Many of the letters refer to the Longleat and other estates. The following are of...

Many of the letters refer to the Longleat and other estates. The following are of more general interest, viz: -

1. Robert Henley, of Bristol: (a) respecting the City Charter which it is proposed to surrender, "Sir Thomas Earle was briske on the Tolsey animating all others to oppose the deliuery of it up ..... It was proposed that his Matie should be petitioned that if the City were so unhappy as to bee fallen into his displeasure that hee would vouchsafe them his graciouse pardon" etc. 29 Mar. 1683. f.8: (b) on the same subject: 17 Apr. 1683. f.20.

2. John Greenway, asking for his advice, etc. as he being a Churchwarden has had to "pay off" 28 warrants which the Justices sent to him to execute against the many Quakers in his parish for offending against the Act for preventing seditious Conventicles, etc. 3 May, 1683. f.29.

3. George Vernon, offering some Red Deer "about sixty young and old" at 20 shillings apiece: 11 May, 1683. f.33.

4. Leoline Jenkins, Secretary of State: (a) acknowledging the address of the County of Wilts which His Majesty received graciously: Whitehall, 17 July, 1683. f.39: (b) that Lord Weymouth's intercession with His Majesty "for the two convicts now in Sarum gaol had its effect very readily": Whitehall, 31 July, 1683. f.41.

5. James Long, complaining of the "illegal, partiall and violent proceeding of Mr Apiohn Stokes and that in his informations and prosecutions of Coyners and Clippers hee hath sought more to satisfy his avarice and malice then to doe his Maiesty faithfull servis": 16 Sept. 1683. f.55.

6. Sir Stephen Fox, concerning some Warminster manors which he has mortgaged to Sir Edward Hungerford and which Lord Weymouth is anxious to purchase: 11 Feb. 1683. f.73.

7. George Alsopp: (a) that "Sir Andrew Hackett (if it may correspond with his being Shereiffe) hath a desire to bee one of" the Burgesses for Tamworth for the next Parliament Tamworth, 21 Feb. 1684[5]. f.148: (b) concerning the el election of a new Town Clerk of Tamworth: 17 Aug. 1685. f. 218.

8. John Chaunler: (a) on a fishery dispute at Hornitt in Kempsford Manor: 30 June, 1685. f.166: (b) on the same subject: 4 July, 1685 - 20 March, 1686. ff. 191,288, 300, 306, 317.

9. Thomas Allen, (in charge of Lord Weymouth's horses, etc.): (a) that he is afraid they will be stolen by the rebels and suggests the stallions being removed to Kempsford: 15 June, 1685. f.168: (b) to Capt. Piers, on the same subject, that the "great Bay Mare that came from Sr H. Cholmeleigh's" being missed, search was made and she was found in a dying condition, with further news as to movements of the troops in the Duke of Monmouth's rebellion: 20 June, 1685. f.172: (c) to Lord Weymouth, on the same subject, "The newes of the Enemies approach obliged my Lady and her children to remove yesterday at 4 the morning to Sarum ...... that which indused the Rabble to take armes was a Rumor that the French were landed at Bridgewater", etc. 24 Jan. 1685. f.177: (d) that at the action on Saturday at Philipsnorton the Duke's party gave out that they "killed 80 and lost but 5", at Frome they boasted of having 30,000 men, (The Duke rode round the toun once in two houres, they call him King there as confidently as if he had the Crown on his head, and when they speak of his Majesty they call him York": 29 June, 1685.f.185: (e) further as to the Duke's movements "The report here is that they are now incamped in King's Sedgmoor, a little beyond Walton, if so your Lordship will have but little Hay there this year": 4 July, f.189: (f) to Mr Mainwaring, "They say my Lord Gray is taken near Blandford, and yesterday[Capt.] Kid was taken at Stourton and sent to Salisbury gaol: 8 July 1685. f.197. [Kid was a keeper at Longleat. He was knighted by Monmouth.]

10. Louis [Durand], Earl of Feversham, to the Justices of Somerset ordering the raising in the parish of Frome of £38 for repaying J. Russell for hay taken from him for his Majesty's service: Frome, 2 July, 1685. f.167.

11. Paull Rycaut: (a) on money matters, and as a postscript, Yesterday my lord Stamford was committed to the Tower, and is said that this day my Lord Brandon was taken into custody, all which is occasioned by the information of Goodenough": London, 25 July, 1685. f.203: (b) "The Duke of Albemarle has laid downe his Commissions being (as is said) displeased to have the Earl of Feversham preferred before him in military employments": London, 6 Aug. 1685. f.211: (c) mentioning the death of his brother Peter Rycaut, and that he himself is starting for Ireland, etc. and that the "severall antient heads of stone" which he brought from Asia he is sending to Lord Weymouth for his use: London, 5 Nov. 1685. f.262.

12. J. Hall, asking for Lord Weymouth's interposition in favour of the writer's men who were" in jayle one month, and eighteen months bound to the good behavior .... for not vailing bonnet to the loyal Captaine": 27 Aug. 1685.