“The warning, I fear, will be disregarded,” said the countess. “The rebels will retaliate. The castle is still occupied by the garrison, and will cost a long siege ere it can be taken.”
“In my opinion, madam, the garrison will surrender,” rejoined Rutter. “The capture of the town is a great blow. We shall soon hear more good news.”
“It comes!” cried Gertrude, who had been anxiously looking out for another messenger. “I see a small party of horsemen galloping hither.”
All eyes were instantly turned in the direction towards which she pointed.
“You must be mistaken, girl,” said the countess. “I can perceive no horsemen.”
“You will behold them presently, madam,” replied Gertrude. “They are hidden by the trees.”
Almost as she spoke, the troop appeared, and the Lady Henriette Marie called out:
“Yes, there they are! The Cavalier at their head is Captain Standish.”
“Standish!” exclaimed the countess. “Then, of a surety, he brings good tidings.”
“Was I not right, madam?” said Doctor Rutter. “I doubt not the castle has been taken.”
“Surrendered — not taken,” rejoined the countess. “I am heartily glad of it.”
Just then the leader of the little troop, which was approaching very rapidly, descried the party on the Eagle Tower, and waved his feathered hat to them.
The action caused great excitement among the beholders, and the young ladies Stanley, as well as Gertrude, waved their kerchiefs in reply.
“May we go down and meet him, dearest mother?” said the Lady Henriette Marie.
Beseeching looks were cast by all the others at the countess, who willingly assented, and the whole party descended to the court-yard.
By the time they got there, Standish and his followers had nearly reached the mansion, and a loud shout from the warders at the gate, and musketeers on the walls, greeted them, as they crossed the drawbridge.
Perceiving the countess and those with her in the court, Standish hastily alighted and hurrying towards her would have flung himself at her feet if she had not stopped him.
“Your news — your news?” she cried.
“My lord has recovered Preston,” he replied.
“Indeed!” she exclaimed, in astonishment. “When I last heard of him, he was at Lancaster, and about to besiege the castle.”
“His lordship left Lancaster last night, madam, and this morning, he surprised Preston. He is now master of the town.”
“A great achievement, and quickly performed,” she rejoined. “It will redound to his lordship’s honour.” She then asked in an anxious tone, “Has there been much slaughter?”
“None whatever, madam. His lordship bade me tell you that not a man has been killed.”
“I am truly glad to hear it. This clemency may be set against the havoc at Lancaster.”
“His lordship would gladly have spared the people of Lancaster, madam; but they refused his summons, being compelled to do so by the commanders of the garrison.”
“Had the garrison been put to the sword I should not have grieved,” said the countess; “but I pity those poor souls.”
“They do not all deserve your pity, madam — nor can they complain, since, as I have shown, they brought this punishment upon themselves.”
Here Doctor Rutter interposed.
“Shall we proceed to the chapel, madam,” he said, “and offer up thanks to Heaven for the victory vouchsafed us, and for the preservation of the earl from his enemies?”
“I was about to make the suggestion, reverend sir,” said the countess. “Our first duty is to Heaven, and if we neglect it, we cannot hope that our cause will continue to prosper.”
By this time, all the officers of the garrison had come up, and manifested the greatest satisfaction, when they learnt that Preston had been recovered.
CHAPTER X
How Hoghton Tower was blown up
COLONEL NICHOLAS STARKIE, of Huntroyd, a staunch Parliamentary leader, who had previously defeated Sir Gilbert Hoghton at Hintfield Moor, having learnt that Sir Gilbert had marched with Lord Derby on Lancaster, resolved to surprise Hoghton Tower, and suddenly appeared before it with three hundred men, and some cannon, and firing a shot against the gates summoned the commander to surrender.
Captain Musgrave, who had been left in charge of the castle by Sir Gilbert, and had with him forty musketeers, haughtily refused the summons, and at once returned the fire.
The defence was vigorous, but it soon became clear that the assault would be successful, whereupon Captain Musgrave sent out an officer to demand a parley, which was granted.
A conference then took place between Musgrave and Colonel Starkie — the result of which was that the former offered to deliver up the castle, provided the lives of the garrison were spared.
These terms being agreed to, after the delay of half an hour, Colonel Starkie and his men entered the outer court, where they found Captain Musgrave with the musketeers drawn up, and ready to depart. The great gates of the inner court were likewise thrown open, and no one could be seen upon the towers or walls.
“You have done wisely in delivering up the castle to us, Captain Musgrave, since you cannot hold it,” said Colonel Starkie, as he courteously saluted the discomfited officer. “You have made a gallant defence.”
“I hope Sir Gilbert Hoghton may think so,” replied Musgrave sternly. “Are we free to depart?”
Receiving an answer in the affirmative, he passed with the musketeers through the outer gate, and quickly descending the hill, made the best of his way with the little party to Walton-le-Dale, whence they proceeded to Preston.
Meanwhile, Colonel Starkie entered the castle with his men, and mounted towards the upper part of the building, in quest of arms and ammunition.
In a chamber on the summit of the structure, they found a much larger supply of muskets, calivers, petronels, and pistols than they expected, besides a great number of old arquebuses.
Moreover, there were two or three barrels of gunpowder, one of which seemed to have been half emptied by the men previous to their departure, since a good deal of powder was scattered about on the floor, and on the staircase.
Attaching little importance to this circumstance, Colonel Starkie was collecting all the arms he could find, when a terrific explosion took place, that shook the whole fabric to its foundations, rent the walls, blew off a large portion of the roof, and scattered great beams, stones, and mutilated bodies far and wide.
Immediately following the explosion, shrieks and cries could be heard, forming altogether a most appalling and unearthly noise.
When the soldiers left in the court-yard recovered from the shock, they rushed into the house, and found nothing but a heap of ruins, amidst which could be seen the bodies of their dead or dying comrades.
The upper part of the staircase was entirely destroyed, the floor cracked and broken, and a great portion of the roof blown off.
It was speedily discovered that a train had been laid, which had set fire to the barrels of gunpowder.
By this stratagem Colonel Starkie with a hundred and fifty of his soldiers were destroyed. Starkie’s body was so mutilated that it was only by his accoutrements that he could be recognised. The train had been laid by Urmston, the steward. He was betrayed by some of the household, and shot.
The central part-of the edifice, where the explosion occurred, was so damaged that it could not be inhabited, and it was not thought worth while to repair it. But the castle was fortified as strongly as ever, and the three large pieces of ordnance still kept their places on the outer gate.
By the Royalists the act was looked upon as just vengeance — by the Roundheads it was regarded as a detestable piece of treachery, which Heaven in due time would infallibly punish.
CHAPTER XI
How Lord Goring brought a Despatch from the King to the Earl of Derby
Two days after he had captured Preston, Lord Derby held a c
ouncil of war in an inner room in the town-hall, at which Lord Molineux, Sir Gilbert Hoghton, Sir Thomas Tyldesley and all the other commanders were present.
“I have now a proposition to make to you,” he said. “This success must be immediately followed up. Before the rebels can recover from their surprise we must strike another and heavier blow. We must attack Manchester with the fixed determination of taking the town. I doubt not we shall be successful. This very night we must start on the enterprise. If we tarry here we shall have to defend ourselves against Sir John Seaton and Colonel Holcroft, who most assuredly will besiege the town, whereas if we set out at once our movements cannot be checked.”
“I entirely agree with your lordship that it will be best to leave Preston,” said Sir Thomas Tyldesley; “but I thought it was your intention to take Blackburn, and then proceed to Bolton.”
“Manchester is far more important than either Blackburn or Bolton,” rejoined the earl. “And if I march against the town now, I will either take the place, or lay my bones there. Are you of my mind, gentlemen? Will you all go with me?”
“After our former experience,” remarked Lord Molineux, “I think the attempt on Manchester very hazardous—”
“The town must be captured — sooner or later,” said Lord Derby, “or the whole county is lost to the king. At this moment, Colonel Holland and Colonel Assheton are unprepared.”
“Well, I will raise no further objections,” said Lord Molineux.
“I will go wherever your lordship chooses to lead me,” said Sir Thomas Tyldesley.
“And I,” added Sir Gilbert Hoghton, and several others.
“Then we will set out to-night with all our force,” said the earl, “and proceed to Chorley. Tomorrow we will move on to Wigan, and give out that we mean to assault Bolton, but ere another dawn shall break the rebels shall find us at Manchester.”
Preparations were then secretly made by the Royalists for their departure, and at nightfall, Lord Derby, with his whole force, marched to Chorley, where they took up their quarters for the remainder of the night.
After a few hours’ repose, the army pursued its march to Wigan without meeting any opposition.
This town still remained faithful to Lord Derby, and here he had placed a strong garrison under the command of Major Blair, and had recently fortified it with new gates and outworks, so that the town was in an excellent state of defence, and the commander laughed at the threats of the rebels.
But scarcely had Lord Derby entered Wigan than all his plans were frustrated.
Lord Goring, with a small guard, had just arrived from Oxford, bearing a despatch from his majesty. The earl received him in the presence of Lord Molineux and all the other commanders.
“You are welcome, my lord,” he said. “I trust you bring good news from his majesty?”
“Not such good news as I could desire, my lord,” replied Goring. “The king has instant need of aid, and enjoins your lordship, on your allegiance, to send him forthwith all the men you can spare. The despatch I have just given you is an order to that effect, as you will find. Lord Molineux is also commanded to rejoin his majesty with all his officers and men.”
“I am quite ready to obey the order, my lord,” said Lord Molineux; “though I must mention that I have engaged with Lord Derby to make another assault on Manchester.”
The earl was unable to conceal his chagrin, though he controlled himself as well as he could.
“I am ready as ever to obey his majesty’s behest,” he said; “and will bring him all the troops I can muster — horse and foot. But I must pray for three or four days’ delay, during which I shall endeavour to take Manchester; and the importance of that capture will, I trust, satisfy his majesty.”
“There must be no delay, my lord,” said Lord Goring, haughtily. “You make sure of taking Manchester, but you were not successful on a former occasion. As I have already told you, his majesty requires at once all the force he can muster.”
“My lord, I believe if I had an opportunity of speaking to his majesty, he would approve of my purpose—”
“Then you refuse to obey?” said Lord Goring, sternly.
“No, my lord, but I must strongly remonstrate,” said Lord Derby. “An opportunity will be lost that may never occur again.”
“I am bound to say,” remarked Lord Molineux, “that, in my opinion, Manchester is so strongly garrisoned, and so well defended, that it cannot be taken under a month.”
“You hear, my lord?” said Goring, looking at the earl. “How say you, Sir Thomas?” he added, to Tyldesley. “You have had experience of this rebel town.”
“My experience leads me to the same conclusion as Lord Molineux,” replied Sir Thomas. “Manchester cannot be taken by a coup de main. Colonel Holland and Colonel Assheton are too much on the alert.”
“You are both mistaken,” cried the earl, warmly. “Let us march there to-day and I will engage to take the town before to-morrow morning. If your lordship will come with me, you shall behold the royal banner floating from the church tower at dawn.”
“I cannot comply with your request, my lord,” replied Goring. “Nor can I permit troops, that will be invaluable to his majesty at this juncture, to be sacrificed in a useless enterprise. I must be frank with your lordship. Neither the king nor his council think you are serving the royal cause in Lancashire.”
“Not serving it!” exclaimed the earl. “What would you have me do? I have just taken Lancaster and Preston.”
“But you can hold neither place,” said Goring. “And I am certain his majesty would not sanction your proposed attack on Manchester. I have commissions for Lord Molineux and Sir Thomas Tyldesley, empowering them to recruit their regiments from your last levies, and to join the king immediately at Oxford.”
“Since such are his majesty’s commands I shall not oppose them,” said the earl; “though I feel I should best serve him by acting contrary to his orders. However prejudicial to the royal cause it may be to strip Lancashire of its defenders, I am ready to take my whole force to Oxford.”
“That is not needful, my lord,” said Goring. “The king desires you to retain such troops as may be necessary, but to send him all you can spare.”
“I will take them to him as I have just said,” replied Lord Derby.
“My lord,” said Goring, “it will suffice if Lord Molineux and Sir Thomas Tyldesley join his majesty. Hereafter, if required, you can follow. You are best here for the present. Lancashire must not be given up to the rebels.”
“If I lose my men, I can make but a poor defence against the enemy,” said the earl. “But his majesty shall be obeyed. My men are ready to march in another direction — but it matters not. They will go wherever I bid them, and though I doubt not they will regret as much as I do myself that the attack on Manchester is abandoned, they will fight well elsewhere. I will take my whole force to Warrington, where I will leave it at his majesty’s disposal.”
“Nay, my lord, I must take the greater part of it with me,” said Goring. “Such are my orders.”
“You shall take all if you will,” rejoined Lord Derby.
“A dozen troops of horse and five hundred foot will suffice for the present,” said Goring.
“You shall have them,” replied the earl. “As soon as the men have rested, we will set out.”
Two hours later, the whole force that had just arrived at Wigan set out for Warrington.
As Lord Derby had anticipated, the change in the plans gave great dissatisfaction, and much reluctance was expressed by some of the soldiers to proceed to Oxford.
During the whole of the march between Wigan and Warrington, Lord Derby rode by himself. A short halt was made at Newton, but even then his lordship seemed in no humour for converse. Evidently it was a great grief to him to part with his army, and he could not conceal his vexation.
The whole force rested that night at Warrington, but early on the following morning, the chosen regiments set out for Chester on their long ma
rch to Oxford, under the command of Lord Molineux and Sir Thomas Tyldesley.
Thus checked in his victorious career and deprived of the greater part of his force and his two most efficient commanders, Lord Derby could not but feel the greatest mortification and disappointment.
Overcome by a despondency he could not shake off, he remained for three days at Warrington, when news was brought him of a great disaster.
Wigan had been captured by Colonel Assheton with a very strong force, consisting of upwards of two thousand men, and the town plundered.
Immediately on receiving this grievous intelligence, Lord Derby put himself at the head of the two troops of horse which were all that were now left him, and rode off to Wigan to see what could be done.
With him was Captain Standish, who had only joined on the previous day. The second troop was commanded by Sir Gilbert Hoghton.
On the earl’s appearance before the recently captured town, the fortifications of which showed how much it had suffered from the recent assault, Colonel Assheton immediately sallied forth at the head of a force trebling that of the Royalists.
A very sharp conflict ensued, during which many were slain on both sides, but at length the earl was compelled to retreat. He did so, however, in very good order, and rode with his company to Lathom House.
BOOK IV. — THE SURRENDER OF WARRINGTON
CHAPTER I
The Countess proposes to write to Prince Rupert
NATURALLY, the unexpected return of the Earl of Derby to the castle under such circumstances caused great consternation.
The whole garrison got under arms. As soon as his lordship had ridden through the gate with his followers, the drawbridge was raised, and preparation was made for attack.
The Works of William Harrison Ainsworth Page 768
