INTRODUCTION.

Miles Stapylton, under whose name the following letters are printed, was the third son of Bryan Stapylton of Myton, in the North Riding of Yorkshire, by his wife Frances, daughter of Sir Henry Slingsby of Scriven. On both sides he was related to ancient and influential families in the North of England. Few particulars of his early life have been recovered, but on, or soon after, Bishop Cosin's appointment to the see of Durham, he made Stapylton his auditor and commissioner residing at Durham. Later on, he was made Keeper, or chief Librarian, of the Library the Bishop had founded on the Palace Green, which, to the present day, remains a monument of his episcopate. In the offices of Auditor and Commissioner Stapylton deservedly gained as much of the confidence of that shrewd prelate as he was willing to give to any man. The candour and engaging querulousness displayed in the Bishop's letters disclose their relations better than words.

Stapylton served the Bishop faithfully-acting as one of his executors-without feathering his own nest. He was buried in or at the Cathedral on the 10th May, 1685. It is unknown whether he left any real estate, but administration of his personal estate was sought and obtained in the very month of his death by two creditors.

What is known of his descendants is set out in the accompanying pedigree.

The series of letters now printed under the heading of The Correspondence of Miles Stapylton," is from the collections of the late Doctor Greenwell, who stated he had rescued them from the sweepings of an old Durham solicitor's office. Seemingly the last of the school of historians and archeologists which the genius loci of Durham has fostered for many centuries, Doctor Greenwell testified the abiding interest he continued to take, to the very end, in the work and welfare of the Surtees Society-of which he was a member for over 74 years-by handing the letters, in the last year of his life, to the present editor for the purposes of the Society.

It may be mentioned that numerous letters addressed by Bishop Cosin to Stapylton, formerly at Bishop Auckland, are now bound up into volumes deposited in Bishop Cosin's Library. They have been creamed and used by Mr. George Ornsby for his sympathetically edited Correspondence of Bishop Cosin, being Nos. 52 and 55 of the publications of the Surtees Society.

at Marske (c); bur. 13 Sept., 1723, at Watlass (c)

., 1698, at Marske (c); wife of Richard Tennant (c); mar. 27 Sept., mentioned in her mother's will (d)

700/1, at Marske (c), to whom her brother gave an annuity for her ng children, together with his medals and MSS.(d)

702/3, at Marske (c); wife of Thomas Raisbeck of Stockton; mar. atlass(); her sons John Stapylton and William are named in their 2)

, 1704; bur. 19 June, 1704, at Marske

1707, at Watlass (c); wife of Thomas Robinson, rector of Wycliffe ; (c); her son Stapylton and dau. Mary are named in their grandlatter became wife of Joshua Greenwell of Kibblesworth, co. Durham (c) 1714, at Watlass (c); wife of John Soux; mar. 14 Feb., 1739/40 (c) ; Stapylton and Mary, are named in their grandmother's will (d)

on of Yorkshire, with Additions, by J. W. Clay, vol. i, p. 177. xoniensis.

Arch. Ael., 2nd ser., vol. v, p. 12.

120 face p. 134

THE

CORRESPONDENCE OF MILES STAPYLTON

RICHARD NEILE to MYLES STAPYLTON.

Deare Miles*:

Durham, 22th July, 1665.

I have staid soe long in expectance of a return from Carleton about Mason and Bell buesenes, and find it soe full of trouble, being now about the last remedie I can at present find out, having to longe beene foolled with Mason in hopes he would have brought it to an end, that I can not possible returne, especially having taking 2 stoned horses, of which I shall make the best I can towards the money owing to my lord by Mason, of which afore I can dispose there must be some formallityes of law observed and some time spent. Other things I have heare to doe necessary for my lord's buesenes in other affaires and to longe for the time I have to write this in. Onely lett me desire you to give some causion, if occasion serve, and I be blaimed for this strict proceeding against a bond-man to distraine his horses (especially being a neighbour of any related to Sam[uel] Davison† for my presumption), that I have done nothing but what is legally and what lett him who ever he be, be never soe mercyfull in appeareance would doe the like.

This morning the Earle of Carlisle came to see the castle and presents his service to my lord, who was going northward.

* Miles Stapylton was third son of Bryan Stapylton of Myton, near Boroughbridge, by his marriage with Frances, daughter of Sir Henry Slingsby of Scriven, and also brother of Sir Henry Stapylton, who was created a baronet 22nd June, 1660. Little is known of his earlier life previous to his appointment by Bishop Cosin to be his auditor, and subsequently the librarian of the library the Bishop built, founded, and endowed on the Palace Green of Durham. He deservedly obtained as much of the confidence of that prelate as he was willing to bestow on any man. From a letter which is printed in this series he seems to have been married twice. His second wife, whom he married at St. Olave's, Jewry, on the 8th August, 1655, was Elizabeth, daughter of [John] Hind, a citizen of London. The issue of the marriage is set out in the pedigree.

Miles Stapylton, who was buried in the Cathedral of Durham on the 10th May, 1685, seems to have died insolvent, or at the least in debt, for in the same month of May administration of his goods was granted out of the Court at Durham to William Wilson and John Wilson, both of the city of Durham, creditors of the intestate.

† Samuel Davison of Wingate, a younger son of Sir Alexander Davison of Newcastle and of Blakiston, was entered at Gray's Inn, 10th May, 1634. He married, 23rd December, 1662, at Auckland St. Andrew, Dame Elizabeth Burton, already twice a widow, daughter of Bishop Cosin; and to the great and vehement displeasure of the Bishop, was in his absence buried in the new domestic chapel at Auckland, 15th April, 1671.

The Deane when I waited upon him, this morning, according to appointment, for answere to my lord's letter, after some discourse I could only gett this that he said he should be sorry to returne my lord an unpleasant answere, and would not absolutely deny the confirmation of the lease of Howden, but said this was the same my lord had moved to them about Newcastle lease, at which if I could read any thing but by speaking he meant the Chapter did repent them, and for this said that it would not be well if it was knowne (but to whom the (sic) said not) either for my lord to move the reconfirmation of the lease, or for the Deane and Chapter to grant it, and this was all the answere I could gett, which was from him alone, the Chapter being not to sitt till Tuesday as you know, but he told me he had communicated it to them in the time I had left it with him. If my lord please to command me to waite on them againe I shall readily doe my duty, but should with more alacrity doe it by way of demand, for I thinke nothing will be done as it ought till my lord trie his birthright as Bishop.

Your affectionate freind and servant

R. Neile.†

I beleive my lord may receive a letter in behalfe of Mason and Bell from Sir Tho: or a complaint from Sam: D[avison]; but if I must answere my lord as he expecteth I must take the liberty of the law without feare of any; the one I doe not doubt in any thing but that he would be a popular mercyfull man but the others envie I beleive will shew its teeth but cannot bite.

[Addressed] For Mr Myles Stapylton,

these.

Take care as you open this letter.

MILES STAPYLTON to MISS Elizabeth FenWICK.

Deare Cosin:

I am very sorry your sudden departure from Durham hath snatched from me the opportunity of enjoying your good company, at a time when I had promised to my selfe the advantage of having more frequent occasions of waiting on you, then I have at any time heretofore had, or can reasonably expect for the future

* John Sudbury, dean 1662–1684.

† Richard Neile, attorney at law, second son of Sir Paul Neile of Hutton Bonville, Yorkshire, grandson of Dr. Richard Neile, archbishop of York, and great-grandson of Paul Neile of King Street, Westminster, tallow chandler, was appointed by Bishop Cosin, by patent dated 12th March, 1665, to be undersheriff of the county palatine of Durham. He married, in October or November, 1667, Anne, widow of Charles Brandling of Alnwick Abbey, daughter and coheir of Robert Widdrington of Plessey, by whom he had issue one son, Paul, who died in infancy, and three daughters. He was knighted 29th November, 1686, and in the following year was sheriff of Northumberland. He is stated to have died in London, 3rd March, 1692, leaving, him surviving, two daughters and coheirs, Margaret, afterwards wife of Stephen Harwood, and Frances, afterwards wife of John Setton of the city of Durham.