Records of the Rising in the West, A.D. 1655. 253 



assizes held July 13th, 1670. (22 Car. II.) The order quotes a 

 presentment by the Grand Jury of the County on the 14th of July 

 in the preceeding year. 



" That Pophain's Bushes, or Hunt's Bushes on Popham's Beacon, were a har- 

 bour for Robbers, and that the said Bushes were near to the great highway 

 leading out of the West towards London. That Mr. Hunt the proprietor should 

 be advised, by the Constable of Micheldever, to cut them ; and in default of his 

 doing so, he was ordered to attend the next assizes, and answer why he had not." 



But to return, somehow or other, by the 18th of April, 1655, all 

 the Commissioners arrived at Exeter, except Mr. Justice Wyndham ; 

 who perhaps thought that his labours at Salisbury entitled him to 

 repose. He apparently never was there at all, and did not rejoin 

 the circuit till Chard. 1 



The sedulous Mr. Nutley had preceded the Judges, and gives the 

 following account of his doings to Mr. Secretary Thurloe : — 2 



" Maie it please you, Sir, 



I came from Sarum to Exceter this morning, the Judges intending to 

 bee here tomorrow. Since my comeing hither, I have spoken with the high 

 sheriffe of this county, whome I finde very active in this service. Hee told 

 mee, that on fryday night last, (April 13 th ) after Penruddock came into the 

 prison, the prisoners had agreed together to make an escape, and to breake 

 through the guards that night ; but hee by the tymely intelligence given to 

 him, doubled the guards, and prevented that designe. I have spoken with sev- 

 erell persons since I came to towne, who are fit to be used as witnesses, and doe 

 believe the evidence will be cleare against them here. I suppose Mr. Serjeant 

 Glynne will give the charge here, and manadge the bussinesse in the Court, which 

 may very much advantage the service. It might have been manadged better at 

 Salisbury. Mr. Attorney-General intends to lodge here at one Mr. Snowe's 

 house, an Alderman of this city.* I lodge at one Mr. Westlake's house, the 

 towne Clerke of Exceter, who tooke diverse Examinations of the prisoners and 

 witnesses, and is very useful in the service. If Harrison or Turner come hither, 

 I shall be carefull to observe their action, and to give your honour speedy notice 

 of it. The high Sheriffe also tells mee, that one Bennet a prisoner told him, 

 that Penruddocke and the rest of the prisoners had agreed together to stand 



1 Attorney -General's Letter, 3 Th., 398. In a former one he mentioned 

 Mr. Justice Wyndham as purposing to rejoin them at Exeter ; in this he says 

 nothing of his presence there, though ho speaks of that of the other Judges, 

 u Mr. Justice Wyndham is expected to meet us at Chard." 



2 Ibid, 381. 



•Scarcely the M.P. for Exeter in the Long rarlianicnt ; Mr. Nutley would inentiou it. 



t2 



