during the Great Rebellion. 



309 



though the place was thus taken by assault, no plunder was allowed, 

 and not a sixpence exacted of the townsmen. 



It was not always so : Chipprenham suffered severe exaction all 

 through the war. At one time came down an order in his Majesty's 

 name from Devizes for an immediate subsidy of £50 or £100. 

 Mr. Bailiff had no sooner wrung the sum out of the pockets of the 

 impoverished burgesses, than some fierce captain, perhaps Devereux 

 in person, from the Malmesbury garrison, galloped into the 

 trembling town, with a peremptory summons that by a given hour 

 a body of troopers, well-mounted and well-armed, should meet 

 him in the market-place, for the service of the Commonwealth. 

 Pikes, firelocks, armour, ammunition, hay, corn, food, money, 

 horses, men, had often to be provided at an hour's notice ; and a 

 sudden and heavy penalty followed, in case the supplies were not 

 forthcoming. The townsmen of Chippenham made no marked 

 demonstration on either side : plundered alike by Cavalier and 

 Roundhead, they seem to have suffered in silence. It fared ill 

 both for town and country ; for soldiers must live, and might was 

 right, and neither friend or foe was much troubled with scruples 

 about the privileges of property. 



But though these local and spasmodic movements in favour of 

 the King, were often crowned with brilliant success, as they were 

 executed with indomitable hardihood, the arms of the Parliament 

 were triumphant throughout the kingdom. Bristol fell, and all 

 the west with it. Cromwell advanced upon Devizes with a park 

 of heavy guns and mortars, and Devereux from Malmesbury once 

 more laid siege to Lacock. After two days of unintermittent fire, 

 Sir C. Lloyd surrendered Devizes Castle on honourable conditions, 

 and Boville, almost at the same time tendered to Fairfax an offer 

 for the capitulation of Lacock ; he allowed that many of his men 

 had deserted, and requested that the few left who were chiefly 

 gentlemen, might march out with their arms; " and if you cannot 

 allow that honour to all (added the brave cavalier) exempt myself 

 alone, and give it to the rest — and if the greatness of your power 

 deny this, I can die handsomely." Fairfax generously assented to 

 the terms, and came down from Devizes to receive in person the 



z2 



