By WW Ravenhill, Esq. 33 
his miserable place of torment. A thing not known amongst the Cruel Turks, 
to sell and enslave those of their own country and religion, much less the 
innocent. 
These things being granted as they hope, their souls shall pray, &c.” 
A very long and fruitless discussion ensued; but some statements 
appear interesting. These I will note as shortly as possible. 
The first speaker was Sir John Coplestone, our old friend the 
Sheriff of Devon, in 1655, who said 
‘he knew the disadvantage of speaking against the petition. 
Kivers had been Prince Maurice’s quarter master, and was taken in arms in 
the business of Salisbury. He had counterfeited his (Coplestone’s) name to a 
pass and was taken by a constable. On being searched, 15 cases of pistols were 
found about him [capacious pockets.] A young gentleman Mr. [Cary] Rennel 
then with him confessed they were going to the insurrection at Salisbury, but 
were prevented by its discovery. 
An indictment was brought against him, at Salisbury but he [Coplestone] 
not being there was acquitted.* He had but followed his late Highness’s order 
in sending to Plymouth those in custody who had been in the insurrection— 
what came of them there he knew not.” 
Nr. Noell next spoke, he said 
‘the traded into these parts. Merchants sent to him to procure them suitable 
artificers. He had thus sent several persons from the Bridewell and other 
prisons; all he had to do with those now mentioned, was recommending them to 
that Mr. Chamberlain [a-very fair share]. 
He abhorred the thought of setting £100 upon any man’s head and it was 
false and scandalous to impute this tohim. He indented [executed a deed of 
service] with all those he sent. The work was hard, but none were sent against 
their will. When there, they were civilly treated, and had horses to ride on. 
Those sent served most commonly for 5 years, and then had the yearly 
salary [P]of the island. The hours of labour were from 6 to 6 with four times 
for refreshing; the work was thus not so hard as represented ; nor as that of 
the common husbandman in England. The work was mostly carried on by 
Negroes. It was a place grateful to trade with as any in the world, and not so 
odious as represented.” 
‘Sergeant Maynard said 
ou the present petition was a gross breach of the privileges of the house, and he 
would not speak to the matter of it, Cavalier as it was.” 
- * No record of this. If he was before the Grand Jury at Salisbury, it is strange that his name is 
not mentioned by Attorney-General Prideaux, he would have ranked before Mackes and the Zouches, 
_ At Exeter a bill was preferred against him and ignored. (See Wilts Mag., vol, xiii, p, 272.) Mr. 
Cary Reynel will be found in Disbrowe’s list, both he and Rivers belonged to Binstead, Hants. 
VOL. XV.—NO. XLVIII. F 

