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Lancaster unopposed, Sir Henry Houghton and 600 militia that 
he had collected retreating to Preston. At Lancaster the droop- 
ing spirits of the rebels were raised not only by the flight of the 
Government troops, but also by some few gentlemen and their 
servants joining them, only five in all, but they were men of 
position, including John Dalton, Esq., of Turnham Hall, and 
Edward Tyldesley, Esq., of The Lodge, to whom I shall refer 
later on. No Lancashire Protestant was here enlisted except 
the mob colonel from Manchester and the mob captain, Tom 
Siddall, who, along with all the prisoners from the castle on the 
Crown side, were liberated. But though no Lancashire Protestant 
here joined, “‘one Mr. Paul, . . .  habited in a blue cloak, 
with a long wig and sword, accompanied by Mr. John Cotton, of 
Cambridgeshire, . . . ina flourishing manner, made a tender 
of their services for the cause, which were accepted.” This was 
“Parson” Paul, a clergyman of the Church of England, who 
paid for his folly with his life. The only interest further to us in 
this man, from a local point of view, is that he and Jack Hall, 
of Otterburn, were executed together at Tyburn, and that their 
dying speeches were written for them by Dr. Deacon (then a very 
young man), afterwards so long resident in Manchester. Two 
very clever productions they are. 
On November 8th, Paul read prayers in Lancaster church. 
There is no doubt that though many here joined whose names 
are unknown, many others here deserted the rebels whose names 
are also, for obvious reasons, unlikely to be recorded. According 
to the diary of Lord Derwentwater’s servant, Peter Clarke, the 
afternoon before they left Lancaster, ‘the gentlemen soldiers 
dressed and trimmed themsclves up in their best clothes, for to 
drink a dish of tea with the Laydys of this towne. The Laydys 
also here appeared in their best riging, and had their tea tables 
richly furnished for to entertain their new suitors.” On November 
9th the horse advanced to Preston, the foot to Garstang. At 
Garstang it is recorded that one High Church Tozy joined (Mr. 
Muncaster) and some Papists. When the horse arrived at Preston 
they found the town undefended, and rode up the street, and, 
entering the church, had to listen to the rector, the Rev. Samuel 
Peploe, read the prayers for King George. This spirited conduct 
on the part of the young divine is said to have led to the only 
intentional joke recorded of the king. Being informed of the 
act, and being given his name in answer to his inquiry, the king 
said in his bad English: ‘‘ Peep-low, Peep-low; we will make 
him Peep high!” and he did; for when opportunity offered, 
Peploe was rewarded with the wardenship of Manchester church, 
and ultimately held that office with the bishopric of Chester. 
On the 10th the foot arrived, and many Catholic gentlemen and 
their servants joined, including Richard Towneley, Esq., of 
