Lancashires Valley of Achor is Englands Door of Hope, Part 7 – Part 14
Boltons ſecond Aſſault.
THe Earle encouraged by ſo manifold ſucceſſe, hopes to gain all; he brings on Boltons ſecond hour of ſore Temptation, yet in an unhappy ſeaſon, March twenty eight, the day before the Nationall Faſt; and immediately after the Faſt, March 27. at Mancheſter, becauſe of the Deſigne in hand, and alſo when the Towne was well provided with Souldiers, and Bury alſo furniſhed for their ſuccour. The Enemie made no neare approach till three of the Clock; ſo ſoone as they began to draw into a Body upon the Moore, our Cannoneer drew his Cannon into a Croft on the backſide of the Towne, and at the ſecond ſhot killed two horſes neare a mile off. Then a Meſſenger came to ſummon the Towne to ſubmiſſion, but they reſolved not to change the tenure for King and Parliament. When Sun was ſet, and it began to be darke, the Miniſter of the Town prayed with a company of Souldiers, moſt of them Townſmen. The end of Prayer was the beginning of the Fight, and where the Souldiers had even now prayed, they had a furious Aſſault: The Enemy came on deſperately, even to handblowes, and ſome of them leap'd upon the Works, where they found Cluo-law. The enemy retreated, and left ten men dead. After this they made no aſſault till Bury Forces were come into the Town; for this ſecond time they were more favourable to leave an open paſſage to our ſuccour. Then they made an aſſault upon the South end of the Towne; by the advantage of the darkneſſe they come cloſe to the Mud-wall. Here they hoped to proſper by fire, as at Lancaſter, but the light diſcovering their nearneſſe to danger, they fled for ſafetie. After this they marched towards the Weſt, but finding it a buſie and warme corner, they haſted off, and came on no more. The Enemy left upon the ground at this Aſſault three and twenty men. Bolton loſt not a man, nor had any hurt done ſave onelyonly one youth ſhot through the arme. O admirable! In Judah is God knowne, his name is great in Iſraell, Pſalme 76.1. Many a time have the afflicted me (may Bolton now ſay) yet they have prevailed againſt me, Pſalm 129.1, 2.
It was the aggravation of Solomons ſinne, and Gods anger, That GOD had appeared unto him twice, 1 Kings 11.9. pray God it prove not Boltons caſe.
This Starre appearing promiſed day to ſucceed our night, as it did in the taking of Wigan, April 1. that impregnable piece, the Enemies pride and preſumption, our fear and deſpaire; of which we ſometimes ſaid, It was not poſſible to take it by aſſault, or not without much blood, though indeed the ſinfulneſſe of the place did render it the weakeſt of all others.
Though our Horſe made a retreating onſet before our Foot came up, though two Souldiers were ſlain with a Cannon Bullet in their marching up, yet ſo venterous and daring was the ſtirring reſolution of our Souldiers, that they were ſuddenly ingaged ſo farre, that they muſt go on, or loſe their lives.
They goe on and enter, whil…ſt the Enemy opens a backe doore to go out, that the Towne might be free.
A bright beam of this ſhining victory was, This was the Nationall Faſt-week.that God by a mercifull recompence gave it into the hands of Bolton Souldiers, who had beene twice infeſted from Wigan, an evidence that Gods ſide will proſper, bee the diſproportion what it will, poore Bolton ſhall abide a double ſtorm when GOD is with it; proud a…d powerfull Wigan ſhall fall at once and with eaſe, when GOD is departed from it.
This glorious victory found us not gracious enough, it was too much for us well to mannage; it was not ſo gloriouſly atchieved as obſcur…ly left; it was turned into mourning by the too-impreſſive report of the Earls returning upon us. The Town, that ſtrong and advantagious Towne, was left that …ight.
But I love not to rake into, and gaze upon the infirmities of men taken at advantage; in generall I conceive the caſe was that of Barak, Judg…s 4.8, 9. the worke was undertaken in unbeliefe, ſo that though we g…t the day, yet we loſt the honour. Had wee beene ſoaring upon the wing of Faith, we had not fallen ſo low in feare.
Warringtons firſt Aſſault.
IN great unpreparedneſſe, in debt for Wigan, in neglect of meanes of reconciliation, in diſorder and conſidence of our Souldiers, we aſſaulted Warrington the fift day of April, about four of the Clock, till the might tooke us off. Thither wee came to leave our dead, to diſtreſſe the well-affected in the Towne, to ſhame our cou…age, and in all to ſuffer the puniſhment of former miſcarriages, wherein Cheſhire deeply ſhared with us. Now we had the greateſt ſtrength abroad, partly our own, and partly borrowed: But God delighteth not in the ſtrength of the horſe, he taketh not pleaſure in the legs of a man; the Lord taketh pleaſure in them that fear him, in thoſe that hope in his mercy, Pſal. 147.10, 11. Wigan (thought impregnable) proved eaſie; Warrington (thought eaſie) proved now impregnable: This ſeaſonable check, chode us to duty, to publike thankſgiving for Wigan-mercy, the eleventh of April; to humiliation, under Warrington-diſpleaſure, the thirteenth of April. The day of thankſgiving was made joyfull by the in-coming of Ammunition; the day of humiliation was delivered of that wonder, or confluence of wonders about Padiham.
The riſe of Blackburne.
THe Earle, accompanied with 2000 (…s is judged) came to Rihcheſter over night, to VVhalley by eight of the clocke, to a Green not far from Padiham: Our ſide had but two or three hundred Fire-men, and fourſcore or a hundred Horſe, ſo that in means there was no poſſibility of ſafety. When we went out firſt to meet them, there was not above an hundred Fire-men, yet ſuch reſolution God gave them, above and againſt all ſenſe and reaſon, that they would needs let flie at them, and God ſuddenly turned them to flight: Our encouraged Souldiers purſued them to Whalley (where their two or three ſhots of Powder (all they at firſt had to accompliſh ſo great a work) were well encreaſed by their enemies ſtore) from thence to the Sands, thence to Lango Green, thence to Rible ſide, called Salsbury Boat: The Horſe and Foot took Rible, many of the Foot wading to the chin. In all this Chaſe, being about five miles in length, they often turned their faces, but as often turned their backs, and haſted away, till they had quit the Hundred, and no more infeſted it.
Thus God remembred us in our low eſtate; he choſe the w…ak things of the world, to confound the things that are migh…y, that no fleſh ſhould glory in his preſence; O my ſoul, thou haſt trodden down ſtrength, God hath delivered Siſera into he hand of a woman. H…ve they not ſped? have they not divided the prey? (they boaſted in the morning what they would do, and directed their Warrants to the Countrey to come in the day following, to compound with the Earl for their lib…rty) So let all thine enemies periſh, O God; but let them that love thee be as the Sun when he goeth forth in hi… might, riſing higher and higher, till he come to a Noon-day V…ctory.
Lancaſter Voyage.
OUr deſire to ſecure our Garriſons, to relieve Warrington, which we had occaſionally oppreſſed, and to improve thoſe new Talents lent us by God, and ſent us by Sea, made us thinke upon a Voyage to Lancaſter; the fairneſſe of the weather, and drineſſe of the way were ſtrong encouragements. We began our March the eight and twentieth day of April; the preſence of God was fought for ſafe Convoy; and ſo terrible was the preſence that accompanied our March (what elſe c…n it be imputed to?) that our Forces paſſed ſafely thorow Wigan (though the enemy found his former neſt after we had taken it) Preſcot, Ormeskirk (where we marred an intended Muſter) and Preſton (that recovered Preſton) Whence (hearing our friends in Lancaſhire were in ſome danger (though it was nothing but the Earls haſting into Yorke-ſhire, and the reſt of the Forces ſpeeding to Hornby Caſtle) we ſtretched our march to Lancaſter.
In all this way, as we moved, ſo the enemy removed; we ſaw nothing remarkable in them, but cruelty and cowardice: For ſome Troops of Horſe meeting a poor boy unarmed, which out-went his company, clave his head, and barbarouſly mangled him: Alſo thereabouts the enemy …fter a ſl…ight skirmiſh, overcame by flight.
Our arrive at Lancaſter was welcomed with the ſafety of the Caſtle, the good poſture of the Garriſon, their comfortable proviſion, and the well nigh preparedneſſe of the Carriage: And after we had refreſhed our Army a few days with the ſight of Tburland Caſtle, and the report of our forraigners againſt Hornby Caſtle, we advanced homeward the ninth day of May, and under the former gracious Conduct came ſafe home, though laden with the weight of twelve whole Pieces, and two broken ones (the reſt fortifying the Caſtle) all which we acknowledged in ſolemne thankſgiving in Mancheſter, the fixteenth of May.
Warrington Siege.
ALl this while the cry of oppreſſed Warrington importuned heaven, and compaſſion wrought in us; and having this far-fetched terrifying aſſiſtance, we entred upon a new and proſperous Voyage the twentieth day of May: The three and twentieth of May was deſigned for Faſting and Prayer in Mancheſter, to meet with the beginning of the enterpriſe againſt Warrington.
Whilſt the duty was in performing, tidings came of the taking of Winwick Church and Steeple, they on the Steeple ſtanding on terms, till God ſent a deadly meſſenger out of a Fowling-Piece to one of them; alſo a ſtrong Hall poſſeſſed by profeſſed Romane Catholikes, and ſtored with Proviſion, as if it had been purpoſely laid in, both for our ſupply and eaſe.
In this Warrington Siege, ſo good a friend was God to our faith, that the greateſt Peece was made unuſefull, the ſecond time it was in uſe; and without the terrour of thoſe Idols, the living God gave us the Church and Steeple the 26 of May, with the loſſe of one man; and that ſtrong Hold upon terru…, M…y 28.
A Providence much to be obſerved in this Siege, was this: One night our men were to work within half Musket ſhot of the Town; It was a great calme, that they could not worke, but the enemy would hear: When ſome went to worke, others went to prayers; and God raiſed a great winde, that took away the noiſe: a Providence not altogether unlike what I have heard in Boſton: The Chancellor gave Organs to Boſton; before they breath in that new world, the well-aff…cted pray▪ after their prayers, a mighty winde forceth its paſſage into the Church, blows down the Organs, brake them, and ſtopt their brea…h.
That which ripened the enemies ruine, was their hard uſage of priſoners, and well-affected in the Town, their extreme cruelty in the Countrey, killing a godly man and his wife in their owne houſe; and their profeſſed confidence and pride in their ſtrong Hold, appearing by their hanging out a Flag of Defiance upon the higheſt Chimney.
At this time waited a Ship at Liverpoole, watching this friendly opportunity to unburden it ſelf for Cheſhire, and to ſupply us with Powder, Liverpool readily giving entertainment and aſſiſtance to it and us. Some recompence God made to tyred Warrington, in the ſhortneſſe of the Siege, and ſecurity from ſpoyle, which we charitably made an Article of our Peace: This Return of Prayers, called in our Vows in Mancheſter, June 1.
Lancaſter ſuccoured.
ABout this time Lancaſter, that had relieved us, called aloud for relief, having been begirt twenty dayes, the report of our march raiſed the ſiege, and ſtrongly garriſoned Hornby and Thurſland Caſtles; the reſt of the Forces marching into VVeſtmerland, and thence into Yorke-ſhire, to joyn with the Queen of Armies. Having relieved our Garriſon, we marched toward the Caſtles; the a…tempt upon one, was bleſſed to win both. Hornby Caſtle.Three foot-Companies being d…awn out to view Horneby Caſtle, they fell upon an Ambuſca…o of the enemy within halfe Musket ſhot, they gave Fire upon the whole Body of Horſe and Foot; But GOD made all ſhotfree, a promiſing Providenc….
This attempt was judged dangerous in the undertaking, and diſhonourable in the Iſſue, but incouraged by a weighty and ſeaſonable word of a preſent Divine.
The Onſet was led on, not altogether unlike that of David upon the Amalekites, 1 Sam. 30.11.
Our Scouts took a ſouldier that had eſcaped out of the Caſtle, who gave us true information of the ſtate of things, taught us rather to enter in by the Window (a great Window at the end of the Hall) and undertook to lead the Forces to this place of advantage.
The Companies drawn out for this Deſigne, accommodated with ſcaling Ladders, great Hammers, Ropes, Mattocks, and ſome combuſtible matter for the Gates, were appointed to play on that ſide towards the Gates, to draw them from that ſide, where the reſt were to force their entrance. The fore Forces played upon the Caſtle and Church, not without great danger of Iron and Stones, till they put fire to the Gates, which ſmoaked them further off: The back-forces were as buſie at the Window, ſcaling and hammering; Which undaunted reſolution to enter by the Gates and Window, ſpeeded the cry of the Enemy for Quarter, which was ſpeedily granted, the gates opened, and the Caſtle entred.
In this aſſault, for two hours ſpace, we loſt but two Common ſouldiers, a third dangerouſly wounded, ſome other hurt with ſtones, but not mortally.
Thurſland Caſtle.
THe next day Thurſland Caſtle was delivered upon unkept conditions, which would be a wonder here and elſewhere, did we not know the principle, No faith is to be kept with Heretikes.
By this time merciemercy hath ſet, as a Crowne upon the head of poor Lancaſhire, the rich bleſſing of dying Moſes, Deut. 33.29. Happy art thou, O Lancaſhire who is like unto thee, O people! Saved by the Lord, the Shield of thy help, and who is the ſword of thy excellency, and thine Enemies ſhall be found lyars unto thee, and thou ſhalt tread upon their high places. And I may revive Habakuks Song, Hab. 3.12, 13, 14. Thou didſt march thorow the land in indignation, thou did threſh the H…athen in anger, thou wenteſt forth for the ſalvation of thy P…pl…, even for ſalvation with thine Annointed; thou woundedſt the h…ad out of the houſe of the wicked, by diſcovering the foundation unto the neeke. Selah. Though didſt ſtrike thorow with his ſtaves, the head of his Villages; they came out as a whirlwinde to ſcatter me, th…ir rejoycing was as to devour the poor ſecretly.
When God had thus rode thorow our County upon his Horſes and Charets of Salvation, the whole County triumphed in his praiſe, Iuly 5. For our mouth was inlarged over our Enemies, our heart did rejoyce in his Salvation.
Having thus led the Reader over the ſeverall Beds of Flowers in this Garden of Providence, I will gather and binde up a Poſie of ſelect and fragrant Flowers, and ſweetly conclude this comfortable Hiſtorie.
1. Our Nobles have been of our ſelves, and our Governours have proceeded out of the midſt of us, Jer. 30.20. Some of them the ſubject of earneſt Prayers, Publike, Private, Ordinary, Extraordinary, for ſeven yeers ſpace, if not for ten.
2. Our Commanders and Leaders have had unparalelled preſervation, we lost but one man of note, but one Captain in all our conflicts, and him, through extream crueltie; he asked quarter, but all was on fire in Lancaſter, and they would give none, but ſought rather cruelly to kill him; then to kill him, to kill him by many rather then by one: God covered their heads in the day of battell, Pſal. 140.7. He gave them the ſhield of his ſalvation, Pſal. 18.35.
3. Duties of humiliation and thankſgiving (which were cooped up in corners, as deeds of darkneſſe, by the Biſhops, were now by the countenance of authority brought into the open aſſembly, as the onelyonly way of ſucceſſe and proſperity, in our juſt defence and offence.
4. Evident undenyable anſwers of Prayers, ſometimes at preſent, ſometimes ſoon after.
5. Mercies denied at one time with ſtrokes, have been granted at another time with full-handed favours.
6. God hath remembred us in our low eſtate, our higheſt Tide hath followed our loweſt Ebbe, Gods power hath been perfected in our weakneſſe, his beauty hath ſhined in our confuſions.
7. God hath ſhared his imployments and ſucceſſes in a kinde of proportion, amongſt our Commanders and Souldiers, that all might have ſome, and none might have all, that all might be humbled, and none diſcouraged; Herein hath God wiſely wrought for their unity, mutuall reſpects, aſsiſtance, encouragement and honour.
8. Mercies and afflictions have counter-poized one another; In all this way of providence mercies have been imbittered, and croſſes ſweetned; comfort and humiliation have watched and waited on each other. Gods conſtant project hath been, to nouriſh grace, and ſubdue corruption at the ſame time▪ a worke no leſſe happy then hard.
ALL I would ſay more, is to the County; much hath beene ſaid of it, and of GOD in it: Let me ſpeake Samuels counſell, 1 Samuel 12.14. OnelyOnly feare the Lord, and ſerve him in truth, with all your heart, for conſider how great things he hath done for you. Adde Joſhua's warning, Joſh. 24.20. If ye forſake the Lord, and ſerve ſtrange gods, then will he turne and doe you hurt, and conſume you after he hath done you good. Which GOD forbid for his Chriſts ſake.
FINIS.
End of the text · John Angier, Lancashires Valley of Achor is Englands Door of Hope (1643)