148 Composition for Estates, in Wilts. 



inasmuch as the ground work of the letters is a fragment of the 

 first coat which concealed the mediaeval pictures. The wavj'^ 

 pattern of the borders which separate the compartments is very- 

 bold and effective, but it is to be regretted that further means are 

 not taken to remove more of the plaster and whitewash, which 

 probably conceals other mural paintings of similar character. 



Edward W. Godwin. 



Contyo$itioit Ux €$tate$, m Milts, 



By F. A. Cab^ingtok, Esq. 



iR. HUME in his "History of England" under the date of 

 1655, says : — 



" In concert with the King a conspiracy was entered into by the Royalists 

 throughout England, and a day of general rising appointed. 



"In one place alone the conspii-acy broke into action. Penruddock, Grove, 

 Jones and other gentlemen of the west entered Salisbury with about 200 

 horse, (March 11,) at the very time when the Judges* and Sherift'f were holding 

 the assizes. Them they made prisoners, and then proclaimed the King. Con- 

 trary to theii' expectation they received no accession of force, so prevalent was 

 the terror of the established government. Having in vain wandered about for 

 some time, they were totally dismayed, and one troop of horse was able at last 

 to suppress them. The leaders of the conspiracy being taken prisoners, were 

 capitally punished. The rest were sold for slaves and transported to Barbadoes. 



" The Protector resolved to keep no longer any terms with the Royalists. 



" He issued an edict with the consent of his council, for exacting the tenth 

 penny from that whole party, in order, as he pretended, to make them pay the 

 expenses to which their miitinous disposition continually exposed the public. 



" Without regard to compositions, articles of capitulation, or acts of indemnity, 

 all the Royalists, however harassed with former oppressions, were obliged anew 

 to redeem themselves by great sums of money, and many of them were reduced 

 by these multiplied disasters to extreme poverty ; whoever was known to be dis- 

 affected, or even lay under any suspicion, though no guilt could be proved against 

 him, was exposed to the new taxation. 



" In order to raise this imposition, which commonly passed by the name of 

 decimation, the Protector instituted twelve Major-Generals, and divided the 

 whole Kingdom of England into so many Military Jurisdictions. These were assis- 

 ted by Commissioners, had power to subject tchotn they 2}leased to decimation, to 

 levy all the taxes imposed by the Protector and his coimcil, and to imprison any 

 person who should be exposed to their jealousy or suspicion ; nor was there any 

 appeal from them but to the Protector himself and his council. Under coloui' 



' Lord Chief Justice RoUc and Baron Nicholas. + Colonel Dotc. 



