376 Original Letters from the Wiltshire Commissioners. 



your Highness, by and conscrning some p'sons contrary to our expectacons, wee 

 cannot but in faithfulness to yo r Highness, and the trust we have undeHaken, 

 make knowne our thoughts unto you theirin. At our first Sitting in this county, 

 the Commission 1 ' 8 received a letter from your Highness to forbear the assesing of 

 the Lord Seamor, which, in obeadience to your Highness sade letter, was done 

 accordinglie ; though for our parte, we are much unsatisfied of any change of 

 his former principles. Since that tyme we finde their hath beene applicacons made 

 to your Highness, concerning Mr. Seamor, sonne to the sade Lord, who was of 

 the late Kings Commission for sequestring the Parliaments party for this co untie, 

 and satt in the execuc'on theirof ; as alsoe for one Mr Yorke, who was actually 

 in armes in the late Kinges owne troupe, and otherwise a dangerous person, as 

 doth appear to us by his discouraginge honest men in their assisting the Parliament 

 at the late Worcester fight, and is still a discountenanser of Religious people ; and 

 as it is a wonder to us, how such a person as this latter, should lie unquestioned 

 all this while, soe we cann noe less admire, that now he is bringing to the Light, 

 any should appear to yo r Highness for him, as alsoe for the sade Mr. Seamor, 

 soe as to hinder just proceedings against them ; a thing of which nature, wee 

 that have runn the Hazzards of our lives with your Highniss, for this Twelve or 

 fourteen yeares, durst not adventure to attempt. M r - Yorke hath never yett 

 beene publiquely questioned for beinge of that party, by which meanes both him- 

 self, as alsoe one Mr. Norden, another dangerous person in this county, obteined 

 to be of the last parliament, through the disaff ection of some people, to the great 

 greife of honest men. Now my Lord, all that we aime at is, that the Masque of 

 these men may be pulled off, and the country have a right knowledge of them ; 

 as alsoe that we may be able to give an accoumpt of the justness of our proceed- 

 ings, in carrying an equall hand to all that come before us, according to our 

 Instrucc'ons, w^ut respect of persons ; and lastly, that they may not stand in 

 the way of good people for the future. Thus haveing faithfully acquainted your 

 Highness concerninge the persons aforesade, wee humbly leave it to yo r Highness' 

 considerac'on, whether you will please to referr the sayd Mr. Seamor and Mr. 

 Yorke to a tryall before the Commission 1 " 8 here, or otherwise doe as to yo r High- 

 ness shall seeme meet ; and soe craving pardon for this boldness and trouble, wee 

 subscribe our selves, 



"Yo r Highnesse most humble, and 

 faithfull servants. 



" Sarum this 13 th of (Signed) Liol. Holton,* 



March 1655 " Ja. Hely." 



[Addressed] 



" For his Highnesse the Lord 

 Protector at Whitehall, 

 These humblie 



Presente." 



[Bawl MS. A. m. fo. 437; Bill. Bodl.] 



* This signature occurs in three or four other entries, and may be in one case taken for " Hotton." 



