Lancashires Valley of Achor is Englands Door of Hope, Part 6
Lancaſter.
THe report of our taking in of Preſton flew to Lancaſter, and prepared the Towne and Caſtle for our entrance. Thither was ſent a company of Foot and a Troope of Horſe to take poſſeſſion.
This new and enlarged poſſeſſion, was inriched, honoured, and ſecured by the God of the ſea, who had provided for our welcome, The ſhip laden with great pieces.and Warlike entertainment, a Dunkirke Ship, a man of War, that came from Spain, furniſhed with 21 Peeces of big Braſſe and Iron Ordnance, fit to ſupply the Caſtle, and fortifie other Garriſons. Deſire to ſee this Forreiner, and care to ſecure this captivity, led ſome of note and worth into a teadious and removing captivitie; yet could not the enemy be thus ſatisfied, for the miſſe of ſuch a prize, they labour to deſtroy that by fire which God had ſent by water. But God that ſent the Peeces, ſaved them; The moſt came whole and ſafe to the Caſtle, before and after their Lodging was fired: But malice and enuie followed them.
The Earle attended with great ſtrength, beſets Lancaſter, and ſends this Summons.
To the Major and Burgeſſes of the Town of Lancaſter, theſe.
Gentlemen,
I Am come into theſe parts by His Majeſties ſpeciall command, to free you from the bondage of theſe declared Traitours, that now oppreſſe you, and endeavour your deſtruction, by bringing you into their own condition; I will not now mention your former neglect of the Kings Service, nor I hope I need not tell you what Forces I have, or might have upon occaſion; nor how joyfully all the Countrey in my March have joyned themſelves unto me. If you will ſubmit the Town and your Armes unto me, and likewiſe endeavour with me to reobtaine the Caſtle, you ſhall have all faire uſage from me: if not, expect from me, what the Law of the Land and of Warre will inflict upon you. Thus expecting your anſwer by ten of the Clock this day. I rest
March the 18 eight a clock Your friend Derby.
This Summons came firſt to the hands of our Commanders of the Caſtle, who gave the Town leave to returne this Anſwer.
Right Honourable,
WE received yours of this inſtant, and do return this Anſwer; That all our Arms are under the command of Officers now within our Town for the King and Parliament; ſo that we have not the diſpoſall of them, and at their comming they took and fortified the Caſtle, which was never in our command: and by reaſon thereof, have our Towne likewiſe at their pleaſure; ſo that both the Town and Caſtle are now at the diſpoſall, and will be (by Gods bleſsing) kept for his Majeſtie. And thus we humbly take our leave, and reſt
Your Honours in all due reſpects.
THis Anſwer pleaſeth not, th…y muſt expect the puniſhments of War, which they found. They fiercely aſſault for an hour in vaine, they turn their rage upon houſes, Lancaſter … fired.and by Commiſſion on the ſudden become ready firemen all of them. They fire Houſes and Barnes without the ſentinell, in which they ſacrificed their dead bodies. Thus they heated and ſmoaked our valiant ſouldiers from their Sentinell, and when they were entred the Towne, Papiſt-like, they continue to burn, and butcher, denying Quarter to our men, but rather curſedly quartering them; from which cruelty (raging mad) the moſt of our Forces retired into the Caſtle.
The account of this cowardly Conqueſt is thus given in from Lancaſter; The dwelling houſes that were burned, were in number fourſcore and ten, containing three hundred Bayes of building: The Barnes, Stables, Cow-houſes, repleniſhed with Corn, Hay, and Cattell, that were burned, were eighty ſix, contayning two hundred and forty Bayes of building, and one Malt-Kiln of four Bayes of building, with three hundred Windles of Malt therein. By all which it evidently appears, that they diſplayed the Banner of the Skarlet coloured Beaſt.
A miracle of mercy was wrought in midſt of this undoing and heart-breaking miſery. They purpoſely and induſtriouſly gave fire to two houſes of perſons well-affected to King and Parliamentt, but they would not take fire, no by no means, though they renewed their indeavours ſeverall times in ſeverall places, though the next houſes were burnt down to the ground, God reſtrained the remnant of their rage, he remembred his promiſe, Eſay 43.2. The flame ſhall not kindle upon thee; faith quenched the violence of fire, this Shield quenched the fierie darts of the Devill.
March 19. 2000. of our Forces marched out for the timely relief of Lancaſter, Preſton recovered. Blackburn riſled.but how they were divided and diverted, walked and breathed too and fro, whileſt the Earle fires Lancaſter, recovered Preſton, and riſled Blackburne; I have no minde to inquire, but doe ſadly remember; and cannot eaſily forget how theſe tydings affrighted our Commanders duplicate page duplicate page out of Lancaſter Caſtle, and expoſed the Caſtle, ſo well appointed, to the will of the Enemy, had not the mighty GOD, by the aſſiſtance of a miniſter, doubled the ſpirit of the heartie (though headleſſe) Souldiers, to maintain with utmoſt hazzard ſo great a truſt. Thus GOD ſet our Sunne backe many degrees, but not in manifeſt favour, as to Hezekiah; yet he brought us to himſelfe in Faſting and Prayer the ſeven and twentieth day of March, that we repenting he might repent.
This very night came a Meſſenger from Lancaſter Caſtle, reporting the ſafetie of the Caſtle, the heartineſſe of the ſouldiers, and their comfortable proviſion.