was much wondered at by some, that they would at this summons and from such hands take upon them the supreme authority of this nation; considering how little right Cromwell and his Officers had to give it, or those gentlemen to take it." "My disconsolate friend, it is a sign that Puritan England in general accepts this action of Cromwell and his Officers, and thanks them for it in such a case of extremity; saying as audibly as the means permitted, Yea, we did wish it so! Rather mournful to the disconsolate official mind!" Letters and Speeches ii. 185. Why it was that this first Parliament failed in carrying out Oliver's schemes of social and religious regeneration, is an historical problem too deep for discussion in this place. But we can hardly doubt that it was in great part attributable to the want of a Sovereign head, to whom they might feel themselves responsible for it is certain that their dissolution led immediately to the Protectorate. To this first Convention, called, The Little Parliament, three persons were summoned from Wiltshire, viz. Sir Anthony Ashley Cooper [afterwards Earl of Shaftesbury] Nicholas Green, and Thomas Eyre. In the Parliament which met 4th Sept. 1654 the county sent ten, viz. Sir Anthony Ashley Cooper, Alexander Popham, Thomas Grove of Bury-Court, Francis Hollis, Alexander Thistlethwayte, John Ernle of Bourton, William York, John Norden, James Ashe, and Gabriel Martyn. Salisbury sent Edward Tucker and William Stephens the Recorder. Devizes sent Edward Baynton. Marlborough sent Lieutenant-General Charles Fleetwood. In the Parliament which met 17 Sep. 1656 the county was again represented by ten-viz., Sir Anthony Ashley Cooper, Sir Walter St. John, Alexander Popham, Thomas Grove, Alexander Thistlethwayte, John Bulkeley, Richard Grubham Howe, William Ludlow, Henry Hungerford, and Gabriel Martyn. The city of Salisbury was represented by three, viz., William Stone the Mayor, James Heeley, and Edward Tucker. Devizes, by Edward Scotten;-Marlborough, by his Excellency Charles Fleetwood Lord Deputy of Ireland. THE PROTECTORATE 1654. The Corporation, at the period of Oliver's accession to the supreme power, consisted of ninety-six burgesses, viz., 17 Majores or Capital Burgesses, 38 Chief Burgesses, and 41 Inferior or free burgesses, us under :- Tobie Alleyn William Alford John Baynton John Fitzall Charles Andrews Edward Pearce Chief Burgesses. Thomas Hawkins Thomas Lawrence Richard Street John Tilton Richard Webb John Winkworth. Philip Strong William Thurman William White jun. Tho. Mereweather Francis Paradice John Pope Thomas Potter William Powell Robert Scott Hugh Skeat Samuel Tayler John Wayte Edward Webb Jeremy Williams THE PENRUDDOCKE RISING. 1655. The plottings of the Republicans and Royalists in 1654-5 which issued in the Rising at Salisbury on Monday the 12th of March, had already occasioned a strict look-out for suspected persons in Wiltshire during the winter. Colonel William Boteler an officer thoroughly devoted to the Protector, kept up an active correspondence between the County and head-quarters, and was now lying with four troops of horse at Devizes, where we must leave him for the present, till the scent of carnage from afar falling on his eager senses shall invite him at the head of his invincible troopers to rush forward and mingle in the welcome fray. the In the city of Salisbury meanwhile, the time of the Assizes having been selected by the Royalists, a body of 200 horse drew up in the market place in the darkness of the early morning, opened the gaols to furnish a contingent of recruits, and summoned from their beds Chief Justice Rolle, Judge Nicholas, and John Dove the Sheriff. Mr. Dove was forthwith ordered to proclaim King Charles II. but on his refusal, a command was issued for the execution of all three upon public gallows. But the execution did not take place; neither did the insurgents think fit even to remain in Salisbury. At 2 o'clock in the afternoon, they rode away westward, and on Wednesday evening were all captured by a body of horse under Colonel Unton Crook, at South Molton in Devon. It is surprising that no reporter of the state of things at Salisbury found his way across the Plain to implore the succour of Colonel Boteler before Tuesday; and even on that day the news arrived at Devizes at so late an hour that Boteler did not deem it advisable to put his men in motion till seven o'clock the next morning. He was however the first to arrive at Salisbury and restore confidence to the distracted citizens. He found that though the enemy had long disappeared, the Judges were lying in a state of mental paralysis, and that a gaol-delivery had been effected without their aid. His first act was to set the Judges themselves at liberty; his next to sit down and report progress to the Protector. The examinations and trials of the prisoners form an interesting chapter in the History of Wiltshire, but very few names belong to the Hundred of Potterne and Cannings, and none to Devizes. The district of the conspiracy may in fact be almost defined by the Amesbury valley and the tract of South Wilts between Salisbury and Shaftesbury. Names such as the following, Wroughton of Wilcot, Hunt of Enford, Jones of Newton Toney, Grove of Chisenbury, Duke of Lake, Mills of Netheravon, several at Salisbury, Penruddocke of Compton, Willoughby of Knoyle, Hyde of Hatch, Yerbury of Trowbridge, Dorrington of Mere, are geographical points plainly indicating the restricted and desperate nature of the enterprise. John Cooke of Potterne was one of those who laid hands on the Judges. He was hung, it is believed, at Salisbury. The career of Colonel Thomas Hunt of Enford partook largely of the romantic; and as he was the ancestor of Henry Hunt the reform agitator so conspicuous in our own day at Devizes, his adventures seem to fall within the legitimate limits of this work. Awaiting his execution in Ilchester gaol (the very same spot where his descendant Henry afterwards lingered for two years and a half) Colonel Thomas Hunt obtained his liberation through the magnanimity of his sister Margery, who being admitted, together with another sister Elizabeth, to a last interview with their brother, Margery took his place in bed; while the Colonel himself, disguised in her clothes, walked out of the prison with Elizabeth, and started off, he knew not whither. Being totally unacquainted with the .country around Ilchester, he so completely lost his way that by daybreak he had wandered back towards his prison sufficiently near to hear the bell tolling for his own execution. At this crisis he met a collier carrying a bag of coals on his horse; and discovering by a few words that the man was a Royalist he revealed his state and implored his protection. The collier at once took him up on his horse and conveyed him to his own cabin, a lonely habitation on the edge of a common. Here they put in readiness all the fire-arms the place could furnish, and kept a look out. In the meantime the cheat being discovered in the castle, the magnanimous Margery is led before Colonel Disbrowe, who threatens her with instant execution unless she reveals her brother's retreat. This of course she is unable to do, but she frankly declares herself to be the contriver of the rescue and that she had great difficulty in persuading her brother. to acquiesce. The two sisters are therefore both put under arrest, and a body of eight or ten troopers are dispatched to scour the neighbourhood in pursuit of "a man in woman's clothes." Their search having lasted through the day, they actually find their way to the collier's lone house in the night time, and demand admittance. The Colonel and his friend are planted at the window armed with muskets; the good wife stationed in the rear, holds the ammunition. And now an absurd parley ensues: the collier appears to be half asleep, and ridicules the soldiers for coming on such an errand. In order "to let the gentlemen in," he makes ineffectual efforts to strike a light, which end in the upsetting of the tinder-box, and induce the Captain to say to his men "Come let us be off to some more likely place: there is no one here but that stupid fellow who appears not to know his right hand from his left," and accordingly the troop gallop off. The account then goes on to state that Colonel Hunt, |