On returning to the countess she told her what she had heard, and the devout dame being freed from all immediate anxiety, proceeded with her daughters to the chapel, which was crowded with musketeers fully equipped for the conflict, and presented a very striking sight.

Never had Archdeacon Rutter preached a more animated sermon than he did on this occasion.

On the conclusion of the service, the three parties of musketeers, each under the command of a captain and lieutenant, were drawn up in the outer court, and after the countess had addressed a few words to them calculated to rouse their ardour, they prepared to sally forth upon the foe.

As the attacks, though made from various points, were to be simultaneous, it was no sooner ascertained that the two squadrons under the command of Captain Farmer and Captain Molineux Radcliffe were ready to issue from the sally-port in the postern tower, than the gate was thrown open, and the drawbridge lowered, and Standish and his men dashed out, while Captain Ogle with another party of musketeers, blocked up the gateway, so as to prevent all ingress of the enemy.

At the same time the walls were thronged with marksmen, under the command of Captain Rawsthorne and Lieutenants Walthew and Halsall.

The engineers in every tower stood beside their guns with lighted match in hand, and only awaited the order to fire.

Need we add that Captain Foxe was at his post?

Just before the attack began, the countess appeared on the Eagle Tower, attended by Gertrude. Captain Foxe did not allow himself to be distracted by their presence, but kept a careful look out.

For a few minutes the countess and her attendant spoke not a word, and strange to say, scarcely a sound seemed to reach them from beneath.

Their gaze was riveted upon the postern-tower.

Suddenly, the sally-port was opened, and from it poured out with astonishing rapidity a large band of musketeers with Captain Farmer at their head.

While they were forming, another party came forth with equal quickness, under the command of Captain Radcliffe.

Before commencing the attack, the two leaders turned their gaze towards the Eagle Tower, and saw that Captain Foxe waved the red flag to them to advance.

By this time the enemy had taken the alarm, and were gathering thickly in their fortifications, whence they fired upon their assailants, but could not check them in their onset.

Sustained by the musketeers and marksmen on the ramparts of the mansion, who were admirably directed by Captain Rawsthorne, the assailants scaled these bulwarks, and drove the engineers from their guns, killing several, and firing with deadly effect upon the soldiers who came to their relief.

While the conflict was raging in this quarter, Captain Standish, who had issued with his men from the gateway, had attacked another part of the works, and with equal bravery and success.

The attack had not lasted more than quarter of an hour, and already he had gained two batteries, and killed three men with his own hand.

But his main object was to spike the great mortar, and leaving Lieutenant Bretergh and those with him to deal with the cannon on the batteries, he forced his way to the rising ground on which the huge piece of ordnance was placed.

An attempt was made by the enemy to defend this little fort, but nothing could resist the impetuosity of Standish and his followers.

In an inconceivably short space of time they climbed the ramparts, and put the engineers to the sword after a brief struggle, and were consequently masters of the fort.

This daring exploit, witnessed from the walls and towers of the mansion, was hailed with shouts.

Striking the wide-mouthed and ponderous piece of ordnance with his sword, and regretting that its enormous weight prevented its removal, Standish ordered it to be spiked, and the work was effectually performed by one of the men who had come provided with a smith's hammer and nails.

While this was going on, Standish looked up at the Eagle Tower and perceived that Captain Foxe was giving him a signal to retreat by waving a white flag in such a manner as to intimate that a large body of the enemy was advancing from the camp.

Compelled, however, to tarry for a few minutes longer, Standish looked around, and witnessed the end of a sharp conflict between Lieutenant Worral and the occupants of an adjoining battery.

Having sprung suddenly into the work, sword in hand, the valiant lieutenant had been instantly surrounded by a host of his foes, but he managed to defend himself against them all till Captain Farmer came to his assistance and delivered him.

At this juncture Standish caught sight of his friends, and responded to their shout of triumph by waving his sword.

Everywhere success had attended the Cavaliers in their onslaught, though the enemy trebled them in number, and were protected by forts and ramparts. The assailants were supported by the musketeers and cannoniers on the walls and in the towers of the castle; but the latter had to fire carefully for fear of injuring their friends.

But the Cavaliers were so impetuous that they scarcely seemed to need aid. Animated by a burning desire to chastise the insolence of the rebels, and inflict a severe blow upon them, they succeeded almost beyond expectation.

Many daring deeds were done that gave renown to those who performed them. A battery was taken single-handed by Captain Radcliffe, who slew seven men with his own hand, and a feat almost equally remarkable was achieved by Lieutenant Pesketh.

Ere long, a panic seized the besiegers, who had lost altogether more than fifty men. No prisoners were made by the Royalists, because they had found that the Parliamentarian commanders were unwilling to exchange them.

Thus the whole line of fortifications was abandoned, all the cannon were spiked, and as far as possible the works were destroyed. An immense number of muskets were taken.

For some moments the signal given by Captain Foxe was unheeded, the victors being unwilling to retire, but at length Captain Standish prepared to re-enter the castle, and the other leaders followed his example.

Though scattered about, the men were speedily got together, and the retreat was executed in very good order, albeit a troop of horse, under the command of Colonel Rigby, was close at hand at the time.

But no attempt at interruption was offered, and Rigby, though highly incensed, did not deem it prudent to expose himself to the fire of the garrison.

Thus Standish was allowed to cross the drawbridge, and pass through the gates unmolested, while equal good fortune befel Captain Farmer and Captain Molineux Radcliffe, as they entered the postern-tower.

On descending from the Eagle Tower, the countess found the three victorious squadrons drawn up in the court-yard, and gave them a hearty greeting, telling them how much she was beholden to them, and how highly she appreciated their valour.

"I have always believed, and I now find I was right," she said, "that I have nothing to fear from the enemy so long as I possess such valiant soldiers as you."

"We have all vowed to defend your ladyship to the last," cried the men enthusiastically. "And we will keep our oath. God bless the king and the Earl of Derby."

And the court resounded with their shouts, which being taken up by the musketeers on the ramparts, were heard by Rigby and his troop, heightening the rage of the Parliamentary commander, and determining him to take ample revenge.

"Your ladyship will be pleased to hear," said Standish, advancing, "that although we have slain many of the enemy, and brought away their arms, we have not left a man behind."

"That is marvellous, and proves that Heaven is with us," replied the countess. "We should be wanting in gratitude if we did not return thanks for the great mercy vouchsafed us."

And accompanied by Archdeacon Rutter and her daughters, she proceeded to the chapel, where shortly afterwards all those who had been engaged in the recent conflict were assembled.

XIX.

How a Council of War was held by the Besiegers; and how a Day of Fasting and Prayer was appointed by Fairfax

NOT satisfied with the damage done by the attack just described, the engineers in the towers kept up a constant fire upon the enemy, and strove to prevent them from repairing the fortifications, and unspiking the cannon.

In this manner the besiegers were harassed throughout the entire day, and at night they were alarmed by a fresh sortie conducted by Captain Chisenhale and Captain Ogle.

Though this sortie was on a small scale, and intended merely as an alarm, it was very well carried out, and produced a singular result.

Reinforcements had just been sent to the trenches by Rigby, and the new-comers, perplexed by the shouts and cries which were heard on all sides, fired upon their friends, whom they mistook for foes, and killed several of them. As in the morning, the Royalists escaped without the loss of a man.

These repeated disasters produced the natural effect. The besiegers lost spirit, and fought badly, and it was evident they would go on still worse, if something was not done to rouse them.

A council of war was therefore held in the camp, at which Sir Thomas Fairfax and the three commanders were present.

Rigby, whose rage had not yet subsided, and who considered himself aggrieved by the want of attention paid him by the general, was very anxious that the mansion should be assaulted, but Fairfax would not listen to the proposition.

"I have reason to believe that the place is much stronger than we thought," he said, "and that an assault would be very hazardous. I shall therefore persist in my plan of reducing it by siege. This is slow but sure, whereas if we should be repulsed in an assault, the whole county will ring with the news, hundreds of malignants, who now dare not show their heads, will come here, and immense service will consequently be done to the royal cause."

"Should the attack prove unsuccessful, I grant that such would be the case," replied Rigby; "and I know Rosworm is averse to an assault, but I do not think there is any risk, and this slow siege disheartens our men. These last successes of the enemy have greatly disheartened them."

"Hitherto, we have been very unlucky, it must be owned, and have succeeded in none of our designs," observed Colonel Assheton. "Our miners have not yet been able to get under the moat, and the scheme to drain the springs on the south-east of the castle that supply the deep well inside has totally failed."

"We must employ another plan, and drain the well itself," said Colonel Moore. "I believe that can be accomplished."

"No doubt," said Fairfax; "and although we have met with many more obstructions in our work than might have been expected, we have made good progress. We have cut off all supplies from without. No fresh provisions have been obtained by the garrison, and as their stores will soon run short, they must submit or starve."

"The prisoners last exchanged declare they have plenty of provisions, and can hold out for a couple of months longer," remarked Rigby.

"It is the countess's policy to make it appear so," observed Fairfax. "But it is not possible the garrison can be so well stored."

"A contrary opinion prevails," remarked Rigby. "But I do not think their sallying parties have succeeded in procuring any fresh provisions, and none can have been introduced in any other way."

"You are sure of that?" said Fairfax.

"I am sure of it," replied Rigby. "Since I took possession of that stand in the park and the windmill neither meat nor flour can have been carried in without our knowledge."

"Then you may be sure the end is not far off," said Fairfax. "The Earl of Derby would never have asked for a free passage for his wife and children had he believed the garrison could long hold out."

"But her ladyship's bold answer seems to have undeceived him, since he now refuses to treat for a surrender," rejoined Rigby.

"I attach little importance to that," said Fairfax. "He well knows her ladyship will be honourably treated. As you say that our men are dispirited by their ill success, and they may haply deem that our undertaking is not approved by Heaven, to-morrow shall be observed as a day of fasting and prayer, and our ministers shall be enjoined to implore Divine assistance in our behalf."

"Such an injunction will do much good," said Rigby, "and we must see that it is strictly obeyed. With so many zealous ministers as we have in the camp, a good effect cannot fail to be produced. Our men will fight all the better after listening to their discourses."

Both Colonel Assheton and Colonel Moore concurred in the opinion that a day of fasting and supplication would do infinite good, and the order for its rigid observance on the morrow was issued accordingly.

Nor was the injunction neglected. In each camp, as we have said, there were several ministers-many more than were needed-but each had a certain number of listeners to whom he addressed his discourse. All preached against the countess, and all earnestly besought Heaven to aid them in their endeavours to drive her from her stronghold, denouncing her as a Papist and an idolatress.

One of the most infuriated amongst them took for his text the words of the Prophet: "Put yourselves in array against Babylon round about: all ye that bend the bow shoot at her, spare no arrows, for she hath sinned against the Lord."

The discourse of this zealot produced the desired effect upon his hearers, and they resolved to carry out his injunctions.

But the soldiers in the trenches were not allowed to pass the day in quiet. Already they had been disturbed in their devotions by an occasional cannon shot falling among them; and at last they were roused to action by shouts and a discharge of musketry that announced that the restless Cavaliers were again at hand.

XX.

How a Cannon-shot fired by the Besiegers burst into the Countess's Chamber

THE Countess of Derby, as we have shown, was a very early riser, and generally appeared on the parade with her daughters before attending service in the chapel; but on the third morning after the successful attack had been made upon the enemy, she had not quitted her chamber at a somewhat later hour than usual, owing to the unfavourable state of the weather.

The room was situated at the end of the great gallery in the upper part of the mansion, and had a noble bay window, filled with stained glass, looking towards the south. The furniture was of oak, and richly carved, and the walls were covered with tapestry.

Attached to the room was an ante-chamber, furnished in precisely the same manner, except that it was not provided with a stately bed and a toilette-table. The rooms had formerly been occupied by Earl William and his countess, and in the couch, just alluded to, that pious lady had breathed her last.

On the morning in question the countess was in the ante-chamber, though the door between the rooms usually masked by a piece of arras, was left open. Her private devotions had been finished before she left her bedroom, and she was seated at a table making some additions to a journal, which she kept in the hope that her lord might one day peruse it.

The last records were very satisfactory. All had gone well. Though the besiegers had completed their trenches and mounted their batteries they could not hold them. Their guns had been silenced, their forts partially destroyed, and if they began the work again, she felt sure that with Heaven's aid the like result would follow. Therefore she was of good heart.

As this journal was intended for no other eye than her lord's, she put down within it her in-most thoughts, and these words now flowed from her pen: "Oh, my dear lord, I have an arduous task to perform, and I trust strength may be given me from Above to accomplish it. At times I want support from thee. Oh! that thou wert with me now, to counsel and encourage me. I know the wish is vain, yet I cannot repress it. After all, I am only a woman."

When the brave lady had finished this sentence, she closed the little volume, and her breast found relief in a deep sigh.

At that moment her countenance had a different expression from that which it habitually wore. The haughty and resolute look that usually marked her features had disappeared, and a feminine softness succeeded, and lasted so long as she was alone; but when Gertrude entered the room, she instantly shook off the feeling and became determined as ever.

"You have a letter for me, I perceive," she said to the damsel, after bidding her good-morrow. "Whence comes it? From Sir Thomas Fairfax?"

"From the noble lord, your husband, madam," replied Gertrude, giving her the letter. "The luckless messenger who brought it reached the posterngate unharmed. There he was struck by a shot from the enemy, but had strength enough left to fling the letter to the guard."

"He should have had a better reward for the service," sighed the countess.

Then opening the letter, and casting her eyes over it, she said: "My lord approves of my refusal to surrender to Fairfax, and bids me to listen to no propositions, but hold on, as I am certain to be relieved. That is well. Had he commanded otherwise, I could scarce have obeyed him."

"I do not think your ladyship could be forced to surrender to the rebels," observed Gertrude.

"Thou art right, girl," she rejoined. "I will blow up this house and bury us all in the ruins rather than yield to them, so you know the fate that awaits you, if you stay with me."

"I am not afraid," replied Gertrude, with a firmness equal to her own.

"Thou art a brave girl," cried the countess, approvingly.