&54 Records of the Rising in the West, A.I). 1655. 



mute, and not to acknowledge the jurisdiction. Sir, the post hastens, which 

 makes meo thus hastily scribble. 



Begging your honour's pardon, I humbly rest, 



Your honor's most humble 



The High Sheriff for Devon that year was Sir John Copplestone, 

 a zealous friend to the Protector. He supported the dignity of his 

 great and wealthy county with ample generosity ; and as Dove, 

 High Sheriff of Wiltshire appeared with his retainers at Exeter, we 

 have it recorded, that the liveries of " the men of Devon " were the 

 smartest, as of course they should have been. 1 Moreover he entertained 

 the Judges and His Highnesses counsel "very gallantly."" 2 He appears 

 also to have spared no expense in fitting up a Court in the Castle, which 

 was used then for the first time ; before its existence the Circuit Order 

 Book speaks of the assizes as having been held " att the Gaole Garden."" 

 There is in Jenkin^s History of Exeter a plan of the city, as it was 

 somewhat before those days, drawn, " so he says/"' from Leland's 

 description of it. In this the gaol is placed a short distance to the 

 right of the street leading from the High Street to the Castle, 

 (Castle Street) and close under the exterior walls of the rampart. 

 Some court-house there was no doubt, in the garden adjoining this 

 gaol, which had been used till that occasion. 



The entry in the Circuit Book is as follows : — 



" Devon. Att the Commission of Oyer and Terminer and general gaole 

 delivery of the county aforesaid holden for the county aforesaid att the Castle 

 of Exeter in the same county the Eighteenth day of April, 1655. Before John 

 Lisle one of the Commissioners of the Great Seale of England, and Henry 

 Rolle Cheife Justice assigned to hold pleas before the said Lord Protector in the 

 Upper Bench, Westminster, Robert Nicholas one of y e Barrons of y e publique 

 Exohequer, John Glynne, y e serjeant to y e said Lord Protector, and Wm. Steele, 

 Serjeant at Lawe and Recorder of y e City of London. 



Ffor the halle in Exeter Castle. Whereas it appeareth to this Court That the 

 High Sheriffe of this County hath disbursed a great some of money amountinge 



to the some of or upwards for to prepare a halle in the Castle of Exceter 



fittinge for the assizes and Quarter Sessions to be kept. This Court doth there- 

 fore desire, the Justices of y e peace of this County, att their next Quarter Sessions, 

 to take some speedy course for the repayment of such monies, as the high sheriffe 

 hath disbursed as aforesaid, by the Inhabitants of the whole County, or by such 

 other meanes as they shall think fittinge." 



Exceter, April*16, 

 1655. 



and obedient servant, 



James Nutlet. 



Perfect Proceedings, May 3rd, 1655. 



2 Ibid. 



