SECOND SUMMER MEETING. XXX111. 



MONMOUTH'S ASH. 



A vivid address was given by DR. LE FLEMING on the 

 capture of the Duke of Monmouth at Monmouth Ash, in the 

 parish of Horton, not six miles distant from where they were 

 assembled. He said that 



By sunrise on the day of the battle of Sedgemoor, Monmouth knew that 

 he would have to fly for his life', and, accompanied by a few of his friends 

 and some soldiers, he escaped from the field of battle. He first travelled 

 northwards towards the Bristol Channel, apparently making his way for 

 Wales, but appeared to have been persuaded by his followers to retrace 

 his steps and make for the New Forest, probably with a view of reaching 

 Lymington, where the Mayor was known to be one of his devoted followers. 

 The first portion of his flight was shrouded in mystery, though it was 

 known that he was somewhere in the direction of Shepton Mallet, and 

 that on the Tuesday after the battle he was between Shaftesbury 

 and Gillingham. Crossing Cranborne Chase he reached Woodyates, 

 where he with his attendants, Lord Grey and a German named Buyse, 

 abandoned their horses, burned their harness, and proceeded on foot. 

 A reward of 5,000 was put upon his head, and the whole countryside 

 was roused to capture him. Lord Lumley, with the Sussex militia, searched 

 for him from Ringwood, while Sir Wm. Portman with the Somerset 

 militia tried to cut him off from the coast. Doubtless, in Wimborne, 

 sentries had been placed on Julian and Canford Bridges. The fugitives 

 went towards Horton, and Lord Grey was captured at Woodlands with a 

 guide whom he had picked up, Richard Holiday by name. During the 

 course of the day Lord Lumley learned from a woman, Amy (or Annie) 

 Farrant, that she had seen the Duke with a companion, the German Buyse, 

 heading for Horton. And there is no doubt that the fugitives spent the 

 night in a plantation, two miles from Horton, surrounded by troops. 

 Almost at break of day, on Wednesday morning, Buyse was captured, and 

 they extracted the information that the Duke was close by. Before long 

 they discovered him, clothed as a shepherd, hiding in a ditch. He was 

 searched by Sir Wm. Portman, and the Insignia of the Garter, which he 

 wore, established his identity. 



At the conclusion of the meeting the PRESIDENT expressed 

 the thanks of those present to Dr. Le Fleming for his paper, 

 to Canon Fletcher for his services throughout the day as guide, 

 and to him and Mrs. Fletcher for their hospitality. 



