By W. W. Ravenhill, Esq. 



187 



he knowes noe more ; but having your positive order to proceed against him, 

 wee cannot yet resolve what to doe. Wee knowe hee was the first that came 

 in, and a very honest man of this town, that hath been active and faithfull, is 

 very pressing to preserve him, declaring that he thinkes himself partly engaged, 

 and the other hath merited, in that he hath discovered a greate number of 

 pistolls and other armes, which hee thinks were designed for mischief, and by 

 his only means hath gotten them into his possession.* 



This no doubt was his staunch friend, Mr. William Eyre, of 

 Salisbury, who wrote a letter (April 15th, 1655,) on his behalf to his 

 friend Mr. Philip Edes, to his lodgings at Whitehall, which the 

 latter presented to Thurloe. 1 



" Grood.Mr. Edes [it commences] and I should not trouble you but &c." 



It tells Mackes' story that he did not join till some time after 

 they had left Salisbury and was with them but three hours ; then 

 returned and discovered the weakness and confusion of the enemy. 

 That he (Eyre) gave notice of these things to the judges then in 

 town, and with their approbation he sent him to my Lord. To 

 whom he confessed all he knew and received His Highnesses gracious 

 protection of person and property. But the Sheriff of Wilts hated 

 him, perhaps because he had not made him the medium for petitioning 

 His Highness ; or told him about the repository of arms at Salisbury. 

 Must a man be sacrificed to spleen ? He was willing, if ought more 

 could be proved against him, to die the worst of deaths. The 

 Cavaliers rejoiced, good men were sad at his misery. He the first 

 to submit and confess ! 'Twas t^e way to make men desperate. He 

 prayed him to do what lay in him, to further their brother Hulye's 

 (Hely's) undertaking, in that most righteous suit. 



The newspaper Perfect Account April 15th, 1655, says that 



" Mr. Mackes apothecary is one of the oondemned, but many of the inhabitants 

 of Salisbury are interceding for a reprieve for him." 



Perfect Proceedings, Thursday, April 19th, says 



" Maoke the apothecary pleaded guilty and hath so ingeniously confessed and is 

 so penitent that the County are very active to beg his life. 



Amongst Mr. Thomason's Collection is a pamphlet called 



* 3 Th„ 373. 



1 Ibid, 380. 



