EXMOOR UNDER THE PLANTAGENETS. 207 



and " were there employed only in the drinkinge of 

 Ale, and for fear of their Captain's displeasure were 

 made to spend money at the Ale, more than some of 

 them had gotten in money before." On another 

 occasion Humphrey called up 100 of his men, whose 

 total strength was 300, to Dulverton, to a " Byd 

 Ale" of one John Glasse. Upon Thursday in Easter 

 week they gathered in great troupes or companies 

 from Taunton, which was a score of miles away, and 

 other places to Skilgate. A man named Milton was 

 stationed on the hill above the church where he 

 could see a mile of road to give notice of their 

 approach. In the middle of Divine service, when 

 the curate was begmning the Homily, Milton ran 

 into the church crying, " They are come, they are 

 come. Ring out the bells." Mr. Langham com- 

 manded the curate to surcease the service, and 

 had the bells rung and caused " dyvers bagg- 

 pipes to be blown to the great dishonour of 

 Almighty God and in contempt of your Majesty's 

 laws." 



They appear not to have been content with this, but 

 to have gone round the country levying exactions — 

 probably they called it collecting subscriptions — and 

 realised altogether £^0. The scene then shifts to 

 London. It is alleged that the conspirators met and 

 tried to waylay Roger Sydenham on his way to his 

 lodging at a public-house in the Strand, and not 

 succeeding they hired a bravo, or bully, named 

 Rattenbury, to go to his lodging and "pike" a 



