"Let me no longer live, she sayd,
Than to my lord I true remain;
My honour shall not be betray'd
Until I see my love again.
* * * * *
"Oh! blame her not if she was glad
When she her lord again had seen.
Thrice welcome home, my dear, she said,--
A long time absent thou hast been:
The wars shall never more deprive
Me of my lord whilst I'm alive."
--_Mirrour for Married Women_.
No authentic drawing or representation of Lathom House, we believe,
exists. The author has, however, had the temerity to present a
restoration of this renowned edifice, as it appeared before the siege,
and before "the sequestrators under Cromwell, weary of the slow disposal
of the building materials by sale, invited the peasants of the hundred
of West Derby to take away the stones and timbers without any charge."
The very numerous documents to which he has had recourse were aided by
measurements, and a visit to the spot, where he found that a tolerable
accurate idea might be formed of the situation and extent of the walls
and towers, together with the main entrance, and the "great Eagle
Tower."
The accompanying view is taken from a hill above the valley or trench,
where, it is said, the main army of the besiegers was encamped. It is
called in the neighbourhood "Cromwell's Trench," and the engraving may
serve to convey some idea of that magnificent and princely dwelling,
which, as the old ballad expresses it, would hold "two kinges, their
traines and all." Henry the Seventh, two years after his visit to
Lathom, restored his palace at Richmond, the same authority tells us,
"like Lathom Hall in fashion." The gate-house in the engraving is drawn
from the description of a carving of the Stanley legend in Manchester
Collegiate Church, executed in the time of James Stanley, Bishop of Ely.
From this it appears to have had two octagonal turrets on each side of
an obtusely-pointed or circular archway with battlements, machicolated
and pierced for cannon.
The Eagle Tower alone remained when part of the estate was transferred
to John Lord Ashburnham, on his marriage, in 1714, with Henrietta,
daughter of William, ninth earl of Derby. Lord Ashburnham sold it to a
Furness, and he to Sir Thomas Bootle. Not a vestige now exists, and even
the records of the family are destroyed. "Golforden," says Mr Heywood,
in his interesting _Notes to a Journal of the Siege of Lathom,_ "along
whose banks knights and ladies have a thousand times made resort,
hearkening to stories as varied as those of Boccaccio;--the maudlin
well, where the pilgrim and the lazar devoutly cooled their parched
lips;--the mewing-house,--the training round,--every appendage to
antique baronial state,--all now are changed, and a modern mansion and a
new possessor fill the place."
This memorable siege, and the heroic defence by Lady Derby, though among
the most prominent topics in the history of the county, supply but few
materials which may not be found in records that already exist. Yet
there are incidents connected with them which the historian has left
unrecorded; occurrences, it might be, too trivial or too apocryphal for
his pen. One of the main events in the following narrative, though not
found amongst written and authenticated records, the author has listened
to when a child, with a vigorous and greedy appetite for wonder,--one of
the earliest and most delightful exercises of the imagination.
We purpose to follow briefly the order of events as they appear in the
several narratives to which we have had access, interweaving such
traditionary matter as we have gathered in our researches, thereby
interrupting and relieving the tediousness of this "thrice-told tale."
Lord Derby, from the usual unhappy fatality, or rather from the
indecision and jealousies prevailing in his Majesty's councils, had been
commanded to leave the realm, and proceed instantly to the Isle of Man,
at the precise time when his presence here would have been the most
serviceable, not only from his great zeal, activity, and loyalty to his
sovereign, but by reason of the influence he possessed, and the example
which his noble and valiant bearing had shown throughout the county. His
house, children, and all other temporal concerns, he left to the care of
his lady, first making provision, secretly, for their defence, supplying
her with men, money, and ammunition, that she might not be unprepared in
case of attack. His lordship's opinion of this disastrous and impolitic
removal may be gathered from the following hasty expressions. After a
perusal of the despatches, announcing the king's, or rather the queen's,
pleasure that he should speedily repair to the Isle of Man, where an
invasion was apprehended from the Scots,--speaking to the Lady Derby
with more than ordinary quickness, he said, "My heart, my enemies have
now their will, having prevailed with his Majesty to order me to the
Isle of Man, as a softer banishment from his presence and their malice."
This valiant and high-born dame was daughter to Claude, Duke of
Tremouille, and Charlotte Brabantin de Nassau, daughter of William,
Prince of Orange, and Charlotte de Bourbon, of the royal house of
France. By this marriage the Earl of Derby was allied to the French
kings, the Dukes of Anjou, the Kings of Naples and Sicily, the Kings of
Spain, and many other of the sovereign princes of Europe. Her father was
a staunch Huguenot, and a trusty follower of Henry IV. That she did not
sully the renown acquired by so illustrious a descent, the following
narrative will abundantly prove.
It was at a special council of the Holy States,[43] held at Manchester
on Saturday the 24th of February 1644, that, after many former debates
and consultations, the siege of Lathom was concluded upon. The
parliament troops under Colonel Ashton of Middleton, Colonel Moore of
Bank-Hall, and Colonel Rigby of Preston, on the same day began their
march, proceeding by way of Bolton, Wigan, and Standish, under a
pretence of going into Westmoreland, that the soldiers should not
presently know of their destination.
Lathom, for magnificence and hospitality, was held in high reputation,
assuming, in these respects, the attitude of a royal court in the
northern parts of the kingdom; and the family were regarded with such
veneration and esteem that the following harmless inversion was familiar
"as household words:"--"God save the Earl of Derby and the King;" the
general feeling and opinion thereby apparent being love to their lord
and loyalty to their prince.
On the 27th of February the enemy took up their quarters about a mile
distant from the house. The next day Captain Markland was the bearer of
a letter to her ladyship from Sir Thomas Fairfax, commander-in-chief of
the parliamentary forces, and likewise an ordinance of parliament: the
one requiring that she should surrender the house upon such honourable
terms as he might propose; and the other setting forth and commending
the great mercy they had manifested by thus offering to receive the Earl
of Derby if he would submit himself. But she indignantly refused to
surrender without the consent and commandment of her lord; and after
many interviews, to which she assented only to gain time, and to
complete the provisioning and fortifying of her little garrison, they
began to find her answers too full of policy and procrastination,
dangerous to the fidelity of their troops. In the end, seeing she was
only amusing them by vain pretences, they sent the following as their
final terms, by Colonel Morgan, commander of the engineers, who had been
appointed by Sir Thomas Fairfax to conduct the siege:--
1st. "That the Countess of Derby shall have the time she desires, and
then liberty to transport her arms and goods to the Isle of Man, except
the cannon, which shall continue there for the defence of the house.
2d. "That her ladyship, by ten o'clock on the morrow, shall disband all
her soldiers, except her menial servants, and receive an officer and
forty parliament soldiers for her guard."
Morgan is described as "a litle man short and peremptory, who met with
staidnes to coole his heat; and had the honor to carry backe this last
answer--for her ladyshipp could scrue them to noe more delayes, viz.--
"That she refused all their articles, and was truely happy they had
refused hers, protesting shee had rather hazard her life than offer the
like again;--
"That though a woman, and a stranger, divorced from her friends, and
rob'd of her estate, she was ready to receive their utmost vyolence,
trusting in God both for protection and deliverance."
The next morning they discovered the enemy had been at work about a
musket-shot from the house, in a sloping ground, where they appeared to
be forming a breast-work and trench to protect the pioneers--multitudes
of country people being every day forced into this laborious service.
The situation of Lathom deserves some notice, it being admirably
calculated to resist any attack.
"It was encompassed by a strong wall, two yards thick; upon the walls
were nine towers, flanking each other, and in every tower six pieces of
ordnance, that played three one way and three another. Upon the tops of
these towers were placed the best and choicest marksmen, who usually
attended the Earl in his sports, as huntsmen, keepers, fowlers, and the
like, who continually kept watch, with screwed guns and long
fowling-pieces, to the great annoyance and loss of the enemy, especially
of their commanders, who were frequently killed in the trenches. Without
the wall was a moat eight yards wide and two yards deep; between the
wall and the moat was a strong row of palisadoes. A high tower, called
the Eagle Tower, stood in the midst, surmounting all the rest. The
gate-house had a strong tower on each side, forming the entrance to the
first court."
The site of the house seemed to have been formed for a stronghold, or
place of safety: thus described by Seacome:--
"Before the house, to the south and south-west, is a rising ground,
so near as to overlook the top of it, from which it falls so quick,
that nothing planted against it on those sides can touch it further
than the front wall; and on the north and east sides there is
another rising ground, even to the edge of the moat." "The
situation of it may be compared to the palm of a man's hand, flat
in the middle, and covered with a rising ground, about it, and so
near to it, that the enemy, in two years' siege, were never able to
raise a battery against it, so as to make a breach in the wall
practicable to enter the house by way of storm."[44]
It is said the camp of the besiegers was in a woody dell, near what is
now called "The Round O Quarry," about half-a-mile from Lathom. This
dell is still called "Cromwell's Trench;" and a large and remarkable
stone, having two circular hollows or holes on its upper surface,
evidently once containing nodules of iron, is called "Cromwell's
Stone"--the country people supposing these holes were used as moulds for
casting balls during the siege.
The besiegers, however, thought to reduce the place by famine, being
deceived through the following device of her ladyship's chaplain, the
Rev. Mr Rutter, a person whom the Earl had left to her assistance, that
she might be guided by his great skill and prudence:--
During one of the conferences before-named, a captain of the
parliamentary forces, recognising in the chaplain an old friend, with
whom he had been educated, and very intimate and familiar aforetime,
took a secret opportunity of addressing him, hoping to worm out her
ladyship's secrets; conjuring him, by reason of their former friendship,
to tell truly upon what ground or confidence she still refused these
offers, seeing that it was impossible to defend her house against such
a numerous and well-furnished army as was then encamped in the park.
Rutter, casting his eyes earnestly towards the ramparts, bade his friend
note their disposition and defence. Her ladyship, as commander-in-chief,
to prevent any sudden assault, and likewise to awe the enemy by these
demonstrations, had disposed her soldiers in due order, so that they
should be seen, under their respective officers, from the main-guard in
the first court, down to the great hall, where they had left her
ladyship's council. The rest of her forces she had placed upon the
walls, and on the tops of the towers, in such manner that they might
appear both numerous and well-disciplined.
"She is in nothing so desirous," said Rutter, "as that you should waste
your strength and forces by a sudden assault, wherein you would not fail
to have the worst of the battle: the place being armed at all points, as
thou seest, and able to withstand any attack but that of famine."
A promise of secresy was exacted, when the wary chaplain pretended to
unfold her ladyship's plans. He said there was but little provision in
the place--that she was oppressed with the number of her soldiers--that
she would not be able to subsist more than fourteen days; and she hoped
to dare them to a sudden onset, not from her own confidence to give them
a repulse, but knowing that, should they continue the siege, she must
inevitably be forced to surrender.
The captain, after embracing his friend, and promising faithfully to
maintain the secret, revealed, as Rutter intended he should, the whole
of his confidential story to the enemy's council; who, giving credit to
the tale, laid aside, for the present, all thoughts of an attack, and
resolved to invest the place in a close and formal siege.
Fourteen days being expired, and they, supposing her provisions were
nigh spent, and the garrison reduced to the last extremity, sent another
and more peremptory summons. But during this time her soldiers were
training, the walls and fortifications were undergoing a thorough
repair, and the cannon properly served and mounted. The fortress, too,
was well stocked, and even abundantly stored with provisions, in spite
of their enemies, who kept a strict watch, but failed to detect the
source and manner of the supply. She was not without hope, too, of
relief from the king's troops, whom she daily expected to her
assistance.
The besiegers finding themselves deceived, their confidence abused, and
their schemes only serving to the advantage of the opposite party,
orders were given and preparations made for more offensive measures, by
drawing a line of circumvallation round the house.
The garrison consisted of 300 men, commanded by the Captains Henry Ogle,
Edward Chisnall, Edward Rawsthorne, William Farmer, Mullineux Ratcliffe,
and Richard Fox, assisted in their consultations by William Farrington
of Werden, Esq., who, for executing the commission of array, and
attending her ladyship in these troubles, had suffered the seizure of
all his personal estate and the sequestration of his lands.
There were 150 men each night upon the watch, with the exception of
sixteen select marksmen out of the whole, who all day kept the towers.
The besieger's army was between two and three thousand, divided into
tertias of seven or eight hundred men, who watched every third day and
night. They were commanded by Colonels Egerton, Ashton, Holland, Rigby,
Moore, and Morgan, with their captains and lieutenants.
After many warlike demonstrations, by which they hoped to intimidate the
garrison, and after some days spent in fruitless endeavours to bring her
ladyship, as they said, to a due sense of her condition, they sent one
Captain Ashurst, "a fair and civil gentleman, of good character," with
fresh proposals. But Lady Derby, justly considering these frequent
treaties and debates were a discouragement to her men, implying weakness
and a want of confidence in her resources, replied sharply--
"That no one should quit the house, but that she would keep it, whilst
God enabled her, against all the king's enemies; that, in brief, she
would receive no more messages, but referred them to her lord, scorning
their malice, and defying their assaults."
As the sequel of a business often depends upon the manner of its
beginning, to second and confirm this answer the next morning she
ordered a sally, when Captain Farmer with one hundred foot and
Lieutenant Kay with twelve horse, their whole cavalry, went forth at
different gates. Captain Farmer, determining to take them by surprise,
marched up to the enemy's works without firing a shot; then pouncing
upon them suddenly in their trenches, he ordered a close and well-aimed
volley, which quickly made them leave their holes in great disorder.
Immediately Lieutenant Kay, wheeling round with his horse, took them in
flank, doing great execution as they fled. There were slain of the enemy
about thirty men. The spoil was forty muskets, one drum, and six
prisoners.
The retreat of this little band was skilfully secured by Captain Ogle
and Captain Rawsthorne, so that not one of the assailants was either
slain or wounded.
The besiegers were much annoyed with devices, ingeniously contrived by
the garrison to intimidate them, and hinder and injure their work.
Hitherto they had not been able to cast up a mound for their ordnance,
so harassed and occupied were they with these incessant alarms. But
Rigby, on whom devolved the plan and conduct of the siege, seeing that
their affairs were in no thriving condition, but that rather they were
the scoff and jest of the garrison, who daily taunted them from the
walls, determined at all hazards to raise his cannon. For this purpose a
considerable number of the peasantry and poorer sort in the
neighbourhood, and for miles round, were driven like beasts to their
daily work, labouring unremittingly at the mounds and trenches. At first
they were sheltered by baskets and hurdles, afterwards by a testudo, or
wooden house running upon wheels and roofed with thick planks. Still
many lives were lost in this desperate service. In the end they brought
up one piece of cannon, amusing themselves like schoolboys at a holiday,
in practising their harmless reports. The first shot struck the outer
wall, but it was found proof. Afterwards they aimed higher, intending to
beat down a pinnacle or turret, but this also passed without damage. The
last shot, which missed entirely, went over and beyond the buildings,
burrowing in a field on the other side.
When they had performed this mighty feat they sounded another parley,
having, as they supposed, mightily beat down the hearts of the besieged.
Colonel Rigby's chaplain then appeared at the gate with a letter that
Sir Thomas Fairfax had received from Lord Derby, who was now at Chester,
on his return from the Isle of Man. In this epistle he desired a free
and honourable passage for his lady and their children, if she so
pleased, being unwilling, as he said, to expose them to the uncertain
hazard of a long siege. His lordship knew not, by reason of his long
absence, either how his house was provided with ammunition and
sustenance, or in what condition it might be to withstand the attack. He
was desirous that the garrison alone should bear the brunt, and that a
defenceless woman and her children should be rescued from captivity.
Her ladyship replied that she would communicate with the earl, and if he
should then continue in the same opinion, she would willingly submit to
his commands; but until this, she would neither yield up the house nor
abate in her hostility, but would abide by the result. Immediately she
despatched to his lordship a messenger, conveying him from the house by
a well-executed sally. The attempt succeeded; but whether he was
suffered to reach his destination or not we have no means of
ascertaining. No answer was returned, though some days had elapsed,
during which the enemy made many fruitless attempts to batter the walls.
They had now mounted the whole of their artillery, including their great
mortar-piece, at that period looked upon as a most destructive engine,
casting stones thirteen inches in diameter and eighty pounds weight;
likewise grenadoes--hollow balls of iron, filled with powder, and
lighted by a fusee. These were dangerous intruders, calculated to
produce great alarm and annoyance, as we shall find in the sequel. The
mortar was planted only about half a musket-shot from the walls,
south-west, on a rising ground, from whence the engineer commanded a
view of the whole buildings.
The work on which it stood was orbicular, with a rampart of two yards
and a half broad above the ditch. To lessen the destructive effects of
this dangerous piece of artillery, chosen men were set as guards with
wet hides and woollen coverlids to quench the flame, had the enemy been
skilful enough to accomplish their purpose; it being their general
opinion that to burn the house would be the most effectual means of
subduing and driving out the garrison. But finding their endeavours met
with no prosperous return, they bethought them to cast a show of
religion over these attempts at robbery and rapine, issuing out commands
to all men well affected towards their success, to co-operate with them
for the overthrow of the "Babylonish harlot," by which term some worthy
disciples of the visible church scrupled not to call the Lady of
Lathom.[45]
The following proclamation was sent forth from their headquarters at
Ormskirk:--
"To all ministers and parsons in Lancashire, well-wishers to our
successe against Lathom House, these:--
"Forasmuch as more than ordinary obstrucc'ons have from the
beginning of this p'sent service ag^t Lathom House interposed our
proceedings, and yet still remaine, which cannot otherwise be
removed, nor our successe furthered, but onely by devine
assistance: it is, therefore, our desires to the ministers and
other well-affected persons of this county of Lancaster, in publike
manner, as they shall please, to com'end our case to God, that as
wee are appoynted to the s^d employment, soe much tending to the
settleing of our p'sent peace in theise parts, soe the Almighty
would crowne our weake endeavours with speedy success in the said
designe.
(Signed)
"RALPH ASHTON.
"JOHN MOORE.
"ORMSKIRK, 5 Ap. 1644."
The four following days were, on their part, consumed in these unholy
exercises; but the garrison, tired with inaction, resolved to awaken
them, and turn their thoughts into a more profitable channel.
On Wednesday, the 10th of April, says the MS. journal, "about eleven
o'clock, Capt^n Farmer and Capt^n Mullineux Rattcliffe, Lieu^t Penckett,
Lieu^t Woorrale, w^th 140 souldiers, sallyed out at a postern gate,
beate the enemy from all theire worke and batteries, w^ch were now cast
up round the house, nailed all theire canon, killed about 50 men, took
60 armes, one collours, and three drumes, in which acc'on, Capt^n
Rattcliffe deserves this remembrance, that w^th 3 souldiers, the rest of
his squadron being scattered w^th execuc'on of the enemy, he cleared two
sconces, and slew 7 men w^th his owne hand, Lieu^t Woorrall, ingageing
himself in another worke among 50 of the enemy, bare the fury of all,
till Capt^n Farmer relieved him, who, to the wonder of us all, came off
without any dangerous wound.[46]--The sally-port was that day warded by
Capt^n Chisnall, who with fresh men stood ready for succour of ours, had
they been putt to the extremity; but they bravely marched round the
works, and came in att the great gates, where Capt^n Ogle w^th a p'ty of
musketeers kept open the passage. Capt^n Rawstorne hadd the charge of
the musketeers upon the walls, which hee plac'd to the best advantage
to vex the enemy in their flight. Capt^n Foxe, by a collours from the
Eagle Tower, gave signall when to march and when to retreate, according
to the motions of the enemy, which hee observed at a distance.--In all
this service wee had but one man mortally wounded, and wee tooke onely
one prisoner, an officer, for intelligence. In former sallyes some
prisoners were taken, and by exchange releast, Colonel Ashton and Rigby
promising to sett at liberty as many of the king's freinds, then
prisoners in Lancaster, Manchester, Preston, and other places proposed
by her ladishipp. But most unworthily they broke condic'ons, it suiting
well with their religion neither to observe faith with God nor men; and
this occasioned a greater slaughter than either her la^pp or the
captaynes desired, because wee were in no condic'on to keepe prisoners,
and knew the co'manders wold never release 'em but upon base or
dishonorable terms."
Though their cannon had been injured in the spiking, yet were they not
rendered useless; for the same night they "played a sacre twice," it is
said, "to tell us they had cannon that wold speke tho' our men had
endeavoured to steele up all their lippes."
On the 15th a grenado fell short of the house, in a walk near the chapel
tower: some pieces of the shell, two inches thick, flew over the wall,
and were gathered up by the attendants. It was a mighty achievement to
fire this unwieldy engine, requiring great labour and exertion to fill
up its mouth when once it had vomited forth its malice. The day after,
they loaded it with stones: to their great joy, Morgan and his
bombardiers beheld one of them strike within the body of the house, it
being always a matter of some uncertainty where the ball might spend
itself. Indeed, it was said, in derision it might be, that sometimes
their guns occasioned more damage to the besiegers than to the besieged.
Morgan now set to work, keeping as accurately as he might the head of
the blatant beast to the same level, and loading it with a grenado. When
the gunner had finished his task and lighted the fusee, Morgan rubbed
his hands for joy. Retiring sharply, off went the missile with an
explosion that shook the whole fabric. When the smoke was gone they
perceived some trifling damage in an old court, where the bomb, striking
about half-a-yard into the earth, burst as it rose, much abated of its
violence; yet it shook down some slight buildings near, but without
hurting any one, save two women who had their hands scorched as a
memorial of their presence at the siege of Lathom.
This mortar-piece was like some mighty dragon of old, causing great
terror in the minds of the soldiers, who knew not how to escape, but
were in continual fear and watchfulness, dreading the assaults of this
terrible monster. To allay their apprehensions, and to show their own
indifference, the captains lodged in the uppermost rooms, behind clay
walls, when not upon duty; and many other devices were resorted to for
the purpose of encouraging their troops. One circumstance, however,
seemed to renew their courage; a gunner opposite, as he was mounting the
ramparts to see the success of his shot, was slain by a marksman from
one of the towers. The next day one of their cannoneers was slain
through the porthole by a skilful hand, which made the enemy more
cautious than formerly. Yet did they not slacken their endeavours, but
fired almost incessantly. On the Saturday afternoon they played their
mortar-piece five times; and in the night twice with stones, and once
with a grenado, which by the turning of the gunner fell short of the
house.
On Easter Monday and Tuesday Colonel Rigby must needs gratify the
country people with some pastime. He had already spent upwards of two
thousand pounds, and his great pretensions were hitherto unfulfilled.
Accordingly he ordered his batteries to be directed against the Eagle
Tower, which, as we have before seen, stood near the centre of the
buildings, and was the place where Lady Derby and the children usually
lodged.
"We will strike off a horn of the beast, or level one of her hills,"
said Rigby, as he strode forth early on that morning to the enterprise.
"Which seven towers be the seven hills of Rome or spiritual Antichrist,"
said Jackson, his chaplain, who kept near his master, or rather kept his
master between himself and the Babel that roused his indignation. Morgan
was just preparing his engines when Rigby approached, cautiously worming
his way along the trenches, for the marksmen were become unmercifully
expert by reason of continued practice.
The match was lighted,--when bounce went the shot, a four-and-twenty
pounder, against the Eagle Tower.
"We will beat the old lady from her perch: I find she hath taken to
high-roosting of late," said Morgan, as he watched the despatch and
destination of his messenger.
The ball had entered into her ladyship's chamber, where she and the
children were at breakfast. With as little emotion as Charles the
Twelfth on a like occasion, she merely remarked that since they were
likely to have disagreeable intruders, she must e'en seek a new lodging.
"But," said she, rising with great dignity, "I will keep my house while
a building is left above my head."
This mischievous exploit, though an occasion at the time of great
triumph and exultation to the besiegers, was the main cause of their
subsequent expulsion and defeat.
We now propose to follow out their operations with more minuteness,
tracing the consequences of this action to its final result.
That same night some of the garrison, having permission from their
commanders, annoyed their enemies with strange and noisome alarms,
during which they contrived to steal some powder, and other necessaries
of which they were much in want.
Colonels Egerton and Rigby were in close counsel before their tent when
they beheld a terrible appearance moving towards them,--looking in the
dark like the leaders of some mighty army, waving their torches to light
them to the assault. This frightful apparition was a poor forlorn horse,
studded with lights fastened to cords, that shook and flickered about in
so fearful a manner. In this plight he had been turned out of the gates,
the garrison looking on, with frightful shouts and yells.
The sentinels ran from their posts, crying out that the king's army was
coming. In an instant all was uproar and confusion, the trenches were
cleared, and happy was he that came foremost in the rout.
Rigby clasped on his sword-belt which he had doffed for the night.
Springing on his horse, he met some of the runaways, whom he forced
back, hoping by their means to stem the main torrent. But, lo! in the
very height of the panic, appeared another and more direful intruder--an
avenue of fire seemed to extend from the walls to their own trench. It
appeared as though the enemy had by some unaccountable means formed in a
double line from the fortress, illuminated rank and file as if by
magic--flinging their torches by one simultaneous and well-concerted
movement into the air with great order and regularity.
Had a legion from the puissant army of Beelzebub been approaching,
their terror could not have been greater. Yet fear kept many from
escaping, while they knew not which way to run for safety. Rigby in the
nick of time galloped up to this awful and hostile appearance, crying
out to his troops that he would soon demolish the bugbear. This saying
encouraged some of the runaways, who followed him to the combat.
Approaching within a sword's length, for he was not deficient either in
hardihood or valour, he made a furious stroke right in the face of this
flaming apparition, when down it fell, revealing its own harmlessness
and their cowardice.
Taking advantage of the panic which followed the lighted horse, a few of
the garrison had thrown a cord covered with matches and other
combustibles round a tree, close to the enemy's camp; one end was
fastened near the walls, and the other was quickly carried back after
being passed round the tree. The whole on being lighted was swung to and
fro, producing the terrific appearance we have described.
Rigby was greatly mortified at this exploit; it seemed as though they
were become the jest and laughing-stock of the garrison.
Morgan at this moment galloped up in great dudgeon. The enemy had found
him a similar employment, he having twice bravely discharged his cannon,
loaded with cartridge and chain-shot, against two lighted matches thrust
into balls of clay that were thrown at him from the walls.
The leaders, provoked beyond measure, speedily assembled in council.
Egerton, who had the most influence, from the beginning had urged milder
measures, thinking to starve the enemy into submission; but Morgan,
Rigby, and some others were now red-hot for mischief, smarting from
their late ridiculous disaster.
"And what have we gotten by delay?" said Rigby; "we have wearied our
soldiers, wasted our powder, and emptied our purses; and this proud dame
still beats and baffles us, casting her gibes in our very teeth which we
deserve to lose for our pains."
"Take thine own course, then," said Egerton, mildly. "We are brethren,
serving one cause only; the which, being best served, is best won."
"Then be to-morrow ours," said Morgan, with his usual heat and
impatience. "We will burn them up like a heap of dry faggots. The house,
though well fenced against our shot, hath yet much inward building of
wood, and you shall see a pretty bonfire kindled by my bomb-shells--a
roaring blaze that shall ride on the welkin between here and Beeston
Castle!"
"Whilst thou art plying thy vocation we will scale the walls, and the
sword shall slay what the fire hath failed to devour," said Rigby.
"Fire and sword!" cried Egerton. "Ye are apt at a simile; but, methinks,
these be your own similitudes."
"They give their prisoners no quarter," said Morgan; "and why should we
sheath the sword when a weapon is at our own throat?"
"Why, doubtless they have more mouths to feed than they can conveniently
supply," said the more pacific personage. "Living men, to keep them so,
even though prisoners, require feeding."
"Our vengeance is sure, though tardy," said Rigby, rising in great
choler. "The blood of these martyrs crieth from the ground. To-morrow!"
and he breathed a bloody vow, looking fiercely up to heaven in the
daring and impious attitude of revenge.
"We had best give her ladyship another summons; which, if she refuse,
her blood be upon her own head!" Saying this, Egerton abruptly left the
council.
On the next morning, which was cold and drizzly, a "pragmatical" drummer
went out from the nearer trench, beating his drum for a parley, lest his
person should be dismissed without ceremony to the hungry kites.
Early had he been summoned to Rigby's lodging, where Ashton and Morgan
were contriving a furious epistle to the contumacious defenders of their
lives and substance. A summons, couched in no very measured terms, was
drawn up, to the purport that the fortress should be surrendered, and
all persons, goods, arms, and munitions therein, to the mercy of
parliament; and by the next day, before two o'clock, her ladyship to
return her answer, otherwise at her peril. Their valour grew hotter with
the reading of this cruel message, which they secretly hoped and
suspected she would refuse. The drum-major was called in, one Gideon
Greatbatch by name--a long, straight-haired, sallow-faced personage, of
some note among the brethren for zeal and impiety. By this we mean that
awful and profane use of Scripture phraseology with which many of these
gifted preachers affected to interlard their everyday discourse,
attaching a ludicrous solemnity to matters the most trivial and
unimportant.
In delineating this species of character, unfortunately not extinct in
our own days, we do not hold it up to ridicule, but to reprehension.
Irreverence and profanity, under whatever pretext, are without excuse,
even beneath the mask of holy zeal and ardent devotion.
The man stalked in with little ceremony and less manners. He stood stiff
and erect, the image of pride engendered by ignorance.
"'Tis our last," said Rigby, folding up the message; "and if our arms
are blessed, as we have hoped, and, it may be, unworthily deserved, ere
the going down of to-morrow's sun yon strong tower wherein she trusteth
shall be as smoke; for the hope of the wicked shall perish."
"Yea, their idols shall fall down; yea, their walls shall be as
Jericho," said the drum-major, with a sing-song whine, to sanctify his
blasphemous allusions, "and shall utterly fall at the sound of"----
"Thy two drumsticks, mayhap," returned Morgan, sharply; for this latter
personage, though his presence became needful in the camp by reason of
his reputed skill and bravery, was a great scandal to the real and
conscientious professors--of whom not a few had joined the ranks of the
besiegers--as well as the hypocritical and designing; some of whom did
not hesitate to liken him to Achan and the accursed thing, by reason of
which they were discomfited before their enemies.
"Thine ungodly speeches, Master Morgan, I would humbly trust, may not be
as the fuel that, when the fire cometh, shall consume the camp, even the
righteous with the wicked," said Gideon, as if shrinking from the
contact of so unholy a personage.
Morgan replied not to this deprecation, save by swearing--covertly,
though it might be--at the impudence and insubordination of these
inferior agents, whose disorderly conduct it was necessary to connive
at, while they were looked upon as saints and prophets--men from whose
presence was impiously expected the blessing and protection of heaven.
A loud screaming was heard, and Rigby, darting a furious look through
the doorway, ordered it to be closed.
"Another porker!" said he. "I verily think she hath provision behind the
walls that would last out our siege till doomsday. There is treachery
somewhere. Have we not heard, morning by morning, the self-same cry?"
"A whole herd of swine have been martyred in the cause," said Morgan,
sneeringly.
"Every day they have slain a pig," said the leader of the drums. "Two
score and eight," reckoning upon his fingers. "Verily a drove from the
legion."
They knew not that this unfortunate swine, the only one in the garrison,
was made to perform so uncomfortable a duty every morning to mislead the
besiegers, and impress them with the idea of a plentiful supply within
the walls.
"Even the rabble about the garrison throw shives of bread into our
trenches," said Morgan; "and once or twice I have thought their muskets
were loaden with peas instead of pellets."
"Then is our assault the more urgent," replied Rigby: "delay doth not
increase her strength. Prince Rupert too, some fair morning, may jump
between us and head-quarters."
"I have as many grenadoes," said Morgan, "as will save his highness the
trouble. Were he here, I would make him dance the Flemish _coranto_."
"The Amalekites shall ye utterly destroy," said Gideon, with a sudden
indrawing of the breath, as though he were suffering the pangs and
throes of possession. "Neither shall ye spare the women and the little
ones nor the stuff; no, not even a kid for a burnt-offering. Your eye
shall not spare as Saul spare Agag, whom Samuel hewed in pieces."
"Keep thy counsel to light thine own courage. Yon fiery-tempered woman
will not be over-nice in her respect to thy vocation. Peradventure she
may dangle thy carcase over the walls in defiance of our summons."
Morgan would have rebuked him farther, had not Rigby hastily put the
message into his hands, and bade him good speed.
With inward but audible murmurs at this unholy connection, for Morgan
valued not their prayers a rush, Gideon strode forth, his eyes twinkling
grievously as the drizzling rime came on his face. His long ungainly
figure, surmounted by a high-peaked hat, was seen cautiously stealing
through the trenches. Near to the embrasure by Morgan's mortar-piece he
made a sudden halt. After preparing his drum, he first beat the roll to
crave attention. He then stepped upon the redoubt, drumming the usual
signal for a parley. It was soon answered from the walls, and Gideon,
with much ceremony and importance, arrived with his musical appendage
before the gate. The requisite formalities being gone through, the
drawbridge was lowered, and this parliamentary representative was
speedily admitted through a little wicket into the Babylon which he
abhorred. His very feet seemed in danger of defilement. He looked as if
breathing the very atmosphere of pollution; but when ordered to kneel
down that he might be blindfolded, his spirit rose indignantly at the
command.
"Ye be contemners and despisers of our holy heritage. I have not bowed
the knee to Baal, nor will I worship the beast or they that have his
name on their foreheads. Do with me as ye list. Ye would cover mine eyes
that your iniquities may be hidden;--but ye shall suddenly be destroyed,
and none shall deliver."
A loud laugh was the answer to this denunciation; for truly it were a
marvellous thing to hear an ignorant, arrogant drummer, misapply and
profane the words of Holy Writ, wresting the Scriptures to their
destruction, if not his own.
In the outer court soldiers were playing at span-counter with silver
moneys, which Gideon observing, again lifted up the voice of warning and
rebuke.
"But destruction cometh upon them, even as upon a woman in"----
"Peace, thou spirit of a drum-stick!" cried one of them, and, as though
he were playing at chuck-farthing, he threw a tester between his teeth;
for the soldiers had about fifty pounds amongst them in silver coin, but
it was of no use except as so many counters, which they lent one another
by handfuls without telling. Sometimes one soldier had won the whole,
then another; but if they had been heaps of the rarest jewels they had
been of less worth than pebble-stones.
Gideon's speech was marred in the delivery; thinking he had been hit
with a stone, he sputtered out the offending morsel; but, seeing the
coin with the king's image and superscription, he gathered it up again.
"This shall be to me for a prey, even a spoil, as Moses spoiled the
Egyptians." Saying this Gideon thrust the king's money into his pocket,
and consented to be blindfolded, as was customary, in order that he
should not act the spy in his progress. He heard many gates unbarred,
many sentries challenged, and the pass-words demanded. Indeed the order
and discipline throughout was of an excellent and well-contrived
regularity.
"Make way for the drum!" ran along the avenues, as though he were
passing through a numerous array of guards and soldiery. At length he
was safely deposited in a spacious hall used as a guard-room; where his
conductors delivered him to Captain Ogle, the officer in waiting that
morning upon her ladyship. Being informed she was at prayers, for, as we
are told, "her first care was the service of God, which in sermons and
solemn prayers she daily saw performed," Gideon lifted up his hands and
said--
"Their new moons and their fasts are an abomination." He then desired to
be conducted near the fire, for the double purpose of drying his
threadbare red coat, and relieving his extreme length by a change of
position.
He had not waited long ere the signal was given for an audience. Still
blindfolded, he was led by a circuitous route into a little wainscotted
chamber lighted by a single bay-window. Here the bandage was taken from
his eyes, and when the dimness had a little subsided, he beheld that
heroic lady for the first time whom he had often compared, in no very
moderate terms, to Jezebel, and many other names equally appropriate. A
very different person she appeared from what his heated and morbid fancy
had suggested. Indeed, if she had been the personification of all evil,
with a demon's foot and a fiend's visage, he had been less surprised
than to find her with the outward form and attributes of humanity.
She was sitting with the children, before a narrow table covered with
papers. She wore a black habit, with a white kerchief on her head, and a
long Flanders veil of rich open work. This she threw back, and Gideon
beheld a countenance not at all either commanding or heroic, but one to
which smiles and good-nature would have been most congenial, though a
shade of anxiety was now thrown over the natural expression of her
features. Her eye seemed to have forgotten its bland and benevolent
aspect, and was fixed sharply upon him. For a moment his spiritual
pride was daunted, and that natural and inherent principle, not extinct
though often dormant,--a deference to superiority, whether of intellect
or station--rendered him for a while mute and inoffensive. It is even
said that he made a sort of half-conscious obeisance; but his mind
misgiving him during the offence, which smote him on the sudden as an
act of homage and idolatrous veneration, he breathed out a very audible
prayer.
"Pardon thy servant in this matter, even if I have bowed in the house of
Rimmon." As he said this, he threw himself back, lifting his narrow eyes
towards the ceiling; then thrusting out his hand with the despatch at
arm's length, he was striding forward, but Ogle intervened ere he had
made his way to the Countess.
"With all courtesy, friend," said he, "these communications must proceed
from the officer on duty."
With great gallantry and respect the captain presented it to his
mistress.
"Eye-service and will-worship!" growled Gideon. "'Tis like your vain and
popish idolatry and the like, through the ministry of saints, even to a
woman, vain and sinful as yourselves. I would as soon commit my prayers
to the angel of the bottomless pit!"