Preston Fight by William H. Ainsworth

SHORTLY afterwards, in obedience to Forster's orders, all the officers of the insurgent force assembled in the churchyard, and though they endeavoured to assume a careless air, many of them looked very downcast. Among them were all those who had recently joined at Lancaster and Preston, and received the rank of captain -- Mr. Townley, of Townley, Sir Francis Anderton, Ralph Standish, Gabriel Hesketh, John Tyldesley, John Dalton, and several others.

They had had but a short campaign, and might now have to pay for their devotion with their lives. However, they bore themselves bravely under the distressing circumstances. The annoyance of the ceremonial was heightened by its publicity.

A large concourse was collected in the churchyard, and among the spectators were a great number of the fair sex, who flocked thither to manifest their sympathy with their lovers. They expressed their grief in the liveliest manner. Dryope was there, and Captain Shaftoe had some difficulty in inducing her to stand back. But she remained at a short distance gazing at him through her tears. The appearance of these fair damsels, who formed the foremost rank of the spectators, gave a curious character to the scene.

Precisely at the appointed hour, Lord Forrester, preceded by a trumpet and a drum, and attended by a guard, entered the town, and rode to the churchyard.

Alighting at the gate, and followed by a couple of men, he marched up to the rebel officers.

Lord Forrester was a tall, fine-looking man, well suited to the office, which he performed with courtesy.

"Gentlemen," he said, addressing them, "I have a very painful duty to discharge. I have to receive the arms of brave and honourable men, which ought to have been used for their king."

To this Colonel Oxburgh, who stood next him, replied as he delivered up his sword:

"Our arms have been used, my lord, for our rightful sovereign and against a usurper."

Lord Forrester made no remark but consigned the sword to the custody of one of his men, and passed on.

He had received more than twenty swords, when he came to Captain Shaftoe, and as there seemed to be some hesitation on Shaftoe's part, he said:

"Your sword, sir?"

"Take it," cried Shaftoe.

And plucking the blade from the sheath, he broke it, and flung the pieces at Lord Forrester's feet.

On this there were shouts of applause from the female spectators.

"I suppose it was to win that applause that this foolish act was done, Captain Shaftoe," observed Lord Forrester.

"You have broken the treaty, and have rendered yourself liable to the punishment of death."

"As these words were uttered, Dryope and three or four of the fair spectators rushed forward, and threw themselves at Lord Forrester's feet, exclaiming:

"Spare him! spare him!"

"Rise, ladies! " said Lord Forrester. "I am not about to order Captain Shaftoe's immediate execution. I am sorry so great a favourite of your sex should refuse to submit -- but no doubt you can bring him to reason. I leave him in your hands."