Antiquities of the city of Exeter collected by Richard Izacke ...

Regna Regum 7. Charles the 2. An. D. 1655.

Mayors and Bayliffs

• Nicholas Broking
  • Bernard Bartlett
  • Bernard Sparke
  • John Mayne
  • Thomas Crispin

Several Persons of Quality for their Loyalty in proclaiming Charles the Second, King of England, &c. at Southmolton in the County of Devon were taken Prisoners, brought hither, and so confined to the High Gaol, where they were often visited, their wants supplyed, and plentiful provisi∣on daily made for them by the honest In∣habitants of this City and County adjacent. Commissioners of Oyer and Terminer shortly thereafter coming hither for the Tryal of the said Prisoners, who being found guilty of High Treason, John Penruddock and Hugh Grove, both of the County of Wilts, Esquires, were in the Castle beheaded, o∣thers of them were executed on the Gal∣lows at Hevitree, two or three reprieved, and the rest banished the Kingdom, and sold for slaves. After their condemnation they sent this ensuing Letter after their Judges, which was delivered at Chard, viz.

Ho∣nourable

Sirs, We know that our Redeemer (blessed for ever) hath pulled out the sting of death, and therefore hope we shall never be so little his, as to fear dying; again, we know long life to be one of God's great bles∣sings, and therefore hope we shall never be guilty of the neglect of any lawful means in the acquiring of it, endeavours for the last are no way inconsistent with preparation for the first, a Divine and a Physician are used at the same time, being therefore encouraged from the Character we have received from your eminent Piety, which above all outward Actions inclines the Heart to Mercy, and Deeds of Charity; And considering how improbable it is, that so many Persons of Ho∣nour, Interest and Merit, should be denyed any request, We presume to make these hum∣ble addresses to your Honours, that you will be pleased to become intercessors to the Lord Protector on our behalfs, either by Letter or otherwise, as your Honours shall think fit, nor yet can we think our inconsiderable lives in themselves of moment sufficient for your troubles, but when we shall lay the ruine of so many tender and innocent Relations, whose dependencies are solely on our lives, and are too numerous to be made miserable by our deaths; we cannot despair of Bowels of Compassion in you, we dare not prescribe rules, but if we may not be thought fit to live in this Common-wealth, we hope at last we may be suffered to spend the remainder of our days in her defence, together with the rest of Christendom, against the too powerful and common Enemy the Turk; And when it shall be considered; that the satisfaction of no Man's death lies upon us, that none of our Brothers blood cries for ours, and withall, that we had on Capitulation the protection of the Sword for our lives, which yet we dar•• but touch with the top of our Rob, we hope,

we shall not appear Subjects for nothing but vengeance, and your Honours favours shall not be cast away, nor ever be bestowed upon Men that can more value, and set higher prizes upon them, then

Your Honours most humble Servants. J. P. H. G. R. D. &c.