58 



Murder in the Seventeenth Century. 



hours were spent in fireworks after which each Loyal Soul betook himself to his 

 home, when the musick of the bells brought quiet rest.* 



" And thus ended this joyfull day, for which I shall dayly pray to the Almighty 

 to continue us thankfull hearts, and that his sacred Majesty may have a long 

 and prosperous reign, that his friends may dayly aid him and all his Enemies 

 may be confounded, concluding with the words of our Loyal Minister, God Save 

 the King, and let all the people say ' Amen.' These shall be the never ceasing 

 prayers of his Majesties meanest yet very loyal subject till Death. 

 *' Bath, April 24th 1661. "Wm. Smith. 



Postscript. 



" Sir, 



"At the writing hereof the Bells were ringing, the Drums beating, and Guns 

 shooting off, the crowns and wreaths on the end of the Lyon upon the Cross in 

 the King's Bath. But all this will end in a short time, but our Loyalty not 

 till Death. 



<c Sir, your very humble servant, 



" William Smith." 



Another eighteen months passed, during which folks at Chipping 

 Campden would hear of the King's marriage, May, 1662, with 

 the Princess Katharine of Portugal, and in the following autumn, 

 or perhays a year or two later — for the exact date is not given — 

 Mr. Harrison returned to his home ! He had not been murdered. 

 Oh ! poor J oan and Richard Perry ! 1 



* Ford's letters. The night began to participate of our mirth.which we entertained with bonefires, 

 and flying firearms, prepared by certain persons, sent for that purpose fr. Hristoll who excellently 

 well performed their undertakings for several hours, all being done the people civilly dispersed. 

 Next day the soldiers were letting off their powder all that was left, marched about the city giving 

 several vollies of shot. 



1 The account published by authority many years afterwards contains at the end 

 some observations. From these it appears that the account Mr. Harrison gave of 

 the matter was doubted, and some believed his story was false, and that he never 

 left England, but that it was certain that the Perrys were hung for a murder they 

 had never committed, and that Mr. Harrison was absent from his home near two 

 years. This would place the date of his return in the summer or early autumn 

 of 1662. Mr. Harrison states that he was put on board ship on Sunday, 19th 

 August, having been kidnapped the previous Thursday, that he remained six 

 weeks on that ship, and was then removed to a Turkish vessel whilst on the 

 high seas, and stayed there for an unknown period. He landed at Smyrna, 

 and was for one and three-quarter years with the physician to whom he was sold. 

 Then on his death he escaped and got a passage to Lisbon, and immediately 

 after reaching that port was, by the kindness of an unknown friend, sent to 

 Dover. There would be increased intercourse with England owing to Charles II. 

 marrying the Portuguese Princess. This account appears to substantially agree 

 with the statement that he was absent from home for two years. There was a 

 rumour in after years that his son had him carried off that he might get his 

 stewardship, but of this there is no proof. 



