"Intercede!--I would as lief pray to the saints they should intercede
with the Virgin Mary. I will rot from this perch piecemeal ere I pray to
yonder ungodly woman. Yet shall I escape out of their hands, but not by
mine own might, or mine own strength," said the lion-hearted captive.
Leaving this indomitable Roundhead to his fate, Moseley returned to the
camp, reporting the ill success of his mission.
Great part of the day was spent in angry discussion, so that Moseley had
nigh forgotten his message from Gideon; yet he remembered it ere he left
the council. Pulling out a coarse bannock, to the great astonishment of
his auditory, he brake it, relating his interview with the captive. Near
to where the prisoner had taken his last mouthful, Moseley found a bit
of crumpled paper. The surprise and dismay of the assembly may be
conceived after he had read the following billet:--
"MY DEAREST HEART,--
"With much joy and comfort I send thee news that his Highness
Prince Rupert hath gotten a great victory over the rebels at
Newark; and I have besought his Majesty that he should march into
Lancashire. By two days, at farthest, these enemies who now
beleaguer my house shall be cut off. We purpose to come upon them
suddenly, so that they shall be taken in their own snare. I have
raised £3000 on the jewels conveyed to me from Lathom by the last
sally, which sum I purpose giving in largess to the soldiers, that
it may quicken them to thy help. My prayers and blessing for thee
and the children.--Thine,
"DERBY."
This secret intelligence had missed its destination. The gaoler had
unfortunately picked it up from where some friendly hand had thrown it,
reserving the curious envelope for Gideon's breakfast, not aware of the
important message it contained. But the prisoner, more wary than his
keeper, when he felt the paper between his teeth, rightly judged that
it was some communication of importance to his enemies, and craftily
conveyed it, as we have seen, into the hands of Captain Moseley.
No mean act of heroism for a starving man to wrench the food from his
own jaws,--a deed we might in vain look for amongst the patriots of our
own day,--persons who would sneer at the fanaticism, and, it may be, the
sincerity of Gideon Greatbatch.
Consternation was visible throughout the assembly. They had all along
flattered themselves with the expectation that Prince Rupert's army was
too urgently required for the relief of York, to have caused them any
disturbance; and, with inward curses on the king for his humanity,
secret preparations were made for raising the siege.
Though ignorant of the cause, the garrison soon espied an unusual bustle
in the camp. They were evidently preparing for some exploit. One of the
spies brought intelligence that two squadrons had departed in the night,
and that Colonels Moore and Ashton were on their return to Manchester.
On Monday morning, the 27th of May, it was agreed that Captains Ogle and
Rawsthorne should make a sally. But they found the enemy had been
beforehand with them, leaving the camp in the utmost terror and
disorder. Intelligence now arrived that Prince Rupert had entered
Lancashire by way of Stockport, where the Parliament army, under
Colonels Duckenfield, Mainwaring, Buckley, and others, had suffered a
total route. The besiegers had commenced their retreat between twelve
and one o'clock the preceding night.
Thus ended the first siege of Lathom, after the place had been closely
beset four months; during which time the garrison lost but six
men,--four in the service, and two by negligence and over-daring.
They were, in general, supplied with provisions, her ladyship seeing the
men's rations duly served. Yet were they not seldom pushed to a sally
for their dinner; their friends outside, by lights and other appointed
signals, directing the foragers in their operations.
The enemy shot 107 cannon-balls, 32 stones, and but four grenadoes. By
their own confession near 100 barrels of gunpowder were spent, part of
which was in supplies to the garrison, who often replenished their stock
at the expense of the besiegers. They lost about 500 men, besides
wounded and prisoners, according to their own returns.
The next day Rigby, with about 3000 men, drew up at Eccleston Green, six
miles only from Lathom, in great uncertainty which way to march, fearful
of meeting with Prince Rupert. In the end, imagining that his Highness
would go through Blackburn or Lancaster to the relief of York, Rigby
marched off in great haste to Bolton, then a garrison town, and well
fortified.
The Prince, hearing of their escape, together with Lord Derby,
immediately turned their forces in this direction, determined to carry
the place by assault, and revenge the insults and barbarity her ladyship
had endured. This resolution was terribly accomplished. Sixteen hundred
of her besiegers lay dead on the place; and twenty-two colours, which
three days before flourished proudly before the house, were presented to
her from his Highness by Sir Richard Crane, as a memorial of her
deliverance, and "a happy remembrance of God's mercy and goodness to her
and her family."