240 



The Littlecote Tradition. 



last, enter into a howse in the Towne of Corsham at dynner time with force, 

 and there did murther Captaine Henrie Longe with a pistoll, sittinge at the 

 Table by S r "Walter Longe who also escaped very hardlie ; and slewe also one 

 Barnard a servant of the said S r Walter's waytinge on the Table, and after 

 presentlie toke their horses, and so went their waies thorowe Chipnam ; Because 

 this manner of attempt is very strange, and of dangerous example, Wee are 

 in her Ma ties name to require you to doe yo r best endevor by all meanes, to 

 apprehend so manie of those that were in this Ryottus action as you maie by 

 anie meanes have a notyce of, and to cause them to be comytted and straightlie 

 examined con cernynge the plottand purpose of this fowle attempt and murther. 

 Where yt ys farther informed that a foot-boye of Mr. Henrie Bainton was 

 expresslie sent to see in what sort they were sett at the Table and to bringe 

 worde to the s d S r Charles and his companie of the same, w ch doth argue a 

 pretended purpose in them to comytt that fowle attempt, wee praie you to cause 

 the same Boy to be also apprehended and to be comytted and examined by 

 whome he was sent and to what Intent. And because Her Ma tie ys deserous to 

 be Informed of the Truth of so outragious a fact, Wee require you, Mr. 

 Anthonie Mildmaie, Mr. Snell, and the rest of the Justices and Gentlemen that 

 were at the Table or in the howse at that Tyme when this attempt was made, 

 to certyfie unto us particularly the Truth of the manner of the same ; as you 

 will avowe yt uppon your credytts. And so wee bidd you hartelie farewell. 

 From the Court at Nonesoche the 7th of October 1594. 



Yo r verie lovinge frends 



Jo: Puckering.* 



HUNSDON.f J. WOLLEY. 



(Address) 



" To our verie lovinge freindes the High Sheryfe and 

 the rest of the Justices of Peace in the Countie of Wiltes, 

 And to everie of them. 



/ittlecote Crabitiou. 



)OME time ago an animated discussion appeared in the pages 

 of this Magazine, arising out of an attempt on the part of 

 thlTbte Mr. 0. E. Long to clear the character of "Wild DareH" 

 from the stigma so long affixed to it, by the tradition of which 

 John Aubrey in 1660 was — not the inventor — but only the first 

 preserver. For this purpose Mr. C. E. Long wrote three papers ; 

 viz, in vol. iv., p. 209, vol. vi., p. 201, and ditto 389. He was 

 answered by Mr. Poulett Scrope, under the title of " A Credulous 

 Archseologist," in vol. vii., p. 45. Mr. Long replied in vii., 212. 



* Sir John Puckering, Secretary of State. 

 + Henry Carey, Baron Hunsdon, first cousin (maternally) to Queen Elizabeth. 



