other was that a troop of soldiers was kept at free
quarterage. I cannot but wish they had bethought them of both a little
earlier. They formed an association, and broke into rebellion against
the Countess-Dowager within eight days of the Earl's execution. Perhaps
they did not know of the Earl's death, for news travelled slowly over
sea in those days. But at least they knew of his absence. As a Manxman I
am not proud of them.

During these eight days Mr. Receiver-General had begun to trim his
sails. He had a lively wit, and saw which way things were going. Rumour
says he was at the root of the secret association. Be that as it may, he
carried the demands of the people to the Countess. She had no choice but
to yield. The troops were disbanded. It was a bad victory.

A fortnight before, when her husband lay under his death sentence, the
Countess had offered the island in exchange for his life. So now Mr.
Receiver-General used this act of love against her. He seized some of
the forts, saying the Countess was selling the island to the Parliament.
Then the army of the Parliament landed, and Christian straightway
delivered the island up to it, protesting that he had taken the forts
on its behalf. Some say the Countess was imprisoned in the vaults of the
Castle. Others say she had a free pass to England. So ended act one.

When the act-drop rose on act two, Mr. Receiver-General was in office
under the Parliament. From the place of Receiver-General he was promoted
to the place of Governor. He had then the money of the island under his
control, and he used it badly. Deficits were found in his accounts.
He fled to London, was arrested for a large debt, and clapped into the
Fleet. Then the Commonwealth fell, the Dowager Countess went upstairs
again, and Charles II. restored the son of the great Earl to the
lordship of Man. After that came the Act of Indemnity, a general pardon
for all who had taken part against the royal cause. Thereupon Christian
went back to the Isle of Man, was arrested on a charge of treason to
the Countess-Dowager of Derby, pleaded the royal act of general pardon
against all proceedings libelled against him, was tried by the House of
Keys, and condemned to death. So ended act two.

Christian had a nephew, Edward Christian, who was one of the two
deemsters. This man dissented from the voice of the court, and hastened
to London to petition the king. Charles is said to have heard his plea,
and to have sent an