|The news of their victory had preceded them, and disposed the
inhabitants--many of whom were Jacobites--to receive them cordially.
Even by the leading men of the opposite party the greatest civility was
shown them.
In anticipation of the defeat of the rebels, a plentiful supper had been
provided at the principal inn for the Bishop of Carlisle, Lord Lonsdale,
Sir Christopher Musgrave, and their chief followers.
To this supper General Forster and the whole of the insurgent
leaders--except those absent on duty--sat down; and as circumstances
gave peculiar zest to the entertainment, they passed the merriest
evening they had done for some time.
The party sat late, and had not broken up when Colonel Oxburgh and the
two other officers returned. Some arms were brought from Lowther Castle
and Edenhall--but no prisoners. Lord Lowther, it appeared, had fled to
Yorkshire. What had become of the Bishop of Carlisle and Sir Christopher
Musgrave could not be ascertained.
General Forster was greatly disappointed, as he felt that the capture of
three such important personages--or even one of them--would have given
him great credit. However, he was fain to be content with the success he
had achieved.
Next day, the general performed an act that raised him considerably
in the estimation of the inhabitants. Having found out that some High
Church Tories belonging to his own division intended to pull down, or
burn a Presbyterian meeting-house in the town, he peremptorily forbade
them, declaring he would punish any who disobeyed his orders.
“I will never sanction religious outrages,” he said. “We must now show
the country that all sects can live tranquilly together. My maxim
is toleration. Though I differ from the Presbyterians, I will, on no
account, allow them to be molested.”
This expression, which was repeated, did him great service.
During their stay in Penrith, the insurgents were very well treated, and
made many friends. They expected to be joined by several important Roman
Catholics--Mr. Howard of Corby Castle. Mr. Warwick of Warwick Hall,
Mr. Henry Curwen of Workington, and Sir James Graham of Inchbrachy--but
learnt to their dismay that they had all been arrested by the Governor
of Carlisle, and secured in the castle. Before quitting Penrith, they
collected five hundred pounds.
At the charming town of Appleby, always noted for its loyalty, they were
very well received, and took possession of the church and castle.
General Forster immediately caused James the Third to be proclaimed, and
so much enthusiasm was manifested that it might have been thought that
the inhabitants were all devoted to the Stuarts.
Gratified by their reception, and delighted by the beauty of the town,
the insurgents passed their time very pleasantly, and were reluctant to
proceed on their march.
At Appleby, Mr. Wyburgh, captain of the train-bands, was taken prisoner,
and Lord Nairn, a relation of Sir James Graham, wished to effect an
exchange, but the Governor of Carlisle would not listen to the proposal.
Several persons, suspected of being spies, were seized and detained, and
an impracticable officer was confined in the Moot Hall till he confessed
where the excise money was lodged.
Their next march was to Kendal, where General Forster was quartered at
the house of Alderman Simpson, in Strickland Gate. It chanced that his
god-mother, Mrs. Bellingham, was staying there at the time, and hearing
this the general desired to pay his respects to her, but she refused
to see him. However, as he was going up-stairs to his room, she rushed
forth, and met him on the landing. Alarmed by the furious expression of
her countenance, Forster would have; turned back, but she commanded him
to stay.
Thinking to deprecate her wrath, the general expressed his great
pleasure at seeing her, and hoped she was quite well.
“Quite well!” she cried. “How can I be well when I'm driven almost out
of my senses by your shameful proceedings. Oh! Tom, Tom! never did I
think you would serve the Pretender!”
“I serve King James the Third, madam,” he replied. “And however
disagreeable it may be to you to hear it, I must say that I look upon
the Elector of Hanover as a usurper, and I shall do my best to drive him
from the kingdom.”
“You may try, but you'll never succeed,” cried Mrs. Bellingham, becoming
still more exasperated. “Now, I'll tell what you've lost by your folly.
I meant to leave you all my fortune; but you shan't have a penny. I'll
leave it all to Dorothy.”
“I'm sorry to have offended you, madam, but it can't be helped. I
scarcely think you can have heard of our great success at Penrith Fells,
or you wouldn't speak so disparagingly of us.”
“I've heard that you dispersed an army of peasants,” she rejoined,
contemptuously. “But when you face a regular army, the result will be
very different.”
“You are mistaken, madam,” he rejoined, beginning to feel angry himself,
for he saw Lord Derwentwater, Lord Widdrington, and Colonel Oxburgh
at the foot of the stairs, and felt sure they must be laughing at him.
“Before a month we shall be in London.”
“Yes,” she replied; “but you will be a prisoner. You and the rebel lords
will be safely lodged in the Tower, and if you come out, it will only be
to have your heads cut off. And you will richly deserve your fate.”
A good word may be said for the Highlanders. It was reported that the
muskets of the militia were concealed in the church, and a party of
these brave fellows went in search of them. They discovered no arms, but
they found the plate in the vestry, and left it untouched.
Next day, being Sunday, the insurgents marched early to Kirkby-Lonsdale.
Service was performed at the church in the afternoon by the Reverend Mr.
Patten, and as Lord Derwentwater and Lord Widdrington were standing
in the churchyard contemplating the beautiful view it commands of the
valley of the Lune, they were surprised by the unexpected appearance
of Lord Widdrington's brother, who had just returned from Lancaster,
whither he had been sent to prepare the inhabitants for the approach of
the insurgent force.
Charles Widdrington's report was that there was a strong feeling in
their favour, and that they would certainly be joined by many gentlemen
of the county. Moreover, he brought a letter to Lord Widdrington from
Mr. Charles Beswicke, of Manchester, in which the writer mentioned that
King James the Third had just been proclaimed in that town, and a troop
of fifty men raised and armed. Mr. Beswicke hoped to join the insurgent
army with some volunteers at Lancaster.
This satisfactory intelligence was immediately communicated to the other
chiefs and officers, and greatly raised their spirits.
Before leaving Kirkby-Lonsdale, they were joined by an important Roman
Catholic gentleman, Mr. Carus, of Halton Hall, and his two sons, who
were appointed officers in Lord Derwentwater's troop.