An account of the manner of taking the late Duke of Monmouth, &c. By His Majesties command.

AN ACCOUNT OF THE Manner of Taking the late Duke OF MONMOUTH, &c.

By His Majesties Command.

IMmediately after the Defeat of the Rebels at Bridgewater; on Monday the sixth of July instant; the late Duke of Monmouth, late Lord Grey, and the Brandenburg fled; and coming be∣tween Gillingham and Shaftsbury, got a Guide to lead them the way to the New Forest, most free from Towns and Watches; he led them by White-Sheet four miles East of Shaftsbury, and thence by Cranborne Ch••le; where their Horses being tir'd, they let them loose, and hid their Bridles and Saddle••.

In the mean time, the news of the said Defeat coming to the Lord Lumley, then posted at Ringwood in Hampshire, with three Troops of Horse of Collonel Stapl••es Regiment, commanded by Major Bridger, Captain M••nk, and Captain Peckham; and four

Companies of Foot of Collonel Alfords Regiment, Commanded by Lieutenant Collonel Cooper, Captain Bickely, Captain Best, and Captain Carre, all of the Sussex Militia: His Lordship was pleased to send his Scouts every way to take up suspected persons; and Sir William Portman, for the same end, had taken care for strong Watches to be set, made up of his yellow Coats, and others, on the Roads from Pool to the most Northern Parts of Dorset.

Upon the seventh Instant, about five in the Morning, some of the Lord Lumleys said Scouts (riding in the Road near Holt Lodge in Dorset, four miles West of Ringwood) just at the turn of a cross∣way, surpriz'd and seiz'd two suspected Persons; which (when the Lord Lumley came up) prov'd to be the late Lord Grey, and the said Guide: This put the Lord Lumley upon a strict examining of the Cottages (with which that Heathy Countrey abounds) and call'd in the Neighbourhood that were acquainted with the Coun∣trey, &c. Notice of this being brought to Sir William Portman, by some of his Watches, &c. He hasten'd to the place, with as many Horse and Foot as he could of a sudden get together.

It happen'd upon the Lord Lumley's inquiry amongst the Cot∣tages, that a poor Woman, one Amy Farrant directed his Lord∣ship to an Hedge, where she had seen two men go over; which Hedge prov'd to be part of the out-bounds of very many enclosed grounds; some overgrown by Fearn and Brakes, and others sown with Rye, Pease, or Oats, &c.

Whereupon a strict Guard was put very near one another, round those out-bounds; whilst other Foot and Horse did beat within: These Guards kept their several Posts so well, that though the late Duke, and the Brandenburgh attempted at least thirty times to make their escape out, yet they always found each Guard ready; and upon their last attempt to escape, two of the Troopers Fireing on them, made them immediately to retire, and hide themselves apart from each other, in some of the adjacent Ditches, where they were afterwards found▪

Upon the eighth day by five of the clock in the morning, the Brandenburgh was found; who upon Examination, confess'd, that ••e parted with the said late Duke within the same out-bounds a∣bout

one of the clock that morning: whereupon every individual person being encourag'd thereby, and by the hopes of having a share in the Five thousand pounds (as was before agreed of in the Field) did renew the pursuit of him with the strictest search and diligence imaginable; and about seven of the clock of the same morning, one Henry Parkin (Servant to Samuel Rolles Esq;) hap∣pened to discover the said late Duke hid in a Ditch covered with Fearn and Brakes, and calling to two of the Sussex Troopers that were by him, all three seiz'd him together: Sir William Portman happening to be near that place, rid presently, in, and quieted those that cried Shoot him, shoot him! He laid hands on him as his Prisoner; and so preserved him from all Violence and Rudeness: And immediately in the same instant, the Lord Lumley came in, and agreed that Sir William Portman should search him; which was done, and as soon as they had sound his George, they dispatch∣ed that, with the News to His Majesty by Captain Bickely, and Mr. Chaldecot, a Sussex and Dorset Gentleman.

The Prisoners after this were kept two nights at Ringwood. On Friday the Lord Lumley discharged the Foot there; and with the said three Troops of the Sussex Horse, and one Troop of the Dorset Militia, commanded by Captain Fownes, they were convey∣ed to Winchester, where joyn'd them two Troops of his Majesties in pay, and two of the Northampton Militia Troops, all which con∣ducted them to Farnham Castle upon Saturday the eleventh, and the next day to Guilford, and upon Monday the thirteenth to Fox-Hall, where a Regiment of the Lord Dartmouths received them, with other Troops of his Majesties in pay, and thence by Barge they were carried to Whitehall.

The Papers and Books that were found on him are since de∣liver'd to his Majesty.

One of the Books was a Manuscript of Spells, Charms, and Conjurations, Songs, Receits, and Prayers, all written with the said late Dukes own hand.

Two others were Manuscripts of Fortification, and the Military Art.

And a fourth Book fairly written, wherein are Computes of the yearly Expence of His Majesties Navy and Land Forces.

And as for his Gold; only twenty Guinies were given to the 〈…〉〈…〉d Parkin, and ten Guinies apiece to the two Troopers that first 〈…〉〈…〉z'd and the rest was return'd to the said late Duke.

As the Prisoners passed through Rumsey, Winchester, Farnham, 〈…〉〈…〉d Guilford, one would admire to see the very great numbers ••f 〈…〉〈…〉e Militia, with the Deputy Lieutenants, and Gentlemen of those 〈…〉〈…〉rts, that were ready to guard them, and take off the Fatigue of 〈…〉〈…〉h as were on the march.

Within doors none but Commission-Officers were trusted to 〈…〉〈…〉tch by them; and besides those, the Lord Lumley and Sir Wil∣〈…〉〈…〉m Portman took their turns to watch in person night and day, 〈…〉〈…〉om the time of the taking of the said late Duke, until they had 〈…〉〈…〉livered him safe at Whitehall, from whence he was conveyed to the Tower.

FINIS.