Roger Kyffin's Ward
Page 33
him, however, that a few were showingsigns of disaffection. This, possibly, might have made him tremble forthe stability of his power, and he resolved to collect all the ships hehad reason to suspect closer round him. In shore lay two ships at thistime: the "Clyde," commanded by Captain Cunningham, and the "SaintFiorenzo," commanded by Sir Harry Burrard Neale.
The "Saint Fiorenzo" had sent delegates to the fleet, but they had fromthe first voted for moderate measures. Accordingly, Parker sent anorder to the two ships to come in and anchor close to the "Sandwich."Not long afterwards they were seen to get under weigh.
One of them, however, the "Saint Fiorenzo," soon afterwards brought upagain; and the other, instead of obeying Parker's orders, stood up theriver towards Sheerness. Parker, in a great rage, ordered a body ofdelegates to go on board the "Saint Fiorenzo," and to bring her in andplace her between the "Inflexible" and "Director," when her sails wereto be unbent, and her gunpowder sent on board the "Sandwich." Thedelegates, on going on board the "Saint Fiorenzo," abused her crew forallowing the "Clyde" to escape them without firing into her, andthreatened them with the vengeance of Admiral Parker, if they did notobey his orders. In spite of the threatening aspect of the "SaintFiorenzo's" crew, her delegates expressed their readiness to comply, andat length the mutineers took their departure. A short time afterwardsthe "Saint Fiorenzo" was seen to get under weigh, and to stand out underall sail towards the fleet. On she came till she got in between the twoline-of-battle ships. By the orders of Parker, who seems to havesuspected her intentions, the crews of the different ships stood attheir guns, which were double-shotted, with the lanyards in their hands,ready to sink her. Her crew had been made aware of this by thedelegates. Suddenly all her sheets were let fly, her helm was put hardaport, and she shot ahead of the "Inflexible." The moment afterwardsher brave captain, Sir Harry Burrard Neale, sprang on deck, crying out,"Well done, my lads!" A loud shout rose from the deck of the "SaintFiorenzo." On seeing this, Parker ran up the signal to fire, the"Sandwich" herself setting the example; and immediately the whole fleetof thirty-two sail began blazing away at the "Saint Fiorenzo." The shotfell as thick as hail round her. Still she stood on, though of coursewithout returning the fire. There was a strong breeze, and she was afast ship. Though so many guns were firing at her, and she wasfrequently hulled, not a rope was shot away, nor was a single mankilled, or even hurt.
On she stood, and not till she had got to some distance did Parker thinkof ordering any ship to pursue her. He walked the deck for some minutesin a state of agitation. He was afraid of getting under weigh himself,lest during his absence other ships might desert. He possibly thoughtit very likely that if he ordered any other ship to pursue, her crewmight refuse to return. The seamen formed their own opinions on thistransaction, and came to the conclusion that there was not thatunanimity in the counsels of their leaders, which they boasted ofpossessing. Even now they desired to evince their loyalty, and on the4th of June, which was his Majesty's birthday, the whole fleet fired aroyal salute, and dressed the ships with flags as usual. The red flagwas, however, kept flying at the maintopmast head of the "Sandwich."
One of the captains most beloved by the seamen was the Earl of Northesk,commanding the "Monmouth," a 64-gun ship. The mutineers having theirconfidence somewhat shaken, determined to request him to try and effecta reconciliation with the Government. The delegates went on board the"Monmouth," and invited him to meet the mutineer committee on board the"Sandwich." His lordship accordingly went on board, attended by oneofficer, and found sixty delegates seated in the state cabin, withParker at their head. He undertook to carry up their terms to theGovernment, pledging his honour to return on board, with a clear andpositive answer, within fifty-four hours. He told them, however, thatfrom the unreasonableness of their demands, they must not expectsuccess. He immediately proceeded to London, where, after conferringwith the Admiralty, he accompanied Earl Spencer to the King.
As might have been expected, the demands of the seamen were rejected asexorbitant and unreasonable. An officer immediately carried down therefusal of the Lords of the Admiralty to the rebel fleet. Soon afterthis was known, several ships attempted to make their escape from themutineers. One, the "Leopard," succeeded and got up the Thames.Another, the "Repulse," unfortunately ran aground, when she was fired onby the "Monmouth;" and one of the officers lost his leg, and a seamanwas wounded. The "Ardent," the third ship, effected her escape, butpassing the "Monmouth" was fired at, and several of her crew were killedand wounded. Confusion and discord now pervaded the rebel councils. Onthe 10th of June, many other mutinous ships struck the red flag, and themerchant vessels were allowed to proceed up the river. On the 12th,most of the other ships also hauled down the rebel flag, only sevenkeeping it flying. The next day the remainder intimated an inclinationto submit. However, the crews in all cases were not unanimous, and manydesperate struggles took place on board the ships between the partisansof the officers and those who still wished to hold out. Happily at thisjuncture of affairs an officer arrived on board the "Sandwich," with theKing's proclamations and Acts of Parliament, of which it appeared thatParker had kept the crews ignorant.
The deception which had been practised on the men by the delegates soenraged them, that the crew of the "Sandwich" carried the ship under theguns of the fort of Sheerness. As soon as she anchored, a boat with aguard of soldiers came off, and making their way on deck, ordered Parkerto deliver himself up. As they appeared, one of the delegates belongingto the "Standard," who was on board, pointing a pistol at his own head,shot himself dead. Parker, as soon as he heard that a boat had comeoff, placed himself under the protection of four of the ship's crew, therest of the seamen threatening forthwith to hang him. He and aboutthirty more delegates were immediately handed over to the soldiers, andthey were landed amidst the hisses of the surrounding multitude, andcommitted to the prison in the garrison of Sheerness. The first batchof mutineers having been so easily captured, the rest of theringleaders, and all others in any way implicated in the mutiny on boardthe various ships, were immediately placed under arrest. In the list ofthe unhappy men to be tried for their lives was the name of AndrewBrown.
Poor Harry! he felt grievously his position. He had protested againstthe proceedings of the mutineers, but how could he prove this? He couldnot deny that he had written out a number of documents issued by Parker,and the excuse that he had done so under compulsion was too commonlymade by others to allow him to have much hope of its being believed inhis case. Up the Thames was the prison ship. Here Harry, with a numberof mutineers, was conveyed. Many of his companions were desperatecharacters, who seemed only to dread the punishment they might receive.He felt that unless he could be proved innocent, death was the onlyalternative he could desire. Yet it was hard to die. He had lookedforward to a life of happiness with one to whom his undivided heart wasgiven; one well worthy of the affections of the best of men. His honourwas gone. His name, if it was known, would be blasted, and he must diethe death of the worst of criminals. One gleam of hope alone remained.As he was led off by the soldiers sent to apprehend the mutineers, JacobTuttle had shaken his hand, and though he did not speak, had given him asignificant look, which had evidently been intended to keep up hisspirits. Happily Tuttle had taken no part in the mutiny, and had beenamong the first to urge his shipmates to return to their duty. Stillhow could an illiterate seaman, unable even to write, be able to helphim?
The trial of Richard Parker very soon after this took place on board the"Neptune," of 98 guns, off Greenhithe, a few days having been allowedhim to prepare for his defence. No trial could have been more fair orjust. Parker defended himself with considerable ability. Nothing,however, could be stronger than the evidence brought to prove that hewas one of the chief instigators of the mutiny, and that he had acted asthe chief of the mutineers. The court accordingly adjudged him todeath. Parker heard his sentence with a degree of fortitude andcomposure which excited the astonishment of all present.
He submitted,he said, still asserting the rectitude of his intention.
"Whatever offences may have been committed," he added, "I hope my lifewill be the only sacrifice. Pardon, I beseech you, the other men. Iknow that they will return with alacrity to their duty."
On the 29th of June, Parker was conveyed on board the "Sandwich," theship on board which he had acted _so_ prominent a part. On beingconducted to the quarter-deck, the chaplain informed him that he hadselected two psalms appropriate to his situation. Parker assenting,said, "And with your permission, sir, I will add a third," and namedPsalm thirty-one. Prayers being ended, he