402 Colonel Vernon ; or, Q APRIL, 



romantic eagerness, to gain the victor's prize from the presiding beauty 

 of the tournament, than did he and his soldiers to prove their valour in 

 the presence of Isabel. An attempt was made to carry the place by 

 storm, but it was repulsed with such loss, as taught the soldiers of 

 Cromwell, that they had to deal with no common foe. Every summons 

 to surrender, was answered with stern defiance, and despairing of success 

 by other means, the rebels at length turned the siege into a blockade. 



Great was the exultation within the walls when this was known. 

 Long before the ample stores providently collected, could be exhausted, 

 Vernon was satisfied that the king would arrive. All were animated 

 by the same resolution : all were determined to resist to the last ex- 

 tremity. We will not give in detail the incidents which occurred, and 

 the conversations which passed, while exultation resolved itself into 

 sober confidence, and while confidence became mingled with doubt, 

 nor those which followed, when doubt gave way, not to fear for his 

 personal safety, for that Colonel Vernon could not know, but to excru- 

 ciating apprehension for the fate of his men and the cause of his 

 monarch. Suffice it to say, that the relief expected, arrived not that 

 with all the care he could use, food became scarce and the garrison 

 began to murmur that they were content to lay down their lives in the 

 field, but not to submit to be starved to death. 



One appeal he determined to make to the enemy. The royalists had 

 on some occasions humanely allowed the females and children who 

 were in besieged places to withdraw. This favour he now solicited. 

 Before giving an answer, the puritans said it would be necessary to 

 ff seek the Lord in prayer " and a messenger of their own would an- 

 nounce the result. 



With some satisfaction he learned on the following morning, that 

 a Round-head messenger claimed to be admitted. He immediately 

 gave orders that the puritan should be conducted, blindfolded, to the 

 apartment in which he sat. This was done, and the soldier of Cromwell 

 stood before him. 



The bandage removed from his eyes, the man who was of godly 

 repute, and who, according to the whim of the time, had a most godly 

 name, being called " Fight-for-the-faith- Fletcher," with little ceremony 

 thus delivered himself. 



" Forasmuch as thou, William Vernon, being a man of blood and a 

 great backslider, hast often in battle proved a slayer of God's prople, 

 the Lord of Hosts shalt stir up a scourge for thee, according to the slaughters 

 of Midian, at the rock of Oreb, and none of the ungodly shall pass hence 

 but as captives to the servants of the Lord" 



" Enough," said Vernon haughtily ; " return, and say to your com- 

 mander that should our situations ever be reversed, I despise the 

 example which he has thought fit to set, too much to follow it." 



The puritan calmly replied, 



" Let the high praises of God be in the mouths of his saints, and a two 

 edged sword in their hands, to execute vengeance upon the heathen and 

 punishment upon the people : to bind their kings with chains and their nobles 

 with fetters of iron, to execute upon them the judgments written : this 

 honour have all his saints" 



" Away, madman and blasphemer !" Vernon indignantly exclaimed, 

 and Fight-for-the-faith- Fletcher was removed. 



The distress within the walls became horrible, and the heart of 



