JBy W W Ravenhill, Esq. 



33 



his miserable place of torment. A thing not known amongst the Cruel Turks, 

 to sell and enslave those of their own country and religion, much less the 

 innocent. 



Those things being granted as they hope, their souls shall pray, &c." 



A very long and fruitless discussion ensued ; but some statements 

 appear interesting. These I will note as shortly as possible. 



The first speaker was Sir John Coplestone, our old friend the 

 Sheriff of Devon, in 1655, who said 



f he knew the disadvantage of speaking against the petition. 



Kivers had been Prince Maurice's quarter master, and was taken in arms in 

 the business of Salisbury. He had counterfeited his (Coplestone's) name to a 

 pass and was taken by a constable. On being searched, 15 cases of pistols were 

 found about him [capacious pockets.] A young gentleman Mr. [Cary] Rennel 

 then with him confessed they were going to the insurrection at Salisbury, but 

 were prevented by its discovery. 



An indictment was brought against him, at Salisbury but he [Coplestone] 

 not being there was acquitted.* He had but followed his late Highness' s order 

 in sending to Plymouth those in custody who had been in the insurrection — 

 what came of them there he knew not." 



Nr. Noell next spoke, he said 



" he traded into these parts. Merchants sent to him to procure them suitable 

 artificers. He had thus sent several persons from the Bridewell and other 

 prisons; all he had to do with those now mentioned, was recommending them to 

 that Mr. Chamberlain [a very fair share]. 



He abhorred the thought of setting £100 upon any man's head and it was 

 false and scandalous to impute this to him. He indented [executed a deed of 

 service] with all those he sent. The work was hard, but none were sent against 

 their will. When there, they were civilly treated, and bad horses to ride on. 



Those sent served most commonly for 5 years, and then had the yearly 

 salary [?] of the island. The hours of labour were from 6 to 6 with four times 

 for refreshing ; the work was thus not so hard as represented ; nor as that of 

 the common husbandman in England. The work was mostly carried on by 

 Negroes. It was a place grateful to trade with as any in the world, and not so 

 odious as represented." 



Sergeant Maynard said 



" the present petition was a gross breach of the privileges of the house, and he 

 would not speak to the matter of it, Cavalier as it was." 



* No record of this. If he was before the Grand Jury at Salisbury, it is strange that his name is 

 not mentioned by Attorney-General Prideaux, he would have ranked before Mackes and the Zouches. 

 At Exeter a bill was preferred against him and ignored. (See Wilts Mag., vol. xiii., p, 272.) Mr. 

 Cary Reynel will be found in Disbrowe's list, both he and Rivers belonged to Binstead, Hants. 



VOL. XV. — NO. XLVIII. 



