The Chevalier by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles

Author:Cynthia Harrod-Eagles
Language: eng
Format: mobi

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The Treaty of Union was passed by the Scottish Parliament in January 1707, and there were riots in Glasgow and Edinburgh, and the news-sheets all talked of the possibility of bloodshed, civil war, and invasion. In London there was a thanksgiving service at St Paul's, with a splendid procession and speeches about the most glorious day of Anne's reign. The union was deemed to begin on 1 May, and the elders of the Kirk of Scotland declared 1 May a day of fasting and mourning for the country's humiliation. Annunciata received word from Edmund at St Omer that Colonel Nathaniel Hoocke had been sent to Scotland as a special emissary, to sound out the great lords on the possibility of a rising. She knew Hoocke, whom she had met at St Germain when he had joined the Irish guards there - he had been one of the visitors to her fire that first long winter. She had known of him before that, indeed, for he had been chaplain to the Duke of Monmouth and had accompanied him during the rebellion, escaping into hiding after Sedgemoor. After two years he had thrown himself on the mercy of King James II, and when the latter had pardoned him, he had shewn his good faith by converting to Catholicism and later going into exile with him. He had fought at the Boyne with Karellie, and was about five or six years older than her son.

Even before Hoocke had reported back to the King at St Germain, eight Scottish lords had travelled secretly to France to beg the King and King Louis to come to Scotland and lead the Scots against the English who had taken away their independence. From Edmund, Annunciata heard that their eloquence had moved both kings, and later when Hoocke reported that the whole nation was ready to rise and that troops numbering nearly thirty thousand would be available, a definite plan for an invasion in January was put in hand. Annunciata burnt the letter very carefully, and sat for a long time deep in thought.

Her own position was difficult. She was in England unofficially, and by the favour of Queen Anne, but if there was an invasion, she would almost certainly be either arrested or expelled as dangerous. Yet if she went now to Scotland, or abroad, she would alert the Queen's agents. She ought, of her duty to her King, do everything she could to aid him, but the thought of Morland Place was unpromising. Little Matt, completely preoccupied with his estate and his wife; frivolous India, recently delivered of her fifth son, Thomas, and with a full nursery to occupy her; would they have time or will to spare for the King over the Water? She did not think either of them cared a jot who sat on the throne of England, provided they were left in peace.

And further north, what of the other Morland households? Frances and John in Northumberland, young people with no particular reason

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