Later on, all the English and Scottish leaders, with the exception of the two who had surrendered themselves as hostages, assembled at the Mitre, where it was finally agreed that the terms of the treaty should be accepted. “My men are willing to submit,” said Mackintosh. “But they look upon themselves as sacrificed. Bitterly do I now reproach myself that I ever brought them to England against their will, and that I did not turn back at Lancaster. They might have helped the Earl of Mar to win a battle. Poor fellows! they will now be transported and sold as slaves. My heart bleeds for them.” “We Scots have all cause to regret that we ever crossed the Border,” said Lord Kenmure. “But we have done our best for King James, and if we had been supported, we might have succeeded. We have had a High Tory general, yet not one of the party has joined us.” “No one can have been more disappointed than myself,” said Forster. “If we had only reached Manchester----” “Why did we not reach that town? tell us that,” cried Brigadier Mackintosh. “I admit we ought not to have stayed so long in Preston,” said Forster. “But you all seemed unwilling to quit your quarters, and I apprehended no danger.” “'Tis idle to regret the past,” said Lord Widdrington; “you have complained of the absence of the High Church Tories, my lord,” he added, to Lord Kenmure. “But you cannot say that the Roman Catholics have failed you.” “No, they have proved our staunchest friends,” replied Lord Kenmure. “And a braver and a better commander cannot be found than Lord Derwentwater.” “In that we all agree,” said Lord Nithsdale and the other Scottish nobles. “The hour at which the armistice expires is close at hand,” said Forster, “and we must therefore prepare to conclude this painful business properly. We will remain here, but all the officers--English and Scotch--must forthwith assemble within the churchyard to deliver up their arms. Let immediate orders be given to that effect,” he added to Charles Radclyffe and Captain Dalziel, who at once departed on the errand. XII.--THE INSURGENT OFFICERS DELIVER UP THEIR SWORDS. |SHORTLY afterwards, in obedience to Forster's orders, all the officers of the insurgent force assembled in the churchyard, and though they endeavoured to assume a careless air, many of them looked very downcast. Among them were all those who had recently joined at Lancaster and Preston, and received the rank of captain--Mr. Townley, of Townley, Sir Francis Anderton, Ralph Standish, Gabriel Hesketh, John Tyldesley, John Dalton, and several others. They had had but a short campaign, and might now have to pay for their devotion with their lives. However, they bore themselves bravely under the distressing circumstances. The annoyance of the ceremonial was heightened by its publicity.