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It
would seem that it is not only in Scotland and Ireland, but also in the
northern counties of England, that the heads of great families three
centuries ago lived like independent princes, taking the law into their
own hands over their dependents, and waging open war against each other in
the field. We are all familiar enough with the feuds between the Campbells,
the Colquhouns, and the MacGregors, between the Kers and the Scotts, and
even between rival branches of the house of Innes;
all readers of the 'Reliques of Ancient Poetry' and of Sir Walter Scott
are aware of the extent of the forays and cattle-lifting raids of the
Percies, the Dacres, and the Howards of the Border marches; and the
stories which I have already
told of 'Belted Will Howard,' and of 'The King
of the Peak,'* will have prepared my readers to
accept the following story of a certain Lancashire feud and tragedy as not
improbable in itself, and certainly not unexampled nor unparalleled.
It appears from history that the Botelers, or Butlers, in the days of
the last Plantagenets and of the earliest Tudors, held broad lands and a
fine estate at Bewsey, near Warrington, in Lancashire. The head and chief
of the family at that period was Sir John Boteler, who had probably won
his spurs of knighthood by some deed of gallantry, or had them conferred
upon him for services rendered to the court of Henry 71. Sir John married
Anna Savile, daughter of Sir John Savile, a lady who, as the following
story will show, possessed, at all events, a will of her own, and knew how
to use it. The mother of this lady was Margaret, youngest daughter of
Thomas, first Lord Stanley, and consequently sister of Thomas, second Lord
Stanley, who, in consideration of the eminent services lie had rendered to
his sovereign in placing the crown of Richard upon the head of the
victorious Richmond on Bosworth Field, was advanced to the dignity of Earl
of Derby.
Now, it happened shortly afterwards that Lord Derby-whose family were
then seated at Lathom house, in the neighborhood of Ormskirk-was honored
with a visit from his royal master. Naturally, being anxious to entertain
the king in a becoming manner, and at the same time perhaps to show the
power and number of his friends and retainers, Lord Derby sent a message
to all connected with him to the effect that ho desired their attendance
at Lathom house on a certain day, to do honor to his royal visitor, at
the same time adding that lie wished his guests to appear in his livery-a
custom, by the way, which at that time inferred no menial degradation.
When the missive containing the invitation reached Bewsey Hall, Lady
Boteler, into whose hands it chanced to fall, was greatly
enraged probably through the tie of
relationship which existed between them and sent
word back to his lordship that she considered Sir John Boteler, her lord
and master, ‘quite as fit to entertain the King as any earl.'
This somewhat curt and not over-courteous reply appears to have stung
Lord Derby to the quick, and his feelings found vent in sundry petty
annoyances to her ladyship; the crime if crime it was
admitting of no higher or more immediate revenge.
The lady's husband, however, was not
slow to retaliate probably on the principle that
'one good turn deserves another.' It may be
mentioned that part of the income of Sir John Boteler was derived from
certain tolls which were levied upon persons crossing the ferry over the
Mersey, at Warrington. Now, it happened one day that Lord Derby was called
away on urgent business to London, and, as the direct route thither from
Lathom lay over the above-mentioned ferry, he made his way to the river
with all speed; but great was his chagrin when he found that Sir John
would not allow him to cross over. The earl was therefore compelled to go
round by Manchester, thus traveling several miles out of his way. At this
treatment, of course, his lordship was much enraged; and in order to
prevent a repetition of the insult, and at the same time to punish Sir
John, by depriving him of his tolls, which brought to his exchequer on an
average about one hundred marks per annum, he resolved upon building a
badge across the river, and making it free to all passengers. This
proceeding, however, was looked upon by Sir John Botoler as an
encroachment on his vested rights, the passage of the river, he
maintained, being exclusively his own. As Sir John ruled that the
traveler, whether he crossed the river by the ferry or by the bridge,
should equally pay what was clue to the ferry, Lord Derby applied to the
king, who gave him authority for making the bridge free. So far his
lordship gained the day; but the decision was naturally very distasteful
to Sir John, and accordingly the enmity between the two continued as
strong as ever.
For a time matters went on in a very un-satisfactory state between
the rival houses of Lathom and Bewsey; and in the perpetual war of
annoyance which was raged between the two, Lord Derby would appear to have
got the worst of it, for he seems to have hit upon a mode of revenge which
was altogether foreign to his usual character. His lordship made up his
mind that the only way of quieting his opponent was by taking his life.
The murder, however, was not to be committed by the earl himself, but by
two agents whom he would employ.
Sir Piers Legh, of the
knightly family of the Leghs of Cheshire, and Sir William Savage, also a
gentleman of some position and standing in that county, were employed to
do the murderous business. Their first step towards carrying out their
deadly project was to bribe the porter and a servant at Bewsey Hall; and
in this it appears they had little or no difficulty, for the two domestics
were soon bought over to act as confederates in the murder of their
master. It was arranged that when the most favorable time for the
execution of the deed had arrived these men should place a lighted taper
in a certain window. At the appearance of this signal, Sir Piers Legh and
Savage crossed the moat in a coracle-a small tub-like boat or canoe formed
of bides stretched upon a framework-and were speedily but silently
introduced into the bed-chamber of their victim. Their entrance into the
chamber was at first opposed by a faithful
attendant who slept in an adjoining ante-room, but after a struggle he was
killed, and Sir John was murdered in his bed.
But the sanguinary work
of the night mss not yet ended, for the murderers tools away with them one
of the treacherous servants, who had assisted them in carrying out their
diabolical work, and hung him on a tree, in order that he might not turn
king's evidence against them. It is not recorded what became of the other
servant.
That the perpetrators
of this barbarous deed were never brought to,
justice is indeed strange. Lady Boteler, it is asserted, instituted
proceedings against them; but then, as now, it would appear that the law's
delay was long and tedious ; for the prosecution was not completed when
she had taken a second husband, Lord Grey, who disallowed her suit; in
consequence of which she separated herself' from him and retired to
Lancashire, where she lived and died in due course-a doubly disconsolate
widow.
*See '
Stories of Great Families,' 2nd series, vol.
Chapters From the Family Chests, 1887
Chapters From the Family Chest |
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