And right glad I am to welcome your majesty to Dilston, said the earl. But let me implore you to change your plans, and instead of supplicating Queen Anne for the crown, that of right belongs to yourself, snatch it from her brow! Should you decide thus and I believe it will be for the best I will undertake, within a week, to raise a large force while thousands will flock to your standard in Scotland. Your majesty will do well to weigh my proposal ere setting out on a hazardous expedition to London. Here you have a mansion you can call your own servants you can command friends at your disposal and in a few days you will have an army. Be advised by me, my gracious liege, and abandon this wild scheme. Suffer me to get together your adherents. Let me send off messengers without delay to Lord Widdring-ton, Tom Errington, of Beaufront, John Shaftoe, Swinbourn, Charleton, Clavering, and others in the county, to collect all their retainers.
But they are unprepared, remarked the prince.
Pardon me, my liege. The friends I have named are always prepared, and the news that your majesty is here would rouse them all to come at once. I ought to have added to the list Jack Hall, of Otterburn, and Tom Forster, of Bamborough. They are High Church Tories, and will bring many others with them.
No doubt they would prove an important acquisition, said the prince. But I will not try to dethrone Anne till I have given her the chance of acting fairly towards me. I am very sanguine as to the result of my interview with her.
Heaven grant your majesty may not be disappointed! rejoined Lord Derwentwater. I will say no more. Whenever it shall please you to set out to London, I shall be ready to attend you.
I will remain here till to-morrow, cousin, said the prince. On some future occasion I hope to be your guest for a longer time; but though Dilston is a charming place, and I should like to see all its beauties, it must not detain me now.
They were at the end of the avenue, but, before passing through the gateway, Lord Derwentwater said to the prince, Your majesty had best dismount here, and get rid of the postboy.
On this the prince sprang from his horse, while the gate-porter, by the earls directions, paid the postboy, and took the portmanteau from him.
Having received a handsome gratuity for himself, the man then departed with his horses in tolerably good humour, though aware of the earls hospitality he had hoped to be regaled in the servants hall.
Meanwhile, Lord Derwentwater and his brother having alighted, the party walked across the great quadrangular court the prince pausing occasionally to look around, and express his admiration.
By my faith! cousin, you have a splendid house, he cried. Tis quite a palace.
Why not take possession of it, my liege? replied Derwentwater.
You tempt me greatly. But no! I must not be diverted from my purpose.
They then ascended the magnificent flight of stone steps, and entered a spacious hall the door being thrown open by a butler and several other servants in the earls rich livery.
Little did I dream, when I set forth an hour ago, whom I should bring back as my guest, observed Lord Derwentwater.
You have often told me at Saint Germains how rejoiced you would be to see me here, rejoined the prince; and now you perceive I have taken you at your word. But you are very remiss, cousin pray present your brother to me!
The presentation then took place, but without any ceremony, on account of the servants, and the prince shook hands very heartily with Charles Radclyffe.
Just then, an elderly personage, with silver locks that fell over his shoulders, and wearing a priestly garb, entered the hall. It was Father Norham, who had come to see who the earl had brought with him. The good priest had a kindly and benevolent expression of countenance, and fixed his keen grey eyes inquiringly on the stranger, with whose appearance he was greatly struck.
After a few moments scrutiny he consulted Lord Derwentwater by a look, and his suspicions being confirmed, he most respectfully returned the reverence made to him by the prince.
Having given some orders to the butler, Lord Derwentwater conducted his guest to the library which opened from the hall, and they were followed by Charles Rad-clyffe and the priest.
Further disguise was now unnecessary, and no inquisitive observer being present, the prince was treated by all with the respect that was his due.
The impression of the priest and Charles Radclyffe was that he was come to prepare a rising, and when they learnt his real design they could scarcely conceal their disappointment. Neither of them, however, ventured to offer a remonstrance, till Father Norham, being urged by the prince to speak out, said:
I fear your majesty will find the queen impracticable. Moreover, she has already named the Elector of Hanover her successor.
But she may change her mind, good father.
Her ministers will not allow her to do so, my liege. They are resolved upon a Protestant succession and so is she. Renounce your religion, and you will succeed not otherwise.
I have already said as much to his majesty, observed Lord Derwentwater. But he entertains a better opinion of the queen than I do.
I am unwilling to believe that she will disregard her fathers dying injunctions, said the prince. Bear in mind that she has never seen me. When we meet, the voice of natural affection will make itself heard. She will then become sensible of the great wrong she has done me, and hasten to make atonement. She will feel that by her wicked and unnatural conduct she has incurred Heavens displeasure. Her own children have been taken from her. Other severe chastisements may follow, if not averted. These are the arguments I shall employ.
And they will fail in effect, my liege, because her heart is hardened, and she is blind to her sinfulness, said the priest. She would rather sacrifice her brother than help to re-establish our religion.
Trust me, my liege, Father Norham has formed a just estimate of the queens character, said Lord Derwentwater. Tis vain to appeal to good feelings, where none exist.
But I do not believe she is so utterly devoid of natural affection as her conduct would seem to bespeak, said the prince. You shall judge from what I am about to tell you. I have solicited a private interview with her in Saint Jamess Palace, and she has granted my request.
Granted it! exclaimed Lord Dervventwater in astonishment, that was shared by the others.
Ay, replied the prince. My letter was conveyed by a faithful friend, and the answer to it was that her majesty would see me. Nothing more. But that was all I asked. She felt compunction for her ill doing, or she would have refused my request.
But how will you obtain admittance to her, my liege? asked Lord Derwentwater.
Easily, replied the prince. The Earl of Mar will usher me into her presence.
This certainly seems favourable, and alters my view of the matter, said the earl. Yet it may be a device of Harley to ensnare your majesty. Are you certain that your letter reached the queen?
My emissary would not deceive me, replied the prince. He is as loyal as yourself.
If I may speak plainly to your majesty, remarked Charles Radclyffe, I would say that I have still great doubts. The queen may delude you with false hopes to keep you quiet.
Nay, she will keep her promise if she makes it. Of that I am convinced, said Father Norham.
Nay, she will keep her promise if she makes it. Of that I am convinced, said Father Norham.
At this juncture the butler entered to say that luncheon was served, upon which the earl conducted his guest to the dining-room, where a very substantial repast awaited them.
The Chevalier de Saint George had not breakfasted, and his early mornings ride having given him a good appetite, he did ample justice to the broiled trout from the Devils Water, and the cutlets of Tyne salmon set before him.
As the servants were present during the repast, he was treated merely as an ordinary visitor, and the conversation between him and the earl was conducted entirely in French.
This circumstance excited the suspicion of Mr. Newbiggin, the butler, who from the first had been struck by the strangers appearance and manner, and he soon became convinced that Mr. Johnson, as the prince was called, was a very important personage.
On quitting the dining-room, the butler found the earls chief valet in the entrance-hall, and said to him:
I cant make out this Mr. Johnson, Thirlwall. I should like to know what you think of him?
Im puzzled, I own, replied the other. He seems to me like a Frenchman.
No more a Frenchman than his lordship is, Thirlwall. But I shouldnt wonder, said the butler, knowingly, if he has been brought up at a French court.
At the Court of Saint Germains? cried Thirlwall.
Precisely, said the butler.
Why, you seem to insinuate that its the Chevalier de Saint George in person, Newbiggin.
Ive my own idea on that point, Thirlwall, said the butler. If it should turn out as I suspect, were on the eve of an insurrection. The prince wouldnt come here on a trifling errand. But keep quiet for the present this is mere conjecture.
The butler then returned to the dining-room, while Mr. Thirlwall hurried to the servants hall, where he retailed all he had just heard, with some additions of his own.
In less than half-an-hour it was known among the whole household that his majesty, King James the Third, had arrived, in disguise, at the castle.
III. NICHOLAS RIBBLETON
If any confirmation were wanted of the suspicions now generally entertained by Mr. Newbiggin and the rest of the servants that a rising was imminent, it was afforded by the earl, who took his guest, as soon as luncheon was over, to see the arms stored in the old tower.
The inspection occupied some time, for three or four chambers had to be visited, each full of muskets, calivers, pistols, cartouche-boxes, powder-horns, shot-bags, belts, swords of various sizes and make, hatchets, pikes, halberts, black leather caps, drums, kettle-drums, trumpets, fifes, and other martial instruments. In a vault beneath the basement floor were bestowed several barrels of gunpowder.
When the examination was finished, the prince expressed himself delighted with the preparations made.
You told me you could arm and equip two or three hundred men, cousin, he said. And I now perceive you did not exaggerate. But where are the men?
I have but to ride to Alston Moor, my liege, to find them, and bring them back with me, said Charles Rad-clyffe.
Men and arms are ready, said the earl. Shall we raise the standard? he added, lifting up the flag.
At this moment, as if in response to the appeal, shouts were heard outside, and several voices exclaimed:
Long live King James the Third!
Is this premeditated, cousin? said the prince.
No, by my faith, replied the earl. But it seems your majestys presence has been discovered how I know not. Shall I send away the troublesome varlets?
Twere needless, since the discovery has been made, said the prince, who did not seem much displeased.
Your majesty need feel no uneasiness, observed Father Norham, who formed one of the party. There are no traitors at Dilston. All here are loyal, and would die rather than betray you.
On that assurance I shall not hesitate to show myself to them, said the prince. Attend me, I pray you, cousin.
The massive door being thrown open, a singular spectacle was seen.
In front of the tower was collected a large number of the household, with several out-door servants grooms, gamekeepers, huntsmen, gardeners, and their assistants most of them young and active-looking, though the coachman was old and stout, and there were three or four others, who must have lived in the family for half a century. But these were just as enthusiastic as their comrades.
When the prince appeared another loud shout arose, and would have been renewed had not the earl commanded silence.
I thank you heartily, my good friends, for this manifestation of your zeal, said the prince. Do not imagine, because I have come hither in disguise, that I am afraid to trust myself with you, or, in the slightest degree, doubt your fidelity. The Earl of Derwentwater, your master, is my best friend, and dear to me as a brother. No one can live with him without sharing his sentiments. I could not, therefore, have any distrust. But I feared that in the excess of your zeal you might not keep guard upon your tongues, and I am very desirous that my landing in England, and arrival at Dilston, should not be known for the present. Secrecy, as you will easily understand, is essential to the success of my projects.
A murmur of delight arose from the assemblage, but further shouting was checked by Newbiggin, who, stepping forward, made a profound obeisance to the prince, and said:
Your majesty need fear no indiscretion on our part. I will answer for my fellow-servants. We know the importance of our trust.
Ay, that we do, cried several voices.
I am perfectly satisfied, said the prince; and I shall feel easier now that this explanation has taken place. Again accept my thanks for your manifestation of sympathy and attachment to me. I cannot speak to you all, but there is one among you to whom I would fain say a word.
And he designated a tall, fine old man, standing at the back of the assemblage.
That is Nicholas Ribbleton, my liege, said Newbiggin. He lived with his lordships grandfather.
And was much liked by him, and by my father, added the earl. Nicholas Ribbleton will always have a home at Dilston.
Bring him to me, said the prince.
Summoned by the butler, old Ribbleton would have thrown himself at the princes feet, but the latter prevented him, and gave him his hand, which the old man pressed devotedly to his heart.
I never expected such an honour as this, he said. Your majesty is too gracious to me. I have always been devoted to your royal house, and shall continue so to the last. It may sound boastful when I say that both King Charles the Second, and your august father, King James, deigned to notice me. Long have I desired to behold your majesty, and now the wish is gratified. Here emotion choked his utterance for a moment but he added, If I live to see your majesty on the throne I shall die content Long have we looked for your coming, but now you are come, dont turn back till you have won the victory. You have right on your side. The crown belongs to your majesty and not to Queen Anne. If she wont surrender it, take it! Such is the advice that an old man, who has spoken to the king, your father, and your royal uncle, dares to give you. Pardon my freedom, sire!
I not only pardon it, but am obliged to you for speaking so freely, replied the prince, in a gracious and encouraging tone. What will you say if Queen Anne should surrender the crown to me?