USO Canteen FReeper Style....Monday Mail Call.... July 15,2002

FRiends of the USO Canteen FReeper Style and Snow Bunny

[JohnHuang2]

Good Monday morning to you, Sir.

[JohnHuang2]

Morning =^)

[SAMWolf]

ROTFLMAO. Especially that last Carlin quote.

Good luck at work to day Tonk.

[Valin]

1685 The Duke of Monmouth is executed in Tower Hill in England.

Every English town has its share of Civil War stories, but for Shepton Mallet, insurrection did not end with the defeat of Charles I and Cromwell's victory in 1645. 30 years later, Shepton Mallet played a key role in supporting the Protestant James, Duke of Monmouth against the new Catholic King, James II.

The death of Oliver Cromwell in 1658 eventually led to the restoration of the monarchy in 1660, when Charles II took the throne of England. Initially, his accession was greeted with joy in Shepton, as in the rest of the country. However, the religious problems that had beset the country were far from over, and Charles was known to detest the pro-Parliamentarian presbyterians. He immediately banned all religious meetings other than those held in parish churches, and required the clergy to take an oath of conformance .

However, Charles had no heir to succeed him, and his place was swiftly taken by his brother, James II, who had been king in all but name for some years. James was a strict Catholic, and resolved to be as tough a king as his father, Charles I. However, his claim to the throne was challenged by one of Charles II's illegitimate sons, the Protestant James Scott, Duke of Monmouth .

On June 11th 1685, Monmouth, with a band of 82 supporters, landed at Lyme Regis to the rallying cry of "Monmouth, Monmouth, God save the Protestant religion!" The Duke rode North, gathering an army of discontents, religious fanatics and the poor as he went. As he went, a number of small engagements were fought, which served to boost the confidence of the rebels.
By the time he reached Shepton Mallet twelve days later, his army had grown to well over 3,000 footsoldiers and a large well-armed band of cavalry. The streets of Shepton were brightly decorated, as the handsomely bedecked Monmouth, flanked by Lord Fareham and Lord Grey, rode down the High Street to the cheers of the town. Edward Strode, a local dignitary, (and the son of Colonel William Strode , who led Shepton's Parliamentarian troops in 1642), presented Monmouth with one hundred guineas. The people of Shepton gladly offered food, ale and shelter to his hungry, damp men. Many Sheptonians joined the rebels immediately, eager to rid the country of the hated hard-line Catholic King. The people may have been Parliamentarian just a few years earlier, but their primary loyalty was to their religion, and Shepton was wholeheartedly Protestant.

Monmouth spent the night of June 23 in Longbridge House . There he unveiled his master plan - to take Bristol, the second largest and most important city in the country. He spent the night refining his strategy, and on the morning of June 24, Monmouth's men set out determinedly for Bristol.

Unfortunately for Monmouth, he was being hunted by Lord Feversham and a strong force of Life Guards. They harried him on his way to Bristol, and this allowed time for reinforcements to be sent. Monmouth abandoned his plan, and moved on Bath instead. This was also too well defended, so on June 30, Monmouth returned to Shepton Mallet. By now his bedraggled army was noticeably smaller, whittled down by casualties and desertions. Having failed to achieve anything, they were all but broken.

This time, Shepton Mallet did not welcome the Duke. Sheptonians had already seen Feversham and his men, and were worried about reprisals. His money gone, Monmouth and his rebels simply took what they wanted. Again, Monmouth stayed one night in Longbridge House, and then moved on to Wells.

Four days later, on July 5th, at Sedgemoor, near Bridgwater, Monmouth's peasant army was massacred by the Royal army under John Churchill , later Duke of Marlborough. Monmouth escaped, and fled back to Shepton, where he sought refuge with his friend Edward Strode. He presented Strode with his brace of pistols, and then tried to get to France. Monmouth was caught in Dorset the following day, and was beheaded on Tower Hill a week later.

The King's vengeance was swift and terrible. First he sent Colonel Kirke and a band of cavalry into Somerset. Kirke and his men dragged in anyone suspected of having abetted Monmouth. Those who could ransom themselves were released: those who could not were hanged from inn signs without trial and then quartered. Nobody knows how many died.

At first King James was "well satisfied with proceedings", but he then became concerned that the rich were escaping punishment. He then sent the notorious Judge Jeffreys to the West Country. In what became known as the Bloody Assizes, Jeffreys ordered the hanging of hundreds of suspected rebels. Thirteen Sheptonians were sentenced, although one, John Ashwood, was reprieved. The remaining twelve were publicly hanged and quartered in the Market Square, and the parts of their bodies placed on poles throughout the town. Edward Strode was pardoned, but only after he had made a substantial donation to the King.

By March 10, 1686, James' lust for revenge was slaked, and he granted an amnesty to everyone except Monmouth's officers and a few high-profile rebels. Included in that list were two Sheptonians, John Tucker and Robert Penny.

However, the Monmouth rebellion was the beginning of a long period of prosperity for Shepton Mallet. Wearied by war, rebellion, and religious strife, Shepton became a highly productive centre, and boasted factories, mills, and a rapidly growing population.

Everything you never needed to know about The Duke of Monmouth.

[SAMWolf]

Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz talks with U.S. troops at the Bagram air base in Bagram, Afghanistan, Monday, July 15, 2002. (AP Photo/Regan Morris)

Cpl. Brian Shires, far right, of Fayetteville, North Carolina, asks U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, left, a question at the Bagram air base in Bagram, Afghanistan, Monday, July 15, 2002. Wolfowitz thanked the troops for their bravery, skill and courage during a visit to the base, the coalition headquarters for the war in Afghanistan. (AP Photo/Regan Morris)

[ohioWfan]

Prayers for Eric and your family ohioWfan. Let us know when he goes to AIT.

Thanks so much for your prayers and blessings!

I will surely let you know when he goes to AIT. He graduates on August 21st, and will head to Ft. Lee VA after that. We don't know any more than that right now.

[SassyMom]

Good Morning, SAM! I'm sooooo glad you had a nice day with Bunny and FG! WOO HOO!!!!! I hope you have a wonderful day, friend! (((HUG)))

[Johnny Gage]

Morning everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

aomagrat: Wow what a great expose' of the USS St. Louis! She certainly had a long and fulfilling battle career.

Time Out: 09:22
KMG-365

[SassyMom]

Thanks for the news about Eric! He not only is in the U.S. Army he is in the Lord's Army!!!! WOO HOO!!!! Prayers for him and all that he is doing. And prayers for his mom too. ;)

[Jen]

Good morning. How's your day going?

[tomkow6]

You were warned!

[redhead]

Oh, gosh...I love/hate Mail Call. It always makes me cry, but I get thrilled when I read how steadfast and faithful our wonderful troops are. You kids who wrote this week, read this:

I am a grandmother. I have two sons who served in the military, one in the Army and one in the Navy. I have a "step-granddaughter" who is presently serving in Kosovo. I couldn't be prouder of them than I am of each and every one of YOU. You are the utter greatest. You are literally God's GIFT to the world. If people had any idea of the pure patriotism that beats in your hearts, they would be in tears all the time. You have no idea how much your service means to people like me. You will never know how much I love each of you, how proud it makes me to hear from you, to see you in your combat gear in foreign countries on my behalf. You can never know the prayers I pray every day for your safety and your courage. Please. All of you. Come home in one piece. Come home safe. You pray for ME, because I know that your warriors' hearts beat strong and true. I love you. Take care. Darned lump.

[Jen]

Hi Clara. Hope you are having a good day! I have a long list of stuff I must do today, so can't freep the day away. Waaaaaaaaah! I'll pop in and out through the day. Jen

[Aeronaut]

Aeronaut, We have a Code Red Emergency Air Mission for you!!!

Launching the mission!!!

[ohioWfan]

OH, thank you, Sassy!!! Yes, indeed.....he's in the service of the KING of KINGS!

[Valin]

First of all, he is still loving boot camp!

One word...Psychoanlysis...he really should think about it. :-)
Aug. 26 1967, Lackland AFB 0200hrs. "OH MY GOD, what have I gone and done."

[ohioWfan]

LOL! But you survived, and maintained your sense of humor to boot (pun intended)!

[Jen]

LJ, are you being a brat???? Trying out for the Bad Boyz club? hahahahahahaha ;-)

The tires on my bike are still flat. I'll fill you in on the bike riding report after hubby puts air in them so I can fly with the wind in my hair down these Georgia hills! Woo Hoo!

Good morning!! Seen any eagles lately? I hope you have a good camera and can get some pix for us!!

[Jen]

Good morning Johnny. I'm going for a coffee refill. Want some?