"This action continued an houre, with the loss of two men on our part,
who, after they were mortally wounded, still fired upon the enemy, till
all retreating. What number of the enemy were slain it is not easy to
guesse. Besides the execuc'on done in their trenches, Capt. Farmours and
Capt. Rattcliffes reserves, w^th the best marksmen, played upon them
from the walls with much slaughter, as they quitt theire holds. Our men
brought in many armes, three drums, and but five prisoners, preserved by
Capt. Chisnall to show that he had mercy as well as valour. One of
theese was an assistant to their engineere, Browne, who discovered to us
the nature of their trench, in which they had laboured two monthes to
draw away our water. Theire first designe was to drayne and open our
springs, not considering theire rise from a higher ground south-east
from the house, w^ch must needs supply our deepe well, where-ever they
suncke their fall: this invenc'on faileing, they bringe up an open
trench in a worme work, the earth being indented or sawed for the
securitie of their myners, and the ditch two yards wide and three deepe
for the fall of the water.
"But now neither ditches nor aught els troubled our souldiers, theire
grand terror, the morter-peece, which had frighted 'em from theire meate
and sleepe, like a dead lyon, quyetely lying among 'em; everye one had
his eye and his foote upon him, shouteing and rejoiceing as merrily as
they used to doe w^th theire ale and bagpypes. Indeed ev'y one had this
apprehenc'on of the service, that the maine worke was done, and what was
yet behind but a meere pastime.
"Her la^pp though not often overcarryed w^th any light expressions of
joy, yet religiously sensible of soe great a blessing, and desirous,
according to her pious disposition, to returne acknowledgements to the
righte authour, God alone, presently commands her chaplaynes to a
publike thanksgiving.
"The enemy, thus terrifyed with this defeate, durst not venture theire
workes agayne till midnight; towards morneing removeing some of theire
cannon, and the next night stealeing away all the rest, save one peece
for a memorand. This one escapyt nayleing, which the colonells durst not
venture on its owne mount, but planted att a distance, for feare of
the madmen in the garrison.
"One thing may not heere bee omitted: that day that our men gave Rigby
that shameful defeate, had hee destined for the p'secuteing of his
utmost cruelty. Hee had invited, as it is now gen'ally confest, all his
friends, the holy abettors of this mischiefe, to come see the house
yeelded or burnt, hee haveing purposed to use his morter gunne w^th
fireballs or granadoes all afternoone; but her la^pp before two o'clocke
(his own tyme) gave him a very skurvy satisfying answ^r, soe that his
friends came opportunely to comfort him, who was sicke of shame and
dishonour, to be routed by a lady and a handfull of men."
This proved a sore disaster to the besiegers. The soldiers, too, began
to cry out for their pay. The long-expected plunder of Lathom had
hitherto kept them quiet; but they were now willing to leave this
precious booty to the next comers, and content themselves with their
stated allowance.
Rigby, fearful of the crumbling away and dispersion of his army, made
shift to furnish some small arrears of their pay, declaring that it had
cost him £2000 of his own moneys during the siege; but how he got such
great store of gold we are not informed, safe that "he was once a
lawyer, and a bad one!"
Still there were many deserters, escaping even in the open day; not a
few of them coming over with valuable intelligence to the garrison.
Wearied with duty, and sorely perplexed, Rigby sent for Col. Holland,
from Manchester, to his assistance. Many days now elapsed, during which
little happened worth recording on either side. On the 23d May, Captain
Moseley brought another message to her ladyship, desiring, in terms of
great courtesy and respect, that she would grant him an interview. He
was received with great ceremony; for she abated not a whit of the
dignity belonging to her high birth and station.
"Captain Moseley," said she, having read the summons, commanding her
that she should yield up the house, together with the ammunition, arms,
goods, servants, children, and her own person too--submitting to the
mercy of parliament, "you are, I understand, an honourable man and a
soldier."
He bowed with great humility.
"I would not receive this from any other. But"--and her lip curled
proudly as she spoke. "Here seems a slight mistake in the wording of
your message. They should rather have written _cruelty_ and not
_mercy_!"
"Nay, my lady," he replied, "the mercy of parliament. Trust me, you will
not be evil entreated at their hands."
"The _mercies_ of the wicked are _cruel_," said she, quickly, but with
great composure. "Not that I mean," she continued, "a wicked parliament,
of which body I have an honourable and reverend esteem, but wicked
agents and factors, such as Moore and Rigby, who for the advantage of
their own interests labour to turn kingdoms into blood and ruin.
Besides, 'tis dangerous treating when the sword is given into the
enemies' hand."
"Most assuredly, madam, as our tractates on the art of war teach
us,--which it seems you have not studied in vain," said Moseley, bowing
with an air of great deference and gallantry. "Your ladyship is
commander-in-chief, we hear."
"My lord being absent. I am left in trust, and cannot listen to treaties
without his permission."
"Not to dishonourable overtures, assuredly. But if we agree to your own
conditions,--quitting the house in the way it shall seem best to your
ladyship, as was once the basis of your own propositions, I believe, it
cannot in this case be a reproach or a breach of trust, but will prevent
much damage, and be the saving of many lives."
"I will not treat without my lord's commands, Captain Moseley, and I
have listened to you longer than is expedient. It is unjust to myself,
and these brave defenders, that I appear in any way doubtful of their
ability and courage. For their sakes, and for my own, I must end this
parley."
The officer bowed low at this peremptory dismissal, wishing her
ladyship's resolutions were less firm or her means more ample.
"I can but deliver your reply. Yet"--He hesitated awhile. "There be
fierce and bloody men about the camp, who would lay down their own lives
to compass your destruction. It is not in our power to restrain them."
"One of these flaming zealots is already extinguished: we have him safe
under cover," said her ladyship, smiling; "in our own custody, I trow.
He threatened us with all the plagues of Egypt and that of his own
tongue to boot,--the worst that ere visited the garrison. One morning,
an earthquake would devour us; another, we were to be visited with the
destruction of Sodom. Some of our men once looked out for the coming
tempest, and buffeted him well for their disappointment. He seems either
malignant or insane; but in charity, of which Christian exercise he
seems utterly ignorant, we suppose the latter. We have therefore made
his feet fast in the stocks, from whence, I hear, he pronounces his
anathemas as confidently as though he were armed with the power and
thunders of the Vatican!"
"May I crave the name of this doughty personage?--We have but too many
of them amongst us."
"Verily, 'tis your drum, by whose hands I have had a message heretofore.
The chances of war have again brought him hither,--but now a prisoner!"
"Gideon Greatbatch?"
"The same. We have heard him, with many blasphemous allusions, liken
himself unto that great one among the judges of Israel,--and truly he
seems more fitted to wield the sword than the drum-stick!"
"Your ladyship would perhaps indulge me with an interview. It might
comfort him to see one from the camp."
"Provided that no sinister design or advantage be lurking under this
request. Yet am I speaking, I would fain hope, to a gentleman and a
soldier."
Moseley was conducted down a dark flight of steps, damp and slippery.
The ooze and slime rendered his footing tedious and insecure. Soon he
recognised the mighty voice of Gideon bellowing forth a triumphant
psalm. Another stave was just commencing as the door opened, and the
torch glared lurid and dismally on the iron features and grisly aspect
of the captive. A pair of rude stocks, through which Gideon's long
extremities protruded, stood in the middle of the dungeon. He scowled
terrifically at the intruders; but suddenly resumed his exercise.
"Still at thy devotions?" said Moseley; but the moody fanatic
vouchsafed not to reply.
"We must wait the finishing of this duty, I fear," said the captain,
knowing that interruption would be useless. Silently they awaited the
conclusion, when Gideon abruptly cried out--
"Captain Moseley, are ye, too, cast into this den of lions?"
"I came hither on an embassage, and I have craved this visit ere I
depart."
"Hast furnished my breakfast?" inquired this stalwart knight from the
enchanted wood. "I think your garrison be short of victual, or my"----
"Hold thy tongue, thou piece of ill-contrived impertinence," said the
gaoler. "We have victual and drink too; but for such as thou art, it
were an ill-bestowed morsel. I marvel what can have possessed my lady to
keep thee alive!"
The gaoler drew out from his provision bag a small dark-coloured loaf,
which he threw at the hungry captive, who, to say the truth, had been
half-starved since his imprisonment.
Gideon was devouring it greedily without any further notice, when he
suddenly cried out to his keeper--
"Where gat ye this coarse stuff? I would not say good-morrow to my dog
with so crusty a meal."
"It was tossed over the wall," replied the gaoler. "Our friends oft
supply us that way with provision, captain. I picked it up as I came,
and thought it was too good for thy dainty appetite."
"Captain Moseley," said the hungry drummer, with great earnestness,
"take this. Break it before thy brethren, and show them how vilely these
Egyptian task-masters do entreat us in the house of bondage."
There was something more than usually impressive in his manner. Moseley
took the loaf as requested; and the gaoler, as if the object before him
were beneath suspicion, exclaimed with a knowing look--
"Had I not brought the manchet myself, and watched thee narrowily, I
should have guessed thou hadst crammed some secret message therein to
the camp. But I defy thee, or any of thy batch, to cheat old Gabriel,
the rogue's butler!"
"Prithee, search," said Captain Moseley, drawing the loaf from his
pocket; "thou mayest, peradventure, find treachery in a toothmark, for
o' my troth they be legibly written."
"Nay," said Gabriel, with great self-importance, "the knave's jaws will
score no ciphers. I had as lief interpret pot-hooks and ladles."
The captain again thrusting it beneath his belt, promised to show his
commanders with what coarse fare and severity the prisoners were
treated.
"Wilt thou that I intercede for thee before the Countess?" he continued;
"if so be that she would remit thee of this durance."