By W. W. BavenMtt, Esq. 



133 



children. Take all that and then pay the maker.* John herewith salutes all 

 his friends, servants and acquaintance. Pray advise with my uncle Bowman, 

 and desire Mr. Marty nf to attend you in this business. My dear love, once more 

 I beseech thee, do not make myself and my poor children more unhappy by 

 afflicting thyself for me. I have been used in the school of affliction ; and have 

 learned in what estate soever I am to be therewithall content. Give my friends 

 evermore my unfeigned respects. Deliver my blessing to my poor children, 

 seconded with your own. To close up all, take my unfeigned love to yourself 

 from Dear Heart 



From no worse place Your loving husband where'er he is 



the Exeter Gaol Jo. Penkuddock." 



this 17 th day of March 

 1654 (5). 



The above is from the original in Colonel Penruddock's own hand- 

 writing, which is still preserved amongst the family papers at Compton. 



Thus to its bitter end have I traced the rising, and now not 

 staying to discuss the dissensions or conduct of its leaders, let us 

 turn back upon its ill-omened course and see what steps were taken 

 by the Government "in London, or its friends in the country, to 

 suppress it. And first of the latter as being nearer to the scene 

 of action. News of what had happened, came probably on Monday 

 night to that very faithful friend of His Highness, Colonel Boteler, 

 stationed at Marlbrough. He was in the saddle early the next 

 morning, and with his troopers hastened over the plain to Salisbury. 

 He reached it some time that day. On the following, at 9, a.m., 

 when on the point of starting for Shaftesbury, he wrote to the Pro- 

 tector, and to General Disbrowe, the latter of whom was advancing 

 from London, to tell them of his movements. We smile over the 

 " freely adventuring " himself in his letter to the former, as con- 

 trasted with his cautious postscript, and its happy fortune of finding 

 a very probable opportunity to fall upon the enemy. 



But the letter best portrays its writer. 



* l May it please Your Highnesse { 



This morning Col Dove is come hether from the enemy upon his parole ; 

 he left them neere Evill (Yeovil), and saith, he thinks them to be above 300 in 

 number. Now, my lord, though I know twould be of sadd consequence, if wee 



*A word follows "maker " of which the first letter is hlotted. Itlookslikc "John is," or "Thomas." 

 + The Chaplain at Compton. 

 t 3 Th. 243. 



