this morning, and then I intend for Blandford, to attend the Dorsettshire gentlemen and soe to Marlborough, where there are 20 more to be summoned. In my last I gave Mr. Secretary a list of some names for Cornwall, Devon, Somersett, and Dorsett to be sheriffs, and have presented your highness with three for Wilts, the two former being of the last parliament, and signinge the requisition. For Gloucester I must crave leave till I come upon the place, I am, "Your highness's humble servant, "Sarum, Dec. 18, 1655. "SIR, JOH. DISBROWE." No. VI. Major-General Disbrowe to Secretary Thurloe.1 "I have bin attending the work in Dorsetshire where there were 20 summoned, amongst which is Sir John Strangeways, Sir Gerard Napper, and Sir Hugh Windham; one pleading his integrity, another his innocency, and the third showed much frowardness and averseness; but after I had dealt very plainly and indeed roundly with them, they with the rest fairly submitted and are contented to bear the additional tax, proportionable to their estates. I doubt not but it will turn to a good account, though it is probable some will trouble his highness with their applications, for in the country they are known too well, and the commissioners are very unanimous and active in it, only some are of opinion that by their present instruction they cannot rate any man for both together that hath not full £100 per ann. real, and £1500 personal estate, and have drawn up a letter to the council craving a resolution therein, but the account you gave (if past the council) will determine that, in making persons that have either £50 per ann.real, or £500 personal, or with either sum together, such an estate shall be lyable to this additional tax, and will not only yield a considerable revenue to the publick, and rejoice the hearts of the well affected, but be a means to break and prevent the designes of our enemys. "I came yesterday from Blandford to Sarum, and from thence this day hither, where there are 24 summoned to attend upon Monday next. "I desire you to give order that William Fry of Yarty, and Edward Cheek of Gabriells, Esq., may be added to the commissioners of the peace for Dorsetshire. I have only this further to add, that Robert Hipsley, Esq., may be sheriff of Wilts, in the room of Col. Dove, (if it be not too farr past,) which is the desire of him who is "Marlborough, Dec. 22, 1655. "Your real friend and servant, JOHN DISBROWE. "Pray present my service to his highness, and let him know that after this meeting I shall give him a full account of my proceeding hitherto." Mr. Waylen in his "History of Marlborough" has published some very interesting documents, as to the amount charged on Charles the son of Lord Seymour, and the way in which he escaped the payment of it.2 1 Thurloe's State Papers, vol. 4, p. 336. He also shews from another document1 that Sir John Glanvill of Broad Hinton, Knight, was fined £2320, but his name does not appear in the printed list from which the foregoing extracts were taken.2 F. A. CARRINGTON. The Royalist Composition Papers in the State Paper Office (2nd series, vol. 18, page 595,) contain valuations of the property of the Marquis of Hertford, part of which he possessed for life, and part in fee simple, and a great deal of correspondence and minutes is on the subject. The following entries relate to the Composition he was to pay. "9th March, 1646. Fine as tenant for life onely, £9570. Fine as tenant in fee, £16,783." On the same page. "12 Jan. 1647. Upon the motion of Mr. Rich in the behalf of the Lo. Marquesse of Hertford, it was ordered by the Lords and others at this comittee, that his Lordship's fine should be reduced and made certain, and his estate for life allowed of, and the additions in his is particular set forth according to the Articles of Oxford and the proceedings and rules of this comittee, to and with all other men that come in vpon the sayd Articles. According to which order the sayd Lord Marquesse fine at a tenth is £8345." From other documents in the same volume, in the State Paper Office, it appears that the Marquis's estates were in settlement, and that he was to be charged on a life interest on the whole value of the property, at £9570, which was mitigated to £8345. It seems strange that the ordinance for sequestring the estates of the Royalists, was made in 1643, and yet persons were compounding in 1647. The fact was, that long after 1643, the Royalist party was in many parts of England the strongest, and Lord Seymour entertained King Charles the First at Marlborough Castle, on the 10th of April, 1641, the day when the king reviewed his army, 9000 strong, on Aldbourne Chace,) and again for five days, beginning the 12th November in the same year, (Gutch's Collect. Cur. vol. ii. 432-39.) And neither the Marquis of Hertford, his son, Lord Seymour, or his grandson, Charles Seymour, were declared Delinquents till after the capitulation of Oxford, on the 24th of June, 16-46, in which all three were included. 1 Waylen's History of Marlborough, p. 239: With respect to this gentleman, the following is an extract from Rushworth's Collections, vol. 7. p. 1205. “Thursday, July 27, 1648. The House considered the case of Serjeant Glanville, reported from the committee appointed to consider thereof. "The House ordered that the 5th part of the land of the said Serjeant Glanville should be accepted of for the 5th and 20th part of the estate. "That the bail of the said Sarjeant should be discharged, and himself likewise from all imprisonment.'" 2 It is very much to be regretted that several of the most interesting works relating to Wiltshire are so rare. Mr. Russell Smith, its publisher, states that of Mr. Waylen's "History of Marlborough," only 250 copies are printed. Of our President's admirable work on Castle Combe, only 150 copies, I believe, were printed for private distribution. The "Sarum Institutions," and Aubrey's Collections for a History of North Wilts, both privately printed by Sir Thos. Phillipps, Bart., are equally scarce. Though I ought not to omit mentioning that Sir Thomas Phillipps very kindly gave me a copy of the latter, with very numerous illustrations by Lady Phillipps. Still the consequence of these limited editions is that those works are hardly ever to be seen, and even more difficult to be obtained. F. A. C. [CONTINUATION OF PAPER ON CHURCH BELLS,] From Vol. III. p. 184. Bells of the County of Wilts, WITH THEIR INSCRIPTIONS. By the Rev. W. C. LUKIS. Deanery of Chalke. [Omitted in List given in Vol. II. p. 211.] Compton Chamberlayne, 3. 1. Anno Domini. 1614. R. P. 2. G: P: R: John Porter Francis Foord C. W. 1656. WP. 3. Honour the King, I. W. 1616. South Damerham, 5. 1. 1666. F. F.† 2. G. Tiller and H. Butler, Churchwardens. James Wells, fecit. 1803. 3. [Illegible.] 4. Mr. Edmund Bound and Mr. Thos. Welstead, Ch Wds. WC. 1739. 5. I was cast in the yere of Plague, Warre, and Fire, 1666. F. F: E. D. Mr. John Sallam, Giles Yardley, Edward Foord, Curchwardens. Mere, 6. Deanery of Wylie. [Omitted in List given Vol. II. p. 338.] 1.2. W. C: T. T: C. W: T. P: Anno Domini, 1665. 3. Anno Domini, 1660. W. B: W. H: C. W: D. I▲L. 4. Messieurs Phillips and Mitchell, Churchwardens. J. Kingston, Founder, Bridgewater, 1828. 5. STELLA MARIA MARIS SUCCURRE PIISSIMA NOBIS.‡ 6. Mr. Giles Forward and Mr. Giles Jupe, ChWds 1747. William Cockey, Bellfounder. • George) P(enruddocke,) R(ector.) + Francis Forster, Bellfounder. + This bell bears 2 shields-one charged with a Bend dexter; the other, with Cross Keys between a mitre, pastoral staff, a chalice, and another figure. THE Guild of Merchants, or three Trading Companies FORMERLY EXISTING IN DEVIZES. GUILD, was a company of persons associated together for some particular object, as, the furtherance of a benevolent purpose, or the protection of trade; of the latter kind was the Guild of Merchants formerly existing in Devizes, of which it is proposed to give some account in the present paper. The privilege of possessing its own Guild of Merchants was first granted to Devizes by King Edward III., as appears by the following clause in his Charter to the Borough, bearing date at Westminster May 27th, in the 45th year of his reign, [a.d. 1371.] "Concessimus etiam prædictis Burgensibus nostris de Divisis Gildam suam mercatoriam, &c." It is somewhat remarkable that nothing has been met with relating to the history of this Body during the two centuries following its incorporation. The next notice occurs in the Heralds' Visitation of the County, taken A.D. 1565 [7th Elizabeth], and is a memorandum accompanying a drawing of the arms borne by the Guild, see plate. "These be the Armes apperteining and belonging to the Felowshipe and Corporacon of the Burgesses and Merchants Adventorers, Clothiers, Weauers, Drapers, and Taylors, and others vseing any Art or Facultic within the Towne and Borough of Diuises, which 1 "We have granted also to our aforesaid Burgesses of Devizes their own Guild Merchant, &c." A similar privilege was granted to the Burgesses of Marlborough by King John. See his Charter printed in Waylen's "Marlborough," p. 97. 2 In the Visitation the Arms only are given, the crest and supporters are here added on the authority of "The Booke of Constitutions of the Borough of Devizes," an illuminated manuscript of A.D. 1628, in the possession of A. Meek, Esq., Town Clerk of Devizes, (a rough copy of which will be found in the British Museum, Lansdowne MSS. No. 230.), and the motto from a painting of the arms preserved in St. John's Church, and probably of about the same date. |