270 



Ancient History of Shaftesbury. 



It was sometimes, it is said, decked with jewelry, borrowed from 

 the neighbouring families, to the value of £2000. 1 



In the civil war of the 17th century, Shaftesbury was occasionally 

 tho scene of minor conflicts. In 1644, Waller being beaten by the 

 Royal forces at Blandford, returned through Shaftesbury into 

 Wilts. In the same year 600 mercenaries, Swedes, Germans, 

 French and Walloons, hired to aid rebellion, under the rebel 

 leaders, Balfour and others, greatly oppressed the country in and 

 about Shaftesbury, raising on the peaceful inhabitants 10s., 20s., 

 and in some cases 60s. a day for their maintenance. Others were 

 fined £300, and some £1000, and if the money was not presently 

 paid they were plundered and made prisoners. All the fat cattle 

 were taken from the neighbouring farms without payment, and the 

 people injured and insulted in various ways. Such are the fruits 

 of rebellion ! In March 1645, Waller again quartered about this 

 town and Gillingham, but " his quarters were beaten up by the 

 loyal Lord Goring three times in less than a week and his numbers 

 lessened near 1000 men." A party called Clubmen about this time 

 declared themselves neutrals, and prepared to resist the passage of 

 the troops of either the King or the rebels through this part of the 

 country. A meeting of the leaders was held at Shaftesbury, but 

 Fleetwood surrounded the town with 1000 men, and seizing fifty of 

 them, carried them to Fairfax, then besieging Sherborne Castle. 

 The Clubmen immediately assembled 10,000 men in arms at 

 Shaftesbury, and posted themselves strongly, fortifying Castle Hill, 

 to command the approach from Sherborne. Neutrals however in 

 such a strife must needs be cowards, so when Cromwell marched 

 against them with only 500 dragoons, followed by 500 more, they 

 were easily persuaded to disperse. In 1672 Shaftesbury was chosen 

 by Anthony Ashley Cooper as the title of the Earldom about to be 

 bestowed upon him by Charles II., in whose family the title still 

 continues. I must not however follow the history of Shaftesbury 



1 This custom has been discontinued since 1830 by consent of the Marquis of 

 Westminster now Lord of the Manor of Gillingham, also the chief proprietor 

 within the borough, and Lord of the manor of Shaftesbury, to save the borough 

 the expense attending the presentation, about £30 on each occasion. 



