ept them quiet; but they were now willing to leave this
precious booty to the next comers, and content themselves with their
stated allowance.

Rigby, fearful of the crumbling away and dispersion of his army, made
shift to furnish some small arrears of their pay, declaring that it had
cost him L2000 of his own moneys during the siege; but how he got such
great store of gold we are not informed, safe that "he was once a
lawyer, and a bad one!"

Still there were many deserters, escaping even in the open day; not a
few of them coming over with valuable intelligence to the garrison.

Wearied with duty, and sorely perplexed, Rigby sent for Col. Holland,
from Manchester, to his assistance. Many days now elapsed, during which
little happened worth recording on either side. On the 23d May, Captain
Moseley brought another message to her ladyship, desiring, in terms of
great courtesy and respect, that she would grant him an interview. He
was received with great ceremony; for she abated not a whit of the
dignity belonging to her high birth and station.

"Captain Moseley," said she, having read the summons, commanding her
that she should yield up the house, together with the ammunition, arms,
goods, servants, children, and her own person too--submitting to the
mercy of parliament, "you are, I understand, an honourable man and a
soldier."

He bowed with great humility.

"I would not receive this from any other. But"--and her lip curled
proudly as she spoke. "Here seems a slight mistake in the wording of
your message. They should rather have written _cruelty_ and not
_mercy_!"

"Nay, my lady," he replied, "the mercy of parliament. Trust me, you will
not be evil entreated at their hands."

"The _mercies_ of the wicked are _cruel_," said she, quickly, but with
great composure. "Not that I mean," she continued, "a wicked parliament,
of which body I have an honourable and reverend esteem, but wicked
agents and factors, such as Moore and Rigby, who for the advantage of
their own interests labour to turn kingdoms into blood and ruin.
Besides, 'tis dangerous treating when the sword is given into the
enemies' hand."

"Most assuredly, madam, as our tractates on the art of war teach
us,--which it seems you have not studied in vain," said Moseley, bowing
with an air of great deference and gallantry. "Your ladyship is
commander-in-chief, we hear."

"My lord being absent. I am left in trust, and cannot listen to treaties
without his