"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."
* * * * *