POLITICAL HISTORY 



district, boasted that under his own stern rule one might ' ride all over Notting- 

 hamshire and not see a beggar or wandering rogue.' 1 



In the meantime, after the surrender of Newark, various delinquents of 

 the county made their submission, and compounded for their estates under 

 the articles of surrender. Among these were Henry Bellasis, son of the 

 governor, Sir Richard Byron, Lord Chaworth, Lord Lexington (formerly 

 Robert Sutton), Sir Thomas Williamson, late sheriff, Sir Christopher Athar, 

 and Thomas Harrington. 2 They admitted their complicity in gathering 

 forces for the garrison, and in collecting subsidies for service against Parlia- 

 ment. The inhabitants of Newark in general also compounded in June, 

 1 646, but because ' the plague raged very much there ' they could not per- 

 sonally attend to prosecute their suit. 8 Lady Lexington also certified that 

 by reason of the plague she could not go to Newark in person nor send her 

 servants there to ascertain the value of her husband's estates. 4 John Nichol- 

 son, alderman of Newark, excused himself from appearing to compound since 

 he must remain in Newark ' to assist in its government during the pesti- 

 lence.' 6 Gervase Lee begged mitigation of his assessment in 1647, stat i n g 

 that he was captain of a train band, and being aged and infirm was forced 

 into Newark by the sheriff. 8 In October, 1650, the county committee for 

 Nottinghamshire informed the Committee for Compounding that from the 

 March sequestrations in the county they had advanced 1,293 I 4- r - l ^-> ' a 

 large sum considering the ruinous state of this county, long the seat of the 

 war, so that many estates were untenantable.' 7 They also stated that through 

 the power of the enemy and the indigency of the country the late Committee 

 for Sequestration received not one-fortieth of the sequestrations, and had to 

 borrow money to carry on the parliamentary service ; and when Newark was 

 reduced most of the sequestrations were discharged. 8 In December, 1659, the 

 County Commissioners for Derbyshire reported to the Committee for Seques- 

 tration concerning commotions in these parts, and that one of their number 

 with his troop had gone into Nottinghamshire to appease distempers there. 9 

 Edward Heming reported from Nottingham that he had spent fourteen days 

 in the county, and ' had done what he could,' but ' the commissioners here 

 have been disturbed by papers set on the forts, intimating that it would be 

 good service to knock us on the head, so that I can get none to act.' 10 



Already Monk had entered England, and had been well received as he 

 passed through the county on his way to London. 11 His coming was followed 

 by a cry for a free Parliament, resulting in the final dissolution of the Rump 

 in March, 1660. And ' some time before the writs for the new elections 

 came, the town of Nottingham, as almost all the rest of the island, began to 

 grow mad, and to declare themselves so in their desires of the king.' 12 The 

 townsmen, now that they no longer needed protection, quarrelled with the 

 soldiers quartered there, until at length permission came from Monk to 'let 

 loose the fury of the regiment on the town,' but by Colonel Hutchinson's 



1 Gardiner, Hist, of Commonwealth and Protectorate, iii, 242. 



s Cal. of Com. for Compounding, and Cal. of Com. for Adv. of Money. 



3 Cal. of Com. for Compounding, 1,335. 



4 Ibid. 1,336. 6 Ibid. 1,371. Cal. of Com. for. Adv. of Money, 538. 

 7 Cal. of Com. for Compounding, i, 342-3. 8 Ibid. 9 Ibid. p. 771. 



10 Ibid. " Bailey, Annals ofNott. iii, 865. 



" Mrs. Hutchinson, op. cit. p. 399. 



355 



