ABSTRACT
A fresh irritant was the anticipated war formally declared by the French ambassador on 8 August. To Russell’s duties was now added the job of ensuring that all ports and landing places in Dorset, Devon and Cornwall were put in a state of defence, and preparing the country to oppose any attempt by the French to land there. The Protector had long lost patience with Russell and took little trouble to conceal it. With Herbert’s troops and the accession of the local gentry and numerous common folk eager to purge their recent disloyalty, the army was now much larger than it had been, possibly a full 8,000, as stated by Hooker. To complete the pacification of Cornwall, Russell commissioned Sir Anthony Kingston as provost marshal, who set about his work with grim efficiency and evident relish. The Protector, it will be recalled, had given instructions to hang prominent rebels in order to terrorise the population into submission.
