Preston Fight by W. Harrison Ainsworth

General Carpenter likewise was misled by the intelligence he received, and followed the insurgents no further than Jedburgh. Receiving no further tidings, and being in great want of forage for his troops, he then returned to Newcastle.

Thus owing to a variety of circumstances, the rebels gained two days on their enemies. They took every possible precaution to prevent their arrival at Longtown from becoming known, and were marching joyously to Brampton, in Gilsland-a small place near Naworth Castle-before it was even suspected they were in England.

END OF BOOK THE FIFTH.

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BOOK THE SIXTH

THE MARCH FROM PENRITH TO PRESTON

I

The Rout on Penrith Fell

HAVING achieved a great point, as they thought, the insurgents were now in very good spirits.

Even the Highlanders had quite recovered from their superstitious dread of crossing the Border, and gazed with curiosity at the country as they marched along-thinking it very like Scotland. But they abstained from any acts of pillage. The inhabitants regarded them with terror, and fancied they were the first part of a large invading army.

Brampton offered them very poor quarters and a scanty supply of provisions, and they thought of seizing Naworth Castle, which was only a mile and a half distant, but some prudential considerations deterred them.

James the Third having been proclaimed, Mr. Forster opened his commission to act as General of the Confederate Forces in England, and Lord Kenmure resigned the post in his favour.

Next day, the insurgents quitted Brampton betimes, and continued their march along the banks of the Eden. At Kirkoswald they halted in expectation of being joined by Mr. Dacre, a Roman Catholic gentleman, with forty men.

While at Kirkoswald, they received information from Captain Gordon, who had gone on to reconnoitre, that Lord Lonsdale, commander of the militia of Westmoreland, Cumberland, and Northumberland, with five or six hundred horse militia, and accompanied by the Bishop of Carlisle, and Sir Christopher Musgrave, high sheriff of the county, with an immense posse-comitatûs, consisting probably of eight or ten thousand men, armed with bills and pitchforks and such implements as they could procure, were assembled on Penrith Fell, to dispute their further advance.

Little danger was to be apprehended from this vast but disorderly host, in Captain Gordon’s opinion, as, except the militia, which formed only a small proportion of it, the men were entirely undisciplined, and scarcely under control.

Since it was clear from this statement that the hostile force would be as easily dispersed as a mob, strict orders were given that no injury should be done to the common men, except in case of resistance.

All eagerness for the fight-if fight there was to be-the insurgents set forward, Lord Derwentwater commanding the advanced guard, and having with him-besides his brother-Colonel Oxburgh and Captain Gordon.

General Forster commanded the main force, and rode with Lord Widdrington and Lord Kenmure. Neither commanders nor officers had the slightest anxiety as to the result of the engagement, and felt as if they were going to a race, while the Highlanders were in very good spirits, fancying they should obtain some booty.

After passing through a woody district, they came to a common, when they perceived the immense host described by Capain Gordon, drawn up on the side of Penrith Fell-the horse militia being stationed in front.

As soon as the rebels came in sight, the Royalists set up a great shout, and a charge being ordered by Lord Lonsdale, the militia dashed forward, sword in hand, as if meaning to cut down the invaders.

But when they beheld Lord Derwentwater at the head of his troop, galloping to meet them, they suddenly stopped, and despite Lord Lonsdale’s remonstrances, fairly turned round, and fled.

Their cowardice saved the rebels the trouble of dispersing the multitude behind them, for no sooner did the militia fly, than the others took to their heels, and throwing down their weapons, hurried off in every direction.

Ere many minutes the whole common was covered with fugitives, crying out piteously for quarter if a Highlander pursued them, and offering all they had-which was not much-if their lives were spared. A great number of prisoners were taken.