A Soldier of Substance by D. W. Bradbridge

Author:D. W. Bradbridge [Bradbridge, D. W.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781503052963
Goodreads: 23898431
Publisher: Valebridge Publications
Published: 2014-10-30T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 22

Lathom House – Tuesday March 12th – Friday March 15th, 1644

We were freed on the Wednesday afternoon, much sooner than anticipated. The three local labourers were allowed to leave first and were told in no uncertain terms to return to their farms and their families. My suspicion that Reverend Rutter was still not sure what to make of us was confirmed by the fact that Alexander, Sergeant Greenwood, and I were made the subject of a prisoner exchange, the three of us being led out under a flag of truce and exchanged for three members of the garrison taken prisoner a few weeks previously, when Rigby’s men had captured earthworks at a place called The Stand, a strategic high point a few hundred yards to the south of the house.

I was not convinced of Rigby’s wisdom in agreeing to include Alexander and myself in a trade of prisoners, for it amounted to a tacit admission that we were in Rigby’s employ. My fears were confirmed, for there was something about the look on Rutter’s face as we were led out of the front gate that told me I would be unwise to risk capture a second time.

Upon our release, we were immediately summoned to New Park House, where we found not only Colonel Rigby waiting for us, but Assheton, Egerton, and Moore as well.

“I told you that this siege is exactly what Lady Derby wants,” said Assheton, on hearing that the inhabitants of the house did not appear to be suffering unduly from a shortage of victuals. “Your man Ashurst has been duped. There is little doubt of that.”

“Nonsense,” said Rigby, dismissively, “but even if this were true, the cost of a direct assault on the house would be prohibitive. Hundreds would be killed. Would you want that on your conscience? No, Colonel, we may not be able to starve them out, but we will besiege them and pound them into surrender.”

“Pound them with what? We do not have enough ordnance, and even if we did, we do not have the funds to purchase the powder and ammunition that we need. How do you propose we solve that?”

“I believe we have discussed this before. It is common knowledge, and I see no reason why Mr Cheswis and Mr Clowes should not hear it also,” said Rigby, his voice rising a notch.

“You mean the great tax that is to be levied on the people of Lancashire to pay for this leaguer?” cut in Moore. “There are those of us, Colonel Rigby, who believe that this is illegal both in matter and manner.”

“Illegal?” scoffed Rigby. “The tax has been passed by the committee, as you well know, and it will pay for the mortar shells that will reduce Lathom House to rubble. Be thankful for that, Colonel Moore.”

“That is not strictly true. The money is supposed to pay for extra soldiers, and we already have ten times as many of those as they do. Why do we need more? Secondly, the tax is being raised on the whole of Lancashire with the exception of Lonsdale.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.