Riding up to her, he said:
“Fortune is against me, madam. Lord Derby may prove the victor, but he shall not rob me of my prize.”
“I have no right to the title you bestow upon me,” she rejoined. “And I refuse to accompany you.”
“Are you not the queen?” he exclaimed, in astonishment.
“Her majesty, I trust, is safe in Warrington,” she replied.
“Confusion!” he cried. “Have I been duped? Who are you? Your voice seems familiar to me.”
“You ought to know me, Colonel Holland,” she rejoined, removing her mask. “You have often seen me before.”
“Gertrude Rosworm!” he exclaimed. “I will not leave you here. You must give your father an explanation of your strange conduct. Come with me!”
But before he could seize her bridle, she dashed aside, and in another minute had joined the Royalists.
Shortly afterwards, Colonel Holland and the Parliamentarians were in full retreat. Lord Derby pursued them to the very gates of Bolton, and then returned with his company across the moors to Lathom. He had sustained but little loss in the encounter, though the rebels suffered heavily.
In the confusion of the fight, Frank Standish and his men had liberated themselves from their captors, and recovered their arms. Nearly forty prisoners were taken by the victors to Lathom, and the queen, who had not yet departed, was greatly rejoiced at the result of the engagement.
Gertrude was regarded as the heroine of the day, and received high commendations from her majesty and the Countess of Derby.
On the following day, the queen set out with her attendants for Chester, and was escorted thither by Lord Derby and a large party of horse. But she met with no interruption. Her majesty proposed to take Gertrude with her, but Lady Derby seemed loth to part with the young damsel, and she was allowed to remain.
END OF BOOK THE SECOND.
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BOOK THE THIRD
THE STORMING OF LANCASTER
I
Hoghton Tower
LORD DERBY remained for a day at Chester, which was now strongly garrisoned by the Earl of Rivers, and then finding the queen did not require his further services, returned to Lathom. Gladly would he have remained tranquil for a short time, but the whole country was in so disturbed a state that it was impossible to do so.
News was brought him that the important town of Preston had been taken by Sir John Seaton, Major-General of the Parliamentary force, and that Lancaster was threatened.
On receiving this intelligence, he determined to hasten to the assistance of the Royalists with all the force he could muster, and leave Lathom to the charge of the countess. Accordingly he set out on the same day with a body of two hundred and fifty men for Hoghton Tower—a large castellated mansion belonging to Sir Gilbert Hoghton, situated within half a dozen miles of Preston. Hoghton Tower had been appointed as a rendezvous of the Royalists, and a beacon was burnt nightly there to summon them.
Nothing could be finer than the situation of this strong and stately fabric—nothing grander or more picturesque than its appearance; crowning the summit of a knoll, the base of which was washed on one side by the river Darwen, while on the other it was environed by a large park, or rather forest, abounding in wild cattle, wild boar, and red deer.
Founded in the early part of Elizabeth’s reign by Sir Thomas Hoghton, this stately structure overlooked the whole district. From its walls Preston could be described on the heights on the further side of the Ribble, and the course of that noble river could be traced from Penwortham to the Irish Sea—its broad estuary looking like a lake. Blackburn, Leyland, Chorley, and several other towns were likewise visible, and beyond the limits of the forest a rich and fertile country gladdened the eye.
Through this dense wood the Earl of Derby and his company made their way to the castle.
Night had come on since they quitted Chorley, and the narrow road, arched over by the trees, seemed profoundly dark, and when they emerged from it at the foot of the hill, the beacon fire, burning above them, and illumining the towers and walls of the mansion, produced a very striking effect.