254 Records of the Rising in the West, A.D, 1655. 
mute, and not to acknowledge the jurisdiction. Sir, the post hastens, which 
makes mee thus hastily scribble. 
Begging your honour’s pardon, I humbly rest, 
Your honor’s most humble 
Exceter, April 16, and obedient servant, 
1655, James NUTLEY. 
The High Sheriff for Devon that year was Sir John Copplestone, 
a zealous friend to the Protector. He supported the dignity of his 
great and wealthy county with ample generosity; and as Dove, 
High Sheriff of Wiltshire appeared with his retainers at Exeter, we 
have it recorded, that the liveries of “the men of Devon” were the 
smartest, as of course theyshould have been.! Moreover he entertained 
the Judges and His Highness’s counsel “very gallantly.”? He appears 
also to have spared no expense in fitting up a Court in the Castle, which 
was used then for the first time ; before its existence the Circuit Order 
Book speaks of the assizes as having been held “att the Gaole Garden.” 
There is in Jenkin’s History of Exeter a plan of the city, as it was 
somewhat before those days, drawn, “so he says,” from Leland’s 
description of it. In this the gaol is placed a short distance to the 
right of the street leading from the High Street to the Castle, 
(Castle Street) and close under the exterior walls of the rampart. 
Some court-house there was no doubt, in the garden adjoining this ~ 
gaol, which had been used till that occasion. 
The entry in the Circuit Book is as follows :— 
“Devon. Att the Commission of Oyer and Terminer and general gaole 
delivery of the county aforesaid holden for the county aforesaid att the Castle 
of Exeter in the same county the Eighteenth day of April, 1655. Before John 
Lisle one of the Commissioners of the Great Seale of England, and Henry 
Rolle Cheife Justice assigned to hold pleas before the said Lord Protector in the 
Upper Bench, Westminster, Robert Nicholas one of y* Barrons of y* publique 
Exchequer, John Glynne, y* serjeant to ye said Lord Protector, and Wm. Steele, 
Serjeant at Lawe and Recorder of y* City of London. 
Ffor the halle in Exeter Castle. Whereas it appeareth to this Court That the 
High Sheriffe of this County hath disbursed a great some of money amountinge 
to the some of ————— or upwards for to prepare a halle in the Castle of Exceter 
fittinge for the assizes and Quarter Sessions to be kept. This Court doth there- 
fore desire, the Justices of y* peace of this County, att their next Quarter Sessions, 
to take some speedy course for the repayment of such monies, as the high sheriffe 
hath disbursed as aforesaid, by the Inhabitants of the whole County, or by such 
other meanes as they shall think fittinge.” 
‘ Perfect Proceedings, May 3rd, 1658. 2 Ibid. 
