How Gertrude personated the Queen

ALL was arranged as Frank Standish had suggested, and a suitable riding-dress having been found for Gertrude, darkness had no sooner come on, than she rode forth from Lathom House, closely attended by Standish and followed by a party of well-mounted men-at-arms.

They took the road to Wigan, and had not proceeded more than two miles, when they entered a wood. It was here that Standish expected the attack would be made. Nor was he wrong in the calculation. They had not advanced far when the trampling of a large body of horse was heard behind them. At the same time an officer, who was recognised as Bootle, galloped quickly up, and shouted to them to surrender.

"We know the queen is with you," he said. "She cannot escape. Yield her up quietly, and your lives shall be spared."

"We will part with life sooner than yield up our charge," replied Standish.

"Then we will cut you in pieces and take her," cried Bootle.

"You will never assist at her capture, villain," said Standish. "Take the reward of your treachery."

And plucking a pistol from his belt, he fired, and Bootle fell from his horse, though not mortally wounded.

After this incident, Standish and his men continued to gallop on, but their progress was soon checked by another large party of Parliamentary troopers who were drawn across the road.

"Yield!" shouted Colonel Holland, who commanded the party in front. "If a single shot be fired, every man shall be put to death."

Then riding up to Standish, he said: "I know you are escorting the queen to Warrington. Where is she?"

Standish made no reply, and Colonel Holland repeated the question in a yet more authoritative and menacing tone.

"If her majesty were here I would never deliver her up to you with life," said Standish.

"This denial is useless," said Holland. "I can see her yonder, surrounded by your men, who vainly attempt to hide her."

"That is not the queen," said Standish. "Satisfy yourself on the point."

"I am satisfied," rejoined Colonel Holland. "I require no further proof. It will be time enough to put any questions to her majesty, when I have conveyed her safely to Manchester. You and your men must accompany me thither."

"As prisoners?" demanded Standish.

"As prisoners. Resistance would be useless. I therefore recommend you to deliver up your arms quietly."

The injunction was obeyed. Standish and his men were disarmed, but every respect was paid to her whom the Parliamentary leaders supposed to be the queen; and as Gertrude did not utter a word, and was not required to remove the half-mask that covered her face, no discovery was made.

Meanwhile both divisions of the rebel force had now formed a junction-the Royalists being placed in the midst, so that the important captive was well guarded.

At the head of the troop rode Colonel Holland, and he now took a road across a moor leading towards Bolton, whence he intended to diverge to Manchester. But he soon found he was followed by a company of horse, whose shouts convinced him they were Royalists.

Anxious to avoid an engagement with them, he quickened his pace, but it soon appeared that the Cavaliers had the swiftest horses, for they speedily overtook the rebels, and fell with great fury on their rear, killing several, and driving others into the morass.

Owing to the narrowness of the causeway, Colonel Holland was unable to wheel round, and sustained considerable loss before he could reach firm ground. He then formed as quickly as he could, and prepared to receive the Royalists, whom he found were commanded by the Earl of Derby in person.

A sharp conflict took place, but though the combatants were nearly equally matched in point of numbers, and fought well on both sides, it soon became evident that the Cavaliers were gaining ground. Colonel Holland, therefore, decided upon a retreat, but determined at the same time to carry off his royal captive, who was placed for safety at the rear.

Riding up to her, he said: "Fortune is against me, madam. Lord Derby may prove the victor, but he shall not rob me of my prize."

"I have no right to the title you bestow upon me," she rejoined. "And I refuse to accompany you."

"Are you not the queen?" he exclaimed, in astonishment.

"Her majesty, I trust, is safe in Warrington," she replied.

"Confusion!" he cried. "Have I been duped? Who are you? Your voice seems familiar to me."

"You ought to know me, Colonel Holland," she rejoined, removing her mask. "You have often seen me before."

"Gertrude Rosworm!" he exclaimed. "I will not leave you here. You must give your father an explanation of your strange conduct. Come with me!"

But before he could seize her bridle, she dashed aside, and in another minute had joined the Royalists.

Shortly afterwards, Colonel Holland and the Parliamentarians were in full retreat. Lord Derby pursued them to the very gates of Bolton, and then returned with his company across the moors to Lathom. He had sustained but little loss in the encounter, though the rebels suffered heavily.

In the confusion of the fight, Frank Standish and his men had liberated themselves from their captors, and recovered their arms. Nearly forty prisoners were taken by the victors to Lathom, and the queen, who had not yet departed, was greatly rejoiced at the result of the engagement.

Gertrude was regarded as the heroine of the day, and received high commendations from her majesty and the Countess of Derby.

On the following day, the queen set out with her attendants for Chester, and was escorted thither by Lord Derby and a large party of horse. But she met with no interruption. Her majesty proposed to take Gertrude with her, but Lady Derby seemed loth to part with the young damsel, and she was allowed to remain.

END OF BOOK THE SECOND.

BOOK THE THIRD.

THE STORMING OF LANCASTER.

I.

Hoghton Tower

LORD DERBY remained for a day at Chester, which was now strongly garrisoned by the Earl of Rivers, and then finding the queen did not require his further services, returned to Lathom. Gladly would he have remained tranquil for a short time, but the whole country was in so disturbed a state that it was impossible to do so.

News was brought him that the important town of Preston had been taken by Sir John Seaton, Major-General of the Parliamentary force, and that Lancaster was threatened.

On receiving this intelligence, he determined to hasten to the assistance of the Royalists with all the force he could muster, and leave Lathom to the charge of the countess. Accordingly he set out on the same day with a body of two hundred and fifty men for Hoghton Tower-a large castellated mansion belonging to Sir Gilbert Hoghton, situated within half a dozen miles of Preston. Hoghton Tower had been appointed as a rendezvous of the Royalists, and a beacon was burnt nightly there to summon them.

Nothing could be finer than the situation of this strong and stately fabric-nothing grander or more picturesque than its appearance; crowning the summit of a knoll, the base of which was washed on one side by the river Darwen, while on the other it was environed by a large park, or rather forest, abounding in wild cattle, wild boar, and red deer.

Founded in the early part of Elizabeth's reign by Sir Thomas Hoghton, this stately structure overlooked the whole district. From its walls Preston could be described on the heights on the further side of the Ribble, and the course of that noble river could be traced from Penwortham to the Irish Sea-its broad estuary looking like a lake. Blackburn, Leyland, Chorley, and several other towns were likewise visible, and beyond the limits of the forest a rich and fertile country gladdened the eye.

Through this dense wood the Earl of Derby and his company made their way to the castle.

Night had come on since they quitted Chorley, and the narrow road, arched over by the trees, seemed profoundly dark, and when they emerged from it at the foot of the hill, the beacon fire, burning above them, and illumining the towers and walls of the mansion, produced a very striking effect.

Captain Standish had been sent on with a small party of men to announce his lordship's approach, so that when the earl reached the outer gate, he found it thrown wide open, and rode into the quadrangle without delay.

Neither here, nor elsewhere, were torches needed, for the beacon, placed on the summit of the second gatehouse, which was much loftier than the first, afforded light enough. In the inner court were assembled a number of servants, headed by Master Urmston, the steward.

Sir Gilbert de Hoghton was a strict Romanist, and at the moment when Lord Derby arrived, he was attending vespers in his domestic chapel, so that the duty of receiving his lordship devolved upon the steward, who performed the task with great ceremony.

After assisting his lordship to dismount, he prayed him to enter the house, and conducted him to a spacious apartment called the Green Room, from the colour of its hangings. The room, which was well lighted up, was richly but cumbrously furnished, and the walls were adorned with portraits of the ancestors of the owner of the mansion-Sir Adam de Hoghton, who flourished in the time of Henry the Third, Sir Richard Hoghton, knight of the shire, when Edward the Sixth was king, and Sir Thomas de Hoghton, who built the tower in the early days of Elizabeth, and was killed at Lea by the Baron de Walton.

Here the Earl found Lord Molineux, who had arrived at the tower on the same day with fifty horse, and shortly afterwards Sir Gilbert himself appeared.

In age the baronet was about fifty, and had a tall, stately figure, and handsome features. His habiliments were of black velvet, relieved by a lace collar.

"I am glad your lordship has brought so large a force with you," he said. "Captain Standish tells me you feared I should not be able to accommodate all your men. You have forgotten how many persons the tower contained when King James was my father's guest."

"But other Royalists may arrive, Sir Gilbert," said the earl; "and each will bring a score of men at least."

"There is ample room for a hundred more," rejoined Sir Gilbert. "Come with me, and I will speedily convince you I am right."

Thereupon they repaired to the outer court, and found there was no lack of accommodation either for horses or men. Moreover, there was abundant supply of provisions.

As the earl had anticipated, several other Royalist leaders arrived, and a goodly supper was served in the great hall, of which more than a hundred persons partook.

That night the Earl of Derby occupied the splendid bedchamber assigned to King James during his stay at the tower, and seemed haunted by that monarch whose portrait was hung over the fireplace. In a small adjoining chamber slept Frank Standish.

Next morning five hundred countrymen, armed with bills and clubs, arrived at the tower to join Lord Derby.

They were drawn up in the outer quadrangle, and when his lordship showed himself to them, with Lord Molineux, they threw up their hats, and shouted lustily, "God bless the king, and the Earl of Derby."

The earl thanked them heartily for their zeal and loyalty, and told them that with their aid he hoped to be able to deliver Preston and Lancaster from the rebels, upon which they shouted again as lustily as before, and declared they were quite ready to follow wherever he chose to lead them.

On returning to the house, Lord Derby found Daniel Trioche, his confidential French servant, who brought him a letter from the countess informing him that all was going on well at Lathom.

The earl was too busy at the time to write a reply, but he sent a tender message by Trioche, telling her ladyship that he was just starting on an important expedition, and hoped she would soon receive good tidings of him.

"Tell her ladyship," he added, "that my next letter to her shall be from Lancaster."

Half an hour afterwards, Lord Derby marched from Hoghton Tower at the head of four hundred horse, and six hundred foot. He was accompanied by Lord Molineux, Sir Gilbert Hoghton, and the other Royalists. The billmen and clubmen were commanded by Frank Standish and Captain Hoghton-Sir Gilbert's nephew.

At Walton-le-Dale, Lord Derby learnt that Lancaster had already been taken by the Parliamentarian commanders-Colonel Holcroft, Major Sparrow, and Major Heywood; and that Preston was also very strongly garrisoned by Sir John Seaton, who had received large reinforcements from Manchester and other towns, and had now fifteen hundred musketeers and several troops of horse.

After some consultation with Lord Molineux and Sir Gilbert, Lord Derby resolved not to attack either town, until he had augmented his own forces. He therefore crossed the river at Penwortham, and marched into the Fylde, a large tract lying between the estuaries of the Ribble and the Wyre, and took up his quarters at Kirkham and Lytham, and immediately issued warrants commanding all the inhabitants of the Fylde, above sixteen and under sixty, on pain of death, to appear before him at Kirkham, armed with the best weapons they could provide.

The summons was responded to by the whole district, which abounded in Romanists, and in less than a week he was joined by three thousand stalwart billmen and clubmen. He was likewise joined by Sir John Girlington and Sir Thomas Tyldesley with six hundred men-half of whom were horse, and half musketeers.

Being now at the head of a sufficient force he determined to assault Preston without further delay, when a circumstance occurred that induced him to change his plan, and begin with Lancaster.

II.

The Spanish Man-of-War

DURING a strong south-westerly gale, that had prevailed for two or three days, a large Spanish man-of-war, supposed to be bringing arms and ammunition for the king's party, was driven into the estuary of the Wyre, and blown ashore on the left bank of the river opposite Rossall Hall.

Being unable to get away she fired several guns for assistance, and was quickly visited by a pilot, who found she had sprung a leak, and was likewise immovably embedded in the mud.

At the same time the pilot ascertained that she was furnished with twenty-one pieces of large brass ordnance, and knowing he should be well rewarded for his pains, he made all haste to quit the ship, and conveyed the intelligence to the commanders of the Parliamentary garrison at Lancaster.

Cannon being greatly wanted for the defence of the castle, Major Sparrow immediately gave orders that two or three strong boats should be sent from Sunderland, and taking three companies of foot with him, and a number of men armed with pole-axes, he marched through Garstang, and crossing the Wyre at Saint Michaels, proceeded with all possible despatch to the stranded ship and took possession of her in the name of the Parliament.

The greater part of the crew having already gone ashore, no opposition was offered by Captain Esteban Verderol, and Lieutenant Christobal Puntales, and Major Sparrow and his men immediately began to plunder the ship, carrying off all they could lay hands upon.

All the powder and small arms, together with two demi-cannons, a minion, and three sakers had been got into the boats which had arrived from Sunderland, when the Parliamentarians were disturbed in their operations by a report that the Earl of Derby, with a body of four hundred horse, was coming from Kirkham to attack them.

Not caring to hazard an encounter with the earl, Major Sparrow immediately quitted the ship, and bidding the boatmen proceed to the further side of Wyre Water, here almost as broad as a lake, with the plunder, he beat a hasty retreat with his men.