By W. W. Ravenhitt, Esq. 



125 



the West was sent Sir Joseph WagstafFe, a jolly boon companion, 

 very popular amongst his own party , a man bold and courageous, but 

 without the qualifications necessary to make him a great general. 

 The readers of Lord Clarendon will recollect him, as doing good 

 service in the West during the three sad years of bloodshed. 



With regard to the propriety of rising just then the friends of 

 the King were by no means united in opinion. 1 His special agents in 

 this Country " The Sealed Knot 33 were against it, as also many of 

 the leading Cavaliers in various parts. And certainly he himself did 

 not take a very hopeful view of matters, as his letters written about 

 this time clearly shew. The day for action, after a rising had been 

 determined upon, was moreover involved in doubt and confusion, at 

 least to the King and those immediately about him. Lord Clarendon 

 tells us the 18th of April, but long ere this the whole affair, pre- 

 cipitated by the Lord Protector, had crumbled to pieces; and some 

 of those who had joined, were already tried, and left for execution. 

 There was certainly an understanding for a rising at Taunton, 

 to secure that and other places ; and in Wiltshire to attack 

 Marlborough, about the 12th or 14th of Feburary, 1655, but owing 

 to the vigilance of the commandants of the various garrisons, 

 notably Colonel Boteler of Marlborough, it came to nothing. 3 

 After that there were meetings of the Cavaliers at Salisbury, and 

 Compton, and elsewhere ; foxhunting, now that horseracing was 

 prohibited, afforded a legitimate object. 3 Sir Joseph WagstafFe 

 arrived, men, arms, and horses were collected, and March the 12th 

 following was fixed as the trysting day. Alas ! one most disatrous in 

 Cavalier annals, for ten years before, it had witnessed the overthrow 

 of Sir James Long and his 400, in the fields and lanes of Melksham. 



On Sunday the 11th, they met in Clarendon Park about 60 strong; 

 there Mr. Mompesson joined them with 40 men. Thence they 



1 3 Clarendon State Papers, 266. 



2 See tipsy Jack Stradling's statement, which caused the arrest of Francis 

 Wyndham and others. 3 Th., 172 & 181. Also letter of information, Feb. 

 11th, 1955. 3 Th., 148. 



3 Horseracing was prohibited by Orders in Council, Feb. 26th, 1655. See 

 Order Book in Record Office. Foxhunting took place the week before the rising 

 at West Knoyle and Ludgershall. 3 Th., 630 & 640. 



