The Works of William Harrison Ainsworth

by William Harrison Ainsworth

  CHAPTER II

  How Standish returned to Lathom House, but stayed to sup at Knowsley on the Way thither

  EVENING was coming on, when Standish, attended by Linacre, set out from Tabley Hall.

  On his way to Daresbury, whither he speeded, he encountered several foraging parties, but as they belonged to Prince Rupert’s army, they did not molest him.

  From Daresbury he galloped on to the ferry that had served his turn in the morning, crossed the Mersey to Penketh, and went on at the same rapid pace to Prescot. His intention was to halt at Knowsley, and he hoped to reach the house before its inmates had retired to rest.

  He succeeded in his design, and astonished Don Fortunio and Engracia by his unexpected appearance in the great banqueting-hall. Engracia uttered a cry when she beheld him.

  “Is it possible you can have returned so soon?” she said. “You gave us no hopes of seeing you again.”

  “I had no expectation of returning immediately when I left you,” he replied. “But I have tidings that will delight you. Prince Rupert is coming with a large force to the countess’s relief. I have seen him, and am on the way to Lathom with a message from his highness.”

  And he hastily recounted all that had occurred. They listened with the greatest satisfaction to his narration, and so did Randal Fermor, who was present at the time.

  “You must be fatigued by your long ride, sir,” said the old steward, filling a goblet with wine, and presenting it to him.

  “Touch the cup with your lips ere I drink, I pray you, fair damsel,” said Standish.

  She complied, exclaiming at the same time: “To the countess’s speedy deliverance.”

  While Standish emptied the goblet, Don Fortunio likewise drank the same toast, and as it was now quite evident that the young man stood in need of some refreshment, the steward pressed him to sit down at the table, at the same time placing part of a cold fowl before him.

  To bear him company, Don Fortunio, who had finished supper, began again, and even Engracia ate a little more. But while thus taking care of himself he was not unmindful of his attendant, but sent Randal to look after Linacre and the horses.

  Having rested sufficiently, and renovated his strength by a good supper, Standish took leave of his friends, and again set forth on his perilous journey.

  The night was dark, but he rode swiftly through the park with his attendant, crossed the moors safely, and entered the wood beyond which lay the camp of the enemy. Here he halted for awhile to consult with his attendant.

  The greatest caution was now required. Linacre thought they might be able to steal through the camp unperceived, but if the alarm should be given, they must trust to the swiftness of their horses.

  At length, they issued from the wood, peering through the gloom, and listening anxiously for any sound, but they had not proceeded far when they were challenged by a sentinel whom they had not been able to distinguish in the gloom.

  As they made no answer the man fired, upon which they dashed on, determined at all hazards to pass through the camp. But the alarm had been given, drums were beaten, and several more shots fired.

  Linacre displayed great skill in avoiding the danger. At his earnest request he was allowed to take the lead, and it was well that Standish consented to his guidance, as by the various turns he made, he completely perplexed the enemy, and caused them to fire upon one another.

  At last, Standish and his attendant cleared the camp, and without hurt or hindrance to themselves or their steeds; but other sentinels had to be passed. They freed themselves from the first who challenged them by shooting him, and then galloped towards the trenches. They were next pursued by a mounted guard, who shouted to them to stop, and fired at them when they refused, and the pursuit continued till they reached the fortifications.

  Meanwhile, the firing had been heard by the musketeers on the ramparts, and suspecting what was taking place, Captain Chisenhale, who had a party of men in readiness, instantly sallied forth from the postern-gate, and fired a volley at the nearest battery.

  This was done to distract the enemy’s attention, and proved completely successful, while it served to direct Standish and his attendant in their course, and they now made for that part of the trenches which was nearest the gateway.

  But their pursuers were not far behind, and shouted to their comrades to stop them, but the cries were unheard. The fugitives got through the trenches, killing three men who sought to check them, and though pursued to the last, crossed the drawbridge in safety, and entered the gateway.

  “Has the countess retired to rest?” asked Standish, as he rode into the court.

  “Her ladyship is in the chapel,” replied Captain Ogle, to whom the inquiry was addressed. “She has ordered a special service to-night.”

  “Come with me thither,” cried Standish, leaping from his steed. “I have news you will be glad to hear.”

  When they reached the chapel, the service was just finished, and the soldiers who had attended it were coming forth.

  Standish ordered them to wait outside, and entering the little fane, met the countess and Arch-deacon Rutter.

  She was greatly surprised, but had not time to question him, ere he spoke.

  “I bring a message to your ladyship from Prince Rupert,” he said. “His highness is coming to succour you. You may expect him ere many days.”

  “Heaven, then, has heard my prayers,” she exclaimed.

  CHAPTER III

  How Stockport Bridge was defended by Colonels Duckenfield and Mainwaring, and how it was taken by Prince Rupert and the Earl of Derby

  THE tidings brought by Standish that Prince Rupert and the Earl of Derby were marching to succour the countess quickly spread through the garrison, and caused so much excitement, that the musketeers were with difficulty prevented from shouting out to the enemy.

  The countess, however, gave the strictest orders that no manifestation whatever should be made, and her injunctions were enforced by Major Farrington and the officers.

  Standish had explained to her ladyship that the prince and the earl meant to enter Lancashire by Stockport Bridge, which was certain to be defended by a strong force of the enemy, and that till this pass was won, she must not reckon upon the immediate appearance of her deliverers.

  The well-judging lady was of the same opinion, and though she had no apprehension of the result of the conflict which she felt must ensue at Stockport, she would not allow any precautions to be neglected.

  “On the contrary we must be more vigilant than ever,” she said, “lest the enemy should make a last attempt to assault the castle before they are forced to abandon the siege.”

  “My counsel is that we should make another grand sortie,” said Major Farrington, “and if we can, drive the enemy from the trenches, before our friends arrive, so that the honour may rest — as it should do — with your ladyship.”

  “I am quite satisfied with what I have done,” she replied. “I do not desire to expose my brave soldiers and their officers to heedless risk.”

  “I beseech your ladyship not to think of us,” observed Standish. “We all long to punish the enemy, and shall be grievously disappointed if we have not another opportunity of doing so. Besides, there is nothing to fear. In the numerous sorties we have made our losses have been trifling.”

  “That is true,” replied the countess. “Heaven has fought with us. My brave soldiers shall not be deprived of the honour they covet. If the prince and my lord arrive not here in three days, another sortie shall be made.”

  “Why should it not be made to-night, madam?” said Standish.

  “No — that must not be,” she replied. “Were any disaster to occur, my lord would blame me.”

  Standish said no more, though he felt mortified by her ladyship’s refusal.

  A strong sense of disappointment pervaded both officers and men that they were not to be allowed a last chance of punishing the detested foe, but they repressed the feeling as well as they could, and o
nly displayed it by picking off a man now and then on the batteries.

  A strange sort of quietude prevailed amongst the enemy, which could only be explained by the supposition that they were preparing either for a general assault or a speedy retreat. That news had reached them of the advance of Prince Rupert and the earl was apparent, but how they meant to act under the circumstances could not be so readily conjectured.

  The greatest care was taken by Rigby to cut off all communication between the garrison and their friends, and he succeeded so well that no intelligence, later than that brought by Standish, had as yet reached the countess.

  She knew not whether Rupert and the earl had passed Stockport Bridge, or whether they had been compelled by the successful resistance of the enemy to cross the Mersey at Warrington. In the latter case they would have to storm the town, and this would occasion considerable delay.

  Linacre and another scout had been sent out to obtain information, but neither had returned.

  Meanwhile, though the garrison knew it not, the utmost anxiety prevailed in the camp of the enemy, and constant councils were held by Rigby and Colonel Assheton, Colonel Holland having returned to Manchester on the first tidings of the prince’s approach, as it was not improbable that town might be assaulted by the prince.

  All the available force that could be got together by the Parliamentary commanders was sent to Stock-port to defend the bridge. Unfortunately for them, Sir Thomas Fairfax, the only general who could have adequately directed their efforts at this critical juncture, or encountered the resistless Rupert with a chance of success, was in Yorkshire, and could not arrive in time.

  The Parliamentary force, thus hastily collected, amounted to four thousand men — five hundred of whom were contributed by Rigby from his beleaguering force at Lathom. The commanders of this force, which consisted chiefly of infantry, were Colonels Duckenfield and Mainwaring, two officers of courage and experience. They had with them a dozen large cannon.

  At Stockport, the Mersey, which here divides Cheshire and Lancashire, runs through a deep ravine with high cliffs on either side. At that time the river was crossed by a narrow stone bridge, which from its position could be easily defended.

  Posted on the Lancashire side of the river, the Parliamentary leaders had placed six of their cannon so as to command the bridge, and the rest on the heights above.

  The cliffs were covered with musketeers who could fire upon the enemy as from the ramparts of a castle, while a large force, drawn up on both sides of the bridge, was ready to dispute the passage.

  When Prince Rupert looked down upon this formidable pass, and saw how well it was defended, he remarked to the Earl of Derby, who was with him:

  “The rebels have done their best to keep us out of Lancashire. It will take some time and cost some men to get to the other side of this ravine, but we shall do it in spite of them.”

  “Will your highness go first, or shall I clear the bridge?” asked the earl.

  “No, cousin. No one shall go before me,” replied the prince. “Follow with the cuirassiers.”

  Having given some orders, the valiant prince, who loved to confront danger, drew his sword, placed himself at the head of his lancers, and dashed down the precipitous bank like a torrent, sweeping all before it.

  Utterly unable to withstand the furious onset, the soldiers, who guarded the approach to the bridge were either cut to pieces, or driven back upon their comrades, so that the bridge was crowded with soldiers jammed so closely together that they could not move hand or foot.

  In this helpless condition they were mercilessly slaughtered by the lancers, to escape whom numbers leaped over the parapets into the river and were drowned.

  In a few minutes, Rupert was across the bridge, cutting down, or scattering the new force that vainly attempted to oppose him.

  Meantime, the musketeers on the cliffs had begun to fire, and showers of bullets whistled past the prince, but he seemed to bear a charmed life, for not a shot struck him.

  The cannon near the bridge proved useless, and were taken before the engineers could open fire, while the ordnance on the heights, being badly levelled, did more harm to friends than foes.

  By this time the Earl of Derby had joined the prince, and harquebussiers and dragoons were following fast, so that the whole ravine seemed filled with soldiers, and resounded with the roar of cannon and the rattle of musketry.

  To prevent the Royalists from climbing the bank, Colonel Duckenfield had barred the ascent with a thousand men, and a terrible conflict took place, but it ended in the complete rout of the Parliamentarians, more than half of whom were slain.

  The battle did not last more than two hours, but at the end of that time Rupert and Lord Derby were in Lancashire, with their whole force — neither of them having received a wound, while the enemy were flying in all directions.

  The losses of the Royalists were slight as compared with those of the foe. Quantities of arms were taken, and many prisoners made.

  In short, the prince’s entrance into Lancashire had been marked by an important victory, tidings of which would quickly spread throughout the country, rousing the well-affected, and filling the rebels with dismay.

  On hearing of this signal defeat, Rigby was filled with consternation. Clearly, the siege of Lathom House must be abandoned, since he could not doubt that Prince Rupert and the Earl of Derby would immediately come to succour the countess, and it would be impossible to stand against them.

  He knew not which way to turn. If he retired to Manchester, he should inevitably meet the foe. After some consideration, he decided upon proceeding to Bolton, which had now become a Puritan town, and where there was a strong Parliamentary garrison.

  But he determined not to set out till night, as he wished to keep the countess in suspense to the last moment. With this object he ordered a certain number of men to remain in the trenches, and occupy the batteries till it became dark.

  Later on in the day, the remnant of the troops he had sent to Stockport returned, in a very shattered condition, several of them wounded, and most of them without arms or ammunition.

  Captain Willoughby and Captain Bootle, the only officers left, out of half a dozen, gave him particulars of the disastrous fight, and confirmed his apprehensions that the victorious Royalist commanders were marching to Lathom to wreak their vengeance upon him. He had no alternative, therefore, but flight, and he accordingly hastened his preparations for departure.

  Before setting out, he sent Captain Bootle with a small troop of horse to Knowsley, ordering him to make prisoners of Don Fortunio and his daughter, and bring them to Bolton, as he hoped to obtain a large ransom for them.

  An hour before midnight, he had assembled his whole force, which notwithstanding the losses he had just sustained amounted to nearly three thousand men.

  In obedience to the orders given them, the soldiers had silently quitted the trenches and batteries, and nothing indicated that the musketeers on the batteries were aware of their departure.

  Screened by the darkness, Rigby then stole away, deeply mortified and humiliated, the Leaguer that had lasted nearly four months being thus disgracefully abandoned.

  All possible expedition was used in the nocturnal march, for the Parliamentarians were fearful of pursuit, knowing that quarter would not be given them, if they were overtaken.

  They might have found refuge in Wigan, which was not far off, but Rigby did not dare to stay there, as he would not have been secure from the vengeful Earl of Derby. So he went on, leaving behind him at Eccleston and Wrightington such of his wounded soldiers as were unable to continue the rapid march.

  On reaching Lostock Hall, he halted for an hour, and then made his way over the hills and moors lying between him and Bolton, arriving there soon after day- break. Not till he was inside the mud walls that protected the town, did he feel secure.

  CHAPTER IV

  Of the brief Visit paid by Prince Rupert to the Countess

  WHILE Rigby was exec
uting this rapid retreat, the officers of the garrison were preparing for a final sortie — permission having at last been accorded, though reluctantly, by the countess.

  Just before dawn, Standish, accompanied by Lieutenant Bretergh and fifty musketeers, sallied forth from the great gateway; and at the same time Captains Ogle and Rawsthorne with another party issued from the postern-gate. Captain Chisenhale with a hundred men was in the centre court, and Captain Molineux Radcliffe was on the ramparts.

  As the two parties cautiously advanced towards the trenches, they were surprised to find that all remained quiet. No sentinels could be discovered, nor was a single shot fired from the fortifications.

  Beginning, at length, to suspect the truth, Standish dashed on, plunged unhesitatingly into the trench, which he found abandoned, and next scaled the nearest battery, followed closely by Bretergh and his men. No resistance was offered. Not a shot was fired. The cannon was in the sconce, but the engineers were gone.

  Overjoyed at the discovery, Standish caused his men to shout loudly. They were answered from the fortifications gained by Ogle and Rawsthorne, and from musketeers on the ramparts of the mansion, but no other sound was heard, and it was clear that the besiegers had decamped, leaving nothing behind them except such ordnance as were too heavy to be removed.

  Intelligence of this important discovery was immediately sent to Major Farrington, by whom it was conveyed to the countess.

  She was quite prepared for the good news by the shouts she had heard. Indeed, there was not a single person in the garrison that did not guess the truth.

  As soon as it became light, the sudden departure of the enemy was confirmed, since it could be seen that the tents had been struck during the night. Evidently Rigby had taken flight, alarmed by the approach of Prince Rupert and the Earl of Derby.

  Standish besought permission to ride forth and meet the earl, and the countess yielded to his solicitations, but enjoined him to take a guard with him. Nothing could have pleased him better, and as soon as the horses could be saddled, he set out with half a dozen armed attendants.