120 Records of the Rising in the West, A.B. 1655. 



Our county histories, and who so rich as we, give scattered notices, 

 or more considered portions of the story ; but the matter appears 

 never to have been treated in all its entirety. With regard to the 

 trials which followed at Exeter, much seemed worth investigating. 

 The only account of any of them that I can discover, and which has 

 been admitted amongst the recognised collections of the State Trials 

 is " The trial of the Honourable Colonel John Penruddock, written 

 by himself." This though penned at a very solemn moment, with 

 all the accurateness, of which his highly religious mind was capable, 

 can scarcely be accepted by the antiquarian, or historian, or lawyer, 

 as conclusive evidence of all that then happened even to him; 

 and he never so intended, as is clear from the postscript to it. An 

 examination of the Thurloe Papers and the law of the land as it existed 

 for those who chose to live under the Protector's government, suggests 

 that Penruddock and his fellows were not the martyrs that the book 

 called "England's Black Tribunal/'' would have us believe. 



Further points in the history of the rising courted inquiry, no- 

 tably the adventures related concerning William Wake, of Blandford, 

 and Robert Duke a relation of the Dukes of Lake — both prisoners 

 at Exeter, and tried at the same assize as Penruddock — wherever 

 the narrative will permit, specially as to facts or documents unpub- 

 lished, or not generally accessible, I shall give the very language of 

 the sources of information. 



From most of our general historians, the rising and its leaders 

 have received little if any attention. But it will be found to contain 

 much that is stirring and picturesque, a page of our county history 

 of no little interest, an interest which principally concentrates itself 

 upon the fates of Penruddock and Grove. 



A few words on the origin and families of both. The Groves 

 migrated to Wiltshire from Buckinghamshire about the middle of 

 the fifteenth century. 1 A century later they were in possession of 

 considerable estates at Shaftesbury, Donhead, and Feme. The 

 present member for South Wilts, who so hospitably entertained 

 the Society on their visit in 1870, is the representative of this branch 



1 Hoare's Mod. "Wilts, Hund. Dunworth, 56 — 58, et pass'. 



