Page 327 - A Jacobite Exile

"That is the most exciting of all," the queen said.

"I think that even you, general, would rather have gone through the battle of
Narva, than have spent that night among the wolves."

"That would I, indeed, madam, and I doubt if I should have got as well
through it as Captain Carstairs did. I am sure, madam, you will agree with

me, that these young gentlemen ought to be fighting under our flag, rather
than that of Sweden. There is no blame to them, for they were most

unjustly driven from the country; but I hope that, by Monday at this time, I
shall have the pleasure of presenting a document for your majesty's
signature, stating that, in the opinion of the council, a very grave

miscarriage of justice has taken place; and that the gentlemen, whose
estates were four years ago confiscated, are proved to be innocent of the

crime of which they were accused, and are true and faithful subjects of your
majesty; and that the proceedings against them are hereby quashed, and
their estates restored to them.

"I had the honour of relating to you, this afternoon, the manner in which

these gentlemen have succeeded in bringing the truth to light."

Shortly afterwards, the party broke up, the queen speaking most graciously

to each of the young men.

On Monday morning, they received a summons to appear before the
council, at two o'clock in the afternoon, and to produce one Robert
Nicholson, whose evidence was required in a matter of moment. They hired

a carriage, and took the highwayman with them to Saint James's, and were
conducted to the council chamber; where they found Lord Godolphin, the

Marquis of Normanby, Mr. Harley, and the Duke of Marlborough, together
with two judges, before whom the depositions, in the case of Sir
Marmaduke Carstairs and his friends, had been laid.

Lord Normanby, as privy seal, took the chair, and briefly said that, having

heard there had been a grievous miscarriage of justice, he had summoned
them to hear important evidence which was produced by Captains Carstairs