|HAVING seen the prisoners disposed of and given all necessary orders
respecting them, the two generals, accompanied by the Earl of Carlisle,
Lord Lumley, Sir Henry Hoghton, Brigadier Honeywood, Colonel Stanhope,
and several others entered the town-hall, where a cold collation was
laid out for them.
To this repast Parson Woods, who had been presented to General
Carpenter, was invited, and received many compliments on his bravery.
The generals were still at table, when they were informed that a
deputation of the inhabitants of the town was without, and prayed for an
immediate audience.
Wills guessed their errand, and if left to himself, would have refused
to see them. But General Carpenter caused half a dozen of the applicants
to be admitted, and then found that their object was to prevent the town
from being plundered by the soldiery.
“The pillage has already commenced,” said one of the persons who acted
as spokesman, “and unless the men are restrained, all our goods will be
carried off. As faithful subjects of his Majesty King George we ought
to be protected. We could not prevent the occupation of the town by
the rebels, and it will be a great hardship if we suffer for their
misdeeds.”
“You must address yourselves to General Wills--not to me, gentlemen,”
said Carpenter. “He has had the conduct of the siege.”
“I cannot listen to the appeal,” remarked Wills, sternly. “By the rules
of war the men are entitled to the plunder of a captured town, and I
shall not restrain them. You profess fidelity to the king, but you have
afforded every assistance to the rebels, and if you have not actually
taken part with them, you have furnished them with provisions and
supplies.”
“We were forced to do so, general,” said the others. “And we earnestly
beseech you to spare our property.”
Wills, however, refused to listen to them, and they departed.
Thus was the ill-fated town delivered over to pillage.
Fortunately no excesses were committed by the soldiers all license being
forbidden on pain of death.
The plunderers commenced with the shops of the goldsmiths, silversmiths,
and jewellers, where they expected to find the greatest quantity of
valuables.
These shops were all shut up, but were quickly broken open, and stripped
of their contents--plate, watches, rings, and chains being carried off.
From this booty alone the soldiers obtained several hundred pounds.
They next entered all the best private houses in Church Street and
Fishergate, breaking open closets and chests, and abstracting all the
plate and valuables they could find.
While one set of plunderers were thus engaged, others were similarly
employed in different parts of the town.
Everywhere the houses were ransacked, and no portable article was left
behind.
Not till a late hour in the day, when they had carried off all they
could, did the soldiers desist from the work.
Great was the indignation of the inhabitants at this treatment, but they
did not dare to resist.
However, there were no cases of intoxication, for the men were prevented
by the sergeants and corporals from breaking open the cellars.
But it was a woeful day for Preston, and such as its inhabitants
never thought to experience. Wills's severity caused him to be held in
universal detestation.
General Carpenter did not remain long in the town. Finding it
inconveniently crowded, he set out for Wigan, immediately after the
surrender, with the regiments under his command.
None of his men therefore shared in the plunder--nor would he have
allowed them to share in it.