CHAPTER VIII.

THE MAJOR-GENERALS AND THE SQUIRES.

1655-1657.

Though Justice against Fate complain,

And plead the ancient rights in vain.—MARVELL.

SIR RALPH'S satisfaction in his release from imprisonment was soon clouded over by fresh anxieties. The year 1655 had seen Cromwell's protest and Milton's sonnet on behalf of the persecuted Piedmontese all Europe recognised the power of the Lord Protector to defend English and Protestant interests abroad; the commercial and industrial classes at home were prosperous and, on the whole, contented; but in these triumphant days of the great Puritan's rule the little world pictured in the Verney letters was plunged in sadness. It was a world of 'poor unknown Royalist squires,' as Carlyle terms them, and of other squires, by no means Royalist, who vainly tried to remain 'unknown' to the MajorGenerals, Cromwell's Mastiffs,' who had fastened on their estates. The dismal words, Composition, Compurgation, Decimation, Sequestration (as uncouth and un-English in sound as in political import),

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constantly appear in the letters, and the squires shuddered to be reminded that they had been classed as Malignants, Delinquents, and Compounders, or at the best as 'Disaffected Only.'

These troubles were the more bitterly felt by the country gentlemen because they were just beginning to breathe again after the long fierce strife of the Civil War. Some had ventured to return home after years of exile; many country-houses like Wroxall, Lamport, and Claydon were being repaired and beautified, and old debts were beginning to be paid, when the land owners were suddenly overwhelmed with fresh exactions. Of all mine acquaintance, there is scarce an honest man that is not in a borrowing condition,' writes Sir Ralph.

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But an act of kindness greatly cheered his own return home. A servant arrived with a beautiful roan mare (such as Sir Ralph would never have purchased for his own riding) and a note from Aunt Sherard 'because you should be well mounted to bring Oct. 29, you throoe the Deepe waies, I have presented you with this maier, being confident shee will carry you iseylie, shee is to be rid in a bit, for elce her metell is such as shee will goe tow fast for your grave pas . . . let your servants have a caier of the maier after watering, for elce shee may run awaie with them.' 'Yeasterday Nov. 1, you surprised mee strangly,' he replies, with such a greate, and unexpected present, that I know not what to say, if any thing could possibly make me a jocky, certainly you have taken the way to doe it, I finde it

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1655

Nov. 5, 1655

Nov. 10,

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already a little coming uppon me, for (though I never was on Horseback since yo middle of June, yet) I am soe in love with this maire, that I am now growne almost weary of my coach, and choose to ride on her to Hillesdon presently; perhapps she may put me into such a gadding humour, that you (and all the rest of my friends & acquaintance) may have just cause to repent your Bounty.' 'I am most harteyli glad as the maier pleseth you,' writes Aunt Sherard; 'I toocke it uppon trust, for I have noe scill in horsis my selfe. All ye newes I have to relat to you is that yo' old acquaintance that toocke you prison'r is to be in this country to tacke ye bondes of all the jhentrey in the cuntray that thay acket not against my lord protector. The cavaleres aier to give 5,000l. pond bond, and A 100 pond bond for every servant thay keepe, this is yo newes of ower cuntry, and we expecte ower mastor her on Munday next, but he stais not above a wicke in thes partes, you see my Lord protector can secewer himselfe-I licke him well.'

to

Dr. Denton doubts whether Sir Ralph is prudent absent himself from Claydon. 'Knowing y intentions are for Whissendine, I thought fitt to lett yu know that I heare that some of the Maior Generalls act already, & that Maior Butler hath required my L Westmoreland amongst others to appear at Ketteringe. . . . If y" should be summoned when from home, happily you may be at such a distance as y" may not appeare at the time appointed & soe may forfeit the bond, you best know what y" have to doe, but I

up

& at Rome. If my nagg

Nov. 12,

1655

wish you had bond your come to you whilst at home, I pray see him goe uppon his pace, if this storme hold, a long-eared asse may serve my turne.' 'This day Dick Winwood tells me Northampton is very full of persons summoned in to give security for themselves & servts & a particular of their estate reall and personall, & must pay a 10th of the reall annually, & a 15th of their personall estate, & if not a just particular, then a confiscation. It is time to looke about y". I heare La Stanhop is sumoned in, if soe then it is at pleasure, & Delinquency shall be noe standard. I thinke he never compounded.' Sir Justinian hopes that Sir Ralph 'will vouchsafe him some stay at Lamport,' 'where Nov. 2, you may see what the want of my presence hath now necessitated me to in very ill season, my house not yet all covered nor yet, I assure you so open as you shall ever find the heart of Sir, Your affectionate friend to serve you.'

Another letter in Sir Justinian's hand is signed only with an allusion to the building he is carrying

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1655

on. Sir, You may suppose They began with this Nov. 10, country, new bonds indeterminable & in greater sums offered even to them who had given others formerly at Lond: as also single bonds for the good behaviour of servants, noe particulars of the estates to be received before the bonds were signed, & they to be signed forthwith, or els imprisonment & sequestration to follow imediately; . . . I have not yet heard of refusall, not being allow'd leave to depart ye towne

any

VOL. III.

S

Nov. 17, 1655

[Northampton] before signing. . . . All ye Instructions with ye Additional ones we could not yet see, nor heare what is don in other places. My eldest daughter now ill & the worse I doubt for my trouble, made mee returne fro' Northampton sooner then I would, though one of ye last sealers. Sir wholly yours ARCHITRAVE FREEZE & CORNICE.'

Dr. Denton is running about the town in Sir Ralph's interest, but can see neither Colonel Cooke, 'whom I hunted dry foot,' nor Lord Fleetwood, His advice to Sir Ralph is to appeare when summoned & I thinke best to deliver noe particular, but crave leave to appeale to my La or his councell or to both, for though you claime noe Articles, nor have any need of any act of oblivion (you are of my La Cooke's mind to refuse noe pardon that God & his kinge would give him) yett y" claim by a law paramount to them, which is y1 iñocency, as havinge never been a Delinq' etc. they told S Jo: Mounson [the elder brother of the doctor's friend in the Fleet] that they came not to dispute etc. & he refusinge to submitt, they quartered 50 horse on him, with a menace of 500 more in case he did not submitt within 8 daies, which he not doinge, they did not send 500 horse but sequestred him. . . . Kate is y servt for partridges. I heare y 10th is to be a perpetuall revenue, maugre all intayles & settlents, & that Sequestracon & Delinquency shall not be the only standard, but Dissaffection shall in due time have its place, & inquiry is made after the estates