The good woman complied, and ushered him into a small room, where he found Gertrude and the rustic maiden, who was really very pretty.
“Little did I dream what a prize I had made,” said Standish. “But you will not have to endure a long captivity. Before night you shall be exchanged.”
“I have nothing to complain of,” said Gertrude. “Good Mistress Bancroft and her daughter Joan have been exceedingly kind to me. But, I fear, my father will be uneasy about me.”
At this juncture, a noise was heard outside the cottage, and it presently appeared that it was caused by the arrival of the Earl of Derby, who came to look after the prisoners. His lordship was greatly surprised to learn that Rosworm’s daughter was a captive.
“I have just caused a parley to be sounded,” he said, and am about to send a messenger to the governor. You shall go with him. Tell your father that, but for him, I should long since have taken the town. Had he served the King as well as he has served the Parliament, the rebellion would soon have been crushed.”
“I will not fail to tell him what your lordship says,” replied Gertrude.
“Methinks, my lord,” said Standish, “since we have obtained this prize, we ought not to part with her. Let her remain with these good folks. Her father ought to pay a heavy ransom. If he wants her, let him come for her.”
“I am quite willing to take charge of her,” said Mistress Bancroft.
“And I will attend upon her,” added Joan.
“Be it so,” said the earl. “You must be content to remain a prisoner for a short time longer, fair damsel,” he added. “But be not alarmed. You are in no danger here.”
“I have no fear, my lord,” she rejoined. “But I pray that my father may be informed that I am in safety.”
“It shall be done,” said the earl. “Captain Standish will deliver your message to him.”
And followed by Standish, he quitted the room.
A troop of horse was drawn up in the farmyard. Giving a paper to Standish, he bade him ride to the town, and present it to the governor.
“A parley has been sounded,” said the earl, “so that admittance to the town will be granted you. The missive is a summons to surrender. Bring back an answer if you can. But I am willing to grant a delay of twelve hours, should it be required, during which truce all acts of hostility must cease on either side.”
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XVIII
The Earl of Derby has an Interview with Rosworm
STANDISH then rode towards the town attended by a trumpeter, who blew a loud blast as they approached the Deansgate barrier.
As soon as Captain Bradshaw learnt his errand, he allowed his advance, and sent on a couple of troopers with him to the market-place, where he found Colonel Holland on horseback, with Rosworm.
“I bring your excellency another message from the Earl of Derby,” said Standish. “His lordship summons you once more in the king’s name to surrender the town—to lay down your arms, and deliver them up to him.”
“Aught more?” inquired Colonel Holland, exchanging a look with Rosworm, who smiled sternly.
“He demands that a thousand pounds be delivered to him; and he further requires three hundred muskets, in addition to those which you will give up.”
“We are more likely to demand muskets than to yield up ours,” observed the governor, dryly.
“If his lordship’s demands are agreed to he will raise the siege,” said Standish.
“We shall force him to raise the siege,” remarked Rosworm.
“Then you refuse the terms offered you?” said Standish.
“Peremptorily,” said the governor. “We have no fear of his lordship. We can certainly hold out against him till we are reinforced by the Parliament. Nevertheless, we agree to the proposed truce, and will suspend hostilities for twelve hours. You shall then have our final answer.”
The interview being ended, Standish was about to ride off, but Rosworm stopped him.
“A word with you, sir, ere you depart,” he said. “My daughter is a prisoner—will she be delivered up?”