Series 1 > Miscellany of the Scottish History Society (First volume)

I.
A JOURNALL of Severall Occurrences from
2d November 1715, in the Insurrection (began
in Scotland) and concluded at Preston in Lan¬
cashire, on November 14, mdccxv., kept by
Peter Clarke.
Sir,—On Wednesday the second day of November one 2d November
thousand seaven hundred and fifteen, the then high sherriff Posse^
of Cumberland assembled the posse comitatus on Penrith Penrith Fell.
Fell, Viscount Loynsdale being there as commander of the
malitia of Westmoreland, Cumberland, and Northumberland,
who were assembled at the place aforesaid for prevention of
rebelion and riots. The Lord Bishop of Carlisle1 and his
daughter were there. By the strictest observation the numbers
were twenty-five thousand men,2 but very few of them had Number 25,000.
any regular armes. At 11 o’clock in the forenoon of the same
day the high sh err iff" and the two lords received a true account
that the Earl of Derwentwater, together with his army, were
within 6 miles of Penrith. Vpon the recept of this news
the said high sherriff and the said 2 lords, the posse comitatus The Posse
and the malitia fled, leaving most of their armes vpon the said c°mitatus runs
fell. There is no doubt had the men stood their ground the
said Earl and his men (as it hath since beene acknowledged by
diverse of them) wood have retreated. About 3 aclock in the
afternoon on the same day the said Earl, together with his
army, in number about one thousand seaven hundred, entred 2d November
the said towne of Penrith, where they proclaimed their king by Denvemwater’s
. men, 1700,
1 William Nicolson, author of the Historical Library. entred Penrith.
2 Patten says their number was 14,000, and indicates that it may have been
slightly less, though not much.