“You are both mistaken,” cried the earl, warmly. “Let us march there to-day and I will engage to take the town before to-morrow morning. If your lordship will come with me, you shall behold the royal banner floating from the church tower at dawn.”
“I cannot comply with your request, my lord,” replied Goring. “Nor can I permit troops, that will be invaluable to his majesty at this juncture, to be sacrificed in a useless enterprise. I must be frank with your lordship. Neither the king nor his council think you are serving the royal cause in Lancashire.”
“Not serving it!” exclaimed the earl. “What would you have me do? I have just taken Lancaster and Preston.”
“But you can hold neither place,” said Goring. “And I am certain his majesty would not sanction your proposed attack on Manchester. I have commissions for Lord Molineux and Sir Thomas Tyldesley, empowering them to recruit their regiments from your last levies, and to join the king immediately at Oxford.”
“Since such are his majesty’s commands I shall not oppose them,” said the earl; “though I feel I should best serve him by acting contrary to his orders. However prejudicial to the royal cause it may be to strip Lancashire of its defenders, I am ready to take my whole force to Oxford.”
“That is not needful, my lord,” said Goring. “The king desires you to retain such troops as may be necessary, but to send him all you can spare.”
“I will take them to him as I have just said,” replied Lord Derby.
“My lord,” said Goring, “it will suffice if Lord Molineux and Sir Thomas Tyldesley join his majesty. Hereafter, if required, you can follow. You are best here for the present. Lancashire must not be given up to the rebels.”
“If I lose my men, I can make but a poor defence against the enemy,” said the earl. “But his majesty shall be obeyed. My men are ready to march in another direction—but it matters not. They will go wherever I bid them, and though I doubt not they will regret as much as I do myself that the attack on Manchester is abandoned, they will fight well elsewhere. I will take my whole force to Warrington, where I will leave it at his majesty’s disposal.”
“Nay, my lord, I must take the greater part of it with me,” said Goring. “Such are my orders.”
“You shall take all if you will,” rejoined Lord Derby.
“A dozen troops of horse and five hundred foot will suffice for the present,” said Goring.
“You shall have them,” replied the earl. “As soon as the men have rested, we will set out.”
Two hours later, the whole force that had just arrived at Wigan set out for Warrington.
As Lord Derby had anticipated, the change in the plans gave great dissatisfaction, and much reluctance was expressed by some of the soldiers to proceed to Oxford.
During the whole of the march between Wigan and Warrington, Lord Derby rode by himself. A short halt was made at Newton, but even then his lordship seemed in no humour for converse. Evidently it was a great grief to him to part with his army, and he could not conceal his vexation.
The whole force rested that night at Warrington, but early on the following morning, the chosen regiments set out for Chester on their long march to Oxford, under the command of Lord Molineux and Sir Thomas Tyldesley.
Thus checked in his victorious career and deprived of the greater part of his force and his two most efficient commanders, Lord Derby could not but feel the greatest mortification and disappointment.
Overcome by a despondency he could not shake off, he remained for three days at Warrington, when news was brought him of a great disaster.
Wigan had been captured by Colonel Assheton with a very strong force, consisting of upwards of two thousand men, and the town plundered.
Immediately on receiving this grievous intelligence, Lord Derby put himself at the head of the two troops of horse which were all that were now left him, and rode off to Wigan to see what could be done.