Preston Fight; or, The Insurrection of 1715Ainsworth, William Harrison
General
Preston Fight; or, The Insurrection of 1715
Ainsworth, William Harrison
Jacobite Rebellion, 1715 -- Fiction
As General Forster and the other leaders rode into the market-place,
they were met by a large party of gentlemen, who welcomed them to the
town, and professed their desire to show them every hospitality. General
Forster, the noble lords, and all the officers were invited to dine that
day at the town-hall, and it was likewise intimated to the general that
a grand dinner, to be followed by a ball, would be given at the same
place on the following day, by which time it was expected the infantry
and Highlanders would have arrived.
In regard to quarters, Mr. Eyre's large house in Church-street was
assigned to General Forster and Lord Widdrington, and Sir Henry
Hoghton's mansion was offered to Lord Derwentwater. Good quarters, it
appeared, had likewise been provided for all the officers.
Greatly pleased by their reception, the rebel leaders repaired to their
quarters, with which they were well satisfied. In the mansion assigned
to them, General Forster and Lord Widdrington found everything they
could desire. Nor was Sir Henry Hoghton's house at all inferior to the
other. Indeed it presented a far handsomer appearance from the
street, as it occupied a more elevated position. Nor did the internal
accommodation belie the exterior. The house possessed a spacious
entrance hall, and several commodious and well furnished rooms on the
ground floor. Attached to it were excellent stables, and at the back
there was a large garden.
Sir Henry had taken his grooms and coachman with him but part of the
establishment was left behind.
After settling themselves comfortably in their new quarters, the rebel
leaders proceeded to the town-hall, where a sumptuous dinner awaited
them, and so well pleased was General Forster with the entertainment,
with the attentions paid him, and with his quarters, that he resolved to
stay as long as he could at Preston.
At the very time when the rebels were taking possession of the town,
the vicar, of whose attachment to the House of Brunswick we have spoken,
happened to be engaged on his duties in the church, and he seized the
opportunity of reading prayers for King George and the royal family. For
this display of zeal and courage, he was made Warden of Manchester, and
subsequently Bishop of Chester.
No molestation or interruption were offered by the rebels, but when
the Reverend Mr. Paul, the new chaplain of the regiment, heard of the
circumstance, he begged General Forster to order the troops to attend
prayers at the church forthwith.
Within half an hour after Mr. Peploe had quitted it, the church was
entirely filled by the rebel soldiers. Captain Wogan, Captain Shaftoe,
and most of the officers were present.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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