conflict going on at the bottom of Doncaster Gate, near the old Cross. Oh ! that he could be in the fray to strike a blow for old Rotherham! Higher, higher, ascends Gee up those shaky old wooden ladders, till from the topmost window in the steeple he sees, with exultant cries, the Royalists utterly beaten and pursued, and cut down one after another, on their retreat back up Doncaster Road. Then Master Shawe is quietly reassured by his man that all is now safe, and master and man hasten down to the old Vicarage in the churchyard, where Mistress Dorothy regales the good and faithful man servant with tankards of strong ale and rounds of pressed beef, till Robert has no more room left in his pretty capacious doublet. The Vicar appears to have thought it advisable for a time at least to leave the town, and we find him preaching a sermon at Selby, before General Lord Fairfax, which was afterwards published under the title of "Two Clean Birds."

THE SECOND ATTACK ON ROTHERHAM.

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Before the Vicar returned, the General had placed a garrison in Rotherham, and the town was now well fortified, and not too soon; for in April, 1643, the Earl of Newcastle came into this part of Yorkshire with a large Royalist force of some 8000, proceeding from Wakefield. On drawing up his army on the morning of 4th, May in the upper fields, (where Masbro' now is,) before Rotherham, he summoned the people to yield, but they bravely refused to do so. At once, My lord," records his Duchess, fell to work with cannon and musket." So did the defenders. A smart resistance was maintained by the garrison and the people. And all honour to thirty brave Grammar School boys, who worked for some hours a drake (a small piece of ordnance) planted on the bridge, which piece of ordnance did considerable execution amongst the assailants. Amongst those killed on the Royalist side was Captain Francis Errington, of Denton, in Northumberland. The battle raged for some hours until evening, and it is doubtful if the Earl could have prevailed, but for a serious falling off of the ammunition of the town. A supply of powder which was expected, had alas! been seized at Gains

borough. So the defenders did all that gallant men and gallant boys could do they resisted and did not yield till all their powder was exhausted.

ROTHERHAM CAPITULATES.

Part of the town being on fire and honourable terms being offered by the Earl, a parley was held. All were assured by him under his hand that upon laying down their arms, they should have their estates, lives, and liberties safe. But no sooner did Newcastle cross the bridge, looking well as he passed at the Chapel in the middle, from whose roof many a bullet had told upon his own troops, and no sooner did his soldiers dash through the river by the ford below the bridge, than hastening up Bridgegate and Wellgate, they began plundering property and seizing hold of all influential persons they could lay hands on. The chief persons of the town were brought before the Earl, and among those who were imprisoned, and fined 1000 marks each, were Mr. William Spencer, of Attercliffe Hall and Bramley Grange, LieutenantColonel in the Parliamentary Army, and a justice of the peace; Mr. Henry Westby, of Car House, in the parish of Rotherham ; Mr. George Westby, of Guilthwaite, second son of Mr. George Westby, of Ravenfield. These names will come up again before us. The Vicar was also fined 1000 marks; but he was nowhere to be found. His wife was, however, dragged to prison, where her thought was not of herself, but of any want her dear husband might be suffering.

EXTRAORDINARY ESCAPE OF THE VICAR.

Where was our Vicar? Let him tell his account in his own characteristic style. "It seems they (the invaders) had a special intent to ruine the minister of the place aforesaid; yet, first, the minister went through the midst of the town (then so throng'd) undiscerned by any; secondly, he hid himself in vault of a house not inhabited (after he heard of the enemies base unfaithfulness and cruelty) which house the enemy (pulling downe the works about the towne) came into, and kept as their main guard night and day, and lay close by him (which thing he neither did nor could suspect beforehand). Thirdly, the enemy proclaimed him traitor by a

cryer throughout the towne, yea, and all other traitors, also, who knowing of him, brought him not into them within 24 hours; in the aforesaid house the soldiers seeking him most diligently thrust their swords betwixt the boards frequently, yet neither found nor hurt him. Fourthly, at last they looked up to a vault above their heads (which lay visibly open to view, by the space of three yards and more, where himself and his man lay indeed) and swore that he was there, whereupon they instantly ran up the stairs (which they kept) broke open the door (entring to the vault which they saw, and where he was) found it lockt, and the key in the door in the inside, sought him five severall times, the great windowes all open roundabout, he and his man lying on their sides, yet never found either of them (no cause but Jer. xxxvi. 26). Fifthly, he having layen there on the stones most part of three dayes and nights, viz., from Thursday, 4th May, 1643 (when the towne was taken), till Saturday evening, 6th May, could not stir, scarce cough or spit lest he should be heard, and no friend, meat, drink, or relief could come to him (the enemy keeping the town, that house and stairs to the vault) he resolved that night, rather than starve, to goe down and yield himself up to their cruell mercies (for he might hear them swear his death with many dammees) presently that very afternoon they went away (he cannot to this day learn any reason why) for they came thither again the next day, and stayed there constantly long after, as if they had meant (as indeed the good and wise God did) to give him just a fit time and space to get safe away, for neither before nor after could he get away thence, nor longer stay there. Sixthly, when he was come down the stairs from the vault, though the enemy they found removed, yet were the doors lockt; but the enemy had caused a carpenter to pull up two boards of the floor to seek for him in the hollow place underneath, and left them unnailed down again, through which space (as if they had meant to have made him a way forth) he got out. Seventhly, when he came through the midst of the town again to his house undiscerned, and as he was stepping into the hall (not knowing now who lived there or in any other house) there were seven Cavaliers billeted (having formerly plundered him sufficently), amongst whom he was just step