124 Records of the Rising in the West, A.D. 1655. 
Highness’s own day,” (September 8rd, 1654,) and sat till it was 
dismissed with scolding on the 22nd of January following. The 
Protector then told them that he had certain information that the 
Levellers and Cavaliers were plotting against himself and govern- 
ment, and his information, being derived from the best authorities, 
amongst others a spy at the King’s elbow, proved correct. There 
was coquetting between these two very different parties.! It is 
therefore not surprising that John Wildman, the most rampant of 
Levellers, was arrested at Easton near Marlborough, about the time 
the latter place was intended to be attacked by the Wiltshire Cava- 
liers.2 He was sent to Chepstow Castle, and afterwards brought up 
to the Tower of London. Overton and others, including Eyres* had 
been secured some weeks before, and Saxty had escaped abroad. The 
Levellers ranted, plotted, and were crushed, without the Cavaliers 
striking a single blow. But though these last were troubled, they 
were not utterly cast down, and a general rising throughout England 
was arranged. 
I have been able to find no direct written communication from 
the King—who now left Cologne where he had been residing for 
Middleburg, just opposite the East Coast of England—to the Wilt- 
shire Cavaliers. Richard Pyle was the chief agent for these parts ; 
there was also a Mr. Kitson, and most important too were the 
services of Lady Phillips (Phelips of Montacute?) The clergy, Dr. 
Henchman, of Salisbury, the Marquis of Hertford’s chaplain, and 
others, also acted in this capacity. Wilmot, Earl of Rochester, 
passed disguised into England on one of the most adventurous of all 
his travels, and set his face for Yorkshire. Others had gone to 
other parts of the country, to stir up the Royalists, and it was 
thought that many of the Army would join, bitterly disappointed as 
they were in Cromwell, for taking so much power to himself. To 
1See Francis Jones’s Statement infra. 
2 Wildman’s manifesto (which many authorities say he was interrupted in 
writing) is given at length by Whitelocke. 
3 Eyres was secured in Dublin, Jan. 26th, 1655. He found London too hot 
for him, and ffled to Ireland perhaps to join Ludlow. Mr. Waylen has given 
an account of his former mutiny in Wilts; this was the reason of his arrest. 
3 Th., 124. 
