The Earl was silent, swallowing his anger; but once more his soldiers and friends, getting wind of the treatment to which he had been subjected, waxed indignant, and refused their service. The Earl however, succeeded in allaying their discontent; and on quitting Shrewsbury to return to Lathom House, he left his troops loyal and determined as himself in the King’s service. The Parliamentarians of Lancashire soon learned of the Earl’s treatment by the Royalists, and once more took advantage of it to try and tempt him over to their side. “The Earl of Derby ought,” said they, “to resent the outrages which he had suffered at Court from the King’s bad advisers. His enemies were the enemies also of the nation. They attacked the religion of all decent people; leaving his Majesty none but papists, or those inclined to popery.” “The intention of Parliament,” went on the message which Lord Derby received, “was to remove from about the royal person such dark and dangerous designers, in order to ensure the true Protestant religion. His lordship should receive a command worthy of his greatness, and of that of his ancestors, if he would engage in the good cause.” Lord Derby did not even give himself the trouble to pen a reply to this message. “Say, I beg you,” he said to the Colonel charged with its bringing, “to these Manchester gentlemen, and let them acquaint those in London, that when they have heard I have turned traitor I will listen to their proposals; but until then, if I receive any more papers of this kind, it will be at the peril of him who brings them.” Prince Rupert, the King’s nephew, who arrived at this time to assist the Royalists, and was placed by his Uncle at the head of the cavalry, was one of the hot-headed, ardent folk, who are apt to encumber with their assistance. Brave, and audacious to a degree, accustomed to rough German warfare, he did much damage to the Royal cause by his wild raids over the country, pillaging and ravaging wherever he went, but was of not overmuch service in the day of battle. This was the state of things between the Royalists and “the Rebels” when the two opposing armies met, and fought out, on 23rd October 1642, that drawn battle of Edgehill. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CHAPTER X NO REST. THE QUEEN’S JOURNEY TO HOLLAND. A FRIEND IN NEED. “MASTER, GO ON, AND I WILL FOLLOW THEE.” THE GREEN-EYED MONSTER ASTIR. THROUGH GOOD REPORT AND ILL. AN INDIGNANT REFUSAL. BACK AT LATHOM. A BOISTEROUS FRIEND