the Earl of Derby being laid afide, the country would never follow any other commander, and that the King's interest would dwindle and soon be lost, and thofe divifions and disappointments his Lordfhip tells us made the ill-affected in Lancashire grow proud, and the meaner fort thought it a fine thing to fet up against the great ones; and the Parliament being quickly advertised of the unhappy circumstances and management of the King's affairs, immediately offered his Lordship what power and command he would accept in their service; which his Lordship rejected with foorn and indignation.

Yet, the fame bait took with many others that formerly had no inclination to the Puritannical faction; and Afhton of Middleton, Holland of Heaton, Holcroft of Holcroft, Heywood of Heywood, Birch of Birch, and several others, who fuppofing on this flight of the Earl of Derby, that the whole country would be at their devotion; took commiffions from the Parliament, and with all speed garrifoned and fortified themfelves in Manchefter, the Parliament encouraging and affifting them with money and ammunition.

The royal ftandard being about this time fet up at Nottingham, and the country not coming in as expected, the King now began to reflect on the ill ufage of the Earl of Derby, and by an exprefs under his own hand, defired him to raife what forces he could in Lancashire, and come with them to him; to this his Lordship answered, that the rebels had feized Manchefter, that many of the country had joined them, and others had declared for a loofe and undutiful neutrality; that the face of things was greatly altered by his

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Majesty's march another way, and that he could not now flatter his Majefty with the accefs of fuch aids as he might have done a few months paft; however notwithstanding all the difcouragements he met with, he would use all his diligence to raise what forces he could for his Majesty's affiftance, and for that purpose his Lordship iffued out his warrants for an appearance of all his tenants and dependents, but durft not venture to make a general mufter of the country, for fear of waking the late fufpicions as yet scarce afleep; and of his own tenants and relations raised three regiments of foot, and three troops of horse, and cloathed them at his own charge, and armed them out of his own magazine; and when they were in readiness to march, his Lordship posted to the King then at Shrewsbury to receive his commands for their difpofal. His Majesty gueffing the dangerous confequences that might enfue by leaving a nursery of rebellion behind him at Manchefter, ordered those forces to attack that place, and required the Earl then with his Majefty, to give directions to Colonel Gilbert Gerrard, an old foldier, to draw before the town. The Colonel obeyed his order, but the waters being then fo fwelled he found it difficult to fix commodious pofts for his horfe and foot, which occafioned fome delay in the intended attack of the town; and therefore the Earl himself was by his Majefty's fpecial command fent thither from Shrewsbury, to give a speedy onfet, and whether he carried the town or not, to march up to the camp.

The Earl had not been four hours before the town ere he summoned them to fubmit to the King's clemency, and to give up the place upon honour

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able terms, but they with great obftinacy refused all offers of mercy; on which his Lordfhip gave orders for a storm upon the town, the next morning at four o'clock; but that very night about twelve his Lordship received letters from the King, intimating that the Earl of Effex was at the head of the rebels, and then on his march from London towards him with a formidable army; that he ftood in need of thofe forces under his Lordship, and that if the town was not carried, he should not hazard any of them by an affault; that if he carried the battle against Essex, thofe small garrisons would fall of themselves; and that his Lordship should on the receipt of thofe letters fortwith advance to him with what forces he had.

Upon this though his Lordship made no doubt to have gained the place by an easy affault, and thought it would highly reflect upon his honour to quit it reinfacto, yet thought fit without dispute or delay to obey the King's commands, well knowing how his enemies at court would interpret any cross accident that might occur in any attempt contrary to the orders he had received; he therefore to the wonder and regret of all his officers and foldiers, gave direction for a speedy march by five o'clock in the morning, and in two days brought to the King three regiments of foot, and three troops of horfe, well hoping that he might have commanded the troops raised at his own charge, as a brigade in his Majefty's fervice.

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However his enemies, and probably no friends to the King, fo far wrought upon his Majefty's too eafy and credulous temper, by fecret, unjuft, and, mali9 of 9 on Line cious whispers, that he took the command of thofe

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troops from the Earl, and difpofed of them to other officers; for which the King only gave him for his reason the cheap and fpecious pretence; that it was neceffary his Lordship should attend his charge in Lancashire and the motions of the rebels there; therefore defired him to haften back, and to do all in his power to prevent the growth and increase of their forces in that county.

This noble Lord though a perfon of great temper, · yet of as great a spirit, was fo ruffled at this unkind ufage, that he was fcarce able to contain himfelf; but in a little time recovering from his great furprise and concern, replied to his Sovereign, "Sir, if I have deferved this indignity, I deferve alfo to be hanged; if not, my honour and quality command me to beg your juftice against those perfons, who in this infolent manner abuse both me and your Majesty, and if any man living (your Majefty excepted) shall dare to fix the leaft accufation upon me that may tend to your difadvantage, I hope you will give me leave to pick the calumny from his lips with the point of my fword."

The King with a smooth countenance, appeared to entertain no displeasure against his Lordship, but faid, my Lord, my affairs are troubled, the rebels are marching against me, and it is not now a time to quarrel amongst ourselves; have a little patience and I will do you right. Though his Lordship did with all moderation contain himself, and ufed all his endeavours to cover the diffatisfaction he was under on the manifeft difhonour done him on this occafion; yet the matter could not be so privately carried on, but it was foon Spread through the whole court and army; his

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Lordship's friends fpoke plainly out, and his foldiers refused to march or ferve under any other commander but his Lordship, who, by his wisdom and temper, compofed the minds of his friends, and prevailed upon his foldiers to give obedience to their officers.

The rebels in Lancashire were not ignorant how things paffed at court, and thought it was now a proper time to re-attempt his Lordship with fresh offers of power and command; and to this purpofe procured a new express from the Parliament to his Lordship, with fresh offers importing, "That he could not but be very fenfible of the indignity put upon him at court by the King's evil counsellors; that thofe enemies were the enemies of the nation; that they struck at religion and all good men, and would permit none but papifts or people popishly affected to be near his Majefty; that it was the whole intent of the Parliament to remove men of such desperate and pernicious principles from his perfon, and to fecure the true proteftant religion; that if his Lordship would engage in that good caufe, he fhould have command equal to his own greatness, or any of his ancestors."

The purport of these letters, raised a greater indignation in his Lordship, than all the flights and indignities he had received at court; whereupon he vouchfafed them no other answer than that he gave the Colonel who brought the meffage, "Pray tell the gentlemen at Manchester, and let them tell the gentlemen at London, when they hear I turn traitor, I fhall hearken to their propofitions, till then, if I receive any other papers of this nature, it fhall be at the peril of him that brings them."

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