Читать книгу The Leaguer Of Lathom - William Harrison Ainsworth - Страница 20

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NEXT morning, as soon as it became light, the blackened ruins of the fine old hall presented a dismal spectacle, and inspired all the Royalists who gazed upon them with a fierce desire of vengeance.

Soon afterwards, the ordnance at the battery began to play upon the town, and the firing was continued without intermission for nearly three hours, but without doing any material damage.

An attack was likewise made by the Earl of Derby in person on the battery at the end of Deans-gate, but the defence of Captain Bradshaw and his men was so determined that an entrance could not be gained, and the earl, to his great mortification, was compelled to retire.

Sir Thomas Tyldesley attacked the barrier in Market-street Lane, but with equal ill success, and the constant attempts by the Royalist soldiers to scale the walls at various points, resulted in failure.

The same ill fortune attended Lord Molineux and Sir John Girlington in Salford. The bridge was so stoutly defended by Rosworm that they could not cross it, and sustained heavy loss in the attempt.

Finding that no impression could be made upon the town, and apprehensive that another sortie might be made at night by Captain Bradshaw, Lord Derby caused a deep trench to be digged at the end of Deansgate, and though the engineers were protected by a large party of musketeers, three or four were shot before the work could be completed.

During the greater part of the morning, Frank Standish had been so much occupied that he had no time to attend to the prisoners, but committed their charge to a sergeant, by whom they were placed in a farm-house, about a quarter of a mile off, a guard being stationed near the building to prevent their escape.

Later in the day, Standish rode to this farmhouse, and dismounting at the door entered the building.

While he was looking about, the farmer's wife, a middle-aged woman, came to him, and said:

"We have made a strange discovery. One of the prisoners who was brought from the town last night proves to be a young damsel."

Standish uttered an exclamation of surprise.

"What is more, pursued the woman, she is the daughter of Colonel Rosworm, the German engineer, who has fortified the town. My daughter Joan recognised her at once."

"This is strange, indeed!" cried Standish. "Where is she?"

"In an inner room," replied the woman. "Joan is with her. She persuaded her to lay aside her soldier's dress she had put on, and has lent her a gown that fits her exactly."

"Take me to her at once, I pray you," said Standish.

The good woman complied, and ushered him into a small room, where he found Gertrude and the rustic maiden, who was really very pretty.

"Little did I dream what a prize I had made," said Standish. "But you will not have to endure a long captivity. Before night you shall be exchanged."

"I have nothing to complain of," said Gertrude. "Good Mistress Bancroft and her daughter Joan have been exceedingly kind to me. But, I fear, my father will be uneasy about me."

At this juncture, a noise was heard outside the cottage, and it presently appeared that it was caused by the arrival of the Earl of Derby, who came to look after the prisoners. His lordship was greatly surprised to learn that Rosworm's daughter was a captive.

"I have just caused a parley to be sounded," he said, and am about to send a messenger to the governor. You shall go with him. Tell your father that, but for him, I should long since have taken the town. Had he served the King as well as he has served the Parliament, the rebellion would soon have been crushed."

"I will not fail to tell him what your lordship says," replied Gertrude.

"Methinks, my lord," said Standish, "since we have obtained this prize, we ought not to part with her. Let her remain with these good folks. Her father ought to pay a heavy ransom. If he wants her, let him come for her."

"I am quite willing to take charge of her," said Mistress Bancroft.

"And I will attend upon her," added Joan.

"Be it so," said the earl. "You must be content to remain a prisoner for a short time longer, fair damsel," he added. "But be not alarmed. You are in no danger here."

"I have no fear, my lord," she rejoined. "But I pray that my father may be informed that I am in safety."

"It shall be done," said the earl. "Captain Standish will deliver your message to him."

And followed by Standish, he quitted the room.

A troop of horse was drawn up in the farmyard. Giving a paper to Standish, he bade him ride to the town, and present it to the governor.

"A parley has been sounded," said the earl, "so that admittance to the town will be granted you. The missive is a summons to surrender. Bring back an answer if you can. But I am willing to grant a delay of twelve hours, should it be required, during which truce all acts of hostility must cease on either side."