66 THE CIVIL WAR IN DEVON. 



is a succinct account of one among the many insur- 

 rections to which it gave rise ; and which broke out 

 at Sampford Courtenay, in this county, on Whit 

 Monday, in ihe year 1549. 



The ninth of J une had been appointed by act of 

 parliament, for first reading the reformed Hturgy; 

 and although, in some parts of the kingdom, the 

 people seemed to acquiesce in the change, if not 

 cheerfully, yet in silence, in others and especially 

 the western counties, it was promptly and openly 

 resisted. On the day succeeding that of the inno- 

 vation, the peasantry of Sampford Courtenay, 

 headed by one Underbill, a tailor, and others, " de- 

 clared that they would keep to the religious pro- 

 fession of their forefathers." Allfedging at the same 

 time, that the alteration had been precipitated, and 

 was contrary to the last will of King Henry VIII. ^ 

 of blessed memory. The minister, although at first 

 he made a shew of opposing them, soon gave way ; 

 and resuming his atiere as a popish priest, celebrated 

 mass, together with the rest of the Roman Catholic 

 service. Popular exultation, and the spread of 

 similar disturbances soon drew the interference of 

 the neighbouring justices, who, with Sir Hugh Pol- 

 lard as their foreman, sought to confer with the 

 rioters. But, as some of these gentlemen were 

 thought to be themselves ill-affected towards the 

 change, a suspicion their want of energy at the out- 

 set tended to confirm, the meeting rather promoted 

 the commotion than otherwise. 



As the state of affairs with Scotland, at that time, 

 occupied the attention of government. Sir Peter and 

 Sir Gawen Carew, knights, were dispatched into 

 Devonshire, to aid the weal authorities ; a com- 

 mission in which the Lord Privy Seal Russel was 

 soon after associated. On the arrival of the former, 

 and Sir Piers Courtenay, who was then sheriff, in- 

 forming them that the populace, headed by those of 

 Sampford, were in force at Crediton, it was deter- 

 mined again to attempt gentle means in order to 



