The Leaguer of Lathom by W. Harrison Ainsworth

“You are right,” said Lord Strange. “They have persuaded the king that I am ambitious, and have pretensions to the crown like my uncle Ferdinando, and they say I shall desert him as my ancestor, Lord Stanley, deserted , Richard the Third at Bosworth Field, when he gave the crown to his son-in-law, the Earl of Richmond. His majesty, therefore, views my conduct with jealousy and suspicion. When I joined him at York, I met with a cold reception, but soon discovered why I was so treated, and strove to disabuse his mind of his unjust and unfounded suspicions. ‘Sire,’ I said, ‘if it were true that I am plotting against you, I should merit death. Let him who dares charge me with treason stand forth, and I will pick the calumny from his lips with the point of my sword.’ Lord Goring, Lord Digby, and Lord Jermyn were present at the time—but not one of them answered the challenge.”

“And what said the king?” asked Doctor Rutter.

“He prayed me to have patience; adding, ‘this is not a time, when the rebels are marching against me, to quarrel amongst ourselves.’”

“Methinks the rebels themselves must have seen their own advantage in the unworthy treatment thus shown you, my lord,” remarked Rutter, “and have sought to win you over.”

“You have guessed right,” said Lord Strange. “A despatch was shortly afterwards sent me by Colonel Holland, commander of the garrison in Manchester, stating that he was aware of the great indignity put upon me by the king’s evil counsellors, who were the enemies of the nation, and that if I would engage in the cause of the Parliament, I should have a command equal to my own greatness, or to that of any of my ancestors. My reply to the insolent proposition was prompt and decisive. I bade the messenger tell Colonel Holland, that when he heard I had turned traitor, I would listen to his offers. Till then, if I received such another despatch it would be at the peril of him who brought it.”

“The answer was worthy of you, my lord,” said the chaplain; “and well calculated to put to shame the king’s advisers. Surely, after this, his majesty could entertain no suspicion of you?”

“An idea once fixed upon the king’s mind is not easily removed. My motives have been misrepresented throughout. Thus, when I assembled upwards of sixty thousand efficient men on the moors near Bury, Ormskirk, and Preston, I was authoritatively forbidden to take the command of the force, and these potent auxiliaries were lost to the king, because they would serve no other leader but myself. Many of them went over to the rebels. Had this large force been retained, and augmented as it could have been, the king might have marched on in triumph to London, and have effectually crushed the rebellion.”

“‘Tis lamentable,” remarked Doctor Rutter. “But his majesty’s eyes have been blinded.”

“Though deeply hurt by the treatment I have experienced,” pursued Lord Strange, “I did not desist from my efforts, but without delay raised three troops of horse, and three regiments of foot, which I armed and equipped, and prepared to join the king at Warrington, where it had been agreed that the royal standard should be reared. Once more the counsels of my enemies prevailed, and to the king’s disadvantage. Warrington, where I am omnipotent, as I need not tell you, was abandoned, and Nottingham chosen, where I have no influence whatever. At the same time, without any reason assigned for the step, I was deprived of the lieutenancy of Cheshire and North Wales, and Lord Rivers was joined in commission with me for Lancashire.”

“I marvel your lordship could forgive the affront. But I know your loyalty is unchangeable.”

“I shall not cease to serve the king faithfully, even though he should continue to requite me with ingratitude,” said Lord Strange; “nor shall I abate my zeal, even though his cause should become hopeless. I am now awaiting his majesty’s orders to attack Manchester. I could easily have taken the place two months ago, when I seized upon the magazine, and carried off the powder stored within it by Colonel Holland, but I had no orders at the time, and might have been blamed for precipitancy. Since then the town has been fortified by an engineer named Rosworm, and it can now stand a siege.”