Early in the morning on this day, July 6, 1685, Old Style, the rebel force of the Duke of Monmouth, pretender to the Crown, was defeated at Sedgemoor. Monmouth’s rebellion was brutally crushed.
Fictional physician (clearly one with surgical skill as well) Dr. Peter Blood, in spite of having taken no part in the rebellion, was arrested for treason for having treated the wounds of a rebel.
Also arrested for treason was sea chyrurgeon Henry Pitman of Yeovil, his family Quaker, whose account of his odyssey would go far to inspire Captain Blood: His Odyssey by Rafael Sabatini.
According to Pitman, he had come to see Monmouth and his army, then headed home with a friend but found himself caught between the rebel camp and Royalist patrols. He returned to Monmouth’s camp, lost his horse (probably confiscated by the rebels), and was prevailed upon by friends in Monmouth’s army to help treat the wounded.
Pitman claimed he was merely doing his Christian duty in treating the wounded, both rebels in arms and Royalist prisoners. Though never in arms, he was in Bridgwater during the Battle of Sedgemoor, possibly even with the army as it marched to attack, and was captured as he fled homeward after the defeat.
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