On the 27th of February the enemy took up their quarters about a mile distant from the house.  The next day Captain Markland was the bearer of a letter to her ladyship from Sir Thomas Fairfax, commander-in-chief of the parliamentary forces, and likewise an ordinance of parliament:  the one requiring that she should surrender the house upon such honourable terms as he might propose; and the other setting forth and commending the great mercy they had manifested by thus offering to receive the Earl of Derby if he would submit himself.  But she indignantly refused to surrender without the consent and commandment of her lord; and after many interviews, to which she assented only to gain time, and to complete the provisioning and fortifying of her little garrison, they began to find her answers too full of policy and procrastination, dangerous to the fidelity of their troops.  In the end, seeing she was only amusing them by vain pretences, they sent the following as their final terms, by Colonel Morgan, commander of the engineers, who had been appointed by Sir Thomas Fairfax to conduct the siege:—­

1st.  “That the Countess of Derby shall have the time she desires, and then liberty to transport her arms and goods to the Isle of Man, except the cannon, which shall continue there for the defence of the house.

2d.  “That her ladyship, by ten o’clock on the morrow, shall disband all her soldiers, except her menial servants, and receive an officer and forty parliament soldiers for her guard.”

Morgan is described as “a litle man short and peremptory, who met with staidnes to coole his heat; and had the honor to carry backe this last answer—­for her ladyshipp could scrue them to noe more delayes, viz.—­

“That she refused all their articles, and was truely happy they had refused hers, protesting shee had rather hazard her life than offer the like again;—­

“That though a woman, and a stranger, divorced from her friends, and rob’d of her estate, she was ready to receive their utmost vyolence, trusting in God both for protection and deliverance.”

The next morning they discovered the enemy had been at work about a musket-shot from the house, in a sloping ground, where they appeared to be forming a breast-work and trench to protect the pioneers—­multitudes of country people being every day forced into this laborious service.

The situation of Lathom deserves some notice, it being admirably calculated to resist any attack.

“It was encompassed by a strong wall, two yards thick; upon the walls were nine towers, flanking each other, and in every tower six pieces of ordnance, that played three one way and three another.  Upon the tops of these towers were placed the best and choicest marksmen, who usually attended the Earl in his sports, as huntsmen, keepers, fowlers, and the like, who continually kept watch, with screwed guns and long fowling-pieces, to the great annoyance and loss of the enemy, especially of their commanders, who were frequently killed in the trenches.  Without the wall was a moat eight yards wide and two yards deep; between the wall and the moat was a strong row of palisadoes.  A high tower, called the Eagle Tower, stood in the midst, surmounting all the rest.  The gate-house had a strong tower on each side, forming the entrance to the first court.”