The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1871-08-01
How I.athOm was Delivered.

famous Tor the siege which it sustained
during the civil war between King Charles
and the Parliament. In an old ballad i,
is described as capable of holding
Two kings and their trains and ALL"
1t was visited by Henry VII, who was
so pleased with the building that he re.
stored his own palace at Richmond in the
same style of architure. The ancient
edifce has now entirely disappeared, and
modern mansion and a new family fill
the place.
The principal incidents of the siege of
Lathom are too well known to require
any heightened detail here. Lord Derby
at the precise time when his presence was
most required at home, was commanded
to leave the realm, and proceed instantly
to the Isle of Wight. His house, children
everything he possessed-had to be left
in the sole charge of his lady. Neither
the lady nor himself were insensible Of
the danger in which she was placed, but
the kings orders were imperative.
At a state council held at Manchester
in February, 1914, the siege of Lathom
was concluded upon. The Parliamentary
troops under Colonel Ashton of Middle
ton, Colonel Moore Of Bank Hall, and
Colonel Rigby of Preston, on the same
day began their march, proceeding by
way of Bolton. Wigan, and Standish.
On the 9th of February they took up
their position about mile distant from
Lathom House. A messenger, bearing a
letter from Sir Thomas Fairfax, command
er-in.chiefof the Parliamentary forces,
was sent to the Countess of Derby with
a request that the house might be immed-
lately surrendered. The countess declin-
ed to surrender in the absence ofthe earl.
This occasioned delay the officers of the
commons had to consider her objection,
aud to report to their superiors. Delay
was precisely what the countess desired.
She availed herself of it in completing the
provisioning and fortfying of her little
garrison. At length, however, the count
ess was compelled to give a decided ans
wer, and there was no want of decision
about her reply. "She refused all their
offers, protesting that, though a woman
and a stranger, divorced from her friends
and robbed of her estate, she was ready
to receive their utmost violence. trusting
in God both for protection and deliver
ance."
The besiegers, in the first instance, re-.
solved on reducing the place by famine.
They were led to suppose that fourteen
days close siege would exhaust the re-
sources of the garrison. and starve them
into a surrender The fourteen days
passed without any incident of Importance
occurring, and the besiegers at the end of
that time found themselves in no better
position than they were at the beginning.
When Captain Ashurst was sent with
fresh proposals, the countess replied that
she would keep her house whilst God en-
abled her, against all the kings enemies :;
that she would receive no more messages
-scorning the malice of her foes and
defying their assaults.
After this, the fire Of the enemy was
hot and well-directed, and kept up so
continuously that there seemed no prob
ability of the countess being able to hold
her resolution but, by cleverly. y.man.
aged sally on the part Of the garrison,
the enemy were beaten from their works,
and suffered considerable loss. Most of
their guns were spiked, but 81 that night"
says an old writer, " they played sacre
twice, to tell us that they had cannon
that would speak, though our men had
endeavored to steel up all their lips"
A rnse of the beseged a few days
later threw the enemy into still greater
confusion, and so provoked them that
they resolved on the immediate destruc-
tion of the house with red-hot shot
they were bent on burning it like heap
of dry fagots.
A message to this effect, couched in
any but courteous terms, was forwarded
to the countess by the hands Of Gideon
Greatbatch, the drum-maior This man
was stern republican, Jealous and
enthusiastic Nonconformist he was the
staunch opponent of all loyalists and
Churchmen, and expressed himself after
the approved style of the most rigid
Puritans.
The countess in person received the
mandate to surrender her house, and sub
NIT herself to the mercy of the Parlia.
ment. Her only answer was to tear the
mandate into fragments, and burn these
fragments before the eyes of the messen-
ger.
The garrison applauded her determine
tion, and the whole hall rang with the
shout, 1--WE will die for his Majesty and
your honor God save the Earl of Derby
and'the King"
Gideon Greatbatch, in the midst of a
stern rebuke which he delivered extern
poraneously to the countess, was hustled
from the mansion, and thrust from the
gates. This personal indignity re felt
severely. 81 will make this house desc.
late" quoth he, "and the glory thereof
shall be turned into ashes"
BIT Gideon Greatbatch was disappoint.
ed. On the very next day, boldly yentur.
ing himself as one of the foremost of the
assault, he was taken prisoner, and lodged
in the vaults.
The assault failed. The besiged fought
valiently, and contested the ground by
inches. The damage that was done il
the day was repaired in the night, and
though the fire was we'll maintained, the
"stony strength" Of Lathom was still I'M,
shaken.
Dispirited by repeated failure and
weary with long delay, the soldiers of the
Parliamentary army at length began tc
cry ont for their arrears of pay, and tc
threaten disbandment. A council OF
officers was held, and messenger again
appointed to wait on the Countess Of Der.
~, IL - -i--i .-.--.., - .... ado. IT, q
message was expressed in terms Of great
courtesy and respect 1t was sent by the
hands of gentleman well qualified to
ingratiate himself into the good graces Of
lady-a soldier and man of honor :