second application, however, he succeeded. His wife having brought him
a boy, and some respectable people being the sponsors, they employed
their good offices to heal the breach between the families, and were
fortunately successful. On the birth of a daughter (the second child)
Mrs. Benson herself was godmother, and presented Metcalf with twenty
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 these vehicles two summers,
when the innkeepers, beginning to run their own, 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; for as a family was
coming on he was as eager for business as he had been for diversion,
keeping up his spirits, and blessed with good health.
Going from Knaresborough to Leeds in a snowstorm, 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 in the midst of a snowstorm at night. 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, but before playing he asked to feel them over.
The man of the house being his friend, he could depend upon his honour
in preventing deception. They began to play, and Metcalf beat four of
them in turn, playing only for liquor. Not satisfied with this, some of
the company proposed playing for money, and when engaged at shilling
whist, Metcalf won 15s. The losing party then proposed to play double or
quit, but Metcalf declined playing for more than half-a-guinea points;
till at last, yielding to much importunity, he got engaged for guineas,
and, favoured by fortune, won ten, and a shilling for liquor each game,
which completely cleared the loser of his cash, who took up the cards
and went out, but shortly returned with eight guineas more. Metcalf's
friend examined the cards to see if 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 now in
circumstances to treat. About ten o'clock 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, and he got safe home.
Thus ended his pursuits as a fishmonger, the profit being small and his
fatigue very considerable.
From the period of his discontinuing the business of fishmonger Metcalf
continued to attend Harrogate as a player on the violin, in the long
room, until the commencement of the rebellion in 1745.
The alarm which took place was great; and loyalty to the House of
Hanover, and preparations against the Jacobites, were general in the
county of York.
Amongst the many instances which mark this, none were more striking than
the conduct of William Thornton of Thornville, near Knaresborough, for
he determined to raise a company of soldiers at his own expense, and
went to Knaresborough about the 1st of October, 1745, where he sent for
our blind hero to his inn, and asked him if he knew of any brave fellows
who were likely to make spirited soldiers. Jack having satisfied his
patron on this head, he was appointed assistant to a sergeant already
procured, with orders to begin recruiting the next day.
Such was their success that in two days only they enlisted 140 men at
5s. each, their allowance being 1s. per day; out of whom the captain
drafted sixty-four, the number of privates he wanted. 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 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 northward, and I have confidence that all of you are willing to
join them." They replied, enthusiastic for the whole ox a day and the
seven-year-old beer, "We will follow you to the world's end!"
All matters being adjusted, the company was drawn up, and amongst them
BLIND JACK cut 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. Jack played a march, and off the company moved for
Boroughbridge to join General Wade's army, which was there.
On reaching Newcastle, by order of General Wade they were united with
Pulteney's regiment, which having suffered much in some late actions,
was thought unduly weak. Captain Thornton gave orders for tents for his
men and a marquee for himself. He pitched them on Newcastle Moor, and
served out a pair of blankets to each tent. On the first night of their
encampment the snow fell six inches.
After stopping there for about a week, the General received intelligence
of the motions of the Jacobite army, and gave orders to march by break
of day for Hexham in three columns, wishing to intercept it upon the
west road, as their route seemed to be for England that way. The tents
were instantly struck, but the Swiss troops in the van 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 extremely deep. The troops were
often three or four hours in marching a mile, the pioneers having to cut
through some of the drifts, level some of the obstructions, 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 in, and in those few tents which were
pitched the men lay upon one another, greatly fatigued with their march,
it having been fifteen hours from the time of their striking their tents
till their arrival at this place, although the distance was only seven
miles.
The next day they reached Hexham, where they halted. On Monday night
about ten o'clock the army was put in motion by a false alarm. After
stopping there about three days, General Wade returned to Newcastle to
catch the post-road leading to Yorkshire, and immediately began his
march for Yorkshire by way of Pierse Bridge, Catterick, and
Boroughbridge; and continuing his route southward, encamped his men on
Clifford Moor, where they halted a few days, and then moved to ground
between Ferrybridge and Knottingley. The Scottish army 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 1000 horse towards Manchester, either to harass the
enemy in their retreat, or to join the Duke's forces; and retired
himself with the remainder, by Wakefield-Outwood and Leeds, to
Newcastle.
In the meantime the Duke came up with the army of Prince Charles Edward
at Clifton, on the borders of Westmoreland. Lord George Murray occupied
the town, and the Highlanders were fortified behind hedges and a ditch.
The Duke coming upon the open moor after sunset, gave orders for 300
dragoons to dismount and advance to the brink of the ditch; the rebels
then fired upon them from behind the hedges; they returned the fire, and
fell a few paces back. The Highlanders 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, and from thence
to Carlisle, where they left part of their army.
His Royal Highness thought it advisable to reduce this place; and on its
surrender he 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, and 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 midway between Falkirk and Stirling, and about
three miles from the English camp, they could easily see each other's
camp light. The English army lay all night on their arms in expectation
of being attacked, but the van and picket-guards came in on the morning
of the 17th, having observed no motions in the hostile camp which
showed any signs of an attack, although they were as near as safety
would permit. Soon after, the enemy were observed to move some of their
flags 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 the soldiers were ordered to pile their arms and take
some refreshment; and although Lord Kilmarnock was in the army of Prince
Charles Edward, General Hawley went to breakfast with Lady Kilmarnock at
Callander House. The enemy in the meantime 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 believe your own eyes?" said the man; and at that
moment the line of Highlanders was seen fringing the high ground on
Falkirk Moor.
It is unnecessary here to relate the details of the engagement of
Falkirk, so graphically described by Sir Walter Scott in "Waverley,"
resulting in a momentary gleam of hope to the adherents of Prince
Charles Edward, and in as brief a discouragement to the English. Captain
Thornton lost twenty of his men, together with his lieutenant and
ensign, who were taken prisoners. The captain was in a house when the
English were surprised, and hearing the bagpipes at the door, he ran
up-stairs and hid in a room behind the door. One of the Highlanders ran
in, looked round, but not seeing him, called out, "None of the rascals
are 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.
In the meantime Metcalf had escaped the Highlanders. 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 one to 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 the 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 for some time. This induced Metcalf to think that the worst had
befallen him. They then thought it advisable to attempt falling in with
the rear of the army, but before they had proceeded many yards their
horse sank up to the saddle-girths in a bog; however, being strong, and
plunging out, they mounted again, and soon joined the army as they had
wished; when, on making diligent inquiry after their captain, they were
told that he was left behind. Snowden thereupon 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 marched
to Edinburgh. There the mob and the lower orders of people were very
free in their expressions, and some of the higher also spoke out warmly
in favour of Prince Charles, making no secret of their wishes and hopes
that "the King should have his own again."
The next morning as many of Captain Thornton's men as had escaped being
taken prisoners (about forty-eight in number) assembled; and none of
them knowing what had become of the Captain, they supposed him to have
shared the fate of many other brave men who had fallen in the action.
There was therefore no more ox and beer to sustain their loyalty. The
disappearance also of two other officers and twenty of their men greatly
dispirited them, and to this was added the suspension of their regular
pay. This induced some of them to apply to Metcalf for a supply in order
to carry them home; but this he refused, in part, no doubt, because he
had not the means of paying them.
The headquarters of the army were now at Edinburgh, the staff being
located in Holyrood Palace. The superior officers sent for Metcalf,
thinking it singular that a person deprived of sight should have entered
the army. One of the officers belonging to the dragoons who retreated
from Falkirk, speaking ironically of Thornton's men, asked Jack how he
got off the field of battle. Metcalf answered, "I found it very easy to
follow by the sound of the dragoon horses, they made such a clatter over
the stones." This reply turned the laugh against the officer, who
coloured with anger and shame. Colonel Cockayne then asked how he durst
venture into the service, blind as he was. To which he replied "that had
he possessed a pair of good eyes, he would never have come there to have
risked the loss of them by gunpowder." Then making his obeisance, he
withdrew.
He now determined upon a journey to Falkirk in search of his captain;
but this being attended with difficulty, he applied to a Knaresborough
man who lived at Edinburgh, and was of the party of Prince Charles
Edward, telling him that he wished to be a musician to the gallant young
Prince, as he found it was all over with the English. The man informed
him that they had a spy, an Irishman, going to the Prince, and that he
might travel with him. This he agreed to do, and they started together;
but on coming up to the English out-sentries they were stopped. Metcalf
inquired for the captain, and informed him of the real cause of his
journey. By him he was kindly advised to lay aside his dangerous
project; but as he still persisted, he was allowed to proceed with the
spy, and arrived at Linlithgow, where they stayed all night. They met
with several women who had been plundering, and were then on their
return to Edinburgh; and the spy instructed them how to avoid the
English sentries. Metcalf was very careful to examine the clothes they
had got, making it appear he wanted to purchase some, thinking that by
chance he might meet with some of his captain's, and so ascertain if he
were dead. One of the women sent a token by Metcalf to her husband, who
was Lord George Murray's cook. This woman's guide was a horse-dealer,
who soon became acquainted with Metcalf, having frequented the fairs in
Yorkshire, and at this time by some means had got introduced to the
heads of both armies, and obtained a pass and orders from each to press
horses. This man's fate was remarkable; for going into Stirling, where
the English army lay, he found that orders were given to let no
strangers pass without an examination. He said that he had a protection
from General Huske. Being ordered to produce it, he had the misfortune
to take that out of his pocket which he had got from the Pretender; and
when informed of his mistake instantly produced the other. But too late!
for he was tied up by the neck to a lamp-post and hung.
A short time before Metcalf and the spy had got clear away from
Linlithgow, some of the vanguard of the rebels came in and called for
whiskey; and it was supposed that they dropped there a silver-mounted
pistol, which on their setting out the spy picked up and offered to
Metcalf. He refused it, saying he thought it not advisable to have
fire-arms about him, as he expected to be searched. So they pursued
their journey, and presently fell in with the rebel out-guard, several
of whom accosted Metcalf, and as all seemed well, they were allowed to
pass, and arrived at Falkirk, where Metcalf inquired for Lord George
Murray's cook to deliver his present, and was afterwards introduced to
and conversed with Lord George Murray, Secretary Murray, and other
gentlemen. Lord George Murray gave him part of a glass of wine, an
article at that time of great rarity, for, as the rebels had been there
three times, and the English twice, they had almost swept the cupboard
clean of crumbs.
Whilst conversing with them he was very cautious, knowing that his life
was in danger if the real purpose of his journey became known.
He then made his way towards the market-place, where a number of
Highlanders were assembled. This was on Wednesday, the 22nd; but it
happened that his master had left the place that morning about four
hours before his arrival.
We must now return to Captain Thornton, whom we left on Friday in the
closet, in close neighbourhood to the Highland chiefs, who every day
transacted business in the room. The quartermasters of the Jacobite army
having taken the house, and given the woman to whom it belonged a small
apartment at the back, it made Captain Thornton's position very
critical; but every night she took care to carry him such provisions as
she could convey through a crevice at the bottom of the door, and this
she did for fear of alarming those who slept in the adjoining rooms. The
closet was only a yard and a half square, and the captain's clothes
being wet when he entered, made his situation the more uncomfortable, as
he had got a severe cold, and sometimes could not forbear coughing even
when the rebels were in the room. Once in particular, hearing a cough,
they said one to another, "What is that?" But one of them answered that
it was somebody in another room, not in the least suspecting that one of
their enemies lay hid so near.
On Monday night the woman of the house went to the door to carry
provisions as usual, when the captain said to her, "I am determined to
come out, let the consequence be what it may; for I will not die like a
dog in this hole." But she begged that he would bear this confinement
until the next night, and she would adopt some plan to effect his
escape. She accordingly consulted an old carpenter who was true to the
Hanoverian cause, and he came the following night when the room was
vacant, removed the dresser, and liberated the captain. They proceeded
down-stairs in the dark to the woman's apartment, where she made tea
whilst the carpenter and captain concerted their plan of operation. They
dressed him in a plaid and brogues, and put on him a black wig. The
captain had only ten guineas about him (having left his cash with his
lieutenant, Mr. Crofts), eight of which he gave to the woman who had so
faithfully preserved him, and two to the carpenter; who, to secrete
them, put them into his mouth along with his tobacco, fearful of a
search by the Highlanders, who would have suspected him had they found
more than a shilling.
Everything being ready, they set out, the captain, with a bag of tools,
following his supposed master. On coming into the crowd, the old
carpenter looked about and was rather dismayed, for although in
disguise, the captain did not look like a common workman. This made the
old man dread discovery, so he called out to him: "Come alang, ye filthy
loon; ye have had half a bannock and a mutchkin of drink in your wame:
we shall be o'er late for our day's wark." Whether this artifice served
him or not is uncertain; but they got safe through the throng, and
leaving the high road, pursued their journey across the country. Having
come to a rising ground, the captain took a view of Falkirk Moor, and
said, "Yonder's the place where such a sad piece of work was made last
Friday." The old man at the same time looking the other way saw about
300 Highlanders, who had been on plunder, coming down a lane which led
from Callander House (Lord Kilmarnock's seat) into the main road; and
being desirous of passing the end of this lane before they came up, in
order to avoid them, said, "We shall have a worse piece of wark of it
than we had on Friday if ye do not hasten your pace," and begged the
captain to come forward, which he did; but walking briskly up a hill, he
suddenly stopped, and said, "I am very sick." However they gained their
point, and passed the Highlanders; for had they come up with them, the
captain's speech or appearance might have led to suspicion, and he would
have been shot or led back to Falkirk as a prisoner. On going two miles
farther, they arrived at a house belonging to a friend of the
carpenter's, and which had been plundered. There the old man got an egg,
but not being able to find a pan to boil it in, he roasted it in peat
ashes, and gave it to the captain to put in his wame or stomach.
Proceeding a few miles farther, they arrived at another house, where
they procured a horse for the captain. He arrived at the English
outposts, and making himself known, was permitted to pass, and reached
Edinburgh in safety.
To return to Metcalf, whom we left at Falkirk, and whose dress was a
plaid waistcoat laced with gold, which he had borrowed of a friend at
Edinburgh, together with a blue regimental coat faced with buff. Jack
told the Highlanders, in answer to their inquiries, that he had been
fiddling for the English officers, and that they had given him that
coat, which had belonged to a man who was killed; and also that his
intention was to serve in the same capacity with Prince Charles. But a
person coming up who had seen Jack at Harrogate, said, "That fellow
ought to be taken up, for there is something more than common in his
proceedings;" on which Metcalf was taken to the guard-room and searched
for letters, but none were found, he having only a pack of cards in his
pocket, which they split, to see if they contained any writing in the
folds. Finding nothing, he was put into a loft in the roof of the
building, along with a dragoon and some other prisoners, and there for
three days they were suffered to remain in confinement, exposed to
severe cold.