“So far as I could discern, I think he has put it into a good state of defence,” replied Standish. “But I did not see any of the militia, and there were few armed men in the market-place and streets.”
“All the entrances are guarded, are they not?” remarked Sir Edward Mosley. “The garrison cannot have relaxed in vigilance?”
“The watch did not seem to me very strictly kept,” replied Standish. “But it is clear the governor has received no intelligence of Lord Derby’s approach.”
“His lordship would not leave Warrington with his company of horse and foot till this morning,” said Sir Thomas Tyldesley; “but the march of nigh three thousand men cannot be kept concealed. The news of their advance will reach Manchester before night.”
“It will then be too late to make any further preparations for defence, or obtain assistance from the rebels in the neighbourhood,” observed Standish.
“I fear not,” said Sir Edward Mosley. “From all I have heard, a very considerable force can be quickly collected. Many of the neighbouring gentlemen, well affected to the Parliament, have promised aid, and are holding themselves in readiness for a summons—General Peter Egerton of Shaw, Colonel Duckenfield, Captain John Arderne of Harden, Captain Edward Butterworth of Belfield, Captain John Booth of Dunham, Captain Robert Hyde, Captain Robert Bradshaw, and several others.”
“A goodly list, in sooth,” said Sir Thomas Tyldesley. “Most of them are old friends of my own. ’Tis sad to think that gentlemen of good family should turn rebels and traitors. Heaven grant that Lord Derby may arrive here before they can bring succour to the town!”
Here their discourse was interrupted by the arrival of a messenger from Lord Derby, who had reached Ashton-upon-Mersey, where he was detained at the ford in consequence of an accident to one of the carriages of his artillery.
The messenger brought word that his lordship had left Warrington at an early hour that morning, with the whole of his force—namely, two thousand foot and six hundred horse, of whom two hundred were dragoons. He had with him ten large pieces of ordnance.
The force had marched in two bodies, the larger division, commanded by the Earl of Derby, who had with him Sir Gilbert Hoghton, Sir Alexander Radcliffe, Sir Gilbert Gerard, Mr. Charles Townley, Captain Windebank, Mr. Farrington of Worden, Mr. Tarbock of Tarbock, and several others, marched along the left bank of the Mersey to Ashton, where they were detained as already mentioned.
The other and lesser division, commanded by Sir John Girlington, high sheriff of Lancashire, who was accompanied by Lord Molineux, Mr. Byrom of Byrom, and other gentlemen of note, meant to take its way through Wolston and Rixton, between Chat Moss and the right bank of the Irwell, through Barton and Eccles, to Salford. The arrival of Lord Molineux with his division, added the messenger, might soon be looked for.
Scarcely had the message been delivered, when it was made evident that information of the approach of the Royalists had reached the town—the bells from the church-tower and other buildings being rung loudly and continuously to summon aid.
Anxious to see what was doing, Sir Thomas Tyldesley ordered out a party of horse, and accompanied by Sir Robert Mosley and Captain Standish, both of whom had mounted their steeds, rode towards the town to reconnoitre.
They did not approach within musket-shot—their object not being to commence the attack. But when they descried any men on horseback sallying forth from the various outlets, they pursued them and drove them back.
Meanwhile, the bells continued their clamour, and ere long numbers of countrymen armed with bills, pikes, clubs, and other weapons, appeared; and began to flock towards the town.
Some of these could have been intercepted, but as they were speedily followed by parties of well-armed horsemen, it was deemed expedient not to molest them.
After some time spent in these observations, Sir Thomas Tyldesley retired with his party. They did not, however, return to Alport Lodge, but proceeded in the direction of Stretford, with the intention of riding on to the ford over the Mersey at Ashton.
They had not got beyond Old Trafford, when they perceived a company of horsemen, and at once comprehending that the troop belonged to Lord Derby, hastened forward to meet them.