Page:Devon and Cornwall Queries Vol 9 1917.djvu/81

Rh under the windows. The officers threw the stakes out to the troopers, and while they were picking up the money escaped by the back door. Eighty men were taken prisoners. Among the officers was Mr. Clifford.

About the year 1560, Sir Peter Courtenay acquired the estate of Ugbrook, which before that time belonged to Exeter Cathedral. Sir Peter's daughter Anne married Anthony Clifford, who through her became the owner of Ugbrook. Their son Thomas, commonly called Dr. Clifford, married in 1601 Anne, youngest daughter of Hugh Staplehill, of Brimble, in the parish of Ashton, whose most interesting monument is in Trusham Church. They had a son, Hugh Clifford, who married Mary Chudleigh, daughter of Sir George Chudleigh, of Ashton, and died in 1639-40; and another son, Thomas, who was born in 1630 (he was made Lord Clifford in 1672 and died in 1673). I do not know which Mr. Clifford it was engaged in this affair. It may have been the last mentioned Thomas, who would be only 15 years old, or an elder brother. But whichever member of the family it was he seems to have been living at Brimble, and one of his servants who was escaping with a bag of gold was pursued by two others sent after him. He crossed the Teign by the old bridge that broke down and was replaced by the present one about 70 years ago, came up the old Tinkley Lane, through Trusham village, past good old John Crockford's house and the old Rectory, then past Preston's (now called Prisons), owned at that time by old John Stooke, the father of William, George, John, Edward and Thomas. The old man may have stood on the wall and seen the fugitive and his pursuers gallop past. They must have been close upon him, for only about 300 yards on, just past the turn up to Ashton and Exeter and before he came to Labbers Brook as he passed along by the field called Kiln Close, called so from a lime kiln that was formerly there, he was so hard pressed that he threw the bag over the hedge. What became of the man or his pursuers is not known. The good people of Trusham cared little for him or for them, but happily for many an old soul of that fortunate parish and for the eleven Parsons whom since have enjoyed the benefaction of the "Sacrament Land Charity" thereof, the bag of gold was found by young John Stooke, son of the owner of