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.
END OF BOOK THE SIXTH.
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BOOK THE SEVENTH
THE STORMING OF BOLTON
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 advantageously 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.