sporting and Rural Records of the Cheveley Estate. 41 



one of his Lords of the Treasury and personal confidant, and, 

 moreover, at a place where the Jermyn family were deservedly 

 revered and respected, was fraught with the most serious conse- 

 quences. Instead of boldly confronting his enemies, and adopting 

 vigorous measures to uphold his crown and dignity, he igno- 

 miniously deserted his cause, and precipitatedly fled a fugitive to 

 France. After the flight of James II., Lord Dover escaped into 

 Ireland, where he joined the Jacobite leaders, and for a time 

 endeavoured to organise the incongruous adherents of King 

 James, who were then in the course of mobilisation there. 

 This object he was utterly unable to accomplish, owing to the 

 discordant elements with which he had to deal ; and, becoming 

 disgusted with the incompetence of those with whom he was 

 officially associated, he soon relinquished his trust, and retired 

 from the contest. 



Antecedent to these events a rural incident occurred at 

 Cheveley in connection with a little addition made to the park, by 

 diverting and enclosing a part of the adjoining high road, and 

 making a new road in lieu of it. 



It is a remarkable coincidence (and quite unknown at the 

 time) that when a recent application was made to the Justices at 

 Quarter Sessions for permission to enclose and divert a short part 

 of the high road running by Cheveley Park, and to substitute a 

 new road in lieu of it, that a somewhat similar permission was 

 granted in the same locality about 220 years previously. In the 

 recent case the little affair was accomplished, by permission of the 

 local authorities, in about six months. In the former one it took 

 nearly four years to obtain the concession. The King having 

 been approached, instructed his Attorney-General to issue a writ, 

 dated September 19, 1671, to the Sheriff of Cambridgeshire, 

 commanding him to hold a sworn enquiry on the merits of the 

 case. This investigation took place at Cheveley, October 23, 

 1671, and the patent authorising the proposed enclosure and 

 deviation was granted June 30, 1675. .All the documents were 



G 



Cheveley. 



Cheveley Hall 

 Looted, 1688. 



Diverting, 



enclosing, and 



making a 



new road at 



Cheveley Park. 



Proceedings 



tliereon in 



1671 and i8y6. 



