Letters of John Taylder [Taylor in the first letter only] to Lord Weynouth Taylder...

Letters of John Taylder [Taylor in the first letter only] to Lord Weynouth

Taylder was Lord Weymouth's London Agent, and though the greater part of his letters are taken up with domestic matters, such as hiring of servants, despatch of London goods to Longleat and the like, in a few of the earlier letters the writer sends his Master news of Town and Court. The following are a few extracts: -

(a) "Yesterday about 1 aclock Munmouth, Gray and Jermayn were brought from Fox hall to White hall in ye Kings barges ..... from thence they were carryed in ye barges to ye Tower and thro' Trayters gate. All the time they were at W. hall they were in Mr Chevins his lodgings, the King saw them severally, and it is Reported very Credibly yt Monmouth (when with his Matie) was all ye time in teares, and yt his Matie wept when he turned from him! 14 July, 1685 f.8: (b) "Yesterday between 11 abd 12 a Clock, The Executioner made 5 Strokes ere his head was severed, after ye 1st Stroke he almost Rose up on his knees, the second, he turned his head tho' hard held by 2 or 3 people. He declared he Died a Protersant according to ye Church Establisht, etc. but did not Receive ye Sacrament. The Bishop of Bath and Wells and Dr Tenisson attended him on ye scaffold, ye former prest him hard for to Repent of ye great sin of Rebellion and Adultery having lived in the latter for some yeares. To which 'tis Reported he made those Answers, That he alwayes though it Lawfull to Repell force by force .... But as to Lady Harriet Went-worth he said he believed her to bee a very vertuous woman: being asked whether he were married to her, he Answered, that is not a Question to be askt at this time. That as to his Duchesse he was put to bed to her when young and being not his Choice he thought himself free from any obligation to her, or to this purpose": 16 June, 1685. f.9: (c) "On Munday there was a generall Court Marshall held at ye horse Gard at White Hall where 11 of ye Scoch Regiments yt came out of Holland were condemned to bee shott, for saying they would fight for Mon[mouth], drinking his health and saying they would fight for none else, etc. all this was when they were upon there march westward. But there was this mercy shewed them, that they cast Lotts, and only two are to dye, they are shott this day at Hounslow": 23 July, 1685. f.12. (d) "The Duke of Albemarle has laid down all his Commissions, his place of Capt. of ye Kings Gards, ye Earle of Feversham has .... Yesterday one Morton was taken in Southwark he was outlawed upon ye account of ye Rye businnesse .... At 3 this afternoon there Maties went hence to Windsor and during there stay there, all ye new forces will bee encamped at Hounslow Heath as also ye Foot Regiments of Gards": 4 Aug. 1685. f.16: (e) "There is a Bill found against Lord Brandon and there is no manner of news true of ye taking of Lord Maxfeild. Yesterday Sheriff Cornish was found guilty of High Treason upon ye evidence of Goodenough and Ramsy .... It is said yt Lord Gray's outlawry is taken off, and believed yt he will have his life saved tho' in perpetuall prison": etc. 20 Oct. 1685. f.28.