for it as fast as I can, according to his owne and my daughter's desire, to whom I trow now he is sufficiently beholden as he is likewise to her sister here. And so, I pray, tell them both.

I had the duplicats sent up by Mr Morland, etc. Mr Francis Hall is not here, but John Hall, and Christopher Hall* takes time and deliberates what to doe, having no direcion from his father. Francis Hall lives, I hear, with Mr Errington in Yorkeshire. In the mean while I receive nothing from Chilton but trouble, from which would you could once free me and let the poor almesmen and the poor schollars have their stipend.

Sir Robert Carre† hath appointed me to receive the 5511 bill tomorrow but as yet I have received nothing.

[The half-sheet with address is missing.]

[Not endorsed.]

WILLIAM FLOWER TO MILES STAPYLTON.

Mr Stapleton:

Pell Mell, London, May the 4th, 1668.

I received one from you yesternight for which I thanke you; and to which let this suffice for answer.

Ι

I am glad your bookes are safely arriv'd at your hand, of which I received a catalogue enclosed in yours. I hope they were so very carefully put up, that they did not rub or bruise one another. Those two which you want I cannot find out, I will try however once more if perhaps I may light on them. And as for the Civill and Cannon Law, I will not impose any thing upon you in that or any other matter, onely give me leave to commend the great use, fullness, and ingenuity of the study, and those bookes in 4 volumes are incomparably worth the buying and the moneys at any time, and I pickt them up before they were all gone (that being the last of 24) at Mr Scot's, just upon the delivery of your bookes to the Richmond carrier.

I writ to Mr Archdeacon Greenvile about a fortnight agoe but had no returne, and therefore I fear my letter miscarried. I pray

*Bishop Cosin purchased Chilton from his wife's kinsfolk, the Halls of Newsham. cf. pedigree of Hall of Newsham, Surtees, Durham, vol. iii, p. 207. Ibid., vol. i, Appendix cxn.

† Sir Robert Carr of Sleaford in Lincolnshire, succeeded his father as third baronet 14th August, 1667. He was of Gray's Inn, barrister-at-law, and chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

"Mr. Scot" was the Bishop's London bookseller, from whom he evidently made frequent purchases for the library he had built and endowed on the Palace Green, as well as for the library he designed to remain with his descendants at Brafferton. On the 23rd December, 1669, the Bishop wrote that Scott was new "return'd out of France and Holland with a great many good bookes among which is Albertus Magnus.... the Byzantine History. . . . Scotus . . . Panormitan. . . . Tractatus Tractatuum ... I wish wee could get money either by contribution or disposing of patents and offices to purchase them.' cf. Correspondence of Bishop Cosin, Surtees Soc., No. lv, pp. 218, 274.

....

"

you speake to him, and send me word in your next about paying Mr Monday for writing his instruments: he stands upon 40 shillings which seemes to me very unreasonable, but he is very dear.

I have bought for you the Advices to a Painter, cost me 18a. Mr Arden would have given me moneys for it again, but I resolve it for you. I have others for you, but they cost me dear because of privacy and employing one to get them. I keep them for you for 1 matter them not, having read them before.

Wee have very ill success with our horses, one of the 5 I lately payd for, no body knowes how, was chapfalne and could take no meat and is dead. Bid no body tell my lord on it yet. Our horses are expected now about Tuesday or Wednesday next. I shall take the horse you commend. If you meet us at Ferrybridge, or this side of Yorke, I may chance get time to step thither and meet my lord at Brafferton againe, or Northallerton, how this may fall out wee shall know hereafter as my lord designes his journeys. I believe it will be Tuesday or Wednesday sennight afore we get out. The 29th of May falls out on Fryday that weeke. Pray if you have any thing to say or command me, let me have it by next Wednesday or Fryday, not venture Monday least I miss your letter.

I cannot light on Mr Wivall to fix the payment of Mr Nicholls* his salerry. I shall attend him when he comes to towne, being absent this weeke though he appointed last Tuesday for me to meet him at his lodging, I know not whether I shall find it as you prophecy.

For newes still I have continually hinted as it fell out, though not so largely. If I should empty my-selfe before our coming downe, I believe you would have little but wind, for no newes stirring now.

The two monthes Philosophicall Transactions,† viz. March and May, if this monthe's P. Transactions bee printed before our coming downe, I will get for you, or any thing else you desire, but I shall have abundance to doe this two weekes, etc.

Indeed your country newes is surprising. I did acquaint my lord with it. I hope you will give me in your next a full account with all the circumstances in your next letter, and as it shall happen to your hand, and there is no doubdt but you will take speciall cognizance upon all such kind of deportments and affaires.

My lord received your letter about Chilton. I went to speake to Mr Deane, as you intimated, about Bedley, who gave me only this account that the two coopartners were willing in the matter, and that Mr Hall was sent to, to know his resolution whether he was agreeing to the bargaine, but he told me not of any returne or answer received as yet, but expected. My lord would have you stop any

66

* Probably John Nicholls, master of Bishop Langley's song school, whom Bishop Cosin describes as a diligent painfull man.' cf. Correspondence of Bishop Cosin, Surtees Soc., No. lv, p. 203.

†The Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London begin in the year 1665,

further proceedings till you have spoken with Mr Hall about this matter. My lord would also know whether the bonds that Mr Robert Blakiston left in Mr Newhouse's* hands be cancell'd or not, and whether they should be cancell❜d or no.

Mr Shaw,† in the Shields, desires my lord to grant a charter for a new market, my lord would have you give an account what conveniencies or inconveniences in such a grant and what profit or advantages may be made of it.

Sir Gilbert desires you to speake to the persons you employ at Brafferton to take care of preserving the woods there and the pheasants, that neither be destroyed. I have heard there is good game there.‡

I pray you present my humble service to Mr Davenport and all good friends with you. Tell him how that a great deal of moneys had been layd out in one part of Paul's for making a convenient place for the quire, but very unhappily one pillar fell downe which pul'd downe a good deal more, with very much damage and disappointment of their intentions. I would have writ to him, but that I have no materiall businesse worth communicating or sending in a letter.

You told me you could commend Stapleton to me for a good horse. I should have gladly have made use of him, but I was told by one, etc., that my lord should say 2 or 3 nights agoe as if his lordshipp expected that I should buy a horse for my-selfe to come downe, as usually his chaplains kept horses of their owne when he had preferr'd them and not put him to the expence of buying new horses. How to resent or scan this I know not, you may tell me your judgment herein. I am apt to believe 'twas not my lord's motion of himselfe, because when his lordshipp askt me first about sending of the horses how many should be requisit to come up, and who to goe downe on them, he put or mention'd me in the first place for to have one horse, and I thinke 'twere hard for me to be put to buy a horse here (whatever I doe in the country) for my journey downe, having I am sure been at a great deal of charge beside care, since I came to London, and do not expect that my small living should equall my expence, much lesse for the 2 or 3 first years. You know best what I have expended and what small income I am like to have, all payments made, though I must confesse I have good clothes and bookes for my moneys-this inter nos. If I should be spoken

* Perhaps the Mr. William Newhouse whose name appears in Bishop Cosin's printed Correspondence.

"Mr. Shaw in the Shields was unsuccessful in his application, and over a hundred years were still to pass before Bishop Trevor, as from the 17th October, 1770, granted to the inhabitants of South Shields a weekly market and two yearly fairs to be held on the 24th of June and on the 1st of September respectively. Hutchinson, Durham, vol. ii, p. 482.

At the foot of the page: Verte fol'.

too about a horse thus, I believe I should answer pertinently without much fear or shame either.

I shall expect two full letters from you on Wednesday and Fryday next, or Monday at furthest.

The Acts of Parliament are not yet printed, the City Bill nor the Bill against Conventicles were not past.

The King is gone downe the water today to see some ships. Your very humble servant,

all

The great packet which I received from you yesternight by Durham post were two several letters from Sir Thomas Clifford† and Sir William Coventry, Commissioners for His Majestie's Treasury: the first letter touching the non-payment of tenthes out of my diocess for the year 1667, wherein they find about three hundred pound to be still in arreare to the King, and unpayd by mycollectours. And this I believe the rather to be true because I find not among the bundle of acquittances, which Mr Arden delivered to me at the end of May last, any one concerning the yeare 1667, and yet I find by Mr Kirbie's account that my 18211 was payd to Mr Jackson and Mr Arden before the last Xtmas. Herewith you are to acquaint them, and to take order that with all speed they pay in the money to the First Fruits Office, or the Exchequer: for otherwise the Com

* William Flower, apparently a native of Northallerton, and son of Thomas Flower, went to Cambridge 18th May, 1658, and matriculated at Christ's College; B.A. 1661; M.A. 1665. Having been appointed domestic chaplain by Bishop Cosin, he was presented by the latter in 1667 to the vicarage of Leake, near Northallerton. He must have discharged the duties of the benefice by a curate, for he continued to act as the Bishop's domestic chaplain and amanuensis, and is mentioned in his will. He continued to hold the vicarage of Leake until his death circa 1683. cf. Correspondence of Bishop Cosin, Surtees Soc., No. lv, pp. 209, 218, 305.

† Sir Thomas Clifford, created Lord Clifford, successively Controller of the Household, a Commissioner of the Treasury, and Treasurer of the Household. One of the notorious Five who formed the Cabal. cf. G.E.C., Complete Peerage, vol. i, p. 217, and Macaulay, vol. iii, p. 545.

missioners of the Treasury say plainely in their letter that they will issue out process against me for the same, and it is not well that my collectors should suffer me to be thus used. I thinke Mr Arden is weary of the office, I am sure hee hath been too negligent in it, if all this arrear be still upon me, and therefore his name for the future had best be chang'd into yours or Mr Kirbie's.

The other letter was concerning Mr Humes,* the gaoler, wherein were enclosed a petition from †Collector of the King's Excize, and several complaints and affidavits made before Mr James Mickleton and sent up to the Commissioners of the Treasury, setting forth that first Mr Humes's sonne and his wife, being, as they alleadg, brewers of ale, refus'd to let the officers come in to their house, calling them rogues and villains and threatning to breake their neckes down the stairs if they offer'd to enter into the house, whereby they stood in peril of their lives; and further setting forth that when they spake with Humes himselfe about it he told them that whatever his sonne and his wife had said he would make good, affirming to them that he car'd not what complaints they could make to the Commissioners of the Treasury, for the gaole belonging to the County Palatine of Durham was a priviledg'd place and subject to no excize or other jurisdicion then mine, or the sheriffe's under me. All which, being sworne and complain'd of to the Commissioners of the Treasury, are transmitted to me to examine the truth thereof, and to make report to them about it. I pray you therefore tell Mr Humes what worke hee, his sonne and his wife, have herein made, and what trouble he hath given me to attend the Commissioners for him, without instructing me by any certificat from the Justices of Peace about Durham what his plea or his answer is to all these perticulars complained of, especially about the ill words his son and his wife gave to the officers, for which he and his son both are like to be sent for by a messenger on purpose, which will cost him no small matter if he comes not up with his son the sooner to prevent it, and answer for themselves, which I know not how to doe. In the mean while, hee shall do well at my desire to entreat Sir Nicholas Cole, Mr William Blakiston, Mr Sammuel Davison, Mr Cuthbert Carr, Mr John Morland, the Mayor of Durham or any three or more of them to examine the matter and to make report thereof to mee, or the Commissioners of the Treasury, according to what they find therein to be true: but whether this will serve Mr Humes's turne or no I know not, and I am affraid least a

* George Hume, or Humes, of Scottish origin, an ensign in Captain Weatherburn's company, and afterwards the gaoler of Durham. He was buried at St. Oswald's 7th September, 1686. cf. North County Diaries, Surtees Soc., No. cxxiv, pp. 116-117.

†The name is left blank.

James Mickleton of Gray's Inn and of Durham, barrister-at-law, was buried at the Cathedral 4th August, 1693. He was the author of the valuable collection of Mickleton MSS., now in the cathedral library.