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



on condition their lives should be spared. Who these were is 

 uncertain. Penruddock and Grove both afterwards asserted they 

 were amongst the number; but this Crook always denied, de- 

 claring the parol articles of surrender extended only to William 

 Wake, two brothers named Collier, and two other inconsiderable > 

 men 1 who had held a house against him for four hours. It may be 

 Crook prevaricated; it may be, and what more likely, that in the 

 darkness and confusion, there was some misunderstanding. It must 

 not be forgotten in judging him that Penruddock in the letter which 

 he wrote to his wife shortly after, makes no direct mention of them. 

 He can scarcely then have thought them of so much importance as 

 he appears to have done at his trial. In all 60 or 70 were arrested, 

 Penruddock and Grove, his cousin, Edward Penruddock, Jones, and 

 others. 



What a night of horrors must that have been to the quiet souls 

 of South Molton ! Ere it had passed, Crook wrote the following 

 account of what happened to the Protector : — 



' 4 May it please Your Highness * 



Yesterday morning, being Tuesday, I marched with my troop to 

 Huninton (Honiton) being 15 miles eastward from Exon with intention to stop 

 the enemy from coming further westward ; but gaining intelligence that they 

 were coming that way, and that they would be too strong for me, I made my 

 retreat to Exon ; the next morning I understood they were in their march for 

 Cornwall ; and in order thereunto, they were come to Collumpton, within 10 

 miles of Exon, I heard they were much tyred, and their number 200, and 

 therefore imagined, that if they should gain Cornwal it might be prejudicial ; 

 I was resolved to hazard all that was dear to me, rather than let them have 

 their end, and therefore marched towards Collumpton with only my own troop, 

 I had no more for this service, but when I came near to that place, I understood 

 they were then marched to Tiverton whither I pursued them with all speed, but 

 there mist them also, but received information, that from thence they were gone 

 to South Molton, twelve miles further, still in order for Cornwal ; thither I 

 resolved to follow them, they took up their quarters about seven of the clock 

 this night, and by the good providence of God, directing and assisting me, I 

 beat up their quarters about ten of the clock ; they disputed it very much with 



1 3 Th., 281. No mention is ever made of written articles. There would be 

 even then the further consideration of Crook's power to make them. 



• " Letter to His Highness the Lord Protector from Captain Unton Crook signifying the totall 

 Defeat of the Cavaliers in the West under the Command of Sir Joseph Wagstaffe. Published by 

 His Highness special Commandment. London Printed by Henry Hills & John Field Printers to His 

 Highness 1G54 (5). Date written by Mr. Thomason upon it March 17th. King's Pampleta." 



