292 THE EXETER ROAD 



Second. Bridport was seized, and one of the 

 ' Monmouth men ' slew Edward Coker, gentleman, 

 of Mappowder, on the 14th of June 1G85, as the 

 memorial tablet to that slaughtered worthy in Brid- 

 port parish church duly recounts. For their share in 

 the rebellion, a round dozen of Bridport men were 

 hanged before the eyes of their neighbours, ' stabbed,' 

 as the ancient slang phrase has it, ' with a Bridport 

 dagger.' The ghastly imagery of this saying derives 

 from the old-time local manufacture of rope, twine, 

 and string, and the cultivation of hemp in the 

 surrounding country. Rope- and twine-walks still 

 remain in the town. 



Leaving Bridport behind, the coach passengers by 

 this route presently came to its most wildly romantic 

 part ; only it is sad to reflect that the travellers of a 

 hundred years ago had not the slightest appreciation 

 of this kind of thing. 



Through Bridport's stony lanes our way we take, 

 And the proud steep descend to Morcombe's lake. 



Thus the poet Gay, but he writes from the horse- 

 man's point of view, and if he had bruised his bones 

 along this road in the lurching Exeter Fly, his tone 

 would probably have been less breezy. Travellers, 

 indeed, looked upon hills with loathing, and upon 

 solitude (notwithstanding the poets of the time) with 

 disgust ; therefore it may well be supposed that when 

 they came to the rugged scenery around Morecomb- 

 lake, and the next village Chideock (called locally 

 ' Chiddick '), they did not enjoy themselves. 



Here Stonebarrovv Hill and Golden Cap, with many 



