moat." "The
situation of it may be compared to the palm of a man's hand, flat
in the middle, and covered with a rising ground, about it, and so
near to it, that the enemy, in two years' siege, were never able to
raise a battery against it, so as to make a breach in the wall
practicable to enter the house by way of storm."[44]

It is said the camp of the besiegers was in a woody dell, near what is
now called "The Round O Quarry," about half-a-mile from Lathom. This
dell is still called "Cromwell's Trench;" and a large and remarkable
stone, having two circular hollows or holes on its upper surface,
evidently once containing nodules of iron, is called "Cromwell's
Stone"--the country people supposing these holes were used as moulds for
casting balls during the siege.

The besiegers, however, thought to reduce the place by famine, being
deceived through the following device of her ladyship's chaplain, the
Rev. Mr Rutter, a person whom the Earl had left to her assistance, that
she might be guided by his great skill and prudence:--

During one of the conferences before-named, a captain of the
parliamentary forces, recognising in the chaplain an old friend, with
whom he had been educated, and very intimate and familiar aforetime,
took a secret opportunity of addressing him, hoping to worm out her
ladyship's secrets; conjuring him, by reason of their former friendship,
to tell truly upon what ground or confidence she still refused these
offers, seeing that it was impossible to defend her house against such
a numerous and well-furnished army as was then encamped in the park.

Rutter, casting his eyes earnestly towards the ramparts, bade his friend
note their disposition and defence. Her ladyship, as commander-in-chief,
to prevent any sudden assault, and likewise to awe the enemy by these
demonstrations, had disposed her soldiers in due order, so that they
should be seen, under their respective officers, from the main-guard in
the first court, down to the great hall, where they had left her
ladyship's council. The rest of her forces she had placed upon the
walls, and on the tops of the towers, in such manner that they might
appear both numerous and well-disciplined.

"She is in nothing so desirous," said Rutter, "as that you should waste
your strength and forces by a sudden assault, wherein you would not fail
to have the worst of the battle: the place being armed at all points, as
thou seest, and abl