XV.—THE TOWN IS PLUNDERED BY THE SOLDIERY.
HAVING seen the prisoners disposed of and given all necessary orders respecting them, the two generals, accompanied by the Earl of Carlisle, Lord Lumley, Sir Henry Hoghton, Brigadier Honeywood, Colonel Stanhope, and several others entered the town-hall, where a cold collation was laid out for them.
To this repast Parson Woods, who had been presented to General Carpenter, was invited, and received many compliments on his bravery.
The generals were still at table, when they were informed that a deputation of the inhabitants of the town was without, and prayed for an immediate audience.
Wills guessed their errand, and if left to himself, would have refused to see them. But General Carpenter caused half a dozen of the applicants to be admitted, and then found that their object was to prevent the town from being plundered by the soldiery.
“The pillage has already commenced,” said one of the persons who acted as spokesman, “and unless the men are restrained, all our goods will be carried off. As faithful subjects of his Majesty King George we ought to be protected. We could not prevent the occupation of the town by the rebels, and it will be a great hardship if we suffer for their misdeeds.”
“You must address yourselves to General Wills—not to me, gentlemen,” said Carpenter. “He has had the conduct of the siege.”
“I cannot listen to the appeal,” remarked Wills, sternly. “By the rules of war the men are entitled to the plunder of a captured town, and I shall not restrain them. You profess fidelity to the king, but you have afforded every assistance to the rebels, and if you have not actually taken part with them, you have furnished them with provisions and supplies.”
“We were forced to do so, general,” said the others. “And we earnestly beseech you to spare our property.”
Wills, however, refused to listen to them, and they departed.
Thus was the ill-fated town delivered over to pillage.
Fortunately no excesses were committed by the soldiers all license being forbidden on pain of death.
The plunderers commenced with the shops of the goldsmiths, silversmiths, and jewellers, where they expected to find the greatest quantity of valuables.
These shops were all shut up, but were quickly broken open, and stripped of their contents—plate, watches, rings, and chains being carried off.
From this booty alone the soldiers obtained several hundred pounds.
They next entered all the best private houses in Church Street and Fishergate, breaking open closets and chests, and abstracting all the plate and valuables they could find.
While one set of plunderers were thus engaged, others were similarly employed in different parts of the town.
Everywhere the houses were ransacked, and no portable article was left behind.
Not till a late hour in the day, when they had carried off all they could, did the soldiers desist from the work.
Great was the indignation of the inhabitants at this treatment, but they did not dare to resist.
However, there were no cases of intoxication, for the men were prevented by the sergeants and corporals from breaking open the cellars.
But it was a woeful day for Preston, and such as its inhabitants never thought to experience. Wills's severity caused him to be held in universal detestation.
General Carpenter did not remain long in the town. Finding it inconveniently crowded, he set out for Wigan, immediately after the surrender, with the regiments under his command.
None of his men therefore shared in the plunder—nor would he have allowed them to share in it.