Yorkshire Oddities, Incidents, and Strange EventsBaring-Gould, S. (Sabine)
History
Yorkshire Oddities, Incidents, and Strange Events
Baring-Gould, S. (Sabine)
Legends -- England -- Yorkshire; Yorkshire (England) -- Miscellanea
The woman of the house having seen the captain go up-stairs, went to him
soon after, and opening a closet door, entreated him to enter, which he
did; she then brought a dresser and placed dishes, &c, upon it, which
prevented all appearance of a door in that place; and fortunately there
was no bed in the room. About ten minutes after he had been fixed in his
new quarters a great number of people, consisting chiefly of Highland
officers, amongst whom was Secretary Murray, took possession of the
apartment, which being large, they proposed making use of for business
during their stay.
In the meantime Metcalf had escaped the Highlanders. Knowing that two of
his master's horses had been left at a widow's house a short distance
from the town, he made his way to the place with intent to secure them.
This woman had in the morning expressed great seeming loyalty to King
George; but when Metcalf returned in the evening, the wind had changed:
she now extolled Prince Charles, and said, "The defeat of George's folk
was a just judgment."
Metcalf went into the stable and found the horses, saddled them, and was
leading out the first, when he was surrounded by a few stragglers of the
Highland army. "We must have that beast," said they; but Metcalf
refusing to give him up, they said one to another, "Shoot him!" On
hearing two of them cock their pieces, he asked, "What do you want with
him?"--They answered that they wanted him for the Prince.--"If so, you
must have him," replied he. They took him, and immediately went off.
Metcalf then brought out the other, but as he was about to mount, the
captain's coachman (whose name was Snowden), joined him, and Metcalf
inquiring of him the fate of his master, was answered that he had not
seen him for some time. This induced Metcalf to think that the worst had
befallen him. They then thought it advisable to attempt falling in with
the rear of the army, but before they had proceeded many yards their
horse sank up to the saddle-girths in a bog; however, being strong, and
plunging out, they mounted again, and soon joined the army as they had
wished; when, on making diligent inquiry after their captain, they were
told that he was left behind. Snowden thereupon returned as far as he
could with safety, but without gaining any intelligence, and Metcalf
walked on with the army.
They arrived at Linlithgow, where they halted, and the next day marched
to Edinburgh. There the mob and the lower orders of people were very
free in their expressions, and some of the higher also spoke out warmly
in favour of Prince Charles, making no secret of their wishes and hopes
that "the King should have his own again."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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