No sooner did the troop appear outside, than Standish, shouting to his men to follow, dashed forward sword in hand as if to defend the battery.
His object, however, was to enter the town, and he succeeded in getting through the gate with a dozen of his men.
The guard were then cut down, and the gate kept forcibly open till the rest of the regiment had entered.
Bidding his men shout as lustily as they could to announce their success, Standish then galloped on into the town, in the full belief that Lord Derby or Prince Rupert would follow.
As the cuirassiers went furiously on, a few shots were fired at them, but they met with no opposition, nor were they immediately pursued, for the dragoons remained at the entrance of the street till it was effectually barricaded.
In effect, therefore, Standish and his men were prisoners, though they believed they had taken the town.
Many of the inhabitants, who were only just astir, shared in the belief, and when they beheld this splendid regiment of cuirassiers dashing past, they felt sure the sanguinary Rupert had got in, and that a general massacre would ensue.
Standish and his followers stopped not either to slay or plunder, but galloped furiously on to the centre of the town.
A few people were collected in the marketplace, but they fled when the Royalist soldiers appeared.
Windows and doors were speedily shut, as Standish halted beside the cross to consider what should be done next.
The alarm-bell now began to ring violently, and great consternation prevailed throughout the garrison.
The governor could not ascertain precisely what had happened, though he learnt that a regiment of cuirassiers had entered the town, and reached the market-place.
His first order was to send a detachment of musketeers from the castle to attack them in front, while he himself cut off their retreat with a squadron of dragoons.
Ere many minutes, the market-place became the scene of a sharp conflict.
On the appearance of the musketeers, Standish instantly charged them, but was received with a volley, by which he himself was severely wounded, and several of his men killed.
At the same time he was attacked in the rear by Colonel Moore and his dragoons—the governor calling to him to surrender, and offering him quarter.
But Standish refused, and rallying his men, who were got into disorder, endeavoured to cut his way through the enemy.
He might have succeeded, but his strength suddenly failed him, his sword dropped from his grasp, and he fell from his steed.
In the confusion of the fight, he must have been trampled under foot, had not one of his own men, whose horse had been shot, but who was himself unwounded, dragged him to the foot of the cross, and there laid him down.
Shortly afterwards, Colonel Moore rode up, and asked, with much concern, if he should send a surgeon to him.
“It would be useless, colonel,” replied Standish, faintly. “My wound is mortal,”
“Have you any request to make?” said Moore. “It shall be attended to.”
“My young bride will weep for me,” replied Standish. “Send her the ring on my finger. It will comfort her.”
“Rest assured it shall be done,” said the chivalrous Moore.
A cup of wine was then offered to the dying man.
Taking it, he raised it to his lips.
“To the king!” he cried. “Confusion to his enemies!”
With these words he fell backwards and expired.
Liverpool was not taken on that day, nor for several days to come.
Finding he could no longer hold out, the governor retired and Prince Rupert entered the town with his whole army.
In the market-place he found a regiment of horse drawn up. Their leader offered to lay down his arms, and demanded quarter, which was granted, conditionally, on the surrender of the castle. The terms being acceded to, the prince at once took possession of the fortress.
By order of Colonel Moore, Standish had been buried in the old church of Saint Nicholas, and his beautiful widow now came to mourn over his grave.
When the news of her loss had been brought her, she uttered a cry of anguish, swooned, and continued so long insensible, that it was thought she was dead.