Delaware journal. [volume] (Wilmington [Del.]) 1827-1832, 1829-02-24
JV0. So.
TUESDAY, February -, 1929.

the poSlllOu vi tne vessels AT Inc NOUN Oh the H.
yer; but, as the vessels lay in the shadow Of the
promonory, he could not Immediately discern the
nature of their movements. few minutes, howe
ever, convinced him that they were oosing their
Sails and standing out into the middle of the stream.
Standast rubbed his eyes. How could this be
The vessels had been stationed to defend the en-
trance OF the channel-their mauder was in
close communication with General More, and yet
he was leaving his post, at moment when his pre-
sence more than ever necessary Could
warning be glven--no intelligence conveyed, to pre-
vent the fatal folly OF such proceeding tie look
ed towards the Prince, but Rupert too deeply
engaged, with his painful reflections, to observe
either his prisoners uneasiness, or its cause Slow
ly, by one, the gallant ships emerged from shad-
ow into glorious line of light which traversed the
middle of the channel and soon as the largest
vessel had gained the mouth ofthe river, she hove
to, and hosted signal at the mast head Stand
fast could not discover whether it was answered
from the town or not; but while he continued STRAIN
ing his eyes to watch the motions of the admiral's
ship, he imagined, though surely it must be .
delusion of the adversary" that he saw her boar
ded by boat, which must have from The
town. He even tancied that he could discern that
it was long-boat, of considerable size, and crow
ded with men. In few minutes, another and
another descending the river, and bend
ing their course apparently towards its vessels at
its mouth
| The Prince had been entirely absorbed by his
meditaons for an UNUSUAL tme-but he was SOL
der and, as such, habituated TO acute observa-
! ton A glance towards the river awakened him
from his abstraction; and his experienced eye at
once interpreted the appearances which had SO dis
turbed the good Hezekiah. He called to his atten-
dants in the loud quick accents of hope and joyTo
horse TO horse, gallant cavaliers-and upon them!
More is flying the town is ours !" In moment
he was surrounded by his guards and the officers of
his staff. He despatched messengers to the Others,
commanding them to mount speedily and In silence,
and prepare for an immediate assault upon the
| town.
| In five minutes all in motion the face of
the hill brisng with spears the air filled with the
dull sound of the horses feet the soft earth, and
the stihed hum which ran along the ranks;
while each officer, noselessly as he might, was
marshalling his men for the attack Rupert him
self, with his German guards, a few troopers, and
one two inferior officers, rode rapidly forward to
rec0nnotre.
And it was in truth gallant sight to see that lit
tie company, as it swept down the hill-feathers
waying-spurs jingling-and breast plates and NOR
ions glancing in the brgh sunset. As Standfast
followed them with his eyes, in spite Of his grief at
Mores detection, he thought within himself that
the proudest monarch, or the farest cause, might
be well graced by such defenders.
| All were now pressing forward to the town -
and the prisoners guards unwilling to be left behind
followed in the rear, dragging him along with them
in no gen lie fashion. Meanwhile the Prince pro-
coded towards Leverpole ;meeting on his way with
M obstacles whatever When he had passed his
own batteries and drew near the works of the be-
sieged; he halted for the coming up Of the vanguard;
placed himself at its head, aud pressed towards the
town at charging step. The gates were undetend-
ed they gave away before the first attack, and
the troops entered without opposition they advan
ced cautiously, experimenting an ambuscade but
as they marched along the narrow streets, now sha
dowed by twilight, nothing INSTRUCTED their progress;
they no living thing here and there STAR
, tied inhabitant looking tmorously from easement
at the cavaliers as they passed on.
When. however, they entered the street, at the
further extremity of which stood the high cross of
: the town, they halted on perceiving regiment of
soldiers drawn up across it, apparently for the pur-
It pose of preventing their further advance. But a
IF moments observation convinced the prince that
h they had no such intention they stood firm, but
= with detected air. and the foremost of the roy
alist troops approached them, a non-commssioned
g officer came forward, and demanded for himself and
l., for his men, free pardon and permission to depart,
e on condition of laying down their arms in the
event of this being refused, they prepared
he said, to dispute the passage with the Prince,
n even unto DEATH
5 After a short parley, Rupert acceded to their
terms glad to have obtained, at last, the posses
" sion of the town at triling expense. During
r the confusion accustomed by the dsarmng of the
1t garrison he caught glimpse of the prisoner Stand
N fast, as he stood between his guards called
/" out, Release the preacher, Baldwin he may al
h so depart with his flock" He was accordingly set
n at liberty the Parliament soldiers opened their
J. ranks receive him but as he passed between the
1t two parties he raised his hand and exclaimed in
loud and clear voice" Stop!" Then he address.
Ii sed Prince Rupert, near to whose person he had
been forced by the crowd
il "Hear me, noble P rince whose errors, gre-
yous though they be, are those Of the cause thou