20 
but he could not induce him to put his name in the visitors’ book. 
He put it off by saying, ‘‘ My name is Ready Money.” 
Finding his scheme to gain the young lady and her fortune a 
failure, he induced Mary of Buttermere to give her hand in 
marriage. He, in company with a clergyman, procured a licence, 
and they were publicly married at Lorton church on Saturday, the 
2nd October, 1802. A romantic account appeared in the news- 
papers. This fell under the notice of several persons in Scotland 
who knew that the real Colonel Hope had been abroad all the 
summer, and was then residing at Vienna. 
After the marriage he took his young wife to Longtown, where 
he only stayed three days, and then returned to Buttermere. 
There happened at this time to be Mr. Harding, a barrister, and 
a Welsh judge passing through Keswick, who heard of the impostor. 
He sent a note by his servant, who at once said, “‘I brought this 
for Colonel Hope, but you are not the gentleman.” Hatfield 
observed that it was a mistake, and that it was for a brother of his. 
However, he sent for four horses, and came over to Keswick. He 
had already drawn a draft for £30, by permission, on a Mr. 
Crumpt of Liverpool, and he now drew another for £20, which 
the landlord of the Queen’s Head foolishly cashed. He made a 
blank denial that he had ever assumed the name of Colonel Hope, 
but that his name was Hope, but not M.P. for Linlithgow. 
Mr. John Sander, a most respectable person, was town constable 
for the year, and he was requested to take Hatfield into custody. 
When charged, he said, ‘“ Show me your authority, and a thread 
shall hold me.” It was then arranged that a warrant should be 
obtained from the nearest magistrate, who was Sir Frederick F. 
Vane, bart. Hatfield said, “I will get my old boatman and have 
a row upon the lake until the warrant arrives.” His boatman was 
old *Neddy Birkett, who took him to the head of the lake, when 
Hatfield decamped, and made his way over the fells to Ravenglass, 
where, disguised as a sailor, he lay till the wind was fair, and in a 
* T knew old Neddy Birkett. He died in 1843, at the great age of ninety- 
eight years. Jonathan Otley recorded his death in his MSS., and added— 
‘‘Was Hattfield’s guide.” 
