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Hampshire Chapter 1 | THE Civil War in Hampshire (1642-45) AND THE STORY OF BASING HOUSE BY REV. G. N. GODWIN, B.D.Chapter XXXI Basing House Demolished - Cromwell's Departure - The Captive Marquis - Langford House Surrenders - Satirical Pamphlets - Confiscated Estates - Subsequent events - The King at Carrisbrooke - Royalist Risings - The Captive Monarch - Archives of Winchester - Southampton and Portsmouth Affairs - The Restoration - Death of the "loyal Marquis"(use "control F" to search text) Cromwell strongly urged the demolition of all that had escaped the fury of the spoilers and the flames, saying, " I humbly offer unto you (the Speaker) to have this place utterly slighted (i.e., pulled down) for these following reasons : It will ask about 800 men to manage it ; it is no frontier ; the country is poor about it ; the place exceedingly ruined by our batteries of mortar pieces, and by a fire which fell upon the place since our taking it." Another writer wonders that the defence was so long protracted, as not less than 1000 men were necessary to hold the position. The neighbourhood is " not worth the defence, nor able to support a garrison." All honour to the brave little garrison who fought so long and well. Cromwell added : " If you please to take the garrison at Farnham, some out of Chichester, and a good part of the foot which were here under Dalbier, and to make a strong quarter at Newbury with three or four troops of horse, I dare be confident it would not only be a curb to Dennington (Donnington Castle, near Newbury), but a security and a frontier to all these parts ; inasmuch as Newbury lies upon the river (Kennet), and will prevent any incursion from Dennington, Wallingford, and Farring- don into these parts, and by lying there will make the trade most secure between London and Bristol for all carriages. And I believe the gentlemen of Sussex and Hampshire will with more cheerfulness contribute to maintain a garrison on the frontier than in their bowels, which will have less safety in it." Chichester was, in fact, disgarrisoned on March 2, 1646. Donnington Castle had long been the stout ally of Basing. Sir Marmaduke Rawdon, sometime Lieutenant-Governor of Basing House, was in command at Farringdon, and Wallingford was the last Royalist garrison that surrendered in Berkshire. Cromwell states that he is about to march westward with all speed on the morrow, and asks for recruits, and pay for his army. He concludes his tale of bloodshed and ruin with these words : " The Lord grant that these mercies may be acknowledged with all thankfulness. God exceedingly abounds in his goodness to us, and will not be weary until righteousness and peace meet ; and until He hath brought forth a glorious work for the happiness of this poor kingdom. Wherein desires to serve God and you, with a faithful hand, your most humble servant, Oliver Cromwell." What he asked was done. In the Journals of the House of Commons we find the following entries : " 15th October, 1645. — Resolved, that the house, garrison, and walls at Basing be forthwith slighted and demolished." " Resolved, that this House doth declare that whosoever will fetch away any stone, brick, or other materials of Basing House shall have the same for his or their pains." Of course, when permission had been thus authoritatively given, the ruins were not long in being carted away. The fortifications at Farnham Castle were on October 16 ordered to be " slighted." The Committee of Surrey was on the same day ordered to convoy £20,000 from Kingston-on-Thames to Portsmouth, whence it was to be shipped to the army of Fairfax. The forty horse employed were to receive £50 for their services. It was also decided that orders should be at once sent to Cromwell to attack Donnington Castle. The despatch reached him late that evening at Basing, when all preparations had been made for the morrow's westward march, and he altered not his purpose. The Committee for Hants and Dalbier were directed to co-operate with Cromwell against Donnington, and to decide what portion of Cromwell and Dalbier's forces should be left to protect Hampshire. On October 18 a letter was read in the House from the Committee for Hants, recommending the placing of a garrison at Newbury, as a check upon Donnington Castle, and on the same day it was ordered " That the Marquis of Winchester be forthwith sent a prisoner to the Tower." Action was forthwith taken, and the Marquis, in company with Sir Robert Peake and about sixty other prisoners, was sent up from Basingstoke to London under guard, in the custody of " Captain Terry, who is a person reported to have done many good services," and who on reporting his arrival in London was ordered to receive from the Sheriff of Hants ;^50, wherewith to buy two good horses. Captain Terry probably belonged to a fam.ily long resident at Dummer. On the 25th of April, 1646, he is described as " Captain Terry, of Surrey." The prisoners reached London in the evening hours of Sunday, October 19. The Marquis and Sir Robert Peake, were lodged at the " Swan " inn in the Strand (" Kingdom's Weekly Intelligencer "), and on the following day the House of Lords gave order : "That the Gentleman Usher attending this House shall bring the Marquis of Winchester to this House presently to acknowledge his offence committed against this House, he being taken in arms at Basing House, and then this House will take into consideration how to dispose of him further, and the Gentleman Usher to take him into custody wheresoever he shall find him." The Gentleman Usher had not far to seek, and we read : " This day (October 20th) the Marquis of Winchester was brought to the bar as a delinquent, and the Speaker, by the direction of the House, told him * That for his high offence in desert- ing the Pariiament, and for taking up arms against the Parliament and kingdom contrary to his duty, this House for the present doth commit his Lordship to the Tower of London, there to be kept in safe custody during the pleasure of the House. " " Ordered — That the Marquis of Winchester shall have one of his servants to attend him in the Tower of London." Where, for the present, we will leave the noble master and his faithful servant to talk long and earnestly concerning the fate of stately " Loyalty 1 " " The gallant little garrison was dispersed among gaols and hiding places at home, and the lands of refuge abroad." Sir Robert Peake was sent as a prisoner to Winchester House, and his comrades in adversity were committed to various prisons. William Morgan and Edward Cole, two Roman Catholic priests, were " reserved for the gallows," and " amongst the common soldiers are two that are suspected Jesuits," with whom, doubtless, it fared but badly. Other prisoners were Captains Cufain (p. 95), Tettersall, and Tasborough (Peregrine Tasbury, p. 95), who were all Roman Catholics, and Captains Tamworth, Raisby, Snow ( p. 236), and Payne. Also Lieutenants Hugh Glausie, an Irishman, Francis Massey, William Faithorne (p. 94), Rowlet (p. 95), and Beck. The Beck family held the manor of Woodcote in 1362, and in 1658 Gabriel Beck was M.P. for Andover. Cornet Francis Hide, a Papist, and Ensign Tunstall, of Foot. Some of the Hide family lived at this time at Yarmouth, Isle of Wight. Sergeant Henry Payne bore a well-known Hampshire name, and Sergeants Christopher Kenton, John Light, and Richard Foxall shared his captivity, as did also Quartermaster John Foy and Corporals William Hare, a Papist, and James Ellis. One of the Ellis family rented Tylney Hall, in the last century. " Thomas Web, clerk," seems to have been Hampshire born, but assuredly Humphrey Vanderblin, whose servant, William Smithson, shared his master's fortunes, was a foreigner. Thomas Amtell, Roger Corehara (p. 95), John Weston, and Oliver Lloyd are all described as gentlemen. Lord Winchester's captive servants were " John Goldsmith, Richard Pickover, John Richards, Richard Read, William Eldridge, Robert Hodkins, the baker, a Papist, fifteen Irish rebels and Papists, William Brown, a spy, Edward Pawlet, the hangman, and other common prisoners (p. 207). At dawn on October 15, 1645, Cromwell's trumpets sounded "to horse," and the long columns of the Ironsides marched away from ruined Basing to join General Fairfax at Tiverton. A march of twenty miles brought them to Wallop, where the infantry halted for the night, but Cromwell, having sent off a despatch to Fairfax, made a forced march with the cavalry to Langford House, near Salisbury, where Lieut.-General Pell still held out for the King. On the 17th a summons to surrender was sent to the garrison, and "fair and equal conditions" were speedily agreed upon, Lieut.-Colonel Hewson and Major Kelsey being deputed to act for Cromwell. The garrison marched forth at noon on October 18, delivering up all arms and ammunition uninjured. The " Weekly Account " and the "Kingdom's Weekly Intelligencer" both describe the surrender. The former says that the garrison consisted of 100 men with " good store of ammunition and victuall, but they had no Ordnance mounted." 300 arms, four barrels of powder, bullet, match, and much provision were found in the house, of which Major Ludlow was now appointed Governor. The commanders-in-chief were to march out with horses and arms, other gentlemen, not more than fourteen in number, might march out with swords, pistols, and horses, if they should lawfully possess them, but the soldiers were to march out without arms. The commanders- in-chief were to be allowed a cart or waggon to convey their property to Oxford, ten days being allowed for the march thither under convoy for the first day's march of a troop of horse, and afterwards of a trumpet and pass. Any gentlemen might have passes for other Royal garrisons besides Oxford. Property left in the garrison was to be restored to its owners if demanded within two days. Lieutenant-Colonel Bowles and Major Fry were to remain as hostages for the execution of this agree- ment. Lieut.-Colonel Hewson (Colonel Pickering, according to the "Weekly Account "), who reported the surrender in London, got £50 to buy two good horses. Basing and Langford had fallen, but Donnington Castle was not surrendered until April i, 1646. For details of the siege see Mr. Money's " Two Battles of Newbury." On October 18, 1645, the House of Commons appointed Thos. Bettesworth, jun., as High Sheriff of Hants, and to command the horse raised in the county, and four days afterwards a letter was read from Mr. William Cawley, of Chichester, com- plaining of the difficulty of raising local funds and recruits for the army of Fairfax. On October 24 Sussex was ordered to provide men for the garrison with the county, and to send 2CX) foot to Donnington Castle as previously ordered. Hants was to furnish 500 foot and 200 horse, Surrey 100 foot and 80 horse, and the force was to muster at Basingstoke on October 28. On November 7 the same county was ordered to lend a troop of horse and 200 foot to Major-General Browne, at Abingdon, the Parliament undertaking to pay them. Hampshire was also ordered to at once pay the arrears due for service in Hants to the Kentish Dragoons, who were ordered to march to Abingdon. Sir Henry Wallop, M.P. for Hants, died in October 1645, and most of the members of Royalist sympathies within the county were about this time disabled from sitting in Parliament. Richard Jervoise, Esq., M.P. for Whitchurch, died during this month. The Committees for Hants and Wilts were ordered, on December 23, 1645, to arrest and return to their regiments all soldiers coming from the army without licence. Fairfax's army, when marching to besiege Oxford, came from Salisbury to Andover on April 25, 1646, and proceeded to Newbury after a halt of two days. On March 2, 1646, an order was given " that the ordnance at Chichester be brought to Arundel Castle, that Chichester be disgarrisoned, and the fortifications made since the troubles demolished." A pamphlet was pubhshed in London on October 24, 1645, entitled "A Looking Glass for the Popish Garrisons, as held forth in the life and death of Basing House, &c." It speaks of " the tall walls, bulwarks, and ports that were cast up by the foreign engineer," says that the garrison could make the devil afraid, but could not make Cromwell bow, and that Lord Winchester was taken whilst " numbering his beads very privately in an oven." It taunts the garrison with the loss of all their contribution money and plunder, and says " the nest is now pulled down, the den is committed to the mercy of the fire ; there is scarce one stone left upon another." A satirical writer drew up pretended articles of impeachment for high treason against Sir Robert Peake, in the name of the Attorney-General. The first charge was that he had wilfully betrayed Basing House, " having the fear of nobody but General Cromwell before his eyes." The second charge was that he " with an intention to weaken the King's most excellent irreligious army, did betray into the hands of the rebellious enemy the lives of many of His Catholic subjects, who very like hath neither been at prayer nor confession these seven years." The third charge was that he traitorously surrendered many of the King's " service- able soldiers, and the best affected men in all his garrisons, who have faithfully served his Majesty this long time without pay, and carried themselves very honestly towards the country. They never plundered any man of more than he had, robbed nobody but friends and foes ; were never drunk but when they could get strong liquor; scarce one word in three was an oath with them, though they were in extream passion, or upon any extraordinary occasion whatsoever ; they were ever ready to sally upon the least occasion, when the enemy was the farthest off; and, to speak the truth, I think they would never have yielded had they been sure that the garrison would never have been stormed ; these men being so serviceable, loyal, and valiant, have been betrayed and delivered up into the hands of the enemy by the said Sir Robert Peake, as aforesaid." Lastly, that he had given up money, plate, arm?, &c., "necessarily raised for the deluding of His Majesty, defence of his Catholic Council, maintenance of Popery, and subversion and ruin of the ancient laws and liberties of this kingdom." On these grounds the writer ironically prays that the accused maybe sent to Oxford for trial. Sir Robert Peake was after a time released, and was succeeded in his business as an engraver and printseller by his younger brother. In the year 1662 William Faithorne dedicated to him "The Art of Graving and Etching, wherin is expressed the way of Graving on Copper," &c. Mr. Money says that his name " is attached to many prints and other engravings now rare. He died in July 1667, and was buried with great military pomp in St. Sepulchre's Church, Holborn." He had long been a resident in the parish of St. Sepulchre. The Marchioness of Winchester, who, by her presence and earnest solicitations at Oxford, had brought about the relief of Basing by Colonel Gage, and who had herself helped to cast the lead from the turrets into bullets, could not expect to escape, sister to the Earl of Essex though she was, and accordingly we find the following entry: "Friday, 9th Jan., 1646. To let them (the House of Commons) understand that the Lady Marquess of Winchester is restrained by the Committee of Examina- tions, and that this House (besides she being a Peeress of this Realm) gave her a pass to come to this town ; and this House have now thought fit to commit her to the Gentleman Usher of the House, and desires that she may be delivered unto him accordingly." The pass referred to had been asked for by Lord Winchester on November 11, 1645. He stated that he was in want of many comforts in the Tower, it being winter, and he being "for the present somewhat infirm," and asked that his wife may come to town, bringing with her some servants and certain necessaries. The pass was granted, as above mentioned. The 15th of January discloses a sad state of things. The Marquis in the Tower, "having nothing to feed him but what his keeper voluntarily gives him," is by the Lords recommended to the House of Commons for an allowance out of his own estate, " that he may not starve." All his broad lands had lain under a sentence of confiscation ever since October 18, 1643, since which date a charge of high treason had also been hanging over him. It was further ordered on January 31, 1646, "that Mr. Lisle do bring in an ordinance for the full granting unto and settling upon Lieutenant-General Cromwell and his heirs the manors of Abberston and Itchell, with the rights, members, and appurtenances thereof, in the county of Southampton, being the lands of John, Marquis of Winchester, a delinquent that hath been in arms against the ParHament, and a Papist." In the lands round Basing House it was gradually found that the Marquis had only a life interest. Abberston and Itchell are respectively Abbotstone and Itchen Stoke. These only could be realised towards the £2500 per annum promised to be settled on Lieutenant-General Cromwell. " On January 7, 1646-7, the remainder of the £2500 was ordered to be provided from the Marquis of Winchester's lands in general, which in a fortnight more was found to be impossible." Cromwell and Lieutenant-Colonel Joyce quarrelled about Fawley Park. For Cromwell's management of these lands see Carlyle's " Letters and Speeches of Oliver Cromwell." On September 25, 1646, the estates of the Marquis of Winchester were ordered by the House of Commons to be sold for the purpose just mentioned. On April 3, 1649, a Sessional order was passed to stop damage from being done by unlicensed persons in the woods of the Marquis near Basingstoke. On September 14, 1649, Sir Thomas Jervoise, Kt., was awarded by Parliament £9000 out of the Marquis of Winchester's estate, Sir Thomas having lost £15,000 principally through the Marquis during the war. Peter Weaver, gentleman, got £1500 as compensation for losses and imprisonment by the Marquis. Robert Wallopp, Esq., had £10,000 from the estate of the Marquis, he having lost £50,000 On November 9, 1646, it is a satisfaction to find that Edward Lord Pawlett, brother of the Marquis " who designed to betray Basing House to Sir William Waller, is in such great want that he prays relief out of his brother's estate." Released from the Tower, the " loyal " Marquis retired to the Continent to wait for better days. William Faithorne, the father of the English school of engraving, and the pupil of Sir Robert Peake, with whom he worked for three or four years, and under whom he served at Basing, seems from his portrait, engraved by himself, to have worn long hair after the most approved Cavalier fashion. After the destruction of Basing House he was imprisoned in Aldersgate, where he was soon busy with his graver. Released by the interest of friends, he went to France until 1650, when he returned to England, married, and opened a shop without Temple Bar. He sold engravings, worked for the booksellers, especially for Mr. William Peake, a brother of his old master, became wealthy, and died in May 1691. ("Chalmers' Biograph. Diet.") Hollar escaped to Antwerp, but on the death of his patron the Earl of Arundel returned to England. The Restoration benefited him not, and a mission to Tangier only earned for him;£100 and the barren title of the King's Iconographer. A con- scientious, painstaking artist was he, for more than fifty years, engraving not less than 24,000 plates. He was a good man, but his life was one long struggle for bread, and he died beseeching the bailiffs not to remove him to any other prison than the grave. (" Book of Days," vol. i. p. 432.) Inigo Jones continued to design buildings and to theorise on the origin of Stone- henge until June 21, 1653, when he died at the age of eighty. " Solid " Colonel Ludlow was afterwards Deputy of Ireland, and married Ireton's widow, but strongly opposed the Protectorate of Cromwell. At the Restoration he owed his escape to the Continent to his old friend Colonel Morley, and reached Lausanne, where he narrowly escaped assassination by Cavalier emissaries. Mr. William Cawley, of Chichester, died abroad, and the Duke of York seized his estates. Dr. Fuller, sometime Chaplain to the Forces at Basing House, remained at Exeter until the city surrendered in April 1646. He had his share of the troubles of the time, and was silenced in 1647, but became Rector of Waltham Abbey in the following year. Dying on August 15, 1661, he was followed to the grave by more than 200 clergymen. Colonel Richard Norton, " Idle Dick," lived to receive many a letter and visit at Alresford from his old friend Oliver. He was Governor of Portsmouth, and on April 13, 1647, it was "Resolved that there shall be no officer within any garrison above the rank of captain, but only the Governor." The Governor of Portsmouth was to receive 12s. per diem as Governor and 8s. as Captain, making in all £1. From another entry it seems that the 8s. was drawn by the Governor of Portsmouth as '' Captain of Southsea Castle." The Governors of Carisbrooke and Calshot Castles received 12s. and 5s. per diem respectively. Colonel Norton sat in the Little, or Barebones' Parliament, and was elected a member of the Council of State in the same year. He " dwindled ultimately into Royalism." Colonel Harvey, his com- rade and ally in the first attacks upon Basing (if he be identical with " the poore silk man, now Colonel "), got the Bishop of London's house and manor at Fulham. For a time only ! Sir Marmaduke Rawdon defended Faringdon as successfully as he had done Basing House. Murray's handbook for Berkshire says that his tomb is in the nave of the church, but the Rev. H. Barne, Vicar of Faringdon, said, "there is no extant monument of Sir Marmaduke Rawdon in Faringdon church as far as I can ascertain. There is a tradition that there was one ; but I apprehend that when the church was restored in 1854 it was effaced!" Sir WiUiam Waller was one of the forty-one Presbyterian members " purged out by Colonel Pride, and was imprisoned by the Independent party. He survived the Restoration, and died at Osterley Park, Middlesex, on Sept. 19, 1668," Sir Richard Onslowe, Kt., "of the old stamp, a gentleman of Surrey, of good parts and a considerable revenue," successfully weathered the tempests of the period. Purged out by Pride, he afterwards raised and led a Surrey regiment to Worcester fight in 1653. He spoke strongly in favour of Cromwell's becoming King, but was afterwards a member of the Convention Par- liament which restored Charles II. to the throne. The history of Cromwell all men know. Colonel Dalbier took Donnington Castle, friendly to Basing, on April i, 1646, and in the following year was ordered to bring in a list of persons willing to serve the Parliament, but in 1648 he joined the Royalist insurgents under Lord Holland, wishing to be revenged on the army, which some officers "despised for their ill-breeding and much preaching." The insurrection was speedily crushed, and at an inn at St. Neot's, in Huntingdonshire, Dalbier was hacked in pieces, " so angry were the soldiers at him." There was a Berkshire tradition in 1759 that Dalbier was invulnerable, and that cannon balls were seen to rebound from his body ! His head was struck off and exposed to public view. Sir Balthazar Gerbier, in 1663, con- gratulated Lord Winchester " that Dalbier is no more (nor a prince of the air, save the carcase of his head on a pole), drawing lines of circumvallation about your seats." Lord Goring was brought to trial before the High Court of Justice in 1 648-1 649, and was found guilty of treason. In the House of Commons the numbers for and against his execution were equal, but Speaker Lenthall's casting vote saved the prisoner's life. The Cuffand (Cuflord) family were long famous for their attachment to the House of Stuart, and one of the family refused in 1715 to take the oath of allegiance to Grcorge I. Into the story of the residence in Hampshire of Richard Cromwell, who married Miss Dorothy Major, of Hursley, we have not space to enter, nor does it come within our province. For full details see Carlyle's " Letters and Speeches of Oliver Crom- well," " Duthy's Sketches of Hampshire," &c. One who knew him says, " He was a very good neighbourly man while he lived with us at Hursley." He rode hunting in a tie-wig, and in 1654 took part in the marriage of two of the parishioners of Eling. The loyal High Sheriff of Sussex, Sir Edward Ford, had married the sister of the Parliamentary General Ireton. Dying in Ireland in 1670, his body was brought over to his native parish of Harting, in Sussex, for burial. Sir Robert Wallop, of Hurstbourne, was one of the King's Judges. He was at the Restoration attainted of high treason, and sentenced to be deprived of his gentility and imprisoned for life. This sentence was put in force in January 1662. His lands were forfeited by Act of Parliament, and placed in trust to the Earl of Southampton, for Sir Robert Wallop, his wife, and children. Old Sir Robert begged for freedom more than once, being old and diseased, but Hearst, the physician, certified that exposure to the air would hasten his death, he being weak with long illness. He was therefore not released until his death, in November 1667. His sentence was reversed during the reign of William and Mary, and he was succeeded by his son Henry, who represented Whitchurch in Parliament. Colonel Herbert Morley was one of the King's judges, but did not sign the death- warrant. He met Charles II. when that monarch was a fugitive from Worcester fight, but did not recognise him. The King, on being told who it was, replied merrily, "I did not like his starched mouchates." He, with others, secured Portsmouth in 1659 for the Parliament, and made "incursions into Hampshire and Sussex, where he had many friends," and soon afterwards, marching to Hounslow with some horse, restored it to the Parliament on December 26, 1659. At the Restoration he hesitated long, but at length purchased his pardon for £1000, and died in peace at Glynde, in Sussex, on September 29, 1667, in the fifty-second year of his age. In July 1647 Hants was ordered to pay each month £62 8s. 8d., the Isle of Wight being assessed at ;£208 2s 6 1/4d. On November 29, 1647, a sum of money was at Winchester taken out of the coffers and delivered to Mr. Mayor to pay the soldiers, and 40s. was "expended about the city business in a journey to London concerning the removing of the said soldiers." On June 2, 1648 : "Taken out of the coffers five pounds, which was delivered to Mr. Mayor to go to London about the city business, for which he is to give an account." On November 24, "money was taken out of the coffers to pay Mr. Moggeridge in full of his bill for dressing of maimed soldiers and for ointment." When the King resolved to escape from Hampton Court in company with Berkeley, Ashburnham, and Legge, on November 11, 1647, ^ relay of horses was sent on the day before to Bishop's Sutton. The three fugitives rode south-west through Windsor Forest, and " in the dark, cloudy, rainy night " lost their way for more than ten miles, according to Sir Richard Bulstrode, who adds that they found themselves at Farnham next morning. When they reached the inn at Bishop's Sutton (was it the present " Ship " ?), they found that the Hants Parliamentarian Committee was holding a meeting within. There was nothing for it but to push on, and then followed the memorable council. " Walking down the next hill, and holding our horses in our hands," it was decided that Berkeley and Ashburnham should make their way to Lymington and Carisbrooke to sound Colonel Hammond, while the King and Legge made their way to Titchfield, probably through Warnford and Corhampton, if indeed they did not skirt the hills, being horsemen and riding light, more especially as the King's wish had been " to avoid highways." Which way did Hammond and his boat- load of soldiers come from Carisbrooke to Titchfield ? Did they come up the Meon River to Banner's Bridge, or did they land at Bursledon ? and from which of these places did Charles embark for the Island ? The subject of his imprisonment at Carisbrooke falls not within our scope. At first the hapless monarch evidently endeavoured to persuade himself that he was there because he liked it, as indeed might have been the case under other circumstances, and even when restraint and restriction became pretty obvious, he stiJl kept up a brave outward show of unconcern. " His Majesty is as merry as formerly," runs one account ; a walk of " some six or eight circuits round the Castle wall " followed his attendance at Morning Prayer, and this walk was repeated after the mid-day dinner. He spent much time daily in private, and his conversation was mostly at meals. "Then," says the writer of " Intelligence from the Isle of Wight," he asks news, " particularly con- cerning Ireland, Scotland, the City of London, and the Army. . . . When messengers come from London he asks how his children do, and seems to desire to know what Parliament will do." The allowance for the maintenance of the King, his servants, and guards, was £30 a day, " for," says Lord Wharton, writing to the Governor of the Castle, " it is conceived that ;^io a day will furnish the charge of the King's table ; " the pay of 200 men with their officers would come to £9 more ; 30s. a day was allowed for the Governor's own table, whilst it was considered that £g los. a day would certainly be sufficient ** for extraordinary occasions." Colonel Hammond, whom we have already met at Basing, was the King's gaoler at Carisbrooke, having been appointed Governor of the Isle of Wight, of which his grandmother was a native, on September 6, 1647. He was subordinate to Fairfax in military matters, and to the Parliament in civil affairs. But the longer Charles stayed at Carisbrooke the more impossible it became to blind himself to the fact that the Garden of England was not an Eden but a prison, and that the doings of Parliament boded no good to their nominal head. The Earl of Kent tells Hammond that Charles is in receipt of private intelligence of a dangerous character conveyed to him " by the woman that brings his clean linen," and accordingly four gentlemen are appointed " to watch, in their courses, at the King's chamber door." But in spite of this and of a vote of £1000 for strengthening and repairing the Castle, the King is supposed to have planned his escape, and the Governor receives from London the following details of the project : " The King's escape is designed, the manner thus — By one Napier and a servant of David Murray, whom we take to be the King's tailor, the King is to be drawn up out of his bed- chamber into the room over it, the ceiling whereof is to be broken for that purpose, and then conveyed from one room to another till he be passed all the rooms where any guards are at any doors or windows." When Colonel Hammond dismissed the King's servants at Carisbrooke, Captain Burleigh, who had formerly commanded the King's ship Antelope, of 512 tons burden and 160 men, and had been dismissed when the fleet rebelled against the King, a man of good family in the Island, and who had been Governor of Pendennis Castle, Falmouth, tried to rescue his royal master. He was " a man of more courage than of prudence or circumspection," and causing a drum to be beaten in the streets of Newport, cried, ** For God, the King, and the people," and said " he would lead them to the Castle and rescue the King from his captivity." This rash attempt was at once crushed by the Mayor of Newport and Captain Basket, even the King's servants urging the people to return home, but poor Captain Burleigh was tried at Winchester on January 22, 1648, before Judge Wild, on a charge of high treason, and sentenced to be hanged, drawn, and quartered on February i, 1648. He died nobly, and, to the credit of the county, Brandon, whose nickname was " Gregory," the executioner, was of necessity brought down from London, as no Hampshire man would carry out the sentence. The same Judge, and almost the same jury, which Cavaliers said had been carefully packed, tried Rolph, Osborne, and Doucet, at Winchester, for attempting to withdraw the King from Carisbrooke Castle. Osborne and Doucet wished to set the royal prisoner free, but Rolph is said to have intended to pistol the King. This statement, made by Osborne, is disbelieved by Dr. Gardiner (" Great Civil War," iii. 380). The Grand Jury " found an ignoramus upon the Bill," in consequence of the Judge's direction. (Clarendon, book 1 1). But it was not so easy to escape from the Island as it had been to fly thither. Carisbrooke was only to be exchanged for Hurst Castle, Hurst for St. James's, and St. James's for the scaffold. Not only was Charles I. a prisoner at Carisbrooke, but his daughter Princess Elizabeth died there in captivity on September 8, 1650. She was buried in St. Thomas's Church, Newport, where a beautiful monument by Baron Marochetti was erected by Queen Victoria to commemorate her hapless fate. On November 30, 1648, Colonel Cobbett conducted King Charles under escort to Hurst Castle (p. 6), which is thus described : " This castle stands a mile and a half in the sea, upon a beach full of mud and stinking ooze upon low tides, having no fresh water within two or three miles of it, so cold, foggy, and noisome that the guards cannot endure it without shifting quarters." Colonel Eyre (Ayres), who had seen service in Wiltshire, and had formerly been Lieutenant-Colonel under Colonel Hammond, of whom Firebrace gives a vivid description, here guarded the Royal captive, who was, on December 19, 1648, removed by Colonel Cobbett by way of Lyndhurst, Ringwood, *Romsey, Winchester, Alresford, Farnham, and Bagshot to Windsor. The King on horseback " came through the narrow passage, three long miles well-nigh from Hurst ' to Milford," where an escort of cavalry, then quartered at Lyndhurst, awaited him. " Three miles from Hurst he found a body of horse charged to escort him to Win- chester. Everywhere on his road a crowd of gentlemen, citizens, and peasants came round him. Some of them were sightseekers, who retired after they had seen him pass, without any particular observation. Others deeply interested, and praying aloud for his liberty. As he approached Winchester the Mayor and Aldermen came to meet him, and presenting him, according to custom, the keys and mace of the city, addressed to him a speech full of affection. But Cobbett, rudely pushing his way towards them, asked if they had forgotten that the House had declared all who should address the King traitors. Whereupon, seized with terror, the functionaries poured forth humble excuses, protesting they were ignorant of the will of the House, and conjuring Cobbett to obtain their pardon." The King slept in the Castle, and the next day resumed his journey. Mr. Joseph Butler was the loyal Mayor of Winchester, and the then recent and barbarous execution of Captain Burleigh in that city was amply sufficient to terrify even the bravest of Cavaliers. In the Corporation Records of Winchester we read : " 7th day of March, 1650. Taken out of the coffers and payd to ye Clarke of Lawrance Church for toling ye bell for ye prisoners, 3s. 4d. More to Mr. Holloway for instructing the seven prisoners, 6s. 8d." The Corporation of Winchester had sent the city plate, valued at £58 6s. 3d., and other plate belonging to various citizens, of the value of £300 more, to Oxford for the service of the King. They also lent his Majesty £1000, and had been several times plundered by the Parliament party, and the Castle and divers houses of great value by them demolished. After the city had surrendered to Cromwell a forced contribution of ;^I400 was exacted by the victors, so that the city could not maintain the 200 poor families within the walls. On November 5, 1652, the sum of £5 was paid to Mr. Richard Purdue in full of all monies lent by him to Sir William Waller for the service of the State. On December 19, 1651, payment was made to Mr. Thomas Muspratt, the ex-Mayor, of 20s., " which was laid out by him in the business between the city and Sir Richard Tichbourne," and on December 3, 1652, a similar repayment was made to Mr. Hussey. In March 1652, " Edmond Riggs had a lease of Kalendar Church for ninety-nine years at a yearly rent of 3s. 4a?.," and in June 1653, Guy Badcock got a lease of Coldbrook Church for forty years, at a yearly rent of 20s., he " to repayre the same, not to breake ye ground or pavement except ye belfrye, nor to carrye awaye ye stone." In 1655 Alexander Woodson had a lease of St. Clement's parsonage for forty years, " in respect of his paines as a Psalmist in Trinitie (Cathedral) Church." Next year " the sweet psalmist Alexander," as Mr. Jacob styles him, was granted a lease of St. Clement's Church, "paying yearlye 12.d. for the two first years," and St. Mary Kalendar's parsonage was leased to Richard Lawrence for 305. annually. Major Henry Gierke Esq., who had so stoutly opposed the surrender of Winchester Castle to Cromwell, was with Edmond Clerke, Esq., of South Stoneham, admitted to the freedom of Winchester in the year 1660. {Hants Notes and Queries, vol. v. p. 37). In 1654 a very partial restoration took place of the cathedral, which is described as being " a very emenent and usefull place for preaching and hearing God's Word," and in the same year Fordingbridge church received a new bell, with the inscription, " Prayse ye the Lord. F. F., 1654." On February 18, 1653. "Taken out and sent to Mr. Humbridge, sohcitor to the Committee of Plundered Ministers, the sura of £35 for service done for the city at the Committee aforesaid, £1 15s." On December 23, 1653, repayment was made to the Mayor of £12 14s. spent "for payment of the Dutch prisoners." On May 2, 1656, " Taken then out of the coffers to pay Sir William Waller for the purchase of the Castle, with the appurtenances and other material therein belonging, the sum of two hundred and three sovereigns," and on September 9, 1656, "deeds and several copies of the value of iJ^3." Some of the purchase money was borrowed from Mr. John Complin, and repaid on October 30, 1657. On April 3, 1657, mention is made of £30 paid to Captain Palmer, and of "an agreement with the Lord Richard Cromwell, in the behalf of the country." October 23, 1667. "To six several messengers for bringing proclamations, 15s." A lawsuit had been pending against Sir William Waller, the cost of which was £3 1S.4d. Of this sum £1 11s 3d. was paid to Mr. Champion, on July 9, 1658, in part payment of his account, which was finally settled on December 23, 1658. On October 22, 1658, "For building the walls going to the Castle, £8 6s 6d " and on December 23 of the same year, £1 i8s. was expended on the Dutch prisoners, and 14s. 6d. for "addresses to the Lord Protector," Richard Cromwell. But Colonel John Clobery, whose home was Clobery House, in Parchment Street, on the site of which the hospital was afterwards built, and who commanded a regiment in Scotland, was already planning the Restoration, with his friends Generals Fairfax and Monk. Charles II. was proclaimed King in Winchester on May 12, 1660, and the cost of the civic rejoicings was no less a sum than ;^34 2s. 6d. In July 1648 there was great alarm at the prospect of a Scotch invasion of England, coupled with a Royalist rising, and a certain Alexander Cotton informed the Derby House Committee of a design to surprise the Castles of Winchester and Farnham. Precautions were at once taken, and the ill-judged scheme miscarried (Gardiner, iii. 407). The Castle was not too shattered to receive King Charles for one night during his last fatal journey through Hampshire to Windsor, but, after his execution, to quote Mr. W. H. Jacob, " the Council of State were hurriedly anxious to demolish, destroy, and slight the Castle for politic reasons, for they knew that their tenure of the national authority was in the highest degree precarious and vanishing, as it eventually proved. The many entries in the ' State ' journals show how earnest was the desire for destruction, their frequent repetition that the citizens were opposed to it show they put oflf the evil day." On April 14, 1649, ^^1 Papists and delinquents were to be forthwith disarmed, and great watchfulness was enjoined upon the Hants Committee. The entries extend over the period from June 11, 1649, to March 26, 165 1, and the absence from the National Records of later Council Letter Books leaves us in doubt of the exact date of demolition, which certainly was forced on the civic and county people. The first entry is as under : "June II, 1649. — Order in Parliament that the Council of State consider how Winchester Castle may be made untenable, so that no damage may arise thereby, and how satisfaction may be made to Sir William Waller for such damage as he shall sustain by reason thereof." All through the year 1649 the Council of State were importunate, witness their weekly entries : "June 19th, 1649. — Council of State. Days proceedings. Winchester Castle to be viewed before being demolished." "July 2 1st, 1649. — The business of Winchester Castle to be considered next Monday, when Mr. Wallop is to attend." "July 23rd, 1649. — The business of Winchester Castle and the Isle of Wight to be considered to-morrow." "July 24th, 1649. — The business of Winchester Castle to be considered to- morrow, and Colonel Fleetwood to be here." " August 10th, 1649. — Mr. Frost to pay the engineer who is to go to Winchester to view the Castle." "August 28th, 1649. — Council of State to the Committee of Hants. To prevent inconvenience Winchester Castle was ordered to be made untenable, and we sent an engineer to view it, who made the return enclosed. As we approve thereof we desire you to see its demolition." " September 10th, 1649. — Mr. Frost to issue a copy of the order to County of Hants for making Winchester Castle untenable." " September 11th, 1649. — An engineer to be sent to Winchester to see the Castle there demolished according to a survey returned." The engineer's report, which is extant in the Record Office, would be well worth publication, and doubtless he earned his money. It is curious and worthy to note how the simple Puritan Republican kept his eye on " mammon." Thus, Walter Frost, Secretary to the Council, had a salary of 40s. a day, and 2s. 6d. daily for his servant, and his son 205, a day, and if our readers will multiply these sums in gross by 3- 1/2 the salaries will not be found small. The entry which is below mentions the names of three Commissioners who are required to compel people to the work of destruction, and alludes to the engineer's report and remuneration : "September 29, 1649. — Council of State to Messrs. Betsworth, Moore, and Wither (was this the poet ?). We formerly ordered Winchester Castle to be made untenable. We now authorise you to see the same put in execution, and to summon the country to do the work which we conceive they will be willing to do to provide for their future quiet. We enclose a copy of the engineer's opinion of what was necessary to be done." " September 29, 1649. — £$ to be paid to the engineer who is to go to view Winchester Castle." Even in May 1650 the work remained uncommenced : " May 29. — The Committee which meets with the army officers to consider what is to be done for the present slighting of Winchester and Christchurch Castles." At the close of 1650 the authorities seem to have been far from free as to Royalist opposition, as is evident from the call on the Hampshire Horse Militia : "December 16, 1650. — To write to Mr. Wallop and the rest of the Commissioners for Hampshire to cause one troop of their horse militia to be in readiness for preserving the peace of the county, which is conceived to be endangered, and to desire them to take care that the riders are well affected to this government, and that they receive orders from the Governor of Portsmouth for the services to which they shall be directed." Mr. Wallop had displaced the Earl of Southampton as High Steward and was also a freeman of Winchester in Cromwell's interest. He sat at the King's trial, but did not sign the warrant for the execution. He died in the Tower 1667 (W. D. Pink). At the close of 1650 the Council were evidently very anxious for the demolition of the Castle, and obliged to have soldiers to enforce the peace while it was attempted, and the supply of 40 honest men to replace the same number of garrison soldiers from Southampton is a curious picture of the times. " Dec. 16, 1650. — To write to the governor of Southampton to summon the County to go to Winchester to demolish the Castle and wall about it, so that it may not be used by the disaffected, and likewise to send 40 of his garrison soldiers thither to keep the peace there while the work is going on, and to let him know that the Militia Commissioners for the County have been ordered to supply him with 40 honest men during their employment on that service." "The next extracts close the year 1650, and disclose the anxiety of the Pro- tector's party : " Dec. 23, 1650. — To write to the Militia Commissioners for the county of Hants to send 40 men to (South) Hampton for securing that place, while the governor there sends 40 men to Winchester to attend the demolition of Winchester Castle, and to summon the county to assist in such demolition." " Dec. 30, 1650. — Another letter to be written to the Militia Commissioners for the county of Hants to proceed without further delay to the demolition of Win- chester Castle." Jan. 13, 165 1. — To write to the Commissioners of county of Hants to proceed to the demolishing of Winchester Castle according to former order, Council not thinking fit to move Parliament to defray the charge of work which it is so proper for the county to do." In February 165 1 the Council were still pressing the matter, and insisting on its completion in 14 days after the Spring Assizes : "February 21, 165 1. — Council of State to the Militia Commissioners, County Hants. We have before written you concerning the making of Winchester Castle untenable, but it is not yet done. We have intimated the danger that may come of it, which if it should happen, would first have its ill effects upon that county. We therefore desire it may be done within fourteen days after the Assizes, when you will have occasion to meet, and can take order for its being done, of which you are to certify us, that we may be satisfied that the danger feared by that place is pre- vented." Towards the end of March the work seems to have commenced, and the annexed extract shows how the local authorities had put off" the Puritanical pressure : "March 28, 165 1. — Council of State to the Militia Commissioners, County of Hants. In yours of the 21st you state that you have begun to make Winchester Castle untenable. We hope that by this time it has been effectually done, as it might have been long since if the orders of the Council had been pursued." There are no further allusions because, as we have said, the letter books of the Council are missing, doubtless during the confusion of Charles' appearance and gallant but unsuccessful stand at Worcester, and the subsequent futile attempt to catch, kill, and murder him; but that 1651 saw the old walls and towers fall by pickaxe, powder, and other methods of the engineer cannot be doubted. There are two entries, however, in 1652 of interest, although they do not refer to the Castle. The first, dated August 25, shows that instead of a substantial pension, a poor fellow who had lost his eyes in Ireland in the service of the Commonwealth was palmed off" as a pauper on the Master of St. Cross Hospital for the next vacancy : "August 25th. — Council of State to Master of St. Cross Hospital, near Win- chester. We commend George Hawkins, who has lost his eyes in the service in Ireland, for the next brother's place that shall fall void, which being a work of so great charity we doubt not of your readiness." Hawkins had a gift of £s for loss of his eyes. In September we come across the injudicious and intruded Hooker, who had for his Roundhead reward the Recordership for life. He is spoken of in the civic MSS. as the " pretended Recorder," and he was excluded at the Restoration by Mr. Goddard. The following is the Hookerian entry : " September 28, 1652. — Patent of John Champion, Mayor, Thomas Tarleton and Nicholas Newbolt, bailiffs of Winchester, appointing Cornelius Hooker Recorder of the said city for life, with an annuity of £4" Champion was an " intruded freeman." A writer in Hampshire Notes and Queries says : " The old Norman and Gothic castle and palace slighted and destroyed, remained a ruin till Charles the Second's time, when its grey ivy-clad ruins of walls and towers vanished before Wren's commenced palace (afterwards used as a barrack). All that remains of the castle are a ruined turret behind the County Hall, the foundations of the keep and some walls, the subterranean passage and the superb hall of Henry III. with its additions and older walls, and in its roof some beams of Edward the IV. 's time. The use of this hall for the purposes of the Assizes no doubt preserved it to our time, and now in its magnificent windows we see the arms of those who played prominent parts in the Commonwealth times, the Wallops, Challoners, Tichbornes, Paulets, and even the " Lord Protector's " son, Richard Cromwell, who, a quiet country gentleman and suspected of royalist sentiments, abandoned the position his father left him, and dying at Cheshunt in 1712, was buried in the chancel of Hursley Church, in which he had, as "squire" of Hursley Park, a right to rest, and where, with others of his family, his remains are undisturbed." Mr. Major, whose family came originally from Jersey, was the mainstay of the Puritan cause in this neighbourhood. He was witty, thrifty, and very hard upon his tenants, threatening them oftentimes with transportation. He was Privy Councillor to Oliver Cromwell, who considered him unscrupulous, and he died in 1660, nomin- ally of gout, but not without some suspicion of poison, as certain execution awaited him at the Restoration. Richard Cromwell and his relative by marriage, S. Dunch, Esq., sheltered at Hursley and gave an annuity of ;£10 a year to the Rev. Robert Webb, the ejected Puritan minister of Droxford, who is said to have been a good scholar and an eminent preacher. Sir Henry Wallop, M.P. for Hants, died in October 1645, and most of the members of royalist sympathies were about this time disabled from sitting in Parlia- ment. Richard Jervoise, M.P. for Whitchurch, died during this month. Fairfax's army, when marching from Salisbury to the siege of Oxford, halted at Andover for two days, and proceeded to Newbury on April 25, 1646. The Itchen Abbas register contains an ominous gap from 1646 till 1650. It was then irregularly kept until 1656, when a gap follows till we read of christenings in the time when Mr. Robert Kercher was Rector of Itchen Abbas, 1661. In the Micheldever register we read : "Mary, daughter of William ffry. baptised Oct. 1 2th, 1642." Then, except in 1650 and in 1656, there are no entries until March 26, 1662. There are no entries of burials from 1650 until "John Cagor, buried Oct. lOth, 1662," but these words appear and are perhaps the far-off echo ot some Puritan sermon : " But death will tarry no man's leisure." " It is appointed for all men once to die, and after death, judgment." In 1647 the Platform at Southampton took shape. It was proposed to send the King as a present on January 6, 1648, he being then at Carisbrooke Castle, certain provisions for his household, but the cautious burgesses resolved that their Mayor should first write to their member (Mr. Exton) to ask his opinion of this. In 1649 the Rev. Nathaniel Robinson, chaptain to Governor Murford, and a friend of Oliver Cromwell, who employed him in marriage negotiations with Mr. Major, of Hursley (Carlyle's " Life and Letters of Oliver Cromwell "), was settled in the Rectory of All Saints. He was ejected in 1662, and became the first minister of Above Bar Chapel. Mr. Davies says: "About October 9, 1651, the town garrison (of Southampton) had been disbanded by order of the Parliament, when Murford was apparently dis- missed. Three companies of Colonel Pride's regiment, however, came the next week, aud remained for a month, under the command of Captain Andrews. In the following June, 1652, the guns and ammunition were removed, and the guard-house, which had been built by the town near the Bargate for the garrison, was pulled down, Murford, who was again in authority, and at this time or soon after a justice of the peace, doing with the timber-work as he pleased." When Cromwell had schemed the government into his own hands, Southampton refused to give admission to his troops until Captain Jubbs from Portsmouth obtained an entrance into the town by means of a ruse. He surprised the Mayor and Council in their Council House, which he surrounded with troops, obliging them to surrender the keys of the town gates. William Higgins, the Mayor, and Edward Downer were hereupon deposed (in 1654) by order of Cromwell for disaffection to his Government. On March 11, 1655, Robert Mason, of Southampton, of whom mention has already been made, was at Salisbury, taking a leading part in the rising in Wiltshire and Dorsetshire, under Penruddock, against the Parliament. On May 5, 1656, Major- General Goffe wrote to Thurloe, Cromwell's secretary, complaining of the wicked spirit of the Southampton magistrates. Goffe was Major-General of Hampshire and Sussex, for which he received £1141 3s. 3d. per annum, besides his Major-Generalship. At the Restoration he escaped to America, and in his old age, by his sudden appearance and military skill, saved the village of Hadleigh in New England from being destroyed by Indians. Thus closed a stirring and eventful career. The following entries from the Romsey Abbey register are interesting: "Jane Grace, the first child which I baptised according to the new Directory enjoined by the ordinance of the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, March 13, 1647 " ; " 1649, George Baverstock, unfortunately slayne"; "Roger Spearing, titulo doctor, sed re pauper medicus, buried " — " A doctor by title, but in fact a poor surgeon." There was a tumult at Portsmouth at the end of July, 1648, as we learn from the " Weekly Intelligencer " and the " Declaration of the Sea Royalists for God and King Charles." There was much discontent amongst the soldiers at Portsmouth, and still more amongst the seamen, and the latter were strongly influenced by various Cavaliers! About 300 of them came ashore, " entered the Towne, and came up to the Market place, where they declared their resolution to hazard their lives and fortunes for the defence and preservation of the King of England, and of the Prince of Wales, against any opposition whatsoever." This puts the Governor and the other of Southsea Castle to a stand, " Money had been ordered for the old soldiers of the garrison of Portsmouth, and certain persons well affected to His Majesty placed two hogsheads of beer in the Market place," whereof the seamen partook. " The allarum is given to the souldiers, they advance, the seamen maintain their ground, some action happened, and the quarrel was resolutely disputed by both parties, till at the last, the seamen retreat, the souldiers pursue, and in the pursuit took some prisoners, and forced the rest out of the gates, which being shut all was pacified. The plot took not with the discontented souldiers, as was presupposed, but the seamen threaten a revenge." Mention is made of the ort at Portbridge on June i, 1649, and aboutt his time " His Majestie's Shippes, the Constant Reformation^ the Converting, the Swallow, the Antelope, the Satisfaction, the Hynd, the Roebuck, the Crescent, the Pellican, and the Blackmore Lady went over to the Prince of Wales, who took command of them at Yarmouth, I.W. The Prince had with him the Duke of York, the Princes Rupert and Maurice, the Lords Gerard, Culpepper, Jermyn, and Ruthen, Sir John Berkeley, Colonel Bamfield, and several other commanders, together with 2000 men, 19 ships, and great store of ordnance." The seamen declared that the Scots and most people wanted peace, but that the Independent party had seized the fortresses, "over-running, disarming and plundring the country, as if it were a conquered nation, because men wanted peace," that the King's name was omitted from naval commissions, which "mentioned only the Parliament and the army," that " we had no settled form of divine worship, no communion, little or no preaching on board but by illiterate and mechanique persons, that there was a design of introducing land soldiers into every ship, to master and overawe the seamen, things so contrary to the antient customs and order of the sea." They had removed " Colonel Rainsborough from the command of the fleet, a man of most destructive principles both in religion and policy." Seamen and landsmen join us under the Prince of Wales and the Duke of York. Come in and join with us, and you shall want nothing ; we have good ships, good hearts, good handes, and, which is worth all, God and the law on our side ! " A newsletter said on July 25 : " The Prince and the Duke of York are come to Yarmouth with 19 sail of ships, in which are thought to be about 2000 men ; some of them landing near the town were set upon by a few of our horse which were there, and after a little fight with them, we took seven prisoners, the rest getting into the town, from whence a party of townsmen issued out, and rescued the prisoners from us, and placed a guard at the turnpike gate." Colonel Scroop, with eight troops of dragoons from Colchester Leaguer (siege), and 1000 foot from Norfolk, were ordered to march to Yarmouth. The Prince hoped that the gentlemen of Norfolk would rise and attack Fairfax, and so raise the siege of Colchester. But the local authorities opposed him with troops, and having no soldiers he was obliged to sail away to the Downs. On the other hand, Lymington supplied provisions freely to the Prince's ships, and if he had gained any footing in the island Barnard Knapton, the mayor, was prepared to take an inferior command in his army. The Mayor of Lymington a few years later raised 100 men for "King Monmouth." In December 1659, Portsmouth openly declared for the Parliament, and the leaders of the army at once despatched troops thither. The following extracts from a letter quoted in " Slight's History of Portsmouth " give some interesting details. Colonel Whetham was Governor of Portsmouth, and under his command were Sir A. Haslerig and Colonels Morley and Walton : " Chichester, December 9th, 1659. " Upon the arrive of this sudden change and alteration in so considerable a garrison as Portsmouth, it was ordered that a considerable body of horse and foot should be sent down forthwith into the western parts to reduce that garrison or to block it up, and accordingly the Lord Disbrow was made choice of, as Commander-in-Chief, for that expedition, who advanced with several troops of horse from Westminster, and on Tuesday night last Colonel Hewson's regiment of foot began their march from the City of London, and five companies of Colonel Gibbon's regiment from the borough of Southwark. . . . Also all possible care is taken for the waylaying, stopping, and guarding the several avenues and passes fronting and leading to the town, that so the reducing of it may prove the more facile, and the work expedited. By these sudden and unexpected commotions, a translate of some forces are expected from the northern parts, and 'tis said that three regiments of horse and dragoons are already on their march. From whence it is affirmed that Lord Lambert's infantry consists of above 7000 foot, and that he hath a very considerable body of horse. And it is the expectations of many that there will be a mutual concurrence and happy accommodation. ... By the last express from Portsmouth, on Saturday last, it is certified that a party of horse came as far as Gosport and faced the town, but afterwards wheeled off at a further distance. Seven troops are also marched from Petersfield towards Chichester, and some commotions are feared about Exeter. The foot that marched from London was met on Saturday last between Lockhup (Liphook) and Petersfield, and intend to arrive before Portsmouth the 12th inst., which place is said to be supplied with great store of provision and ammu- nition, having above three-score pieces of ordnance." " Baker's Chronicle " (pp. 591-2) says : "All the foot that were sent to besiege that town seized on their officers and carried them prisoners into it, and five troops of Col. Rich's regiment and two of Col. Berry's were come in unto them, that those of Berry were commanded by Col. Crooke, who was lately their major, and is sent into the Isle of Wight, where the forces are increased to 700." Dissensions ran high in Portsmouth, but Colonel Whetham promptly arrested Captains Smith, Peacock, and Brown, with about six of the townsmen. He also secured the fifteen men-of-war then in harbour, which were the Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Pelican, Dragon, and ten others. Seven hundred landsmen and 140 horse formed the garrison, for whose supply many of the neighbouring gentlemen furnished provisions, whilst others came to assist personally in the defence with horses and arms. " Major Cadwell having notice thereof, immediately advanced with his own troop and two others towards Petersfield, to whose assistance some few withdrew from Farnham and those parts, with a resolution to block up the garrison if they can." Colonel Morley and his friends endeavoured to persuade the Governors of Portland Isle and Castle, and of Cowes, Hurst, and Carisbrooke Castles to join them. Their headquarters were at the " Red Lion " Inn, which stood on the site of No. 91, High Street. The siege was speedily raised, as nine troops of Colonel Ferry's (Terry's ?) horse and five companies of Colonel Lago's foot joined the besieged garrison. On the Wednesday before December 23, 1659, Sir Arthur Haslerig and Colonel Morley marched at 10 a.m. with 5000 men to the assistance of the Parliament, leaving only 400 in garrison. They halted that night at Petersfield, and proceeded next day to Guildford, and so to London, where we must leave them. (Woodward). But the Restoration was ere long a great reality, and rejoicing Cavaliers could sing with impunity of " The Sale of Rebellion's Household Stuff" : And here are old Noll's brewing vessels. On April 25, 1600, the House of Lords thanked God for deliverance " from Thraldom, Confusion, and Misery," and in 1661 a writ was issued amongst others to the Marquis of Winchester, summoning him to the House of Lords. His brother, Lord Charles Pawlet, occupied the family residence at Abbotstone after the Restoration, whilst he himself found a home at Englefield House, which had come to him through the Marchioness, from the family of Sir F. Walsingham, and which, according to Camden, he rebuilt and greatly improved. Captain Symonds, in 1643, calls Englefield "now the house of the Lord Marquis of Winchester," and Sir Balthazar Gerbier praises it highly in the dedication of his " Council and Advice to all Builders, qto. 1663." The Marchioness died here in her ancestral home on March 10, 1661, aged 51 years, 6 months, 19 days. John Milton wrote her epitaph : This rich marble doth inter On March 5, 1674, the Marquis died in his 77th year, and was buried in the little church in the park, as was also the heroic Marchioness, who shared with him the dangers of the siege at Basing. His tomb is described as being a neat monument of black and white marble, and in a compartment this inscription in gold Roman letters : He who in impious times undaunted stood,
And on a marble stone on the ground at the foot of the said monument is this inscription, in Roman capitals : " Here lieth interred the body of the most Noble and Mighty Prince John Powlet, Marquis of Winchester, Earl of Wiltshire, Baron of St. John, of Basing, first Marquis of England; a man of exemplary piety towards God, and of inviolable fidelity towards his Sovereign ; in whose cause he fortified his house of Basing, and defended it against the rebels to the last extremity. He married three wives," &c. (here follow various family particulars). " He died in the 77th year of his age, on the 5th of March, in the year of our Lord 1674. " By Edward Walker, Garter King at Arms." Woodward and Wilkes say " Loyalty House was never rebuilt. The Dukes of Bolton preferred their fine new place at Hackwood, to say nothing of Abbotstone, to the ancient mansion of their stock. And then afterwards Basing passed away from the Paulets. But yet of the grand old mansion house and its former magnificence there are plenty of vestiges all around, and in local names some memory of the great siege still survives." Now the grass grows green over the crumbling ramparts, but still may the lover of the past pace along the works which so often echoed to the tread of Cavalier sentinels. Still may he see the walks trodden by Queen Bess, Thomas Fuller, Inigo Jones, and by the noblest and loveliest of the land. The Basingstoke Canal runs through the ruins of the New House, but much is still left of the moats, whose sloping sides were often reddened with English blood. The green ivy twines grace- fully around the curtain and the ruined shells of the flanking towers. The Garrison Gate, through which rode many a Royalist troop of horse, still stands erect, bearing the family arms, warning all passers by to " Love Loyalty." But we may well be thankful that civil war ihas long been unknown in England, and that, as Mr. Cosham sweetly sings. Long years of peace have stilled the battle-thunder, With thanks to numerous friends and helpers for much valuable information most readily and kindly given, here ends this imperfect account of " The Civil War in Hampshire, and the Story of Basing House." |
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