hexham, in three columns, wishing to intercept them upon the West
road, as their route seemed to be for England that way. The tents were
instantly struck; but the Swiss troops having the van, and not being
willing to move at so early an hour, it was half past ten before they
left the ground, and the snow by that time was become extremely deep in
several places: it also proved a very severe day for hail and frost.
They were often three or four hours in marching a mile, the pioneers
having to lower the hills, and fill up several ditches, to make a
passage for the artillery and baggage.
About ten at night they arrived at Ovington, the place marked out for
them, with straw to rest on; but the ground was frozen so hard, that
but few of the tent-pins would enter it, and in those few tents which
were pitched, the men lay one upon another, greatly fatigued with their
march, it having been fifteen hours from the time of their striking the
tents, till their arrival at this place, although the distance is only
seven miles.
At eleven o’clock at night Captain Thornton left the camp, and went
to Hexham, to visit his relation. Sir Edward Blacket, and with a view
of getting provisions and necessaries for his men: he was only nine
hours absent, as, although it was Sunday morning, the march was to be
continued. It having been customary to burn the straw, to warm the
men before they set off, orders were here given to preserve it, in
case it might be wanted on their return. However, Captain Thornton
and the Lieutenant being absent, and the Ensign having died at
Newcastle, Metcalf took it upon him to say, “My lads, get the straw
together, to burn; our Captain will pay for more, if we should want
it:” which being done, he took, out his fiddle, notwithstanding the
day, and played to the men whilst they danced round the fire; which
made the rest of the army observe them, though they did not follow
their example. The Captain and Lieutenant arriving in the midst of the
business, expressed much pleasure and satisfaction in seeing the men
thus recreate themselves.
That day they reached Hexham, where they halted. On Monday night, about
ten o’clock, the army was put in motion by a false alarm. Here General
Wade resolved to return; and immediately began the march for York,
by way of Piersebridge, Catterick, and Boroughbridge; and continuing
his route Southward, encamped his men on Clifford Moor, where they
halted a few days, and then moved to a ground between Ferrybridge and
Knottingley. The rebels had now penetrated Southward as far as Derby;
but the General having heard that they had received a check from the
Duke of Cumberland, sent General Oglethorpe with a thousand horse
towards Manchester, either to harrass the enemy in their retreat, or
to join the Duke’s forces; and returned himself with the remainder, by
Wakefield, Outwood, and Leeds, to Newcastle.
In the mean time the Duke came up with the rebels at Clifton, on
the borders of Westmoreland, of which Lord George Murray, with the
rear guard, had taken possession, whilst another party had fortified
themselves behind three hedges and a ditch.
The Duke coming upon the open moor after sun-set, gave orders for three
hundred dragoons to dismount, and advance to the brink of the ditch;
when the rebels fired upon them from behind the hedges, which they
returned, and fell a few paces back: the rebels mistaking this for
flight, rushed over the ditch, but meeting a warmer reception than they
expected, were glad to retreat, and continued their route to Penrith.
The Duke’s army was not able to follow, owing to the badness of the
roads, and the fatigue of a tedious march; but the next morning he
pursued them to Penrith; and from thence to Carlisle, where they left
part of their army.
His Royal Highness thought it advisable to reduce this place, and
accordingly sent for heavy artillery from Whitehaven, which arriving
on the 25th of December, the garrison surrendered on the 30th, and
his Royal Highness returned to London. General Wade continued his
march for the North, dismissing all the foreigners from his army; and
General Hawley on coming from London to take the command, was joined
by some regiments which had been withdrawn from Flanders. They marched
to Edinburgh; from thence to Falkirk, and pitched their tents on the
North-East side of the town, on the 16th of January.
The Highland army being at Torwood, about mid-way between Falkirk and
Stirling, and distant from the English camp only about three miles,
they could easily discover each other’s camp-lights. The English army
lay all night on their arms, in expectation of being attacked; but
the van and picquet guards came in on the morning of the 17th, having
observed no motions in the rebel camp which shewed any signs of an
attack, although they were as near them as safety would permit. Soon
after, the enemy were observed to move some of their colours from
Torwood, towards Stirling, which made the English suppose that they
were retreating; but this motion was a feint to deceive them. However,
upon this appearance, the soldiers were ordered to pile their arms,
and take some refreshment; and although Lord Kilmarnock was in the
rebel army, General Hawley went to breakfast with Lady Kilmarnock,
at Callendar House. The enemy, in the mean time, stole a march down
a valley Northward, unperceived; but just before the army discovered
them, they were seen by a person who ran into the camp, exclaiming,
“Gentlemen! what are you about? the Highlanders will be upon you:” on
which some of the officers said, “Seize that rascal, he is spreading a
false alarm.”—“Will you, then, believe your own eyes?” replied the man;
when instantly the truth of his assertion became apparent, by their
advancing to the highest ground upon Falkirk moor, the wind blowing
strongly in the faces of the English, with a severe rain. At this
moment several had left the field as well as the General; but the drums
beat to arms, which caused those who were absent to repair instantly to
the camp, and the lines were immediately formed.
Captain Thornton’s company was embodied with the matrosses, who were
thought too weak; and this was a great disappointment to him, whose
intention was to be in the front, whenever an engagement should take
place. Metcalf played before them to the field; but the flag cannon
sinking in a bog, Captain Thornton exclaimed, “D—n this accident;
we shall see no sport to-day:” and leaving his troop to assist the
matrosses in bringing up the cannon to their station, he rode up
opposite to the horse which were going to engage. The regiments of
Hamilton and Gardner were put in the front; and the Highlanders, after
firing their pieces, threw them down, and discharged their pistols in
the horses’ faces, which caused them to retreat, much confused: and
on the Duke of Perth exclaiming aloud, “Although the horse have given
way, yet the work is not accomplished,” the enemy pursued with their
broad swords, cutting down the men as they fled; and the horses did
great mischief, by breaking through their own foot, the men crying out
at the same time, “Dear brethren, we shall all be massacred this day!”
On their passing the artillery, the Captain of the matrosses seeing
their perilous situation, gave orders for all the train horses to be
cut from the cannon. General Huske at this time came up with three
regiments, and engaged the left wing of the Highlanders, ordering the
rear and centre to keep firing, and the front to reserve. The rebels,
as was their custom, after the discharge of their pieces, flung them
away, and advanced with their broad swords close up to the first line;
when the front instantly fired, and being so near, did more than double
execution; which caused them to retreat, leaving a great number dead
upon the spot.
The General observing a vast body of the rebels on the right, drew up
his men nearer Falkirk, and gave orders to keep the town until morning:
however, on examining the powder, they had the mortification to find
that the heavy rains had damaged it to such a degree, that but few
pieces could be fired; and the village being open on all sides, was
a circumstance so favourable to the enemy, as induced that General
to form the resolution of quitting the town with all expedition, and
march to Linlithgow, where there was more shelter under the walls, in
case of an attack.—This measure was fully justified by the event; for
the enemy pursued so closely, that many were taken by surprise, as, in
consequence of the order to keep the town all night, several had gone
into the houses to put off their wet cloathes; and those who were
apprised of the retreat had no sooner left the place, than the rebels
took possession, and made a great many prisoners, amongst whom were
twenty of Captain Thornton’s men, with the Lieutenant and Ensign.
Mr. Crofts, the Lieutenant, having eighty guineas in his pocket, begged
to make Lord George Murray his treasurer; which office his Lordship
accepted, and had afterwards the _generosity_ to return him SIX!
Captain Thornton, also, was in one of the houses, for the purpose
before-mentioned, but had not time sufficient to effect his escape;
and being alarmed by the bagpipes at the door, he retreated up stairs:
in a few minutes several of the rebels rushed up, in search of the
fugitives; when one of them came to the very room door behind which he
had taken refuge, and overlooking him, said, “There are none of the
rascals here.” The woman of the house having seen the Captain go up
stairs, went to him soon after, and opening a closet door, entreated
him to enter, which he did.—She then brought a dresser, and placed
dishes, &c. upon it, which prevented all appearance of a door in that
place; and fortunately there was no bed in the room. About ten minutes
after he had been fixed in his new quarters, a great number of people,
consisting chiefly of Highland officers, amongst whom was Secretary
Murray, took possession of the apartment, which being large, they
proposed making use of for business during their stay.
We will there leave Captain Thornton, and return to Metcalf, who with
the matrosses was retiring from the field of battle.
Knowing that two of his master’s horses had been left at a widow’s
house a short distance from the town, he made his way to the place,
with intent to secure them. This woman had in the morning expressed
great seeming loyalty to King George; but when Metcalf returned in the
evening, the wind had changed:—She now extolled prince Charles, and
said the defeat of _George’s folk_ was a just judgment.
Metcalf went into the stable and found the horses, saddled them, and
was leading out the first, when he was surrounded by a few stragglers
of the Highland army: “We must have that beast,” said they; but Metcalf
refusing to give him up, they said to one another, “Shoot him.” On
hearing two of them cock their pieces, he asked, “What do you want with
him?” They answered, that they wanted him for their Prince: “If so, you
must have him,” replied he. They took him, and immediately went off.
Metcalf then brought out the other; but as he was about to mount, the
Captain’s coachman (whose name was Snowden) joined him, and Metcalf
inquiring of him the fate of his master, was answered, that he had not
seen him since he left the artillery, when he rode up with the horse
which were going to engage: this induced them to think that the worst
had befallen him. They then thought it advisable to attempt falling in
with the rear of the army, and endeavoured to slant the ground for that
purpose; but before they had proceeded many yards, their horse sunk up
to the saddle-skirts in a bog: however, being strong and plunging out,
they mounted again, and soon joined it as they wished; where on making
diligent inquiry after their Captain, they were told that he was left
behind; on which Snowden returned as far as he could with safety, but
without gaining any intelligence, and Metcalf walked on with the army.
They arrived at Linlithgow, where they halted; and the next day they
marched to Edinburgh. There the mob, and lower orders of people, were
very free in their expressions, and some of the higher also spoke very
warmly, in favour of Prince Charles; making it appear clearly, _by
their own account_, that nothing could prevent his coming to the Crown.