But when the Report of their Embarkation prevailed, they were out of all Patience, and looked upon the Design of sending them to Flanders only as a Blind to get them on board, in order to ship them really for the West-Indies.
Tho’ their Officers attempted to undeceive them, yet they had been disappointed so often, and filled so long with Hopes of going Home, that they had no Credit with them.
Add to this, that there was another Complaint pretended for the Ground of their Discontent, that some small Arrears were due to them, that they had all been obliged to use their own Swords, and that their Cloathing, especially their Shoes and Plaids, were remarkably deficient, these last not being worth Six-pence per Yard; whereas they used to be allowed Plaids of more than double that Value.
This Spirit continued after the Review, when the Discontented agreed upon Tuesday Night after to meet at Finchley Common, where a great Number of them convened and waited till their Number increased. In this interval some of their Officers came up, and by their persuasions a great Number returned; However, about a 100 of them continued their first Resolution of returning to their own Country.
Here it is remarkable that the Night was so dark that they scarce could distinguish Faces, or make any Computation of their Number, and that Malcolm M‘Pherson, one of the Deceased had never hitherto given any Consent to go away, but came within some Distance of the Place where the Men were assembled, and with another in Company, continued irresolute what Course to take until the coming up of the Officers had raised some Ferment, upon which he came into the Crowd, and allowed himself to be hurried along without knowing where he was going.
Next Morning when by Day-Light they could discern their Number, and not finding the Desertion so general as they expected, Samuel M‘Pherson, another of the Deceased, advised the whole Body strenuously to return to their Duty, which Advice he continued to inculcate during their March to Lady Wood; and in a short Time after they came there, he applied to a Justice of the Peace to propose terms of surrender; and during all their Stay there, used his utmost Endeavours to prevent Things coming to the last Extremity.
At last being in some Hopes of a Pardon by the Intervention of his Grace the Duke of Montague, to whom Application was made in their behalf, they surrendered on Discretion, in which Samuel M‘Pherson was the most instrumental, as will be acknowledged by the Officers to whom he surrendered.
They were brought soon after to the Tower, and a Court Martial appointed to try them.
The first Day the Court Martial sat, a Person, a Stranger to all the Prisoners, came to the Grate, and pretending a great deal of Concern for their Misfortunes, advised them not to mention on their Trial any complaint they might have against their Officers, intimating, that he was certain such a Plea would not avail them, and without serving them would expose their Officers.
That the wisest Course they could follow for their own Safety, would be to acknowledge their Guilt, and plead mercy of the Court Martial, which he assured them would effectually work their Deliverance that no Punishment would be inflicted on them, and at the same Time presented them with a Petition which he had already drawn, addressed to the Court Martial in these terms, and they very frankly relying on these assurances signed and delivered the same to that honourable Court.