52 Records of the Rising in the West, A.D. 1655. 



perhaps en route at the Attorney- General's beautiful old mansion. 

 Ford Abbey, at that time undergoing violent alterations. 



The country seals of leading actors on the great stage of public 

 life, commonly excite much interest, even if they do not possess 

 agreeable associations. The omniverous tourist hurries thither, to 

 view the chosen spot, one probably of great natural beauty ; the 

 house a triumph of architecture, and perchance of good taste, whatever 

 its size or pretensions, with its paintings, its sculptures, or other 

 objects pleasant to look upon ; the gardens with their parterres of 

 flower and shrub, their groves and lawns, here and there disclosing 

 lake or stream, either in distance, or sudden propinquity — all ad- 

 mirably planned for society or solitude. And then in his mind's 

 eye, if past realization, he endeavours to look upon the great man 

 or men of the place, how they walked and talked, surrounded by a 

 charming family circle, or a band of admirers, or those distinguished 

 in literature or art. But whilst we are looking upon the tourist, we 

 find ourselves attracted, and peering into the scene with an honest 

 desire to know all we ought. 



Now Ford Abbey cannot claim any historical or literary association 

 from its connection with the great Attorney-General of the Common- 

 wealth ; yet one would not get a true idea of the man and his times, 

 if it were altogether passed by ; for in the immense alterations 

 which were carried out there during his possession, it is easy to 

 trace somewhat of both. 



Ford Abbey is about four miles from the old assize town of Chard, 

 twelve miles from Mr. Prideaux's borough, Lyme Regis, near 

 to Netherton, his old home. 1 He bought it the year he became 



1 Mr. Prideaux was elected for Lyme Regis, 15 Charles I., 16 Charles L, and 

 6 Charles IT. (1654). He was the younger son of Sir Edmund Prideaux, Bart., 

 of Netherton, in the parish of Farway, four miles east of Honiton. His brother 

 Sir Peter Prideaux, was the author of the lines on the founder of the Bodleian 

 Library at Oxford. — See Prince's Worthies of *Devon. The future Attorney- 

 General was, on May 14th, 1616, specially admitted gratis to the Inner Temple, 

 at the request of his father, who was a Bencher, and had been Treasurer of that 

 Society in 1608. He is there described as double Reader of the House, an 

 office he held though not a member of it. He was called to the Bar, November 

 23rd, 1623, and made a Bencher, May 1st, 1642. (Inner Temple Books.) 



