(Illustration is a tiny excerpt from Hogarth's 'Credulity, Superstition and Fanaticism: a Medley'.)
Pp. 253-255 in Mercurius Publicus, Comprising the sum of Forraign Intelligence, Issue 16 (April 16th -23rd 1663), published in Oxford.
The Examination of William Drury of Ufcut in the County of Wilts, Tayler; taken this 15 of April 1663, before Isaac Burges Esq; one of his Majesties Justices of Peace for the said County.
This examinant saith, that he was at the late Assizes holden at Gloucester, indicted for the felonious taking away of two pigs from ----- and that upon his arraignment he was found guilty, begged for the psalm of mercy, and read for his life.
And this examinant further saith, that upon Friday last, the 10 of this instant April, the gaoler with six watermen assisting, forced him out of prison at Gloucester, carried him to the water-side, and there put him into a barge, wherein were three prisoners brought from Hereford, two from Worcester, and four taken out of the gaol at Gloucester; all nine being willing to be sent away; but himself refusing, was forced into the barge about six o’clock Friday morning last; in which barge he this examinant saith there were seven barge-men, and no more, nor any other guard upon the ten prisoners. Immediately they set forth for King-road, made within a mile of Newnam near Aust-passage, and there they lay at anchor for a fresh tide, which was upon Saturday last.
And he this examinant saith, the barge-men being all asleep, he leapt forth into the sea in his clothes, and swam to land: and that at the same time he saw three or four more of the prisoners escape in the same manner; and that there was no bustle or opposition made against them by any in the barge; but if there had, he this examinant saith he was resolved to have knocked them on the head, or they should have done so by him; but he would have escaped; for he was resolved never to go beyond sea.
And he this Examinant further saith, he came upon Monday last (in his way home) to Malmsbury, and there bought a drum of James Fowler, having formerly bought a drum of him, viz. the same drum that Mr John Mompesson had taken from him at Ludgurshal, and lo with the drum at his back came to his house at Ufcut, on Monday night last, and there beat his drum.
That he was apprehended and seized Tuesday morning last by the said Mr Mompesson, and brought before Justice, viz. Mr Burges aforesaid, on Wednesday last, and then charged by Mr Mompesson with suspicion of promoting Witchcrafts, and to causing the troubles that had been in his house for above these twelve months.
The [?] the Drummer for himself.
The Information of Mr John Mompesson of Tedworth in the County of Wilts, taken this 15 of April, 1663, upon oath, against William Drury.
Who saith, that at the beginning of March last was twelve month he being at Ludgurshal in this county, at the bailiff’s house, and hearing a drum beat, enquired what drum it was. The bailiff informed him that he was a stranger going for Portsmouth, having a pass under the hands and seals of two of his Majesties Justices of Peace for the County of Wilts for his passing to Portsmouth, and to be allowed and relieved in his journey; and that he had been requiring money of them, and they were collecting money for him.
He this informant saith, that suspecting him to be a Cheat, he desired the Officer of the town to send for him, which accordingly he did, and examining him how he dared go up and down in that way beating his drum, and requiring money; he this informant saith Drury answered, I have good authority; and produced a pretended pass under the hands and seals as aforesaid; Drury positively affirming it was their hands and seals. He this informant saith, that knowing it to be counterfeit, he charged him with it, and was sending him before a Justice of Peace: and then Drury begged and conffesed he made it: and upon his begging he let that pass. But he this informant futher saith he took away his drum; which Drury was very unwilling to part with.
He this informant saith, he left the Drum for some time after at Ludgurshal; and that immediately after he had sent for the drum to his house, a drum began to beat in the night, Roundheads and Cuckolds go dig, go dig, (which the said Drury did usually beat, and seldom any other note.) This beating of a drum increased more and more, from room to room: at last he this informant saith, he burnt the drum that he had taken from Drury; and then the beating of a drum, and sometimes knocking, several great noises, scratching, troubling the beds, sometimes the noise so violent that it might be heard a mile; and continues to this day, and more than formerly.
And if they call to it, as several persons have, saying, Devil, Knocker or Drummer, come tell us; if the man from whom the drum was taken be the cause of this, give three knocks, and no more: and immediately three loud knocks were given, and no more. After that, another time, Come, tell us if the man from whom the drum was taken be the cause of all this, by giving five knocks, and away; and presently five very loud knocks were given, and away, and no more heard that time.
Drury’s examination as to this confesses his being at Ludgurshal about the time named, and his beating drum there; his false pass, and that Mr Mompesson took away from him his drum; but denies that he has any way practised witchcraft, or that he has been any way the cause of that trouble.
For the escape made by him, add the charge given against him by Mr Mompesson of witchcraft, he was sent to the county gaol at Sarum, there to remain till the next Assizes.
It may be observed that this Drury was about four or five months since committed to Gloucester gaol for felony; and Mr Mompesson being informed he had several times in the gaol expressed himself pleased at the report of the troubles in his house, saying, Although the drum be burnt, the Devil is not dead; and that he had been better let me and my drum alone: two or three days after the late Assizes holden there, resolved to go down to Gloucester, forty miles from his house, to inform himself what was become of Drury. The night before he took his journey, a drum beat in his stable, where it had not been heard to beat before; and the morrow morning his gelding being brought forth of the stable, was fallen very lame; but however, he went for Gloucester, and there was informed as before related, that he was sent away for Virginia.
Mr Mompesson being upon his return back from Gloucester, in his way, on Monday night last, lodged at a place called Wroughton in this county; within two miles of Ufcut. On Thursday morning he was informed that the said Will. Drury came to his house at Ufcut, the Monday night, with a drum at his back, and had beat it that night. Upon which Mr Mompesson procured a warrant to search for, and apprehend him: which the same day was accordingly done, and the said Drury sent to gaol.
It is supposed that this Drury, with the other prisoners, have made this escape by murthering [murdering] the barge-men.
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If you're intrigued by the rhythm 'Roundheads and Cuckolds go dig go dig' you can read lots about it (including in the context of this very story) in Pete Stewart's interesting article on the Lowland and Border Pipers' Society website.
'Tedworth' is Tidworth, specifically North Tidworth. 'Ufcut' is Uffcott, and 'Ludgurshal' is Ludgershall. 'Sarum' is Salisbury. 'Malmsbury' is Malmesbury.
If 'Newnam' is Newnham, then that's not really very near Aust Passage (it's on the far side of the Severn, much closer to Gloucester). Maybe it refers to the site of the New Passage ferry that ran from near Redwick from the 1630s, which was only a couple of miles away from Aust?
