94 



Some Notice of William Herbert, 



nearly £100,000 had been subscribed by the nobility, to which Sir 

 William Herbert was a large contributor. His personal influence 

 was still among the Welsh, he immediately raised a force of one 

 thousand mountaineers, and marched across the Somersetshire flats 

 to Exeter. This place had been taken, however, by Lord Russell 

 on August 6th. Herbert arrived immediately afterwards, "too late 

 for the work, but soon enough for the play, for the whole country 

 was put to the spoil, and every soldier fought for his best profit. 

 The services of the mountain cattle lifters were made valuable to 

 Exeter ; for the city being destitute of victuals, was, by their special 

 industry, provided in two days." 1 



Sir William Herbert and Lord Russell were with the forces in the 

 western counties during the two following months, so that they took 

 no active part in the events which led to the fall of the Protector 

 Somerset. Upon the danger becoming imminent, Somerset sent 

 his youthful son, Lord Edward Seymour, to Russell and Herbert 

 with instructions to push forward immediately, as the king's person 

 was in danger. This missive met them at Wilton ; they immediately 

 started, and upon reaching Andover found letters from Warwick and 

 the Council by which it appeared that the real danger to be feared 

 was not from a conspiracy of the lords, but from a fresh insurrection 

 of the commons, on the invitation of Somerset. Being still at the 

 head of a portion of the army, the Protector had relied upon their 

 aid, so that the defection of Russell and Herbert must have been a 

 knell to the duke. From Andover they sent an answer back to the 

 duke, by the hands of his son, Lord Edward ; it enters fully into 

 the political state of the times, and gives sufficient reason for their 

 course of action. This admirable letter has been printed by Tytler, 

 who says, " Its right feeling and good sense, with the pure and 

 vigorous style of its composition, render it a remarkable document." 

 It is dated October 8th, 1549, and signed J. Russell and W. Herbert. 

 Warwick and the Council were also looking anxiously for a reply. 

 They had Dot long to wait; Lord Russell and Sir William Herbert 

 must have returned to Wilton without a moment's delay, for on the 



1 Froude's History of England, ch. 26. 



