_August 9, 1827._
Vol. II.--44.
[Illustration: ~The Revolution-house at Whittington, Derbyshire.~]
To eternize the delegated band,
That seal’d their great forefathers’ fields their own,
Rais’d ev’ry art that decks a smiling land,
And laws that guard the cottage as the throne.
_Rev. P. Cunningham_
This edifice obtained its name from the meeting of Thomas Osborne earl
of Danby, and William Cavendish earl of Devonshire, with Mr. John
D’Arcy, privately one morning, in 1688, upon Whittington Moor, as a
middle place between Chatsworth, Kniveton, and Aston, their respective
residences, to consult about the revolution, then in agitation.[390] A
shower of rain happening to fall, they removed to the village for
shelter, and finished their conversation at a public-house there, the
sign of “The Cock and Pynot.”[391]
The part assigned to the earl of Danby was, to surprise York; in which
he succeeded. After which, the earl of Devonshire was to take measures
at Nottingham, where the declaration for a free parliament, which he, at
the head of a number of gentlemen of Derbyshire, had signed Nov. 28,
1688,[392] was adopted by the nobility, gentry, and commonalty of the
northern counties, there assembled.[393] To the concurrence of these
patriots with the proceedings in favour of the prince of Orange in the
west, the nation is indebted for the establishment of its rights and
liberties.
The cottage here represented stands at the point where the road from
Chesterfield divides into two branches, to Sheffield and Rotherham. The
room where the noblemen sat is fifteen feet by twelve feet ten, and is
to this day called “The Plotting Parlour.” The old armed-chair, still
remaining in it, is shown by the landlord with particular satisfaction,
as that in which it is said the earl of Devonshire sat; and he tells
with equal pleasure, how it was visited by his descendants, and the
descendants of his associates, in the year 1788. Some new rooms, for the
better accommodation of customers, were added several years ago.
_The duke of Leeds’ own account of his meeting the earl of Devonshire
and Mr. John D’Arcy[394] at Whittington, in the county of Derby_, A.
D. 1688.
The earl of Danby, afterwards duke of Leeds, was impeached, A. D. 1678,
of high treason by the house of commons, on a charge of being in the
French interest, and, in particular, of being popishly affected: many,
both peers and commoners, were misled, and had conceived an erroneous
opinion concerning him and his political conduct. This he has stated
himself, in the introduction to his letters, printed in 1710, where he
says, “The malice of my accusation did so manifestly appear in that
article wherein I was charged to be popishly affected, that I dare swear
there was not one of my accusers that did then believe that article
against me.”
The duke then proceeds, for the further clearing of himself, in these
memorable words, relative to the meeting at Whittington:--
“The duke of Devonshire also, when we were partners in the secret trust
about the revolution, and who did meet me and Mr. John D’Arcy, for that
purpose, at a town called Whittington, in Derbyshire, did, in the
presence of the said Mr. D’Arcy, make a voluntary acknowledgment of the
great mistakes he had been led into about me; and said, that both he,
and most others, were entirely convinced of their error. And he came to
sir Henry Goodrick’s house in Yorkshire purposely to meet me there
again, in order to concert the times and methods by which he should act
at Nottingham, (which was to be his post,) and one at York, (which was
to be mine;) and we agreed, that I should first attempt to surprise
York, because there was a small garrison with a governor there; whereas
Nottingham was but an open town, and might give an alarm to York, if he
should appear in arms before I had made my attempt upon York; which was
done accordingly;[395] but is mistaken in divers relations of it. And I
am confident that the duke (had he been now alive) would have thanked
nobody for putting his prosecution of me amongst the glorious actions of
his life.”
* * * * *
On the 4th and 5th of November 1788, the centenary of the landing of
king William, the Revolution Jubilee was celebrated at Whittington and
Chesterfield, as appears by the following letter from the venerable
rector of the parish:--
_To Mr. Gough._
_Whittington, Oct. 11, 1788._
Dear sir,--We are to have most grand doings at this place, 5th of
November next, at the _Revolution-house_, which I believe you saw when
you was here. The resolutions of the committee were ordered to be
inserted in the London prints, so I presume you may have seen them. I am
desired to preach the sermon.