120 Records of the Rising in the West, A.D. 1655. 
Our county histories, and who so rich as we, give scattered notices, 
or more considered portions of the story; but the matter appears 
never to have been treated in all its entirety. With regard to the 
trials which followed at Exeter, much seemed worth investigating. 
The only account of any of them that I can discover, and which has 
been admitted amongst the recognised collections of the State Trials 
is “ The trial of the Honourable Colonel John Penruddock, written 
by himself.” This though penned at a very solemn moment, with 
all the accurateness, of which his highly religious mind was capable, 
can scarcely be accepted by the antiquarian, or historian, or lawyer, 
as conclusive evidence of all that then happened even to him; 
and he never so intended, as is clear from the postscript to it. An 
examination of the Thurloe Papers and the law of the land as it existed 
for those who chose to live under the Protector’s government, suggests 
that Penruddock and his fellows were not the martyrs that the book 
ealled “England’s Black Tribunal,” would have us believe. 
Further points in the history of the rising courted inquiry, no- 
tably the adventures related concerning William Wake, of Blandford, 
and Robert Duke a relation of the Dukes of Lake—both prisoners 
at Exeter, and tried at the same assize as Penruddock—wherever 
the narrative will permit, specially as to facts or documents unpub- 
lished, or not generally accessible, I shall give the very language of 
the sources of information. 
From most of our general historians, the rising and its leaders 
have received little if any attention. But it will be found to contain 
much that is stirring and picturesque, a page of our county history 
of no little interest, an interest which principally concentrates itself 
upon the fates of Penruddock and Grove. 
A few words on the origin and families of both. The Groves 
migrated to Wiltshire from Buckinghamshire about the middle of 
the fifteenth century.! A century later they were in possession of 
considerable estates at Shaftesbury, Donhead, and Ferne. The 
present member for South Wilts, who so hospitably entertained 
the Society on their visit in 1870, is the representative of this branch 
1 Hoare’s Mod. Wilts, Hund. Duuworth, 56—58, et pass’. 
