They might grumble and curse him beneath their breaths; they might call him a tyrant behind his back, for this he cared nothing: but he felt now that it would have been better had their relations been different: for then he could have trusted them to do their best in defense of the mill.
Having once determined upon defying King Lud, Mr.Mulready went before the magistrates, and laying before them the threatening letters he had received, for the first had been followed by many others, he asked them to send for a company of infantry, as he was going to set his mill to work.

The magistrates after some deliberation agreed to do so, and wrote to the commanding officer of the troops at Huddersfield asking him to station a detachment at Marsden for a time.
The request was complied with.

A company of infantry marched in and were billeted upon the town.

A room was fitted up at the mill, and ten of them were quartered here, and upon the day after their arrival the new machinery started.
Now that the step was taken, Mr.Mulready's spirits rose.

He believed that the presence of the soldiers was ample protection for the mill, and he hoped that ere they left the town the first excitement would have cooled down, and the Luddites have turned their attention to other quarters.
Ned met Bill on the following Sunday.
"I suppose, Bill," he said, "there is a rare stir about Foxey using his new machinery ?" "Ay, that there be, and no wonder," Bill said angrily, "there be twenty hands turned adrift.