e, locked up the members of the family securely
before starting on their operations. In the inner quadrangle of
the mansion was a very remarkable and ingenious device. A large
stone of the solid wall could be pushed aside. Though of immense
weight, it was so nicely balanced and adjusted that it required
only a slight pressure upon one side to effect an entrance to
the hiding-place within. Those who have visited the grounds at
Chatsworth may remember a huge piece of solid rock which can be
swung round in the same easy manner. Upon the approach of the
enemy, Father Blount and his servant hastened to the courtyard
and entered the vault; but in their hurry to close the weighty
door a small portion of one of their girdles got jammed in, so
that a part was visible from the outside. Fortunately for the
fugitives, someone in the secret, in passing the spot, happened
to catch sight of this tell-tale fragment and immediately cut
it off; but as a particle still showed, they called gently to
those within to endeavour to pull it in, which they eventually
succeeded in doing.

At this moment the pursuivants were at work in another part of
the castle, but hearing the voice in the courtyard, rushed into
it and commenced battering the walls, and at times upon the very
door of the hiding-place, which would have given way had not
those within put their combined weight against it to keep it
from yielding. It was a pitchy dark night, and it was pelting
with rain, so after a time, discouraged at finding nothing and
wet to the skin, the soldiers put off further search until the
following morning, and proceeded to dry and refresh themselves
by the fire in the great hall.

When all was at rest, Father Blount and his man, not caring to
risk another day's hunting, cautiously crept forth bare-footed,
and after managing to scale some high walls, dropt into the moat
and swam across. And it was as well for them that they decided
to quit their hiding-hole, for next morning it was discovered.

The fugitives found temporary security at another recusant house
a few miles from Scotney, possibly the old half-timber house of
Twissenden, where a secret chapel and adjacent "priests' holes"
are still pointed out.

The original manuscript account of the search at Scotney was
written by one of the Darrell family, who was in the castle at
the time of the events recorded.[1]

[Footnote 1: See Morris's _Troubles of our Catholic
Forefathers._]

CHAPT