[From Manx Soc vol 3 - part 1 Letter of James 7th Earl]

Appendix.

Containing: I. — The siege of Latham House. 2. — The Earl's return to England. 3. — His going back to the Isle of Man. 4. — His letter to Commissary General Ireton. 5. — His return into England for the last time. 6. — .A copy of his speech upon the scaffold, and of some remarkable passages in his going to it, and being upon it on Wednesday, 15th October, 1651.

1. — THE SIEGE OF LATHAM HOUSE.

DURING the Earl of Derby's absence in the Isle of Man, his Countess, the Lady Charlotte, being left in this house, the enemy looked upon it as their own, little expecting from a woman, being a stranger, and that a place so unprovided (as they supposed), that any considerable resistance could be made; so that a commission was presently obtained for the reducing it; which being made known to her, she furnished herself with men, arms, and ammunition, with all the diligence and secrecy imaginable; and finding the men generally raw and unexperienced, she caused them to be listed and trained under these captains — viz., Capt. Farington, Charnock, Chisenhale, Rawsthorne, Ogle, and Molineux Radcliffe, who were to receive orders from Captain Farmer (as major of the garrison), and he from herself. Matters being so privately managed, that the enemy was advanced within two miles of the house ere they dreamed of any other opposition than from her own servants.

But, upon Feb. 28, 1644, there came to this lady a trumpet from Sir Thomas Fairfax, and with him a person of quality, to desire a conference with her. Whereupon Sir Thomas, and some gentlemen with him, being admitted, the soldiers of that her garrison were disposed in such a manner as might best advance the appearance and opinion both of their numbers and discipline. Their commission being to require the delivery of the house, they offered her an honourable and safe remove, with her children, servants, and goods (arms and cannon excepted) to her own house at Knowsley; also a protection to reside there free from any molestation; and the one moiety of her lord's estate in England, for the support of herself and children. Whereunto she answered, that she was under a double trust — of faith to her husband, and allegiance to her sovereign; and that, without their leave, she could not give it up ; desiring, therefore, a month's time for her answer. Which being denied, her ladyship told them that she hoped they would excuse her, if she preserved her honour and obedience, though in her own ruin.

Hereupon Sir Thos. Fairfax departed; and upon the question, whether they should proceed by storm or siege, he gave his opinion for the latter. Which advice was promoted by an artifice of one of the Earl of Derby's chaplains [probably Mr. Rutter] whose integrity and prudence was of no little service to that heroic lady in all her extremities. About fourteen days after the former conference, there coming another summons for a present surrender, the trumpet was sent away with a short answer, vin., that the Countess had not as yet forgot what she did owe to the Church of England, to her prince, and to her lord; and that till she had either lost her honour or her life, she would defend that place. Whereupon Fairfax gave order for a formal siege; but, being commanded away upon other service, left the managing of it to Col. Peter Egerton and Major Morgan.

As to the situation of Latham House, it stands upon a flat, boggy, and spumous ground, encompassed with a wall of two yards thick, without which is a moat of eight yards wide and two yards deep; upon the bank of which moat, betwixt the wall and the grass, was a strong palisado throughout. Upon the walls were also nine towers flanking them, and on each tower six pieces of ordnance, which played three one way and three another. Besides these, there was in the middle of the house a high tower, called the Eagle Tower. The gate-house also, being strong and lofty building, stood at the entrance of the first court. Upon the top of all which towers stood the choicest marksmen (keepers, fowlers, and the like), who shrewdly galled the enemy, and cut off divers of their officers in the trenches.

Fairfax departing, the enemy fell forthwith to work on a line of circumvallation. Whereupon the Countess, to disturb their approaches, ordered a sally of two hundred men, who were commanded by Major Farmer; who, on March 12, 1644, beat them from their trenches to their main guard, slew about three score, and took some prisoners, with the loss only of two men. Whereupon they doubled their guards, and drew their line at a greater distance. But they were so plied with sallies, that it was fourteen weeks' time before they could finish their line. After which they ran. a deep trench near the moat, where they raised a strong battery, and planted on it a mortar-piece, which cast stones and granades of sixteen inches diameter; of which granades the first fell close to the table where the Countess, her children, and her officers were all at dinner; which shivered the room, but hurt nobody. The apprehension whereof made them to resolve on another sally, to take that mortar-piece. Upon which sally Molineux Radcliffe had the forlorn, Chisenhale the body, and Farmer the reserve; who, after an hour's dispute, possessed themselves of all their works, nailed and overturned all their cannon, or rolled them into the moat, carrying the mortar-piece into the house. And, continuing masters of their works and trenches all that day, endeavoured to fill them up and destroy them as much as might be. At which time the Countess went not only out of the gates, but sometimes very near the trenches; whose piety was such that she constantly practised to begin all those actions with public prayers, and to close them with thanksgivings.

This successful sally happened on the 26th April, being the very day appointed by the enemy for a fierce assault, with order to put every one to the sword.

After which it took the enemy at least five or six days' time to repair their works ; but in that space they were thrice dislodged and scattered by other vigorous sallies.

Which disasters gave Col. Rigby (a malicious enemy to the Earl of Derby) a colour of laying the fault on Col. Peter Egerton; whereby he got a commission for himself to command in chief. After which he would not permit so much as a midwife to pass into the house unto a gentlewoman then in travail; and in a fortnight's space carried on his work without much trouble, for want of powder in the house. But that defect being supplied by another sally, the Countess proposed a fresh assault upon all their trenches; which being accordingly agreed on, Rawsthorne had command of the forlorn, Farmer of the battle, and Chisenhale of the reserve; who, behaving themselves with their wonted bravery, beat the enemy from their works, cleared the trenches, nailed their great guns, and killed a hundred of their men, with the loss only of three, and five or six wounded.

Hereupon, after a month's siege, and the loss of about two thousand men (by their own confession), Rigby sent the Countess a huffing summons; to which she returned this answer — " Tell that insolent rebel Rigby, that if he presume to send another summons within this place, I will have the messenger hanged up at the gates."

2. — THE EARL'S RETURN TO ENGLAND.

UPON intelligence given to the Earl of these his noble lady's distresses, he hasted out of the Isle of Man, to beg relief of his Majesty. Whereupon orders were given that Prince Rupert should take Lancashire in his way to York, unto which place he was then designed. But no sooner did Rigby hear that his Highness had entered Lancashire at Stopford-bridge, but that he raised his siege on the 27th of May, 1644, and marched to Bolton, a strong garrison of the enemy; where, with the addition of other forces to two thousand of his own, he made up a body of two thousand five hundred foot, and five hundred horse.

Upon notice whereof to the Prince, he marched directly thither, and gave order for an assault; which, though gallantly attempted, succeeded not at the first; he therein losing two hundred men, the enemy killing all they took upon the walls, in cold blood, in his sight. Whereupon a second assault being resolved, the Earl of Derby desired to have the command of two companies of his old foot, and the honour of the, forlorn ; which at his importunity being granted, and all things ready, the town was entered in the space of half an hour, on every side; he himself being the first man who set foot into it, upon the 28th May. Whereupon Rigby made his escape, leaving two thousand of his men behind; amongst which there was one Bootle, a captain (formerly a porter in Latham, and who, upon his leaving that house, voluntarily swore that he would never bare arms against the King), who, being in the heat of the storm, encompassed with soldiers, begged quarter of this Earl, who answered, "I will not kill thee myself, but I cannot save thee from others." Nor did he [kill him] ; nevertheless, his death was afterwards most falsely laid to his charge.

Upon the taking of this rebellious town, Prince Rupert sent all the colours to the Countess at Latham ; and so marched to Liverpool, for reducing that. Thence to Latham, where he stayed four or five days; but, before his departure, gave direction for repairing and fortifying the house; and, at the request of the Countess, disposed the governorship thereof to Captain Edward Rawsthorne, whom he made colonel of a foot regiment, and two troops of horse, for its defence. By which captain it was stoutly defended for full two years more, in a second siege; but at last, by his Majesty's order, delivered up; having cost the enemy no less than six thousand men, and the garrison about four hundred; it being one of the last places in this realm which held out for the King. Such the fate of Latham House.

3. — HIS GOING BACK TO THE ISLE OF MAN.

AFTER Prince Rupert left Lancashire, as before related, the Earl of Derby, leaving his House at Latham to the care of Col. Rawsthorne, returned to the Isle of Man (his presence being still very necessary there to keep that island in order), and took his lady and children with him. But his children, it seems, were soon after perfidiously seized and made close prisoners ; and he himself tempted with the promise of a peaceable enjoyment of his whole estate, in case he would deliver up that Island; but he stoutly refused to do so. [As may appear by]

4. — HIS LETTER TO COMMISSARY GENERAL IRETON.

" I RECEIVED your letter with indignation, and with scorn I return you this answer, that I cannot but wonder whence you should gather any hopes from me that I should, like you, prove treacherous to my sovereign; since you cannot be insensible of my former actings in his late Majesty's service; from which principles of loyalty I am no whit departed.

" I scorn your proffers. I disdain your favour. I abhor your treason; and am so, far from delivering up this Island to your advantage, that I will keep it, to the utmost of my power, to your destruction. Take this your final answer; and forbear any farther solicitations. For, if you trouble me with any more messages on this occasion, I will burn the paper and hang the bearer. This is the immutable resolution, and shall be the undoubted practice, of him who accounts it his chiefest glory to be

His Majesty's most loyal and obedient subject,

"Castletown, 12 July, 1649." DERBY.

5. — HIS RETURN INTO ENGLAND FOR THE LAST TIME.

THE Earl of Derby continuing in the Isle of Man until 1651, upon King Charles IT. advancing out of Scotland towards Worcester, received a command to attend him, upon assurance that the Presbyterians would cordially join with the Royalists in order to his restoration. At which time, when he discerned that their ministers did obstinately refuse any conjunction, he said, "If I perish, I perish; but, if my master perish, the blood of another prince, and all the ensuing miseries of this nation, will lie at your doors."

His next misfortune was at that time, the engagement he had with a party which endeavoured to hinder the King in that his march, with whom he met in Wigan-lane; where, with six hundred horse, he maintained a fight for two hours, against three thousand horse and foot (commanded by Colonel Lilburne) in a place of much disadvantage. In which encounter he received seven shot on his breast-plate, thirteen cuts on his beaver over a steel cap, and five or six wounds upon his arms and shoulders; having two horses killed under him. Nevertheless, through all these difficulties he made his way to the King at Worcester.

Whence, upon the loss of the day there, 3rd Sept., 1653, he fled with him into Staffordshire; where, having seen him hopefully secured in such a place, and with such trusty persons, by whose means he most happily escaped the cruel hands of those blood-thirsty rebels who then sought his life; shifting for himself, he had the hard hap to be taken in Cheshire, by one Major Edge; but upon condition of quarter. Nevertheless, against the law of arms, he was afterwards most barbarously sentenced to death, by a certain number of faithless men, who, calling themselves a court-martial, sat at Chester, viz. —

Colonel Humphrey Mackworth. Major — Mitton.

Where, having voted him guilty of the breach of the Act of 12 Aug., 1651, intitled "An Act for Prohibiting Correspondency with Charles Stuart, or his Party;" and sentenced him to be put to death at Bolton, in Lancashire, upon the 15th of October. He there suffered most Christianly. So far Sir William Dugdale, &c.

6. — A COPY OF HIS SPEECH UPON THE SCAFFOLD, AND OF SOME REMARKABLE PASSAGES IN HIS GOING TO IT AND BEING UPON IT, ON WEDNESDAY, 15TH OCTOBER, 1651.

(From the Manuscript Collection of John Nalson, LL.D. Vol. XVI., No. 95. Copied by Dr. Grey.)

THE Earl of Derby came to Bolton, guarded with two troops of horse and one company of foot; the people praying and weeping as he went, even from the castle (his prison in Chester) to the scaffold; where his soul was freed from its prison, his body.

His lordship being to go to a house in Bolton near the Cross, where the scaffold was raised, and, passing by, said, " This must be my cross ;" and so, going into a chamber with some of his friends and servants, had time courteously allowed him by the commander-in-chief till three of the clock that day. The scaffold indeed being scarce ready, by reason the people in the town refused to strike a nail into it, or to give them any assistance; many of them saying that " Since these wars they have had many and great losses, but never any like this; this was the greatest that ever befell them — that the Earl of Derby should lose his life there, and in that manner !"

His lordship (as I told you) having till three of the clock allowed him, spent all that time in praying with those who were with him; in telling them " how he had lived, and how he was prepared for death; how he feared it not; and how the Lord had strengthened him, and comforted him against the terrors of it." And, after such or the like words, he desired them to pray with him again; and after that, giving some good instructions to his son, the Lord Strange, he desired to be in private; where we (his friends and servants) left him with his God. There he continued upon his knees a long time in prayer. Then he called for us again, telling us "how willing he was to part with this world; and that the fear of death was never any great trouble to him ever since his imprisonment, though he had still two or three soldiers with naked swords, night and day, in his chamber to guard him. Only the care he had of his wife and children, and the fear he had what might become of them, was often in his thoughts. But now he was satisfied that God would become a husband and a father unto them; into whose hands he committed them." And so, taking leave of his son and blessing him, he called for an officer, and told him " he was ready."

At his going towards the scaffold the people prayed and cried, and cried and prayed. His lordship, with a courteous humble ness, said — " Good people, I thank you all. I beseech you, pray for me to the last. The Lord of Heaven bless you! The Son of God bless you! and God the Holy Ghost fill you with comfort !" And so, coming near the scaffold, he laid his hand on the ladder, saying, "I am not afraid to go up here, though I am to die here;" and so he kissed it, and went up. And then, walking a while upon the scaffold, he settled himself at the east end of it, and addressed the people thus: —

"I come, and am content to die in this town, whither I endeavoured to come the last time I was in Lancashire, as to a place where I persuaded myself to be welcome; in regard the people thereof have reason to be satisfied of my love and affection to them. I am no man of blood, as some have falsely slandered me; especially in killing a captain of this town, whose death is declared upon oath, under the hand of a master of the Chancery. The several attestings of a gentleman of honour in this kingdom (who was in the fight in this town) and of others of good repute in this town and country [speak the contrary]. And I am confident there are some in this place who can witness my mercy and care for the sparing of many men's lives that day.

"As for my crime (as some are pleased to call it), to come into this country with the King, I hope it deserves a better name; for I did it in obedience to his call whom I hold myself obliged to obey, according to the protestation I took in the Parliament in his father's time. I confess I love monarchy, and I love my master Charles II. of that name, whom I myself proclaimed in this country to be king. The Lord bless him and preserve him! And I do believe, and assure you, he is (for his age) the most godly, virtuous, and valiant, and the most discreet prince that I know this day lives! And I wish so much happiness to his people, after my death, that he may enjoy his rights; and then they cannot want their rights.

" I profess here, in the presence of God, I always fought for peace; and I had no other reasons. For I neither wanted means nor honours; nor did I look to enlarge either.

" By my King's predecessors mine were raised to a high condition, as it is well known to this country. And it is as well known that, by his enemies, I am condemned to suffer by new and unknown laws. The Lord send us our King again! The Lord send us our laws again! And the Lord send us our religion again ! As for that which is practised now, it hath no name; and methinks there is more talk of religion, than of any good effects thereof. Truly, to me it seems I die for the King and the laws; and this makes me not to be ashamed of my life, or afraid of my death." —

At which words" the King and the laws" — a trooper said — "We have no king, and we will have no lords." Then some sudden fear or mating fell among the soldiers, and his lordship was interrupted; which some of the officers were much troubled at, and his friends grieved, his lordship having liberty of speech promised. Then his lordship, seeing the troopers scattered in the street, cutting and slashing the people with their swords, said — "What's the matter, gentlemen? Where is the guilt? I fly not. And here is none to pursue you." Then his lordship perceiving he might not speak freely, turned himself to his servant, and gave him his paper, and commanded him to " let the world know what he had to say had he not been disturbed." Which is as followeth, as it was in his lordship's paper under his own hand: —

"My sentence, upon which I am brought hither, was at a council of war — nothing in the captain's case [being] alleged against me. Which council I had reason to expect would have justified my plea of quarter; that being an ancient and an honourable plea amongst soldiers, and not violated (that I know of) till this time, that I am made the first suffering precedent in this case. I wish that no other suffer in the like case. Now I must die. And I am ready, I thank my God, with a good and a quiet conscience; without any malice to any, upon any ground whatsoever; though others would not find mercy for me upon just and fair ground. But I forgive them. And I pray God forgive them. So my Saviour prayed for his enemies; and so do I for mine.

"As for my faith and my religion, thus much I have at this time to say. I profess my faith to be in Jesus Christ, who died for me; from whom I look for my salvation, — that is, through His only merits and sufferings. And I die a dutiful son of the Church of England, as it was established in my late master's reign, and is yet professed in the Isle of Man; which is no little comfort to me. I thank my God for the quiet of my conscience at this time, and the assurance of those joys which are prepared for those who fear Him. Good people, pray for me, as I do for you. The God of Heaven bless you all, and send you peace ! The God who is Truth itself bless you with truth and peace! Amen."

Presently after the uproar was past, his lordship, walking upon the scaffold, called for the headsman, and asked "to see the age," saying, " Friend, give it into my hand; I will neither hurt it nor thee; and it cannot hurt me. I am not afraid of it" Then he kissed it, and gave it to the headsman again. Then he asked for the block (which was not then ready) ; and turning up his eyes said, " How long, good Lord! How long!"

Then, putting his hand into his pocket, his lordship gave the executioner two pieces of gold, saying, "That is all I have; take it, and do thy work well;" and, "when I am upon the block, and lift up my hands, then do your work. But I doubt your coat is too burly" (it was of a great black shag) " and will hinder or trouble you."

Some standing by bid the executioner " ask his lordship forgiveness." But he was either too sullen or too slow; so that his lordship forgave him ere he asked it.

His lordship then passing to the other side of the scaffold, where his coffin lay, and seeing one of his chaplains on horse-back amongst the troopers, said, " Sir, remember me to your brother and friends. You see I am ready, and the block is not ready. And when I am gone into my chamber, as I shall not be long out of it" (pointing to his coffin), " I shall be at rest, and not troubled with such a guard and noise as I have here."

Then turning himself again, he saw the block, and asked if all was ready. And so, going to the place where he began his speech, said — " Good people, I thank you for your prayers and for your tears. I have seen the one, and heard the other. And our God hears and sees both. Now the God of Heaven bless you all! Amen."

Then bowing himself, he turned towards the block; and then, looking towards the church, his lordship caused the block to be turned and laid that way, saying, " I will look towards the sanctuary while I am here, and I hope to live in Thy sanctuary which is above for ever!" Then, having put his doublet off, he said, "How must I lie? Will any one show me? I never yet saw a man's head cut off. But I will try how it fits." And so, laying himself down and stretching himself upon it, he rose again, and caused it to be removed a little.

Then standing up, and looking at the headsman, he said, " Remember what I told you: when I lift up my hands, then do your work." Afterwards, looking at his friends about him, and bowing himself, he said, "The Lord be with you all! Pray for me!" And so, kneeling upon his knees, he made a short private prayer, ending with the Lord's Prayer. Then turning himself again, he said, " The Lord bless my wife and children ! and the Lord bless us all!" And so, laying his neck upon the block, and stretching out his arms, he said these words aloud — " Blessed be God's glorious name for ever and ever! Amen. And let all the whole earth be filled with His glory! Amen."

Then, lifting up his hands, he was ready to give up the ghost [or, in other words, expected the blow], but the headsman, not observing [the sign], was too slow. So his lordship rose again, saying, " What have I done, that I die not? And why do you not do your work? Well, I will lay me down again in peace. And I hope I shall enjoy everlasting peace."

So, laying himself down again, and his neck upon the block, and stretching out his arms, he said again the same words — " Blessed be God's glorious name for ever and ever! Amen.

Let all the whole earth be filled with His glory! Amen." And then, lifting up his hands, the executioner did his work: and God, no doubt, hath done His too, and saved his soul. And no noise was then heard, but sighs, and sobs, and tears.*

The earl was buried with his ancestors at Ormeskirk, to the no little sorrow of all loyal people unto whom he was known. After which his lady continued in the Isle of Man, until it was betrayed by one who had been her own servant [probably Capt. Chr.], who, having corrupted the inhabitants, seized upon her and her children, and kept them prisoners, without any other relief than what she obtained from the charity of her impoverished friends, until the happy restoration of K. Charles II.

Dugdale.