On entering by the portal of the Gateway Tower, above which was an effigy of John of Gaunt, they were respectfully received by an officer, to whom Colonel Oxburgh gave General Forster’s order for the liberation of the Crown prisoners, and while the colonel and the chaplain walked on into the spacious castle-yard, the order was taken to the governor.
Ere many minutes had elapsed, loud shouts, that made the old towers ring, announced that the order had been complied with, and soon afterwards some thirty individuals, most of them very shabbily attired, rushed tumultuously into the court, and gathering round Colonel Oxburgh, shouted “Long live King James the Third!”
Foremost among them was a short, strongly built man, with a plain, honest countenance, marked by a bold determined expression, who looked like what he had been-a blacksmith.
“Are you not Tom Syddall?” inquired Colonel Oxburgh.
The man replied in the affirmative, whereupon the colonel shook hands with him, as did the chaplain, and both expressed their satisfaction at being instrumental in setting him and his fellow-prisoners at liberty.
“You have all been imprisoned for your attachment to your rightful sovereign,” said Colonel Oxburgh, “and it is our duty to liberate you. As to you, Syddall,” he added, “I know you to be a brave fellow, and I expect you will join us.”
“Such is my design, colonel,” he replied. “And what is more, I can bring all these my friends with me. Have I said too much?” he added, appealing to them.
“No! no!” they responded unanimously. “We will all join.”
“I am right glad to hear it,” said the colonel. “Your friends will form a small troop, Syddall, and I make no doubt General Forster will give you the command of it.”
All being now arranged, Colonel Oxburgh and the chaplain quitted the castle, and proceeded to the general’s quarters, followed by the newly-liberated prisoners. General Forster was very much pleased by this accession of force, and confirmed Colonel Oxburgh’s promise by appointing Syddall captain of the little troop.
That night, Brigadier Mackintosh sent a party of Highlanders to search for arms at every house in the town. They took with them Mr. Parkinson, the mayor, a staunch supporter of the Government, and compelled him to assist in the search. Their orders were to plunder the houses of all such persons as refused compliance with their commands.
While the search for arms was still going on, Captain Wogan came to Forster’s quarters, and said:
“General, I have just received information of six pieces of cannon on board the ship Robert, now lying at Sunderland, five miles from this town, and propose, with your sanction, to take a detachment with me to-morrow morning and seize them.”
“Do so, by all means,” said Forster.
“Sir Henry Hoghton intended to seize these ship guns, and bring them here for the defence of the town,” continued Captain Wogan, “and for that purpose had taken off the wheels of some of his carriages. But his design being frustrated by our approach, I have got possession of the carriage-wheels, and mean to use them as he intended for the cannon.”
“Capital!” exclaimed Forster, laughing heartily.
“But something must be done to remunerate Mr. Lawson, the owner of the ship, general,” said Wogan.
“Let him make his claim, and we will give him our note for the amount to be made payable when our master’s concerns are settled,” said Forster.
Taking a strong detachment with him, Captain Wogan went, next morning, to Sunderland, where he found the Robert, and demanded the cannon in the name of King James.
Mr. Lawson was on board at the time, and at once surrendered the guns receiving a note of hand for six hundred pounds, as suggested by General Forster, with which he appeared perfectly satisfied.
“But how wilt thou get the guns to Lancaster, friend?” he inquired.
“Very easily,” replied Captain Wogan. “I have brought with me the wheels of Sir Henry Hoghton’s three carriages.”
“Thou hast done well,” observed the Quaker, laughing. “That insolent baronet has been rightly served.”
“I begin to think you have a friendly feeling towards our party, Mr. Lawson,” observed Captain Wogan.
“I am of no party, friend,” replied the cautious Quaker. “But I will tell thee one thing-thou hast got the cannon far cheaper than I would have sold them to Sir Henry Hoghton.”