CHAPTER XXXV
As the bells at Westminster Abbey rang out for ten in the morning, George IV took his seat upon the golden throne in the House of Lords and set out his Government's agenda for the coming Parliament. Two miles east along the Thames the bells around Old Bailey matched them, as the trial of William Davidson, the last of the Cato prisoners, resumed. Lady Matlock counted each toll. By Annette's estimation, she needed to be back in Mayfair by three to begin her toilette for the evening's ball. Taking an offered coffee in the courtroom, the evening seemed a world away.
She had not slept well. All night her mind raced over her husband's story; he was still so prone to holding that part of his life, his childhood, close. She never knew what to make of the snippets she received. They always shone a light on just how vast the social distance between them had been during their tender years. This latest was no different. She tried to imagine being nine years old and her father and uncles telling her that the terror sweeping France could make its way to England, and that if it did, none of them would be safe. She supposed it would make her determined to never have a similar conversation with her own sons. To do whatever it took to make sure they inherited a better world.
The second day began with a number of character witnesses for the defence, but against the charges of Cato Street, they had little impact. Only a Mr. Chambers' evidence stuck in her mind. Mr. Edwards had called on him and said: "We are going to kill His Majesty's Ministers, and we will have blood and wine for supper."
Whatever it took.
Edwards was hidden from justice, while Harrowby lied in the face of it. Whatever was done in this courtroom, she decided it was not justice.
Finally, after lunch, Mr. Davidson stood to give his own evidence.
"I wish to call your Lordships' attention to a few particulars," he began, in a rich, clear voice. "It has always been my study to maintain the character of an industrious and inoffensive man. As to the charge which has been brought against me, I can lay my hand upon my heart and, in the presence of that God whom I revere, say I am not guilty of it.
"As to how I came by the blunderbuss I will state. I had a friend, Williamson, who told me that he had bought an old blunderbuss and gave it to me to clean. He said he bought it with intent to take it to the Cape of Good Hope, but it would cost too much to repair. I took it home with me with intent to raffle it. I met Mr. Edwards, who said he would take me to a place to have the blunderbuss raffled and promised to bring a number of people at one shilling each. Mr. Edwards proposed to commence raffling for the blunderbuss, but as no money was tendered I would not agree. I then received a great deal of improper language, so I went away. I went to Mr. Williamson and told him what had passed. He said he wanted to get some money, and I proposed pledging the blunderbuss at a pawnbrokers. He agreed to it, and requested me to take it for him, which I did to Mr. Aldous, and told him it was not my own. On the twenty-second of February, Edwards called upon me, and said he had been to see Mr. Williamson, and that Mr. Williamson had told him to get the ticket for the blunderbuss. I gave it to him. The afternoon of the twenty-third of February, he called and told me that I should see him in the Horse and Groom and I was to collect the blunderbuss and take it there.
"At this time, I had not the least knowledge of anything directly or indirectly concerning the business in Cato Street. I went down the street and when I got to the corner of Cato Street, I heard a pistol fired. I went to see what was the matter. Two or three pistols fired at me. I was seized and taken to gaol. I never drew the cutlass nor offered to strike, but gave myself up.
"I will now, my Lords and gentlemen, give you an instance where one man of colour may be mistaken for another, as must have been my case. My leisure time I employed as a teacher in a Sunday school; there a similar mistake was made. A person, a man of colour, insulted one of the female teachers in Walworth Road. The young lady said it was me and made a complaint to the committee. I set myself to work, and actually traced out the person who had committed the offence, and brought him to the committee. He apologised and acknowledged it and begged the young lady's pardon. The young lady could not look me in the face, knowing how she had injured me.
"If the gentlemen of the jury wish my life they may have it. I have ventured my life fifteen times for my country and my King. I do not deny being apprehended in Cato Street. I do not pretend to say there was no plot, but I knew nothing of it. I was accidentally drawn into Cato Street in the way I have said, but knew nothing of a plot to plunder, burn, or massacre. I am not void of all feeling and would not act the murderer or the brute. I would as soon be put to death as suppose that you, my Lords and the gentlemen of the Crown, should think me that monster that would for a moment harbour a thought to massacre any person, directly or indirectly. All my distress arises from the consideration of the helpless state of my family. As a father I wish to discharge my duty; for them I wish to live, and for their sakes I wish, if possible, to clear up the black charge which has been laid against me. I admit I was in Cato Street; and even admitting this what does it amount to? The indictment says that I did certain things not having the fear of God before my eyes. Now I always had the fear of God before me, and always cherished the feelings of virtue and humanity. I always subscribed to the beautiful lines of Pope:
If I am right, thy grace impart
Still in the right to stay;
If I am wrong, Oh! teach my heart
To find the better way.
Teach me to feel another's woe,
To hide the faults I see;
The mercy I to others show
That mercy show to me.
These words, gentlemen of the jury, I wish to impress on your minds. It is hard to have my life taken away when I knew nothing of any plot. When I think of this it unmans me. I am no plotter - no assassin - no traitor. Look well to the evidence, and to your own hearts, before you pronounce the fatal verdict of guilty. I repeat I will readily submit to death if you think me capable of harbouring an intention to commit the crime of high treason; if that is your persuasion pronounce your verdict accordingly. I hope my death may prove useful to my country."
The jury took just forty minutes to pronounce William Davidson guilty of high treason.
Historical note: All of William Davidson's words are his own. I've done some editing for structure and readability, but I've not added anything. It was important, in using his story, to keep his voice.
Author's note: Thank you again to everyone who's reviewed (especially the guest who said 'Lady C is writing this story'; that absolutely made me howl!). My proofreader has now finished all the chapters, so I am going to drop the whole thing either next weekend or the one after (allowing time to do all the historical notes). Thank you to everyone who has been reading along; I don't want to leave you in any unnecessarily suspense. This was never a story that was meant to be read in instalments, and the last third really does benefit from being able to read it all of the way through. I am going to draft a longer author's note for after the final chapter that addresses some of the points made in the reviews (and hopefully anticipates some as well). I promise to spend some time explaining character choices, and which passages in P&P I've used to justify them. (Even if some might not seem likely, I wanted to ensure they were at least plausible.)
Your reviews have been really helpful in realising which parts need finessing, and where meaning may not be clear. I am going to leave this story for a few months once I've posted it all, and then do a redraft based on some of the comments. Once there is a final version I'm planning to do an ebook, but probably not on Amazon as I'd like it to remain free. Once I've worked out how to do a free ebook, I'll post an update, so readers know where to download it from.