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



other parts. By the 17th they reached Wincanton and received 

 intelligence of the rout of their opponents. Thence Boteler returned 

 to Wilts. 



His Highness had received intelligence of what had happened at 

 Salisbury with more than ordinary speed, and gave orders, as was 

 his wont, to seize all the horses in the public stables in London and 

 Westminster. 1 The news reached him the very day of the Rising, 

 for we find the following orders to General Disbrowe, his brother- 

 in-law, which mention the seizure of the Judges as a thing of the 

 past. They are dated March 12th. 



The Protectors instructions to General Di&browe, in Secretary Thurloe J s 

 handwriting * 



u Whereas there is an insurrection in the west by the Cavaliers who have 

 armed themselves, and seized upon the judges of assize at Salisbury, and proceed 

 on to commit other violences and outrages upon the people ; you are therefore 

 to repair with your regiment into the west, and to take into your charge and 

 conduct the troops of Colonel Berry, now in the west, the two troops of Colonel 

 Twisleton's, whom we have ordered from Chichester to join with you, and also 

 all other forces both horse and foot in the western Countries. And you shall 

 use your best endeavoures to prosecute the said Cavaliers in whatever parts of 

 the nation they shall go; and to suppress them; and also to put the said 

 counties into the best posture of defence you can ; for which purpose Commissions 

 are herewith delivered unto you ; and all commanders and officers of the said 

 forces are hereby required to observe such orders, as you shall give them, and to 

 obey your commands according to the discipline of war. And all justices of the 

 peace, mayors, bailiffs and all other officers and ministers, are required to be 

 aiding and assisting to you ; and are hereby required to f?ll up every troop in 

 your regiment ; to a hundred in each troop ; and you shall give the same orders 

 to all other the troops aforesaid ; and you are also to seize and secure all persons 

 which you shall judge dangerous to the peace of the nation, and search their 

 houses for arms, and to seize their horses for the use of the state, Given at 

 Whitehall the 12th of March 1654 (5). 

 To our right trusty and right well beloved 



Counsellor General Disbrowe, Major General 

 of the West. 



Disbrowe made all speed to win the honour of subduing the 

 Western Cavaliers, and left London with his forces early on Tuesday. 

 On the following day he wrote to the Protector 2 



1 Weekly Intelligencer, March 20th, 1654 (5). 



*3Th. 221. 



2 Ibid, 247. 



