But in the seventeenth century the Manchester man was a Lancashire man.

His politics were those of his county.

For the old Cavalier families of his county he felt a great respect; and he was furious when he thought that some of the best blood of his county was about to be shed by a knot of Roundhead pettifoggers from London.

Multitudes of people from the neighbouring villages filled the streets of the town, and saw with grief and indignation the array of drawn swords and loaded carbines which surrounded the culprits.

Aaron Smith's arrangements do not seem to have been skilful.