HISTORY OF MONMOUTH CLOSE.

“The small inclosure which has been known by the name of Monmouth close ever since the capture of the Duke of Monmouth there, in July, 1685, is one of a cluster of small inclosures, five in number, which stood in the middle of Shag’s Heath, and were called ‘The Island.’  They are in the parish of Woodlands.

“The tradition of the neighbourhood is this:  viz.  That after the defeat of the Duke of Monmouth at Sedgemoor, near Bridgewater, he rode, accompanied by Lord Grey, to Woodyates, where they quitted their horses; and the Duke having changed clothes with a peasant, endeavoured to make his way across the country to Christchurch.  Being closely pursued, he made for the Island, and concealed himself in a ditch which was overgrown with fern and underwood.  When his pursuers came up, an old woman gave information of his being in the Island, and of her having seen him filling his pocket with peas.  The Island was immediately surrounded by soldiers, who passed the night there, and threatened to fire the neighbouring cotts.  As they were going away, one of them espied the skirt of the Duke’s coat, and seized him.  The soldier no sooner knew him, than he burst into tears, and reproached himself for the unhappy discovery.  The Duke when taken was quite exhausted with fatigue and hunger, having had no food since the battle but the peas which he had gathered in the field.  The ash tree is still standing under which the Duke was apprehended, and is marked with the initials of many of his friends who afterwards visited the spot.

“The family of the woman who betrayed him were ever after holden in the greatest detestation, and are said to have fallen into decay, and to have never thriven afterwards.  The house where she lived, which overlooked the spot, has since fallen down.  It was with the greatest difficulty that any one could be made to inhabit it.

“The Duke was carried before Anthony Etterick, Esq., of Holt, a justice of the peace, who ordered him to London.

“His gold snuff box was afterwards found in the pea-field, full of gold pieces, and brought to Mrs. Uvedaile, of Horton.  One of the finders had fifteen pounds for half the contents or value of it.

“Being asked what he would do if set at liberty,—­the Duke answered, that if his horse and arms were restored, he only desired to ride through the army, and he defied them all to take him again.”

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Drayton’s poems.

In addition to the notes on Drayton by Dr. Farmer, communicated in your 2nd number, the following occurs in a copy of Drayton’s Poems, printed for Smithwicke, in 1610, 12mo.:—­

    “See the Return from Parnassus for a good character of
    Drayton.

    “See an Epigram by Drayton, I suppose, prefixed to Morley’s
    first Booke of Balletes.