At Exeter in the year 1653:
"A strange Accident happened in Paris-street, without the East-gate of this City and parcel of the Suburbs thereof; one John Bettison Clerk, Rector of the Parish of St. Mary Clist, about three Miles distant hence, 11 Januaris, about six o' th' clock in the Evening of that Day, returning homewards from this City, being mounted on a good Gelding, and having his Wife behind him thereon, (the Well in the said Street about 40 foot deep, being decayed, and the mouth thereof being covered only with a few Thorns or Brambles) the Gelding with his Riders still sitting him, fell down therein: The Neighbours hearing a Noise and Outcry, the Evening being dark, presently brought forth Lights, and perceiving the sad Disaster, suddenly procured Means to help the Parson and his Wife out of the said Well, who were both recovered up safe and sound, without the least harm, the Fear being greater than the Danger: then was the Gelding likewise taken up, but so much bruised that he soon died."
This wonderful story had been remembered, in all its glorious detail, for seventy-one years when it was published in the Isackes' Antiquities of Exeter. When the parson of Clyst St. Mary fell down the well,... with his wife!,... on his horse!, the city was still suffering from the aftermath of the Civil War; four years earlier the king's head had been chopped off; the Commonwealth judges were still condemning to death honest men who had supported the Royalist cause and trade had suffered desperately. It must have cheered everybody to tell and retell the story of Parson Clerk's accident, especially as there was a happy ending, to it, except, of course, for the poor, bruised gelding.
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