Captain Standish had been sent on with a small party of men to announce his lordship’s approach, so that when the earl reached the outer gate, he found it thrown wide open, and rode into the quadrangle without delay.
Neither here, nor elsewhere, were torches needed, for the beacon, placed on the summit of the second gatehouse, which was much loftier than the first, afforded light enough. In the inner court were assembled a number of servants, headed by Master Urmston, the steward.
Sir Gilbert de Hoghton was a strict Romanist, and at the moment when Lord Derby arrived, he was attending vespers in his domestic chapel, so that the duty of receiving his lordship devolved upon the steward, who performed the task with great ceremony.
After assisting his lordship to dismount, he prayed him to enter the house, and conducted him to a spacious apartment called the Green Room, from the colour of its hangings. The room, which was well lighted up, was richly but cumbrously furnished, and the walls were adorned with portraits of the ancestors of the owner of the mansion—Sir Adam de Hoghton, who flourished in the time of Henry the Third, Sir Richard Hoghton, knight of the shire, when Edward the Sixth was king, and Sir Thomas de Hoghton, who built the tower in the early days of Elizabeth, and was killed at Lea by the Baron de Walton.
Here the Earl found Lord Molineux, who had arrived at the tower on the same day with fifty horse, and shortly afterwards Sir Gilbert himself appeared.
In age the baronet was about fifty, and had a tall, stately figure, and handsome features. His habiliments were of black velvet, relieved by a lace collar.
“I am glad your lordship has brought so large a force with you,” he said. “Captain Standish tells me you feared I should not be able to accommodate all your men. You have forgotten how many persons the tower contained when King James was my father’s guest.”
“But other Royalists may arrive, Sir Gilbert,” said the earl; “and each will bring a score of men at least.”
“There is ample room for a hundred more,” rejoined Sir Gilbert. “Come with me, and I will speedily convince you I am right.”
Thereupon they repaired to the outer court, and found there was no lack of accommodation either for horses or men. Moreover, there was abundant supply of provisions.
As the earl had anticipated, several other Royalist leaders arrived, and a goodly supper was served in the great hall, of which more than a hundred persons partook.
That night the Earl of Derby occupied the splendid bedchamber assigned to King James during his stay at the tower, and seemed haunted by that monarch whose portrait was hung over the fireplace. In a small adjoining chamber slept Frank Standish.
Next morning five hundred countrymen, armed with bills and clubs, arrived at the tower to join Lord Derby.
They were drawn up in the outer quadrangle, and when his lordship showed himself to them, with Lord Molineux, they threw up their hats, and shouted lustily, “God bless the king, and the Earl of Derby.”
The earl thanked them heartily for their zeal and loyalty, and told them that with their aid he hoped to be able to deliver Preston and Lancaster from the rebels, upon which they shouted again as lustily as before, and declared they were quite ready to follow wherever he chose to lead them.
On returning to the house, Lord Derby found Daniel Trioche, his confidential French servant, who brought him a letter from the countess informing him that all was going on well at Lathom.
The earl was too busy at the time to write a reply, but he sent a tender message by Trioche, telling her ladyship that he was just starting on an important expedition, and hoped she would soon receive good tidings of him.
“Tell her ladyship,” he added, “that my next letter to her shall be from Lancaster.”
Half an hour afterwards, Lord Derby marched from Hoghton Tower at the head of four hundred horse, and six hundred foot. He was accompanied by Lord Molineux, Sir Gilbert Hoghton, and the other Royalists. The billmen and clubmen were commanded by Frank Standish and Captain Hoghton—Sir Gilbert’s nephew.