The interesting history of Moyles Court

Moyles Court is mentioned in the doomsday book of 1086 as held by Cola the Huntsman but it's not until 1614 that Alicia Lisle nee Beconsawe was born and our little history begins.

In 1630, Alicia married John Lisle of Wooton, Isle of Wight and joined two eminent families: her father, Sir William White Beconsawe and John Lisle's an army Colonel, Judiciary and assessor to Bradshaw at the trial of Charles I, who was also a staunch Parliamentarian during the English Civil War (1642 – 1646) and was later made a Viscount by Oliver Cromwell. He was also involved in the trial and subsequent execution of Charles I.

The death of Oliver Cromwell (1658) and the restoration of the monarchy (1660) saw problems for John and he fled to Switzerland to avoid the wrath of the Cavalier Parliament. He was eventually murdered in Lausanne in 1664 for his involvement in the king's death.

After the death of Charles II (1685) James II succeeded to the Crown but, as most successions were, this was disputed by James, Duke of Monmouth.

Preparations were made and eventually Monmouth landed at Lyme Regis, Dorset in June 1685. His ill-equipped and ill-trained army met the Royal Army at Sedgemoor, Somerset where it was routed. Monmouth fled the field and was captured at Ringwood, subsequently being beheaded in London. Monmouth's followers were rounded up and the notorious Judge Jefferies toured the West Country condemning 1300 souls to death or deportation.

John Hickes, to escape this revenge, sought shelter from Alicia after fleeing the battle of Sedgemoor. Although Alicia knew Hickes was wanted she thought this was for religious dissent not treason! Hickes was discovered hiding in the malt house by Colonel Penruddock and after trial, hung, drawn and quartered.

At Winchester, Alicia was charged with the treason of harbouring the King's enemies. Three times the jury found her innocent and three times Judge Jeffries refused to accept the verdict. After much coercion, and probably in fear for their own lives, the jury found her guilty and she was sentenced to be burnt at the stake. After the intercession of the Clergy of Winchester, James II commuted the sentence to beheading and Alicia was put to the sword on 2 September 1685 in Winchester market square.