The Works of William Harrison Ainsworth

by William Harrison Ainsworth

  Passing through the deserted trenches, and making his way past the fortifications, he rode on to the site of the camp. There were abundant vestiges of the besiegers, though they had taken with them all they could. Several wounded men, who had been left behind, were lying stretched on the ground, groaning with pain. Some of these poor fellows implored his help, and from them he ascertained that Colonel Rigby had retired with his whole force to Bolton. They also informed him of the conflict at Stockport, adding, that the victorious Royalists were marching to Lathom, and could not be very far off.

  This proved to be the case, for ere he had quitted the spot, the loud blast of a clarion was heard, and a regiment of lancers emerged from the wood. At the head of this fine body of men rode Prince Rupert and the Earl of Derby. Having learnt from their scouts that the beleaguering force was gone, they had ridden on with the advanced guard.

  Instantly recognising the two noble personages, Standish rode on to meet them.

  “Soh! the siege is raised, and Rigby gone,” cried the prince, as he returned Standish’s salutation. “Whither has he fled?”

  “To Bolton, your highness, as I learn from those wounded men,” replied Standish.

  “To Bolton!” cried Rupert. Then turning to Lord Derby, he added: “We will follow him thither.”

  The earl signified his satisfaction at the resolve.

  “Were he to escape punishment, all the rebels in the county would deride us,” he said. “Bolton is a strong place, as I have found, but it shall not shelter him from our swords.”

  “We will march there at once,” cried the prince. “I will come to Lathom on our return.”

  “Nay, I pray your highness, pass not by the castle, now you are so near it,” said the earl. “It will cheer the countess to see you.”

  Thus urged, Rupert could not refuse, though he controlled his impatience with difficulty. But he gave orders to an aide-de-camp to inform the different officers that no halt should be made, but that the whole army must march on to Bolton, adding that he and Lord Derby would overtake them before they got half way there.

  These orders given, the prince and the earl, attended by Standish and followed by a guard of twenty lancers, together with the musketeers from the garrison, rode towards the mansion.

  On reaching the batteries, they stopped for a few minutes to examine them, and while they were engaged in the scrutiny, Standish told them of the many successful sorties made by the garrison, and how the great mortar had been captured.

  “Rigby has utterly failed,” he said. “He has battered the walls, knocked down a turret, and hit the Eagle Tower, but he has done us no real harm.”

  “How many soldiers have you lost?” demanded the prince.

  “Not half a dozen, your highness,” replied Standish. “But upwards of five hundred of the enemy have been slain.”

  Rupert smiled at the earl, but made no remark.

  Meanwhile, access had been given to the castle through a breach in the fortifications, and a portion of the ditch had likewise been levelled.

  The drawbridge was lowered, and the gates thrown wide open, and as the prince and the earl rode into the court-yard, which resounded with the loud and joyous shouts of the musketeers, they were met by Major Farrington and the officers of the garrison.

  But Lord Derby did not linger there. The countess and her daughters had just come forth, and on beholding them he sprang from his steed, and hurrying forward clasped them in his arms.

  Not to interrupt this joyous meeting, the prince remained for a few minutes in converse with Major Farrington. He then dismounted, and tendered his homage and congratulations to the countess, and in no measured terms.

  “I am no flatterer as you are well aware, cousin,” he said, “but a rude soldier, and you will therefore believe me when I say that I do not think there is another woman in England — nay, for that matter, not a man — who could have defended this castle for so long a period against such a beleaguering force, as you have done. I am proud of you, cousin — very proud — and well I may be of my near relationship to the most heroic lady of her day.”

  “You praise me overmuch, cousin,” replied the countess, much gratified. “But I thank you nevertheless.”

  “If you are proud of her, prince, what must I be, who can call her wife?” said Lord Derby. “Had I not known her intrepidity and skill I should not have left her here. But she has more than justified my confidence.”

  “Without your positive orders, my dear lord, I would never have capitulated, and this I told the messengers sent me by the enemy,” said the countess. “And had not you, prince, come to my deliverance, I would have perished here with my children and soldiers. Such was my fixed determination. I thank you from my heart for what you have done.”

  “Nay, I have done nothing,” rejoined Rupert. “It has not been needful to strike a blow. The enemy have fled.”

  “The terror of your name has driven them hence,” said the countess.

  “But they are not beyond my reach,” said the prince, sternly. “They have fled, but I shall catch them. I have sworn to avenge your wrongs, cousin, and I will keep my word. I will exterminate Rigby and his host.”

  “Rigby does not deserve mercy,” said the countess. “He is a traitor and a robber. Whither is he gone?”

  “To Bolton,” replied the earl. “There we shall follow him, so we must now bid you adieu.”

  “This is indeed a brief visit,” she said.

  “But we shall speedily return,” said the earl.

  “Will not your highness enter the house, and drink a cup of wine?” said the countess.

  “I will drink no wine till I have taken Bolton, and slain Rigby,” rejoined Rupert. “Ere many days, you shall see us again, if all goes well. And then I will feast with you, and rejoice. Farewell, dear cousin!”

  While the prince mounted his charger, and rode slowly through the gateway bowing to Major Farrington, and the officers, Lord Derby lingered for a moment to embrace his wife and daughters, and shook hands heartily with Archdeacon Rutter and the other chaplains.

  He then vaulted into the saddle, and followed the prince amid reiterated shouts from the musketeers.

  Gladly would they have accompanied their lord to Bolton. Gladly would the officers have gone with him. But the earl had sufficient force, and would not reduce the strength of the garrison till the enemy was vanquished.

  All therefore were left behind except Standish and his little troop, who had the enviable privilege of attending their lord.

  As the earl looked back at the castle, and thought of all that had happened since he last beheld it, he breathed a prayer to Heaven for its marvellous preservation.

  Just as Standish had passed through the breach in the fortifications, he encountered Linacre, and stopped for a moment to speak to him.

  “What news from Knowsley?” he asked.

  “Bad news,” replied Linacre. “Don Fortunio and his daughter have been taken prisoners by Captain Bootle, and carried off to Bolton. They were taken away last night.”

  Fain would Standish have questioned him further, but time was not allowed him.

  At this moment, the two leaders set off at a rapid pace, and he was obliged to follow.

  BOOK VII. — THE STORMING OF BOLTON

  CHAPTER I

  How Bolton was assaulted; and how the Attack was repulsed

  PRINCE RUPERT and the earl overtook the army before it had proceeded many miles.

  A brief halt was made at Haigh, and Standish then informed Lord Derby, with whom he had had no previous opportunity of conferring, that Don Fortunio and his daughter had been carried off from Knowsley by Captain Bootle.

  This intelligence filled the earl with rage, and he exclaimed that if he caught Bootle, he should be put to death as a felon.

  From Haigh they marched on to Heaton, where they again halted, and being now about two miles from Bolton, several mounted scouts were sent across the moor to ascertain how the town could be most advant
ageously approached.

  Wishing to observe the movements of the enemy, Standish rode out at the same time as the scouts, and mounted a little eminence, whence he obtained a complete view of the town, here about half a mile distant.

  The defences he knew had been planned by Rosworm, and were skilfully made. Strong mud walls, having a deep ditch outside, surrounded the town; the entrances being protected by barricades with stout posts and chains. As far as he could discover after a careful survey, there were only two gates, and both were strongly guarded.

  From previous experience in Manchester, he knew that these barricades would effectually resist cavalry. The walls therefore must be first gained, and this would be no easy task, for they were thronged with musketeers, and provided with several large pieces of ordnance.

  But Standish cared not for difficulty or danger, and thought only of liberating Engracia from her captors.

  Floating from the walls were a great number of flags which he had last seen on the batteries menacing Lathom House. These should soon be torn down, and sent to the countess.

  Before quitting his post of observation he took a final survey of the town, and was obliged to confess that it was likely to make an obstinate resistance.

  The place was not large, but the garrison was very strong, and unless he was much mistaken, Rosworm was there in person. Nothing seemed neglected — nor could he detect a weak point in the defences. With the firm conviction that the assault would be hazardous, though burning to engage in it, he rode back.

  Two of the scouts had already preceded him, and declared that it mattered little where the attack was made, as the whole garrison was evidently prepared.

  On hearing Standish’s report, Prince Rupert would not wait a moment longer, but commanded a simultaneous attack to be made on the walls and gates.

  The trumpets then sounded, and the army, which had hitherto looked like a vast compact mass, divided into different companies, some moving to the right, and others to the left, but all with great rapidity.

  Before each gate was a squadron of horse eager to dash in as soon as an entrance could be forced, and discharging their arquebuses and calivers at the guard, who, screened by the barricades, were keeping up a continuous and destructive fire against them.

  Outside the entire circuit of the fortifications, which was not of very great extent, and scarcely exceeded a mile and a half, were collected companies of infantry, who were endeavouring to cross the ditch and scale the walls at various points, but were checked in their efforts by the obstinate resistance offered by the defenders.

  In every instance where the assailants had succeeded in obtaining a footing they were killed, or hurled back again into the ditch.

  But though repulsed, they constantly returned to the attack, and desperate fighting, attended by great slaughter, went on ceaselessly along the walls.

  Furious at the unexpected resistance offered by the Parliamentarians, of whose bravery he had formed a very contemptible opinion, Prince Rupert galloped round the walls, and shouted to his men to renew the assault. His orders were reiterated by the officers, but despite every effort, no substantial advantage was gained.

  The besieged had lost very few of their number, while the Royalists had suffered severely, and stimulated by success, the former performed prodigies of valour.

  Several Cavaliers of distinction were killed, greatly to Rupert’s vexation, and the loss of his friends, slaughtered before his eyes on the walls, exasperated him to the highest degree.

  The Earl of Derby was quite as much incensed as the prince at the check they had sustained, for he would not acknowledge a defeat, even to himself. He had expected an easy victory, and a repulse by Rigby mortified as well as exasperated him.

  Even Standish had met with a reverse.

  Though he had received no orders to make the attempt he was so galled by what he witnessed, that he sprang from his steed, and calling to his men to bring a scaling ladder, gained the summit of the walls, only to remain there for a minute. He was then pushed back by a pikeman, luckily without receiving a wound.

  Half an hour later a retreat was sounded, and Rupert and the earl retired, slowly and in good order, evidently intending to renew the attack.

  No attempt was made to cut off their retreat, for the Parliamentarians were too prudent to quit their stronghold. Had they sallied forth, the Royalists would have instantly driven them back, and entered the gates with them.

  When they were beyond the reach of the cannon, the prince and the earl held a council of war, at which the principal officers assisted, and it was considered how an entrance could be found for cavalry, Rupert, whose wrath was undiminished, declaring he was resolved to take the town, and give quarter to none within it.

  CHAPTER II

  How Stephen Marsh offered to take Two Hundred Musketeers into the Town

  AT this juncture, a man, guarded by a couple of musketeers, was brought in by an officer.

  The officer explained that the prisoner stated he had just come secretly from the town, as no doubt was the fact, and, moreover, asserted that he could render the prince a most important service, but would not do so except for a large reward.

  “How art thou named, fellow, and what service canst thou render?” demanded Rupert.

  “My name is Stephen Marsh,” replied the man. “I dwell in Bolton, and can take your highness into the town — but I must be well rewarded for doing so.”

  “Ha! say’st thou so?” cried the prince. “Make good thy words, and doubt not thy reward.”

  “I must have it now,” replied Marsh.

  “Will not my word suffice?” observed the prince.

  “I would rather have the money,” rejoined Marsh, bluntly.

  “Give him two hundred pounds,” said Rupert, to one of his officers. “Will that content thee?”

  “Ay, marry,” replied Marsh. “I will engage to bring into the town, through a place called the Private Acres, as many musketeers as there are pieces of gold in this bag.”

  “Canst thou not convey horsemen as well as foot?” demanded the prince.

  “Impossible, your highness,” replied Marsh. “Once inside, the musketeers can admit their comrades. They will be near the Bradshaw Gate,”

  “Ay, if that gate be opened for us, the crow’s nest will be soon destroyed,” said the prince. “What think you of this, my lord?” he added to the earl.

  “The plan cannot fail, if treachery be not intended,” rejoined Lord Derby.

  “The musketeers will have me with them,” said Marsh.

  “Let me have the command of the party, I pray your highness,” said Standish, “and I will answer for the rest.”

  “Have I your highness’s permission to lead the van in this new assault?” cried the earl, eagerly. “You could not accord me a greater favour.”

  “Then be it so,” replied Rupert. “Go in, and spare not. No quarter must be given.”

  “I am not in a mood for pity,” said the earl, sternly.

  “No quarter given!” cried Marsh. “I repent me of the bargain I have made. Take back the money.”

  “’Tis too late now,” said Standish. “Thy compact must be fulfilled. Guide me forthwith to the Private Acres.”

  Then turning to the earl, he added: “Your lordship shall not have to wait long for admittance at the Bradshaw Gate.”

  Putting himself at the head of a company of musketeers, and keeping Marsh beside him, Standish then proceeded cautiously towards the town.

  CHAPTER III

  What passed between Colonel Rigby and Rosworm

  RIGBY and his officers were greatly elated by their successful defence of the town. But they scarcely liked to acknowledge how much they owed to the skill of the great German engineer.

  Rosworm had not taken an active part of the defence, but had explained his plans to Rigby, by whom they were carried out, with the result just described.

  But though Rupert and Lord Derby had been repulsed, Rosworm felt certain the a
ssault would be renewed, and with additional vigour, and he warned Rigby not to be too confident, since he had terrible foes to deal with, who were bent upon vengeance, and would not depart without it.

  Rigby paid little heed to the counsel, for he now felt sure he could hold out till assistance arrived from Wigan, Blackburn, Manchester, and other places.

  “Before to-morrow, I shall be reinforced by ten thousand men,” he said.

  “But before to-morrow, the town may be taken,” rejoined Rosworm.

  “I am not uneasy,” said Rigby. “After the reception given them I do not think the prince and Lord Derby will venture to make another assault. But should they do so, we shall repulse them again.”

  “Keep out the cavalry and you are safe,” said Rosworm. “But should they once enter, the town is lost.”

  “You have fortified the place so well that it is impregnable,” said Rigby.

  “There is but one weak spot, and that the enemy will never discover,” said Rosworm.

  “Ha! where is it?” inquired Rigby, somewhat uneasily. “I have not found it out myself. I thought the walls were perfect. I have been round them several times, and could detect nothing wrong.”

  “The walls are quite secure, but there is a subterranean passage under the ditch that may be used as a sally-port,” replied Rosworm. “It leads to a place called the Private Acres.”

  “Where is the entrance to this subterranean passage?” asked Rigby.

  “In the cellar of a house belonging to one Stephen Marsh,” replied Rosworm. “The man is well affected towards the Parliament.”

  “May be so,” said Rigby. “But the habitation ought to be guarded. I will give orders to that effect, but I must first go to the church, where two worthy ministers, Master John Harper, Pastor of Bolton, and Master John Fogg, Pastor of Liverpool, are offering up prayers.”