Joseph Prust

Joseph Prust (1620–1677) of Annery, in the parish of Monkleigh, Devon, was a royalist military commander during the Civil War.

in the Regiment of Horse of Sir Thomas Stucley (d.1663) of Affeton Castle[6] and that he lost a hand during combat in the Civil War at Plymouth.

[7] His ledger stone shows the following biographical inscription: "Here lieth interred Joseph Prust of Annerie gent.

sometime leiutent colon'l of horse to sr. Thomas Stuckley in his Maj'ties service of blessed memory Charles the First in which he lost one of his hands in fight before Plimouth.

How law, religion, loyalty did fall, How first we lost the king & church then all, Experience shews 'twas because few at need, Who much pr'tended proud th'r freinds indeed, Here's one stood firme & gave his hand to own, Wr to but name at length was treason grown, Rebellions like the Hydra's heads doe grow, One cut of here & two rise up below, His hand such monsters knew how to suppress, Briareus' hundred hands can't soe redress, Oh Heaven's grant we nere may see again, The raging dogstar o'retop Charles his wain, Nor yet the wolfe usurp the lion's crown, Rebellion rampant & allegiance down, But if the Fates such times should have decreed, How much such hands as his was shall we need".