178 Records of the Wising in the West, A.D. 1655. 



The following examination, which relates to Mr. Willoughby, is 

 so graphic a picture of country life in the seventeenth century, 

 that it will be read with interest. 1 



"The examination of Richard Rowe of Homisham [Horninsham] in the 

 County of Wilts, Turner, saith, 



That he was invited by Esquire Willoughby of West nowell in the said 

 county, to come to his house to make trench ards &c. about which worke he 

 was employed for about 2 months or a quarter of a year before the rising at 

 Salisbury ; in which time about 14 days before the said rising, he observed a 

 meeting of diverse gentlemen, at the said Mr. Willoughby's house to hunt the 

 fox, which meeting continued for the space of a week, as he remembreth. He 

 saith, they hunted the fox in the day time, and danced in the night, having a 

 fidler with them. He further saith, that most of them wore swords at the said 

 meeting. The names of the gentleman are as followeth : Captain Butler of 

 Henley in the County of Dorset, and his brother ; Mr. Hollis of Moncton in the 

 County of Dorset ; Mr. Langford in the County of Dorset; Mr, Hide of Hatch 

 in the County of Wilts ; Mr. Green, junior of Meere in the County of Wilts, 

 in the late rebellion at Salisbury ; Mr. John Murvin of Portwood (Pertwood) in 

 the County of Wilts ; Mr. Dorrington of East Burton in the Parish of Meere. 

 He further saith, that he observed the said Captain Butler, Mr. Edward Hide, 

 and Mr. William Stowerton (Stourton), son of the Lord Stowerton (Stourton), to 

 have been severally at the said Mr. Willoughby's house at other times a little 

 before the saide hunting match. This Examinate further saith, that the said 

 Mr. Willoughby bought a very lusty white stone horse, of a great price, with 

 cropt ears, a month or six weeks before the rising, which we heard say 

 was to be rode at the hunting match. But this Examinate did not observe, that 

 the said horse was rode by any body at the said hunting match. This Exami- 

 nate further saith, that the said Mr. Willoughby and his wife, sent* with Mr. 

 Green senior, of Meere, and his wife rode upon the Sabbath day to Salisbury, 

 the day before the rising there. He saith further, that the said Mr. Willoughby 

 was tried for his life, as being one of the risers at Salisbury. He saith that the 

 great stone horse was from home during the time of the rising at Salisbury, for 

 two or three days ; and that Mr. Willoughby who came home on Monday at 

 night, the day the rising was (with a sword by his side) did not ride home on 

 the same horse ; but the same horse came home on the night following ; and 

 whether Mr. Willoughby and his wife rode him to Salisbury, he knoweth not. 

 This Examinate further saith, that he was invited by Mr. Willoughby, to come 

 to his house the evening before the rising at Salisbury, being the Sabbath day, 

 upon pretence to go along with him to look upon trencher- work early the next 

 morning, some twelve miles off. And this Examinate coming accordingly, Mr. 

 Willoughby was gone to Salisbury two hours before he came ; whereupon this 

 Examinate set up his horse in the Stable, and the same night the groom ran 



*3 Th., 630. 

 This word is superfluous. 



