lathom house is an old english castle. when the war broke out between king charles i and his people, the earl of derby, who was the master of this castle, went away to fight for the king. he left the countess at home with her children, with a small band of armed men to guard her and the castle. one day an army of the people's soldiers came to the castle, and the leader of the army sent word to the countess that she must give up the castle at once.