Communicated by Mr. James TTaylen. 



91 



with his four servants, five horses, and his arms, with his baggage, being two 

 portmanteaus with his own goods, to pass to Hermitage, in the county of Dorset, 

 without any let or molestation, and there quietly to abide, not doing anything 

 prejudicial to the State. Given under my hand this 7th of October, 1645. 



"Oliver Ceomwell." 



" By the Dorset Committee, sitting at Wareham, 29th October, 1645. 



" We do certify that Thomas Hunt of Longstreet in the parish of Enford, 

 Wilts, having been in arms against the Parliament, came voluntarily this day 

 into this garrison and submitted himself to the mercy of the Parliament, by 

 taking the Negative Oath and the National Covenant. 



"Anthony Ashley Coopee, 

 "Robert Butler, 

 14 Feancts Chettell." 



It was in October, 1645, that Cromwell reduced Winchester 

 Castle, Basing 1 House, and Longford Castle. The date of the above 

 (hitherto unpublished) manumissive, granted by the Lieutenant- 

 General, suggests at first sight that Mr. Hunt may have formed 

 part of the garrison of Winchester Castle, which surrendered on 

 the 6th of October, the very day before the signing of Oliver's 

 pass ; and it so happens that one of the articles of surrender on that 

 occasion permitted the officers to carry away with them their horses, 

 arms, and proper goods. But it may be asked, " Is this supposition 

 consistent with the language of his petition, e seeing his error/ &c, 

 as the cause of laying down his arms ? " And if such could hardly 

 be the utterance of one who was a mere prisoner of war, then we 

 must conclude that his surrender had been a personal and indepen- 

 dent act. This is noteworthy as viewed in contrast with the hostility 

 which he afterwards manifested against Oliver's Government, in- 

 ducing him to join in what is known as the Penruddocke rising of 

 ] 654. But his business with the sequestrators must first be noticed. 

 He is seised of a farm at Box, called Wormwoods, worth per annum 

 £40 ; a farm at Longstreet, £60 ; houses and tenements at Wootton 

 Basset and at Westbury, £3 6s. 8d. He craves allowance for a 

 rent-charge of £60 payable annually to his mother (Alice Butler, 

 of Newton, in Dorset), being her jointure. Fine, £310 ; but, 

 allowing for the jointure, then £220. 



This is the house which in 1773 gave birth to the celebrated 



