By W. W. Ravenhill, Esq. 



61 



first. A Diviue and a Physician are used at the same time. Being therefore 

 incouraged from the character we have received of your eminent piety which 

 above all outward actions inclines the heart to mercy and deeds of charity. And 

 considering how improbable it is that so many persons of Honour, Interest a»d 

 Merit should be denyed any request, we presume to make these humble addresses 

 to y r . Honours, that you will be pleased to become Intercessors, to the Lord 

 Protector on our behalfes either by letter or otherwise, as y r . Honours shall thinke 

 fit. Nor yet can we thinke our inconsiderable lives in themselves of moment 

 sufficient for y r . trouble ; but when we shall lay before you the ruine of so many 

 tender and Innocent relations, whose dependence is solely upon our lives, and 

 are too too (sic) numerous to be made miserable by our deaths, we cannot des- 

 pair of bowels of compassion in you. We dare not prescribe rules ; but if we 

 may not be thought fit to live in this Commonwealth, we hope at least we may 

 be suffered to spend the remainder of our dayes in her defence (together with 

 the rest of Christendom) against the too powerful and common enemy, the Turke. 

 And when it shall be considered that the satisfaction of no man's death lies upon 

 us, that none of our brothers blood does cry for ours (and withall that we had 

 upon Capitulation, the protection of the sword for our lives which we doe but 

 touch with the top of our rod,) we hope we shall not appear subjects for nothing 

 but vengeance. And y r . honours favours shall not be cast away, nor ever 

 bestowed upon men, that can more value and set higher prices upon them than 



Your honours' most humble servants 



Exeter Gaole, April 26 1655." 



In these first days after sentence they cannot believe it will be 

 carried out. Twenty-six condemned at Exeter alone. They were, 

 so they thought, worthy of regard from their numbers and station ; 

 as they had taken no lives, could their lives be sacrificed? Then 

 there were the poor widows and orphans, " too too many 33 to be 

 deprived of their solace and help. Justice and mercy were both in 

 their favour. It is said by Mr. Izaak in his History of Exeter, that 

 they received much kindness and sympathy from the people of that 

 city during their imprisonment, which must have cheered them. 

 But they had hopes from other sources, Mrs. Penruddock and 

 her children had gone to London to seek pardon, by every possible 

 means, if necessary, even at the feet of the Lord Protector himself. 



The Commissioners may have lingered for a day with the Attorney 

 General at Ford, but certainly not more, for 



" Londinium longae finis chartaeque viajque," 

 was reached by the 1st of May. 



We read in the Perfect Proceedings May 3rd : — 1 



" May 2nd, — This day the term begun, and all the Bcnchs satin Westminster 



1 K. P s , Sm. Qto., 642. 



