Page:A tour through the northern counties of England, and the borders of Scotland - Volume II.djvu/84

 [ 72 ]

and marvellous. In this cell he is said to have consumed a great part of his time, nourishing his natural severity by silent solitude. To interrupt these hours of seclusion was an offence cautiously avoided by the domestics, particularly as one intru- sion had been attended with fatal effects. His Lordship was one day deeply engaged amongst his schoolmen or fathers, when a soldier who had captured an unfortunate moss-trooper, burst into the apartment to acquaint his master with the cir- cumstance, and enquire what should be done with the captive. " Hang the fellow!" said Lord Wil- liam, peevishly; an exclamation intended to convey no other meaninq; than displeasure at this intrusion upon his privacy. The servant, however, accus- tomed to the most implicit obedience, immediately construed this passionate expression into a com- mand; and a few hours afterwards, when Lord William directed the prisoner to be brought before him for examination, he was told, that in compli- ance with his orders, the man had been long since hanged. His government produced a wonderful change in the lawless manners of the surrounding district, and introduced good order and security, in the room of violence and licentiousness. But it must be confessed, the means of this provincial transformation were of the harshest kind, as his

�� �