Such was their success, that in two days only they enlisted one hundred and forty men, out of whom the Captain drafted sixty-four, (the number of privates he wanted) and sent immediately to Leeds for cloth of a good quality for their cloathing. The coats were blue, trimmed and faced with buff; and buff waistcoats. The taylors he had employed refusing to work on a Sunday, he rebuked their fanatical scruples in these words: “You rascals! if your houses were on fire, would you not be glad to extinguish the flames on a _Sunday_?” which had the desired effect. Arms being procured from the Tower, the men were constantly and regularly drilled. Such of them as had relations in the public line, would frequently bring their companions to drink, for the benefit of the respective houses; and Metcalf never failed to attend one or other of those parties, his fiddle and hautboy contributing to make the time pass agreeably: and the worthy Captain was liberal in his allowance of money for such festive purposes, insomuch that had he wanted five hundred men, he could easily have obtained them. Soon after he brought them to Thornville, where he ordered every other day a fat ox to be killed for their entertainment, and gave them beer seven years old, expressing a great pleasure at its being reserved for so good a purpose. He now began to sound the company as to their attachment to the cause and to himself. “My lads,” said he, “you are going to form a part of a ring-fence to the finest estate in the world! The King’s army is on its march to the Northward; and I have the pleasing confidence that all of you are willing to join them.”—They replied, as if one soul had animated them, “We will follow you to the world’s end!” All matters being adjusted, the company was drawn up, and amongst them BLIND JACK made no _small_ figure, being near six feet two inches high, and, like his companions, dressed in blue and buff, with a large gold-laced hat: So well pleased was the Captain with his appearance, that he said he would give an hundred guineas for only _one eye_ to stick in the head of his _dark_ champion. Jack now played a march of the Captain’s choosing, and off they moved for Boroughbridge. Capt. Thornton having a discretionary route, took his march over the moors, in expectation of meeting some of the straggling parties of the rebel army; and quartered at several villages in his way, where he was kindly received, and visited by the heads of the genteelest families in the neighbourhood, who generally spent the evenings with him. Metcalf being always at the Captain’s quarters, played on the violin, accompanied by a good voice, “_Britons! strike home_,” and other loyal and popular airs, much to the satisfaction of the visitors, who frequently offered him money, but this he always refused, knowing that his acceptance of it would displease his commander.