responded to the invitation of the mayor, and placed on the list
the name of some one whom they, or Southampton, would be the better
without.

When the list was completed the mayor struck out one of the first
names inserted by his clerk and inserted that of John Stilwell in
its place. His instructions were that he was to notify to an officer,
who would arrive with a company of soldiers on the following day,
the names of those whom he deemed suitable for the queen's service.
The officer after taking them was to embark them on board one of
the queen's cutters, which would come round from Portsmouth for
the purpose, and would convey them to Dover, where a camp was being
formed and the troops assembling.

Upon the following day the company marched into the town, and the
officer in command, having seen his men billeted among the citizens,
called upon the mayor.

"Well, Mr. Mayor," he said, "I hope you have a good list of recruits
for me. I don't want to be waiting here, for I have to go on a
similar errand to other towns. It is not a job I like, I can tell
you, but it is not for me to question orders."

"I have a list of fifty men, all active and hearty fellows, who
will make good soldiers," the mayor said.

"And of whom, no doubt, Southampton will be well rid," the officer
said with a laugh. "Truly, I pity the Earl of Peterborough, for
he will have as rough a body of soldiers as ever marched to war.
However, it is usually the case that the sort of men who give