Cranage did not venture to offer any further resistance, for he feared he might be reprimanded by the governor. He therefore allowed Rosworm and his companion to proceed; but when they had got to a certain distance, he quitted his men and followed them.
He saw them proceed to Saint Mary’s Gate, and fancied they halted near the conduit, but on arriving at this spot he could see nothing of them. No one was near who could give him any information.
He hurried to the end of Market-street Lane, and then to Deansgate, but seeing nothing of them in either thoroughfare, he mounted the walls, and addressing a sentinel, asked whether he had seen Colonel Rosworm?
“He was here not five minutes ago,” replied the man. “He was making his rounds, and came from Deansgate.”
“Was he alone?” inquired Cranage, eagerly.
“I cannot tell,” rejoined the sentinel. “I thought I saw some one with him at a distance. But if it were so, the person must have left him suddenly.”
“He has escaped,” muttered Cranage. “I believe it to be the Earl of Derby himself!”
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XX
How the Siege was Raised by Command of the King
NEXT day, a council of war was held by Lord Derby and the chief Royalist gentlemen at Hulme Hall, the seat of Mr. Thomas Prestwich.
At this meeting, Lord Molineux and Sir John Girlington assisted, and it was unanimously resolved that, if the terms offered should be refused by Colonel Holland and the Parliament officers, the siege should be vigorously carried on.
Sir Thomas Tyldesley thought it would be better to burn down the town without delay than allow the garrison to wait for the reinforcements, and in this proposition the majority of the council entirely concurred.
Every preparation, therefore, was made for the renewal of hostilities at the expiration of the armistice, in case the conditions offered by Lord Derby should be rejected. A council was likewise held by the Parliamentarians, in which the only voice in favour of peace was Colonel Holland’s, but he was overruled, the militia and townsfolk declaring they would rather shed their last drop of blood than deliver up the town.
An early morning service took place in the Collegiate Church, and a sermon was preached by Warden Heyrick. Discourses were likewise delivered in various parts of the town by the different ministers, and hymns sung. In this manner the ardour of the townspeople was greatly inflamed, and no one would hear of a surrender.
When the hour arrived for the delivery of the answer, Colonel Holland rode forth from Deansgate attended by Captains Radcliffe, Bradshaw, and Booth, and followed by a company of well-mounted and well-armed horsemen.
They were watched by a great number of the townsfolk, men and women, who were collected on the walls facing Alport Park, and by Rosworm and his daughter from the summit of the church-tower.
About a bow-shot from the gate was stationed the Earl of Derby, completely armed, and mounted on a noble charger. His lordship was closely attended by Frank Standish, and at a little distance were Sir Thomas Tyldesley, Sir Alexander Radcliffe, Sir Edward Mosley, and Mr. Prestwich.
Behind was drawn up the whole of the Royalist cavalry and dragoons—each troop having a captain—and yet further on were the foot soldiers, altogether forming a splendid sight.
At the battery behind the trench recently digged in front of Deansgate, cannon was planted, and the artillerymen were in readiness. Everything betokened that a grand attack could at once be made upon the town, if necessary.
On the other hand, though little display was made, no preparations for the defence had been neglected by Rosworm.
On Colonel Holland’s approach Lord Derby rode forward to meet him, and courteous salutations passed between them. After they had exchanged a few words, the earl said:
“I hope my offer can be accepted, colonel, and that we shall be able to come to an amicable understanding.”
“I fear not, my lord,” replied the governor, assuming a grave expression. “I am as anxious as your lordship can be that the effusion of blood should be stayed, and that the horrors of a civil war should be avoided, but this can only be accomplished in one way, and it does not rest with us. Hitherto, Heaven has fought on our side, so that we have been able to resist every attack made upon us. It is idle, therefore, to suppose we shall surrender the town while we are able to keep it. The siege must be raised by your lordship, if peace is to be made between us.”