prejudice. Thus desireing your pardon for thoubleing you with these long lines I rest

Pray Sir, acquaint Mr Stot what it is Mr Farrow chargeth me withall. I desire to know that I may be provided when I come again, which wilbe very shortly. I would not have gon away without seeing you and all concern'd, but I want Farrow's acquittances, besides other occasions forceth me (though unwillingly) to depart at present. I pray acquaint him also whether allowances wilbe granted for the steward's fee my fee and court dinners, and then I can better tell how to act. I was at my lord's to have met with you. but you were gone out. No more at present but that I am

Jan: 18th, 1665.

your servant

Hen: Delavall.†

Mr John Fenwick‡ is resolved to pay no rent at all for his leasland in Bedlington nor hath not paid any this year.

H. D.

[The half-sheet with address and seal is missing.]

* Evidently one of Mrs. Cosin's kinsfolk. Perhaps Colonel Blakiston of Piddinghall Garth in the county of Durham and of Old Malton.

† Henry Delaval of Cowpen and of Bedlington was the eighth son of Sir Ralph Delaval of Seaton Delaval by his wife Jane, daughter of Thomas Hilton, a baron of the Bishopric. He died about the year 1668, the inventory of his goods being exhibited on the 30th January, 1668. By his wife Magdalen, daughter of Ralph Bowes of Newcastle, he had issue three sons and two if not three daughters. cf. pedigree, New History of Northumberland, vol. ix, p. 170.

‡ In 1650 Robert Fenwick purchased the manor of Bedlington, parcel of the possessions of the dissolved see of Durham, for nearly £1,300, and was knight of the shire in 1654 and 1656. His return provoked the indignation of Sir Robert Collingwood of Brandon in the parish of Eglingham, who was reported to the House of Commons to have asserted that Fenwick " was a base fellow: his father was hanged for felony and he did wonder who sent him to parliament." He is stated to have been a good genealogist. Fenwicks lingered in Bedlington as freeholders or copyholders far down the eighteenth century. cf. Hutchinson, Durham, vol. i, p. 514; Rev. John Hodgson, Northumberland, part ii, vol. ii, p. 351.

WILLIAM MARSHALL TO MILES STAPYLTON.

Honoured Sir:

Since my last letter unto I have beene amongst the fishermen, and hath made a better discovery of the fishings soe that I have raised them to seaven shillings eight pence a week which, att present, is all that I can make of itt, and making enquirie att Barmby* I am informed by one that Barmby ferrie belongs unto my lord, and he thinkes he hath some writeings that will make itt appeare, which he hath promised to show me, and soe soone as I have seene them I shall give you an account theirof accordingly. The first weeke after the assisces the tennants doth intend to come over, att which time we all hope to be with you. Thus hopeing to heare from you because I forbeare the disposing of the Bishop Middowes untill then.

Mr Cross tennants desired me to write unto you to know my lord's minde in their continuing the course of husbandry upon Walkington deamaines, which they refuse to doe except they have my lord's order for itt. I hope this next weeke to make a perfect discovery of the vallew of the ferries and fishings and of the Bishop Middowes, and, if you thinke convenient, send you the vallew of every particuler towne's fishing and passage by itt-selfe as allsoe the names of the particuler tennants. According to your first order my brother Young went with me to Booth and Saltmarsh to assist me in the disposing of them, att which time we tooke what we could gitt for that week, and they were but then a setting their fishgarths soe that we would not discourage them, and they have now sett all their fishings whereby now I shall better understand the vallew of them. My brother Young will be willing to signe a lease with others of the fishings att Scelton. † Thus with my love and service, with my brother Young remembred unto you, Mr Arden, and Mr Neile, I am Your servant to commaund

William Marshall.

Howden this

3 of February, 1665.

And sent to goe by the post from Yorke.

[Addressed] For

His Honoured Freind Mr Myles

Stapylton att my Lord

Bishop of Durham Castle

in Durham.

theise

Present.

* Barmby-on-the-Marsh, a chapelry in the parish of Howden. lies a little below the junction of the Derwent and Ouse.

† Skelton, a hamlet on the Ouse in the parish of Howden.

The village

Sir:

THOMAS MAN TO MILES STAPYLTON.

The last great storme of wind blew downe part of mine house, so as I now intreat you obteine for me my lord's hand that I may have a sufficient quantity, which I shall solely and onely use for the repaire of the vicaridge, and upon no other pretence whatever, and I earnestly desire his lordshipp would insert that I may have the benefit of the usuall way to lead them away. It would have bene well his lordshipp would have caused the west end of the building to be set apart for the use of the church and vicaridge; and not suffer the whole fabrick or ruines to go away, and be bestowed of as Mr Lascelles* and his workmen please, otherwise then his lordshipp thinks of. I pray Sir let the order be under my lord's hand, if it be not full Mr Lascelles will not yield to it, for he useth me as a Turk, the Lord pardon him, for he hath made my life very uncomfortable. If the palsy, scurvy, and spleene had not so strongly seazed on me I had executed his lordshipp's commands ere now, but now since he hath Mr Lascelles accounts the truth will more easily be knowne. I know not whether ever I be able to see Durrham or not, however I intend to leave those papers and hints behind me which will let more appeare then there hath donne. My humble service to my lord, God give him many yeares. I am Yours at command

Allerton, Feb. 8, 1665.

Thomas Man.

I pray Sir write with what speed you can for Mr Lascelles is goeing away, and so I may be frustrate.

[Addressed] For his worthy Friend

Mr Stapleton at

my Lord Bishop

of Durrhams Pallace

at /

Durrham.

WILLIAM MARSHALL TO MILES STAPYLTon.

Honoured Sir:

Your letters of the 23th of January and the 3d of February I have receavd. In answere to your letter of the 23th of January I have made inquirie of severall to take a lease of Walkington deameines, butt cannot heare of any (for land is very low and tennants generally poore as I am informed). I had some occasion to Beverley, and meeting with one Mr Forge of Beverley, a man well knowne unto

* Probably Francis Lascelles of Stank and Northallerton (1612-1667), M.P. for Northallerton 1633, 1654, 1656, 1660, who married Frances, daughter of Sir William St. Quinton of Harpham, first baronet. Ex. inf., Mr. William Brown; cf. Ingledew, Northallerton, p. 313.

Doctor Neile, was asking him what Walkington land was worth an oxgang, I knowing him to have the conduct of severall gentlmen's estates their about, as allsoe the conduct of the Lady Hansby† estate of a place called Bishop Burton, which feilds joynes upon Walkington feilds, and he hath formerly lett an oxgang of land there for five markes per annum and now of late he hath lett some of the oxgangs there att fower noubles an oxgang per annum, and there was ten oxgang of land untennanted, and he was forced to lett them for three yeares for noe rent att all onely they paying assessments for the land, and I perceive by him their is more middow belongs unto their oxgangs then doth belong unto my lord's, for I heare their is but fower ackres of middow in Welton Ings, and a garth called Hengarth which is all the middow that belongs unto my lord's oxgangs soe that I cannot gitt the man, whose name is Atkinson, that hath a desire to be tennant unto my lord for Walkington deameines, noe higher then 20s per annum for every oxgang there, and he is not willing to give above five yeare's true vallew for a lease. As for the woods there, I cannot heare of a tennant for them, but he is willing to be tennant to them paying my lord his rent, and for a lease the fees of the seale for he saith there cannott be any thing made of them this seaven yeares by reason they are cutt up (and much of them distroyed by the gentlman that is now tennant unto them as both the receaver and I hath severall times satisfied my lord before, and as yitt we never receavd any order from my lord for the preserving of them for being further distroyed). Mr Atkinson would intreat soe much favour of you as to know my lord's minde herein, or those gentlmen which my lord hath disposed of the deameines unto, as soone as you can, and he will be obleiged unto you, for otherwise he will dispose of his money. He saith he can purchase an estate of inheritance after the rate of 14 yeare's true vallew. As for the issues that belongs unto my lord for Howdenshire I writt a letter unto Mr Wauler,‡ the under-sheriff, the next day after the receipt of your letter, and I heare since he was then gone to London, and, so soone as he returnes, I intend to goes to him to Yorke, and, according to your order, gitt a note of the remainer of the yeares issues, which I shall bring with me when I come with the receaver to Durham which I thinke will be

* Dr. John Neile (nephew of Dr. Neile, sometime Bishop of Durham and afterwards Archbishop of York) was appointed prebendary of the third stall, Durham, in 1635, archdeacon of Cleveland 1638, prebendary of Strenshall in York Minster 1660, rector of Sigston 1661, vicar of Northallerton 1669, dean of Ripon 1674, and died 14th April, 1675. cf. Hutchinson, Durham, vol. ii, P. 180.

† Perhaps a member of the family of Hans or Hansby of Beverley, whose pedigree is entered in the Visitation of 1584-5, p. 138. Ex. inf. Mr. William Brown.

shortly. Thus with my love and service remembred unto you, Mr Arden and Mr Neile, I rest

I thought to have waited on your lordship upon Tuesday according to my promise and engagement; but finding it not so with me as I expected am forced to break my promise: for I know I may as well not come, as come unprovided to give your lordship satisfaccion in every particular. I trust your lordship will not run on to extreames with your servant for be assured it is farr beyond my nature to do the least wrong to any living, and rather then I shalbe accounted soe to do, especially to the church, I will have no more behinde. When I first received your lordship's Patent (being then by reason of the late rebellion in a low condicion) I was notwithstanding forced (I know not whether your lordship had it) to pay unto Capt: Farrer* ten pounds for the same, ere I could have it, which money I was glad at that tyme to borrow, and meerely because my inclination was to do your lordship service there, their being none in all the parish that I know off able to perform this small office. Truly my lord when all accounts is rightly stated I shall not be oweing so much by farr as the bond mencions. For notwithstanding most be allowed upon the roll both for court dinners which is six, at 30° per dinner, the steward's fee for 4 year, at 40 per annum: my own fee at 21 68 8a per annum, for 3 year and a half, and 11s odet money which is charged upon my colleccion more then ever I did receive for every year, it being all in your lordship's receiver's hands, for I was never allowed one penny thereof. My charge which your lordship chargeth me withall from the beginning will not amount, as I account it, above twenty seven pounds;

* Probably John Farrer of Durham and of Bradbury in the parish of Sedgefield, was one of Bishop Cosin's receivers from 1662 to 1670. He was buried at Sedgefield 23rd January, 1681-2. His granddaughter, Rebecca, only surviving child of John Farrer of Bradbury, became wife of Robert Wren of Binchester. cf. pedigree of Farrer, Surtees, Durham, vol. iii, p. 43.

† (ode? on (onere ?). Perhaps he was going to write 11 over and in writing, altered the v to ode money.