Be this as it may, when the service was over, the ladies congregated in the churchyard, and each fair girl was escorted home by the trooper she preferred.
Whether all this flirting was approved of by the mammas of the young ladies in question we will not pretend to say. No effort was made to check it. Neither did the officers of the regiments to which the young men belonged interfere-well knowing interference would be useless-so it went on to the last.
At length, the day of parting came, and a very sad day it was both for the enamoured young troopers and their lady-loves.
How many tears were shed! how many tender adieux taken! how many protestations made of undying affection!
“We shall never see you again!” cried the heartbroken girls. “Military men are always inconstant. You will forget us as soon as you arrive at Preston.”
The young troopers vowed they were an exception to the rule.
“Have no doubts as to our constancy!” they cried. “We will always remain faithful. Preston may be full of pretty girls-as they say it is-but they will have no attraction for us.”
“Don’t be surprised if we come to look after you,” said Dryope, to Captain Shaftoe; “and if we find you false and forsworn—”
“How can you suppose I could be false to you, sweetest Dryope?” said Shaftoe; stopping her mouth with a kiss. “Think it not. But I fear you won’t come to Preston.”
“Yes, I will-if I can-that I promise,” she rejoined.
“Then I will only bid you adieu for a short time,” he said, kissing her once more as he sprang to the saddle.
Many more partings, equally tender, took place. Many a bright eye was dimmed, as the regiments to which the handsome troopers belonged quitted Lancaster, and took the road to Preston.
Full of sadness were the young men as they looked back at the fair creatures they were leaving; and had they been told at the moment that they would soon forget them they would have resented the imputation.
We shall see how they behaved at Preston.
In quitting Lancaster, where he was so well received, and where he was constantly receiving slight accessions to his force, General Forster committed a grave error.
At Lancaster he had a strong castle which might have been garrisoned and provisioned, and could certainly have been held till assistance arrived from Scotland; while not far from the town was a seaport whence succours could be obtained from France.
These advantages were pointed out to him by Lord Derwentwater, but he replied that his object in marching to Preston was to secure Warrington Bridge before the enemy could destroy it.
The possession of this bridge, he thought, would give him both Manchester and Liverpool, and these important towns gained, the whole surrounding country would flock to his standard.
In vain Lord Derwentwater showed him the difficulties he would have to encounter, and explained that the inhabitants of Liverpool were decidedly adverse to the Jacobite cause.
A totally different view was taken by Lord Widdrington, who assured the general he might depend upon receiving the support of the High Church Tories of Manchester, and Mr. Charles Beswicke, who had just arrived from that town, confirmed the idea.
General Forster, therefore, resolved to go on, despite Lord Derwentwater’s opposition.
Several important additions, as we have just stated, had been made to the rebel force. Amongst these were five gentlemen belonging to some of the oldest and most distinguished families in the county, whose adhesion could not fail to be serviceable to the cause. They were Albert Hodgson of Leighton Hall-John Dalton of Thurnham Hall-Edward Tyldesley of the Lodge-Henry Butler of Rawcliffe, and Thomas Walton of Walton Hall. They all brought retainers with them, and each was made a captain. Charles Beswicke, previously mentioned, who likewise joined at Lancaster, was son of the Reverend Charles Beswicke, rector of Radcliffe.
A dull and gloomy morning harmonised with the feelings of the insurgents as they quitted Lancaster, but as they advanced on their march the day improved, and by the time they reached Garstang it had become quite fine.
Here the infantry proposed to halt for the night. They brought with them the six pieces of cannon seized on board the Robert, and likewise some casks of brandy taken from the custom-house.