By JF. JF. Ravenhill, Esq. 



177 



The only evidence against him was that he had been with the 

 risers at Blandford — for I pass by the story of James Tracey, the 

 tallow-chandler of Mere, about the mysterious messenger arriving 

 at Mr. Willoughby's house, on the Friday before the rising, with 

 a letter for Richard Green the younger. Mr. Willoughby explained 

 that after the Cavaliers had left Salisbury, his mother-in-law induced 

 him to follow them and endeavour to bring her son back, that he 

 overtook them at Blandford, failed in his object, and returned that 

 night to his house. 1 The authorites did not know then what they 

 knew afterwards, that the kind old man had again ridden after the 

 Cavaliers very fast, and near Sherborne rejoined them, 2 with the 

 same object, and succeeded ; for we read in the humble petition of 

 Richard Green, of the Middle Temple, gent, which was addressed to 

 His Highness, the beginning of April, 1655, that he left the risers 

 near that place : — 



" Sheweth 



that at Sarum your petitioner being seduced in to the late unhappy engagement 

 against the public peace of your Highness's Government of this Commonwealth 

 but being truly sensible of the evil of such proceedings, withdrewe himself 

 from the party of [off i.e., near] Sherborne upon monday night and voluntarily 

 delivered himself a prisoner to Major Hansey submitting to your highness's 

 mercy for this your petitioner's first offence."* 



We may feel sure that this was the motive of Mr. Willoughby's 

 second journey to the risers, disclosed by Mr. Kitson of Bishopston 

 for the first time in the following summer. 3 



Whether Green heard of St. Loe's surrender, and distrusted him, 

 we cannot tell, (St. Loe mentioned his being at the great meeting 

 at Salisbury) ; for some reason he wisely escaped from Major 

 Hansey ; and was not forthcoming in the day of judgment. Mr. 

 Willoughby was liberated, but his enemies were still hunting him 

 some months later. 4 I rejoice to say their efforts were in vain, 

 non obstante Farmer King, of Maiden Bradley, who revived the old 

 story of his being at Blandford ; and the information of the above- 

 mentioned Mr. Kitson. 



J 3 Th., 378. 2 Ibid, 648. 3 Ibid, G48 



•Ibid, 332. 



VOL. XIII. NO. XXXVIII. 



4 Ibid, ^30 and 648. 



O 



