Dalison Documents: Letters of Tomas Stanley of Hamptons, 1636-50

( 353 ) DALISON DOCUMENTS. LETTERS OF THOMAS STANLEY OF H.A.MPT0NS, WRITTEN :BETWEEN 1636 .A.ND 1656, Oommuniaateil by MRS. DALISON of Hamptons, anil Eiliteil by CA.NON SCOTT ROBERTSON. THE writer of these letters, Mr. Thomas Stanley of West Peckham, was born there in February 1580-1. Late in the reign of James I., upon the death of his father John Stanley, in March 1616-'7, he succeeded to the possession of Hooiptons, in West Peckham, where a portrait of him is still preserved. His daughter and ultimate heiress, Frances Stanley, married young Maximilian Dalison in or before 1652 ; and Hamptons has remained with them and their descendants, ever since Mr. Stanley's death in 1669. In what year Thomas Stanley first came to occupy his West Peckham home is not certainly known. For some years, after his father's death, he was described in legal documents as domiciled at Gravesend. There his first wife's former husband (Leiston) had resided. Mr. Stanley'f:! papers shew that he lent money to many persons while he lived at Gravesend. He had also some connection with a brewery there, called "Mr. Finch's Brew house," which was occupied by Thomas Collett, who relinquished it at Michaelmas 1688. Mr. Stanley continued to possess this brewhouse £or many years after he had removed to Peckham. In 1685, and later still, he speaks of his "Houshold Stuff and Plate" at Gravesend, and at Maidstone, at Rocbeste1•, at North Stoke (Sussex), at London, at Canterbury, and in Thanet. He was a man of great activity, who so far increased the patrimony left him by his father, that, in 1685, when that patrimony was valued at £900, his other possessions were worth nearly £10,000 more:* * MY ESTATE, 29 Sept. 1685. Value. My land at Peckham, from my Father, viz., the house, £10; Milfield, £5; Kitohenfield, £5 ; Horseleas, £6 ; Mildrede, £4; Long Meade, £8; Hillyfield, £8 ; Theslyfield, £2 ; Calvescroft, £2 ; Horesmeade, £5 ; the Strake and fish ponds, £4 ••....••• , . • •• •. • • • . •. . . . • 900 VOL. XVII, A. A. 354 D.A.LISON DOCUMENTS, Not at Gravesend only was be a man of influence. Mr. Stanley occupied a much more prominent position in the town of Maidstone. We know that he was Mayor of Maidstone, and that he was the owner of Earls Place there. At that time Earls Place was a mansion surrounded by park-like grounds, which extended from the mansion-house to Week Street on the east, and from Earl Street to St. Faith Street on the north. In 1635 he estimated the value of Earls Place at £640 ; but in 1645-9 its value had increased to £750 ; and in 1653 it had risen to £850. Whether Mr. Stanley resided at Earls Place I cannot ascertain; but he probably did so; as we know that at some house in _Maidstone he possessed "Plate and Household Stuff," which he always included in the periodical valuation of his property, until after the year 1640. In 1645, however, he no longer retained a residence in Maidstone ; and Earls Place seems to have increased in value, to the extent of £110. Probably he had let it to a good tenant. In 1640 he mentions among his property the lease of " Bower " at Maidstone as worth £150. His connection with Rochester was mainly through a brewery ; probably that which had been the property of Alderman Duling. Value. £ Turkes, £80; Sheeporofte, £70; Binghams, £110; Guttermead and Pondbrooke, £90; Highlands, £200; Fullingmill and lands, · £700; Cases, £120; Pullins, £170 • • .. .. .. . . • .. • . .. .. .. .. 1540 Threelesland at Northstoke, £85 per ann., and a faier house .. •. •. •• .. 700 The old brewhouse, Gravesend, £80 . . .. .. . • .. .. . . . . • . • • • . .. • • • . • • 500 ERLES PLACE at Maidstone ..••••.• •..... ......•• , .... , . , , .•.... , 640 The Ship ..•....•...........••... , . . • . • .. .. .. .. .. .. .. •. .. • . .. •. 180 The little Farm, Great Peckham, £6 per ann . ....• , . . . . . • • . • . • . . . . . 110 Lease for 500 yeares at Ratcliffe, a bakehouse . . . • . • • . . . • . . . . • • . . . . . 280 Land at Plextole ....•.•........... .... .........• ••. , . . . . . • . . . • 100 Stock at Peckham. 6 Oxen and 2 Steers, £42; 7 kine, £28 ; gray gelding, £10 ; gray nag, £7; mare and colt, £5; buokhorse, £10; blaokhorse, £10 ; black gelding, £10; a colt at Stoke, £3; 12 Runts, £20 ; 10 acres wheat, £20; wheat, malt, and oats, in the loft, £15; and in the barne, wheat, oats, pease, and tares, £24; hay, 80 lodes, £50; Wood, £10 ; tymber and boorde, £10 ; Wagons, Carts, tackle, harnesse, and ymplements, £15 . . . . . . . . . . • . • • . . . . • • . . . • • • . . 245 Houshold stuffe and plate lIERE, at MA:tDSTONE, RocHESTER, N ORTR· STOKE, LONDON, CA.NTERllURY, and TRA.NETT .. ••..••.. , •.• , . 500 The lease of Rochester :Srewhouse, and Stock ..•. , . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2000 Debts due to me ..•••• •....•••••.•....•• .............••.•.•...• , 2160 Offi.cium Irrotulament' fortasse ••. , •• ..•• •.......•. .. , .• , . . • • . . . . 800 Total value. • • . • • • • . • • • . • • • . • • • • • • • • • £10655 ,;;;;;;;;;;;;;; I OWE •• , •• , ••••.•• , •••.•••••••••••••••••• • , , • ••••••• , ••• , • • • • £2995 --- . C f KELL. PH0T0•I.ITH0 .•• P'Ul!.HIVAt. ST H0U0"H,E 0 EARL'S PLACE, MAID STONE. (THE PROPERTY IG35-45 OF THOMAS STANLEY or WEST PECKHAM, MAYOR or MAIDSTOllE 1641-2.) LE'l'TERS OF '!'ROMAS STANLEY OF HAMP'.IONS. 355 In 1636, he valued his lease 0£ Rochester brewhouse and stock at £1800. In 1640 we find the lease at Rochester put down at £1500; and the freehold of an " old berehouse," at £500. In 1645 the freehold houses are valued at £450, and the lease at £1100 only. Among his active employments we find him serving in the militia as lieutenant under Sir Percival Hart £or fourteen years ; and as captain of a " Selected Band " £or ten years. He seems to have represented Maidstone in the House of Commons, £or three months, in 1625 ; from May to August. Thomas Stanley was also Mayor of Maidstone from November 1625 to November 1626. When the great rebellion was imminent Stanley was on the side of the Church and King. In November 1641 there was a contest £or the office of Mayor of Maidstone. The majority of the townsmen were Royalists then, and they procured the election of Thomas Stanley, who was a judicious and moderate man. When the Grand Jury of Kent, at the Maidstone Assizes, in March 1642, agreed to petition Parliament in favour of the Liturgy and the Clergy, the House of Commons caused a copy of the petition to be burned before the real petition had been presented. The Speaker issued au order for' the arr.est of all concerned in it. Among others Mr. Stanley (as Mayor of Maidstone) and his servant Skelton were "attached." They attended at the House of Commons £or a week, from April the 15th to the 22nd, without being called to the bar. Stanley then petitioned either to be heard or dismissed. In July 1643, the Royalists in Kent actually took up arms ; and they achieved a slight success between Sevenoaks and Tunbridge. It was so evidently transient that Stanley besought them to come to terms with the Parliamentary leaders ; and he acted as peacemaker. He went in person, late at night, to Wrotham to see the Deputy-Lieutenants who managed Kentish affairs £or the Parliament, and did his utmost to prevent the action which took place at Tunbridge, when the Parliamentary soldiers captured that town. In Maidstone the Royalist cause lost ground during 1643. In November 1643 Stanley seems to have endeavoured to seize the office of Mayor, but he was superseded. A few months later, in February 1644, he and other Royalists were removed from their position as jurats of the town. Until the great Rebellion he had a large share (worth £800) in the fees or other profits derived from an Office of Enrolment in the Court 0£ Chancery. This source of income vanished during the .A. .A. 2 356 DALISON DOCUMENTS. Rebellion. Mr. Stanley recapitulates his losses by that Rebellion during six years (1648-1649) until they make a total 0£ £1780; including " composition paid" £275 ; paid in fines £,130; and "plundered" £60. He adds, in 1649, that he had " lost with my son W alsaU £250 ;" and subsequently in 1652 Mr. Stanley writes, "more lost by Walsall £550." To his brother John, he says in 1649, "£,600 given," and" to W. Stanley given £,1000." Thomas Stanley was an active churchwarden at West Peckham. Much 0£ the parish register was written by his hand; and in 1681-8 he obtained and administered a Brier to collect money £or the restoration of West Peckham Church. Thomas Stanley was thrice married. The first of these letters relates to the college expenses of Thomas Leiston (or Leyston), who was sent to Oxford in 1686. This young man was a nephew of Mr. Stanley's first wife, a widow named Margery Leiston of Gravesend, whom he married in or about 1606, but by whom he had no children. When Thomas Leiston went to Oxford his aunt Mrs. Margery Stanley had not long been dead. She was buried at West Peckham in May 1633; and within three months Mr. Stanley married Ann, daughter of Captain Long, and widow of John Harvey. Mrs. Harvey married Thomas Stanley at Brabourne Church, on the 20th of August 1683. This lady did not survive many months ; she was buried, at West Peckham, on the 24th of April 1684. Before young Leiston went to Oxford his guardian had wedded, as his third wife, Mary Duling, widow of William Duling, and daughter of Manasses Norwood 0£ Chilston in Boughton Malherb. She had one child, Bessie Duling, aged 18, when she married Thomas Stanley on the 29th of September 1684, and she soon became the mother 0£ his only child Frances, who was born on the 24th 0£ July, and baptized on the 4th 0£ .August 1685, Frances Lady Vane being one of her godmothers. When this child was nearly a year old, young Leiston was sent to Oxford, at the end of June 1686. .A. friend named Champneis, acquainted with the University, had been consulted· as to expenses, and as to a tutor. He recommended Mr. George Wilde as private tutor, and estimated the yearly expenses of the undergraduate at £40; but he seems to have suggested a larger allowance, so that Mr. Stanley promised to allow the young man £50 a year. As this sum scarcely sufficed £or the first £our months, Mr. Stanley wrote a letter 0£ remonstrance, adding, however, that he would make the allowance £60 per annum, LETTERS OF THOMAS STANLEY OF HA'MPTONS. 357 To Mr GEo. WILDE (T. LEISTON's* Tutor). Sir-before I resolved to put my kinsman to the Univ'sity I consulted with divers touching the yearly charge, amongst whome yr Champneis was one. The most gen'all resoluc'on was that it might well be borne with 40li a yeare, but bicause his meanes is good I was willing he should be at 5011 p' annu' charges viis et modis. And to that end I wrote unto you in the beginning to conteyne his charges within the boundes 0£ 50li p' annu', but haveing received 2 l'rest from you, one 0£ 6 Sept. and the last (with a note inclosed) 0£ 17 Octob'r I fi.nde (to my great discontent) thinges carried far otherwise then I intended, or then in reason as I conceive is fi.tt ; £or first I sent you 20li, and then you rec' of Mr Champn. eis 1ou, all w0h is spent; and nowe you have sent a bill wch comes to allmost I7li w0h (as you write) is all oweing; and he had 0£ me at his first goeing £or spending money as I thinke 3u, soe that in a qrter 0£ a yeare & 3 weekes the whole 50li is nere yf not wholly run out; y:f tliis high rate goe on, both your discrec'on & mine cannot avoyd a iust censure, and indeed it is more then his meanes will beare, and y£ he spend his whole revenue in this course of life and at these yeares, what p'porc'ont doth it hold with the tyme to come? I must not suffer it least it tend to his uudoeing, and I may be accounted the cause 0£ it. After the rate of this bill, his very diett will be almost 4011 p' aunu'; you have set 406 £o1• tuic'on,§ whether you meane it £or hal£e a yeare, or but a qrter I cannot tell, but Mr Ohampneis & I did speake 0£ noe more then 4u p' annu'; there is alsoe £or _wood 206 w0h I marvaile at, bicause I cannot ymagine howe he should spend 206 in wood £or this so'mer qrter. I shalbe content that Ms wliole aliarge be 60li p' annu}, but yf it be more, I doe hereby p'testll against it. Howbeit I suppose that this first yeare (being his tyme of entrance) his charges may be extraordinary wch I shall give way unto soe far forth as reason shall requier. I knowe * Mr. Thomas Leiston and his sister Margery seem to have been orphans; for whom their " uncle" Thomas Stanley acted as guardian, Young Thomas Leiston came of age soon after May 1638, when he left Oxford. He married early; and his first child, William, was born on the 9th of April 1640, ·at West Peckham. He resided there, with Mr. Stanley, for a year or more, together with his wife Mary Leiston, and her maid; he had also there a manservant, and a white nag. For the board of himself, his wife, and her maid, he paid to Mr. Stanley £50 a year; the manservant's board cost generally 8s. a week, but occasionally ls. more. The keep of the white nag was charged at only ls, 8d. per week. A capital sum of £600 belonging to him was in Mr. Stanley's hands for several years, and for the use of it young Leiston received £40 per annum; rather more than 6! per cent. The connection of Mr. Stanley with the Leiston family was twofold, His mother's brother, Thomas Tuttesham, married a widowed Cecilia Leiston in 1581; and he himself married a widowed Margery Leiston in 1606. Both these ladies were described as " of Gravesend." Mrs. Margery Leiston is said to have been the daughter of an .Essex gentleman, named Edgate. As Mr. Stanley in an estimate of his estate, made in November 1649, says, "I owe sister Edgett £50," we may regard it as true that his first wife was Margery Edgate before she married Mr. Leiston. t Letters. :j: Proportion, § Tuition. II Protest. 358 DALISON DOCUMENTS. not how to send money unto you by reason 0£ the tymes, but I have taken order to have left at my Brothers; John Stanley a goldsmith in Oheapside 16li £or you, & l9li for Mr Ohampneis; wch you may there receive y£ you can send for it. I have cause ynough but not tyme ynough to wrHe more largely, but I conclude with an ernest request to you soe to mannage him, not only in his learning & manners, but alsoe i11, Ms qen' all expense q- charge, that we may be ingaged to give Mr Ohampneis reall tbankes for helping us to soe good a Tutor. Your very affecc' onate We. Peck. 30 Oct. 1686. T. S. To T. LEISTON at Oxford. Kinde Cosen-Your l're dated 1'7 Oct. I have rec', wherby you expresse great & grate£ull love & respect unto me, wch gives me very good content. I hartely reioyce at your welfare, especially at your p'ficiency in your studies. I rec' a l're & a note from your Tutor wch discovers a much too great a charge & expence in soe little a tyme; far beyond what was p'posed* by any other, or intended by me. I was & am still very willing that your .Exhibic'ont should be large, and reason good for it is your owne ; but this rate wch comes to about 40li in a qrter of a yeare is much more then reason, and it tendeth to your wrong & harme, and to my great discreditt and will render me unfitt & unworthie to governe you or your estate. I p'test yf you were my owne only sonne I would not suffer it, and I am verely p'swaded that your goodnes & modesty is such that you will not expect I should let loose the raines 0£ your expence further then may be good & necessary: £or you. Be p'swaded to affect discrec'on & moderac'on,t and let not any man worke uppon your flexible nature beyond the boundes 0£ reason. Consider your owne estate, pry narrowly into your owne Acc'ons,§ and y£ you finde in your selfe an inclinac'on to pro£usenes & ill company, strive to resist it. Have God in all your thoughtes, & then noe doubt your .A.cc'ons§ will be iudicious & discreet. Quicquid agas prudenter agas et respice :6.nem. Your assuredly loveing uncle West Peck. 2 Novemb' 1686. T. S. To Mr WILDE, Sir-the bill wch I have rec' from you by T. L. comes to I2li 188, besides his sute 0£ .A.pp'II web you guesse at '7li; wher£ore I have sent you by him 20U, the chei£est thinges web I except ag'1 are the silke stock & Holl'** shirtes at 4s p' ell. I thinke it would have * Proposed. t Exhibition the sum devoted to an undergraduate's expenses at the University. t ])isoretion and moderation. § Aotions. II Suit of apparel. , Against. ** Holland. LETTERS OF THOMA.S STANLEY OF HA.MPTONS. 859 done well to have begun to weare silke stock 2 or 3 yeares hence, & 38 or 38 4<1 an ell £or shirtes is as high a rate as I weare any. There is much danger in rankeing or rateing him too high, but £or these I am satisfied with a fayer excuse, £or he tels me that the King comeing to Ox.* was the cause of tb.e one, & a mistake of his Laundresse a cause of the other. I have expostulated with him touching his charge there for the tyme to come. He assures me that he will conteyne himsel:fe within the dist(ance) of 􀃋5u £or comons, etc., and of 20li £or .A.pparell, and he desires l0li £or expences; to this must be added tuic'on, chamber wages, & charges of Journeys into Kent ; all this will rise to above 60li, yet I shall not be discontented with it, being confident that you will be carefoll to have thinges done with moderac'on & discrec'on. Touching your Tuic'on I am well content that it be 6li and my ernest desire is that you will be pleased to accept therof. I well beleeve you to be a gent. of worth & meritt, yet I dare goe noe higher :fearing to be taxed £or it in the tyme to come. I like very well his adm't to the dauncing schole, and a moderate frequenting therof; I know it is good £or his health, breeds a good comportmt & the charge not great, and I hope it may p'vent some tyme web otherwise might unhappily be spent in worse & more chargeable Recreac'ons, yet I beseech you take heed yt he be not soe filled with delightes as to alien his mynde & affec'ons from his studies. Vale. Yours very affecc' onate 20 Ja. 1636[-7]. T. S. To Mr CORDELL. Good Sir-our M1' workemau J enkes is now disposed to make a J orney to see our worke, by whome I have sent some old powder desiring it may be new wrought bicause its vertue is decayed, or els send me some better in the roome. You of your owne free will p'mised to. give me some powder & to send it £or me to my Bro. Jo. Stanley iu Cheapside, but Courtyers p'mises are often but £ormall complemts either never intended or soone forgotten. I shall ioy to heare that our worke holdes currant & successfull. Comend my fayer respectes to your better p 'te as alsoe to Mr CoHins. Haste compells me to be briefe, and brevity is acce).)table to men of great employmt, therfore I· say noe more but what I shall ever say. that I am Your servant to comand West Peckham, 20 July 1638. T. S. 20 July 1638. My Bro. N orwoodt sent his man from the§ Welles to see us howe we doe ; I told him I wondered he should * King Charles I. went to Oxford with his Queen on August 29th. Before his departure on the 81st, Prince Rupert, and James Stuart, Duke of Lenox, were created Masters of Arts. t Admission. :I: Richard, son and heir of Manasses Norwood, of Chilston, § Tunbridge Wells, 360 DALISON DOCUMENTS. send such a Message to them he hates. I bid him del'* this Message back againe :-that I was lOOli the worse for him for he had forced his mother to give to a younger Sister lOOli w0h she intended to us, that I take him to be the greatest Enemy I have or ever had. To my Mother NOR WOOD. t Moste kinde Mother-I have rec' from your toe bounteous hand 25\ what it is a token of your love I doe most kindly & thankfully receive, but y£ you spare this out 0£ that short meanes your sonne allowes y'bu, & soe pinch your sel£e of your livlyhood, it would be more acceptable to me that you keepe it to your owne use. Y£ your sonne had kept his Covenant, you might without any p'iudice to your selfe or him have given us content, albeit it were but lOOli 6 montbes after your death, but by violence & wrong he bath disabled you soe to doe; and wheras the last tyme I was in Thanett you did promise & undertake that he should give his bond to do it, and that he hath above 200li a yeare 0£ your estate w0h he hath most iniuriously wrested from you, yet it seemes that (doe you what you can) neither your nuthority over him, your desert from him, nor your ymportunity to him can move him to p'forme what you have undertaken, and nowe being thus disabled you would pinch & spare out of your small allowance to give us content. Certenly yf your sonne doe lay the £oundac' on of his family in the sandes 0£ such iniquity, he must needes drawe downe the wrath of God uppou the building, and it will never p'sper or receive p'£ecc'on.t I want tyme to inlarge my sel£e as I desire. Only this I doe ernestly intreat you, good Mother, that £or the tyme to come you would spend & bestowe your small revenue uppon your selfe, & spare nothing £or us; £or we shall rather accept your goodwill and a:ffection then your benevolence with inconvenience. Soe I take my leave with my harty prayers £or your ioy & happienesse ever resting. Your £aith£ull & serviceable Hamptons, 30 A.ug. 1638. T. S. To my father DULING.§ Good Sir, as touching your intended porc'onll £or Besse1 Duling, my wife re£erres you to your owne will & pleasure, only she praies '* Deliver. t The widow of Manasses Norwood of Ohilston; and the mother of Mary, third wife of Thomas Stanley. :f: Prosper or receive perfection. § John Duling was Mayor of Rochester in 1624 and 1688, and owner of a Brewery there, which was subsequently held by Barnabas Walsall. Mr. Duling's son, William, married Mary Norwood of Ohilston ; but he died early, leaving an only daughter Elizabeth. William Duling's widow married Thomas Stanley. II Marriage :portion, ,r In 1642 Bessie married W. Style, by whom she had seven children. She wa.s buried at West Peokham, in January 1668-9. LETTERS OF THOMAS STANLEY OF HAMPTONS. 361 yo:u to call to minde your promise to your sonne on his deathbed, vizt that his Child should be to you as your owne, alsoe your p'mise to her that you would make your grandchild as good in estate as any of your owne daughters,* to whome as well as to your sonne you have given former pore' ons. She desires you alsoe to consider of what value & condic'on her p'sent estate consistes, and praies God soe to guide & direct your actions in this life that you may goe to your grave in peace & with a good conscience ; and £or my selfe I did not well understand your meaning, therfore I doe hereby senp. you myne, that is yf I keepe & care £or Grandchild I will be allowed noe lesse £or it then 40li a yeare, and whatsoever her Rentes & her money at 20 nobles p' cent comes to more I will be accountable £or, yf you like not this I am freely willing that you p'vide her another Gardian, and I shalbe ready to pay in your money uppon reasonable warning, in w0h case I pray consider that visites & intercourse betweene her Moth􀂡r & her may be chargeable to me, and let not me be dishartened from a willingnesse to beare it, soe leaving all thinges to your mature deliberac' on & resolution I take my leave with my prayer to the Almighty to send you helth here & the ioyes of heaven hereafter, ever resting Yours faithfully loveing Hamptons, 2 Oct. 1688. T. S. To Mrs SAMMON. Right vertuous Sister-Wheras I became bound to your ffathert £or ;paymt of 640li at our Lady Day last, I p'd him in the some of 300 being one halfe of the principall money, in or about July was twelve monthes, £or w0h as I remember I had a note under his hand; but since I came from you I have made dilligent serch £or it, but haveing mislayd the same I am almost out of hope to finde it, but I hope your ffa. bath set downe the same on the backside of the . bond, as he ought to have done ; yf not, yet I make noe question but he hath acquainted you with it or that you knowe of it by some other meanes, £or I serious' p'testt & will take my othe that ·r have p'd him the said some of 3001i ; and I hope you will give Creditt to my p'testac'on as one Christian should beleeve another, and I alsoe hope that you will not wrong your Conscience soe much as to make me pay it againe, and £or this purpose I doe ernestly & zealously intreat you to accept of such a Reckoning as I told you or, & to give me in my old bond & to take a new bond £or 3001i & the int'est at our Lady Day next, w0h v.E you will vouchsafe to graunt I shall take it as a great favour & shall ever remayne Your Bro. & servant to corn' Hamptons, 19 Nov' 1688. T. S. * Alderman Duling's daughters; one married Stephen Alcock, and another - Salmon. t Alderman Dullng of Rochester, who died in 1638. :j: Seriously protest. 362 DALISON DOCUMENTS. To Mr wm STILES.* Good Sir-I wrote unto you about hal:l:e a yeare since touching 1411 108 due to me uppou reckoning for your wifes dyett & some other disbursemt, to w0h you sent me an uncerten & unsatisfyeing answer. You say that when you should be folly satisfied that there was a p'fect .A.greamt, & that it had bene duly p'£ormed, and that you should receive a true accompt from me of money received & desbursed £or her, since I had the p'tecc'ont of her, then y£ the said som'e were iustly due you would pay it. Sir whether or when you shalbe satisfied that there was a p'£ect .A.greamt betwixt us I doe not know, nor is it much materiall as I conceive, £or you knowe it could not be p'£ect because she was under age, and yf I shall accept a satisfacc'on according to such .A.greamt it will be (I take it) in your and her favour. I was not her Gardyan, as you suppose, ther:fore I owe noe accompt £or it. I have often jornyed on her behal£e, and £or your p'tet · I gave you a :free welcome to her at all tymes, albeit you may well thinke that .I had some reason to look another way. For this I expect noe greater retribuc'on from either of you then your love & my iust debte, both these I desire & deserve & I hope to have them with your free willinguesse. .A.nd I ernestly pray you not to expect that I should purchase your love with the losse 0£ soe much money. I take my leave, being very desirous to be & continew Your very loveing :ffriend & servant O:moth, 18 July 1642. T. S. To Capt. SKINNER,§ Honord Sir-I have had of late some suspic'on of your disa:ff ecc' on towards me and of your acting ill offices against me, wch did beget in me an i1l oppinion of you, and the rather because I conceived that I had deserved well at your hands; but now I gladly p'ceive that I am deceived, £or sr John Sedleyll told me that when the businesse was agitated among you concerning my Oaptainship, almost you only (besides himselfe) did speake on my behal£e, wch I could not expect: this hath discovered a noble disposic'on in your se1£e & fair report to me and is soe very acceptable as I at-ill think my selfe therby ingaged to be (by way of gratitude) your p'petuall debtor not looking uppon the stresse; wherfore I beseech you to * William Style (half-brother and ultimate heir of Sir Humphrey Style, Baronet) was a barrister, born in 1619. He married Elizabeth Duling, daughtei· of Thomas Stanley's third wife (nee Norwood) by her :first husband William Duling, son of John Duling, Alderman of Rochester. William Style, in 1659, inherited the Langley estate, in l3eckenham, from his half-brother, t Protection. ;f: Part. § Augustine Skinner, of Tutsham Hall, in West Farleigh. He was M.P. for Kent 1640-55, and an active supporter of the Parliament. II Sir John Sedley, Bart., of St. C!ere in Ightham, son and heir of Sir Isaac Sedley of Great Chart. This surname has often been written " Sidley" and "Sydley." Sir John Sedley died in November 1673, having held his title as a baronet for nearly :fifty years; He was ari active supporter of the Parliament. LETTERS OF THOMA.S STA.NLEY OF HA.MPTONS. 363 make noe scruple to comaund my service in any thing that lies in the power of your really loveing ffriend & servant West Peckham, 21 Sept. 1642. T. S. · To sr HENRY HA.YMA.N. * Noble Sir-It was my misfortune to be possest 0£ the Maioralty 0£ Maidst.t by a litigious Elecc'on,t this begat a controv'sie,§ & that some mallicious enemies ag'II me, whoe have iniuriously rend.red me odious to divers, with whome otherwise I have had a good esteeme. Amongst others I suspect that their spirit 0£ detracc' on 1 hath in some measure wrought uppon you, bicause (as I understand) you have said me guilty 0£ some thinges whero£ I p'test** mysel£e £aultlesse. Beleive me, Sir, I never comited any offence against the Parlt or against you but have ever obeyed & executed your orders & direcc'ons and shall ever be ready to doe £aith£ull service to the King, the Parlt & Com'on Welth.tt There hath bene p'fe!t ynough 0£ my ready obedience to my sup'iors§§ and you shall not now finde me a contemner in anything, p'ticularlyll II 0£ your authority in that you have put me £rom my Comand, for you have thought it fitt and I submitt though through ignorance I have too much neglected the Com'ittee at the Assizes (ut dicitur) I shalbe ready to repaye the same by a better observance. Howbeit £or the future I humbly beg your good oppinion & respect untill it shall evidently appeare that I shall deserve the contra1'Y. That your debates & resolutions may tend to the Glory 0£ God & the peace of this Kingdome is the harty prayer of Your humble servant to comand 22 Sept. 1642, T. S. To Capt. LF.E,11 Honord Sir-About this tyme twelvemonth we (of the burrough of Oxnoth 0£ the Hundred 0£ Hooe)*** received a Warrant from Serieant Clerk to certifie the landes & goodes of our BUl'rough wch we spedily did & sent it on 3 June 1642 a Coppy wherof I here ].)'sentttt to your view; since wch tyme we heard nothing of it untill the rate 0£ l]'li os 6a was laid uppon us, £or the first p'tettt of the great subsidy; and a taxe made without our privity & returned into the Excheqr, and then after sent us to_ collect; web I alsoe p'sentttt * Sir Henry Heyman, M.P. for Hythe 164.-0-53, was an active supporter of the Parliament, and a prominent member of its Committee for Kent. t Maidstone. :j: Election. § Controversy. II .Against. 1 Detraction. ** Protest. tt Parliament aud Commonwealth. :j::j: Proof. §§ Superiors. 1111 Particularly. 11 Richard Lee, of Great Delce, M.P. for Rochester 1640-53; he was Mayor of that city in 1643. Capt. Lee was an active supporter of the Parliament. *** Hasted says (iv., 8) that the Manot· of Great Hoo extends over part of the parish of West Peckham. .A.t the court of this Manor, a borsholder is appointed for the borough of Oxenheath. ttt Present. :j::j::j: Part. 364 DALISON DOCUMENTS. to your view. This being clone (as by dark) hath these Errors in it (1) Wheras in our Certificate under the title of Sr Nich. Miller is conteyned all his landes in that burrough both in his owne & his Tenantes Occupac'on* (where a Cornemill is exprest) at 75u p' annu'; yet he is taxed for sou, & his Tenant Austen for the said Cornemill & landes at 24li besides ; wch comes to more then according to truth & our certificate, at 4a p' Ii. (the rate of the rest of the Hundred) 29u p' annu'-wch is 95 sa. (2) All my lands in that Burrough were alsoe certified by the name of my mansion house, 3 tenemts, one fullingmill, & 63 acres of land, at 42li p' an.nu'; yet m; Tenant Greene for the :ffullingmill is taxed at 20li p' annu'-65 8 . (3) We certified John Usher for a tenemt & 10 acres of land in thoccupac'on of Rob'te Clampard at 7li p' annu', w0h comes to but 26 4d; yet this is set in that blind taxe at 90li,-305 w0h is more then right by 276 Sd (a grosse mistake) Yet bicause this was taxed & sent into the Excheqr we were remedylesse, & were forced to beare it. Our whole land comes to but 2071i, w0h at 4d p' Ii. is 3u 98; and our goodes to 580U, w0h at ob't p' Ii. is Ili 48 2a ; w0h comes to 4u 13s 2a wch some:j: is the foll some that ought in Justice to be imposed uppon us. Aud according to this Error wee are p'porc'onably§ too much for the weekly contribuc' on. Good Sir, Serieant Clerk is offended with us, and sutesll have bene touching the Jurisdicc'on of the Court of Hooe over us, and we have little hope 0£ helpe by any adresse to him, whoe we feare is the cause 0£ our harme. I humbly beg your helping band & inst favour to reduce us to the said some:j: 0£ 41i 135 2a wch is our due p'porc'ou§ for the last paymt. of the great subsidy. Alsoe to doe us iustice by an equall distribuc'on of the weekly contribuc'ou, w0h being p'porco'ned§ generally to an eight p'te-,f of the moiety of the great subsidy will be ll8 ga a weeke, for our little burrough of Oxnoth; soe shall we be the better iucouraged to pay the some. Pardon Sir that I in p'son** doe not wait uppon you, wch I would most willingly doe but I have beue long lame & cannot travaile; p'don alsoe my want of pap'.tt Lastly my sute is that I may enioy your former love & good esteeme with a Continuendo, and I shall ever rest Your obliged kinsman & humble servant Oxnoth, 15 May l 643. T. S. Oxnoth for the great subsidy 4u 138 2a for the weekly contribuc'on - 118 Sd To ye :Bady SEDLEY,U Sweetest Madam-Your favours towardes me are soe manifold, that I cannot (without great ingratitude) but have them in a highe * Occupation. t "At ob' p' Ii." means "at one halfpenny per pound." :j: Sum. , § " P'porc'on " stands for "proportion." II Suits at law. ,r Part. ** Person. tt Paper. :I:+ Mary Bradshaw, married Sir John Sedley, Bart., of Great Chart, who purchased St. Clere in Ightham (from Robert Moulton), Sir John seems to have LETTERS OF THOMAS STANLEY OF HAMPTONS. 365 esteeme; soe that I might therwith very well rest satisfied, and not ( doe as I now doe) beg for a friend ; but tis your fault (yf goodnesse be a fault) for that invites me to this boldnesse. The case is thus -One Woolfe (who hath some relac'on* to sr John Sedley) was lately at M1·s Norwood's at Chilsont in the Parish 0£ Boughton (her husband [my wife's owne brother] lyeing sicke 80 miles from home) and there tooke an Inventory of their Cattell and apprised the same, wch brought uppon my sister Norwood a great p'plexity,:j: the rather bicause her husband bath bene very compliable to the pleasure of the Parliamt, except in the gen'all§ lending & giving a yeare ago, but insteed thero£ he gave freely 2011 for Irland, and yet his horses and armes, to the value of sou, were about 3 monthes since taken away without any restituc'on,11 and y£these nowprised1 should alsoe be taken from them, I hope your LaP will thinke it very hard measure, and iudge this their case a fit subiect for your compassion & intercession ; wch that you will vouchsafe to doe in your owne p'vayling** way is the full som'ett 0£ this my humble sute. The God of m'cy keepe your LaP, Your LaP's devoted servant West Peck. 26 May 1643. T. S. The following letters are of importance in their bearing upon Kentish history. Very few details ha-ve been preserved of the Royalist risings, fo Kent, during the years 1642 and 1643. These letters furnish us with several facts. The Royalists had achieved a slight success, in July 1643, near Tunbridge. They had captured two of the Kentish Parliamentary leaders (Sir Thomas Walsingham and Lieutenant Lee), and were sending up a petition to both Houses of Parliament. The Deputy Lieutenants of the Par1iament were assembled at Wrotham, and Thomas Stanley was striving to obtain a cessation of hostilities. To my very Loveing ffriends Capt. LEE, Mr ROBERTES, Mr CH.A.SE:j::j: & the rest 0£ the gents assembled at Tunbridge. Gentlemen -We came soe late last night to W rotham that the Deputy Lieutenants were gone to bed, & we were forced to sit up borrowed money from Mr, Thomas Stanley. In 1689 he owed that gentleman £100; in 1640, £116; in 1645, £150; in 1647, £150; and in 1649, £160. Sir John Sedley was one of the leading members of the Parliamentary Committee of Kent. .A. letter of his is printed in A.rclu20Zo9ia Oantiana, III., 195, * Relationship. t Chilston Park, now the seat of Mr . .Akers Douglas, M.P. :j: Perplexity. § General. II Restitution. f Appraised, ** Prevailing, tt Sum. :j::j: These were the Royalist leaders who had in their hands Sir T. Walsingham as their prisoner, 366 DALlSON DOCUMENTS. the rest 0£ the night untill they met this morning about 6 o'clock, at w0h tyme we d'd* our Petic'on & l're, after w0h (and their cons11:ltac'on betwene thems;ilves) we were called in and they d'd their mmdes unto us very :faierly but not soe fully as we desired wch occasioned a long debate and at the last for the p'venting 0£ bloud & Ruyn to this County they have agreed to send our Petic'on to the Parliamt this day by a Messenger 0£ their owne with their l'res 0£ recommendac'on, hoping such an answer as may content reasonable men; and as touching our l're £or a cessac'on 0£ armes until an answer from the 2 Rouses to 01:1-r Petic' on ; they have therunto agreed, soe we will doe the like, as alsoe keepe our soldiers :from plundering & violence. The great hardship 0£ this last day & night have soe distemp'd my body that I cannot come unto you this day, but I shall (God willing) wait uppon you to-morrow and doe you the best service I can yf I may enioy my former :freedome & lib'ty, whero£ I would make noe question y£ I had not some cause of suspicion. I protest I have (since I came among you) bestowed all the faculties of my witt & understanding for a good accomodac'on betwene them & us, for the peace & utility 0£ this County in danger to be destroyed by these unhappy distrac'ons; noe man can p'mise to himselfe his desired successe, a bad end is better than lawe, soe a reasonable satisfacc'on is far better then a miserable devastac'on. Let me in.treat you to send me a l'.re by this bearer w0h may testify your consent to avoyd all .A.ctes of hostility & plundering, as alsoe that I may freely come unto you ; and y£ your mindes be unhappily otherwise, yet send it p'sently unto me that I may give an Account unto the Deputy Lieuten'ntes. The God of peace direct you all £or his glory & our comfort. Soe 1 rest Your really affecc'onate West Peck. 28 July 1648. T. S. sr-I dispatched a l're yesterday to the gentlemen at Tunbridge touching what was agreed on betweene the Deputy Lieuten'nts & us:-w0h was that they would p'sent our Petic'ont and that both sides should forbere hostility untill our Petic'on should be answered, this I conceived to be the .A.greamt, yet my body & minde being distemp'd I might £orgett, of this I was to return a speedy answer, yet albeit my l're came to you by one of the clock, and my man wayting for an answer untill midnight could not get any, but returned this morning without. I was in.forced to signifi.e the same unto the Deputy Lieuten'nts this morning, before my man returned; for wch cause it seemes they conceive you have reiected the matter 0£ my l're to you, and theruppon are resolved to advance towards you with more forces then you are able to resist. I advise you therfore by all meanes to lay downe your armes, to release Sr Tho. W alsingharo & Lieuten'nt Lea, and to lay hold on the Pardon sent unto you in * Delivered. t Present our petition, LETTERS OF THOMAS S'l'ANLEY OF . HAMPTONS. 367 the declarac'on 0£ Parliamt weh y£ ye doe not yee are undone; this is counsell 0£ Your Loveing :ffriend Monday, 24 July [1643] at 12 o'clock. · T. S. To Capt. SKINNER. Honord Sir-A weeke since I rec' a l're from you to p'vide* a horse & armes to shew before you to-morrow at Offam. Sir, I was Sr Percivall Hart's Lieuten'nt 14 yeares and have comanded a selected Band 10 yeares £or w0h service I ought to be p'viledged from finding 0£ armes by the custome 0£ this kingdome. Wher£ore I h umblie beg your favour that I may enioy that priviledge. For some speciall service to you (w0h p'haps you know not) I have deserved more then your lawful! favour, then let it not now be wanting to Your truly devoted servant Oxnoth, 28 Aug. 1643. T. S. To Mr STE:PJIEN P.A.NKJIURST. W orthie Sir-When my £father sold you the parsonage of N orthstoket you p'mised a lease therof to my Brother Beeket £or 21 years at 5011 rent & 51! £or the Cure, this you have p'£ormed accordingly, but this lease is long since expired, and after the expiracon 0£ it you agreed to continew my Sister your Tenant, at the former rent, soe as she would pay 1011 a yeare to the Curat; and you p'mised to make her a lease £or 21 yeares on the same termes, since w0h tyme she hath soe held the same, but hath noe lease ; yet she bath bestowed much money on stone walles & buildings, and of late (since the Bishop's Courts are downe) the Vicaredge tithes are very ill paid, and not halfe soe good as formerly, alsoe the other tithes are much ympaired and would be farre worse yf my Sister were out of it. Arid bicause of her unhappie marriage she hath forborne to request your p'mise, but now that her daughter is dead she doth intreat you to make a lease to this bearer, my Nephew, whorn.e she hath especiaUy made choise of to trust in that matter. He is well able to answer you your Rent, and he is well able to doe you service, otherwise, by reason of his office in Chancery ; And i£ it be your minde to deny a lease on her behoof, then shee must of necessity leave it & p'vide £or her selfe elswhere. But I hope you will not thinke :fitt to put out an old tenant, of soe long continewance, who bath bestowed soe much uppon it ; and y£ she should hold it without a lease you will expect security £or your rent, w0h she of her selfe cannot make (being a £eme covert) & none other can safely doe it, unlesse he have an interest therin, by lease, to secure himselfe. Wherefore I thought :fitt to comend this her request to * In this letter p' stands for pro, and pri, and per. t Near Arundel. :I: Thomas Beeke married, 26 Sept. 1604, Elizabeth Stanley, who was baptized at West Peckham 25 Dec.1579. 368 DALISON DOCUMENTS. your tender considerac'on, and I have sent my Nephew 0£ purpose to yon, to negotiate the same on her behal£e. God keepe you. Soe I rest Oxnoth, 4 Sept. 1648. Your very affecc'onate T. S. To ye Ladie SEDLEY. Dere Ladie-I have now rec'* a l'ret from ye Oomittee to pay 8011 to their Treasurer within few daies, and indeed I am altogether unprovided; nor doe I "lmow where to get it. But un1es your LaP shall now furnish me, after soe over long tarriange,t I am like to have my goodes taken from me as heretofore, w0h I must endeavor to avoyd. Good sweet Madam helpe me nowe, in this pinch 0£ need, least I be exposed to take some such course, to save this sore, as may be sore ag'§ my minde. Consider I beseech you how long a tyme I have forborne, how many p'mises I have had, and by how many sev'all waies I have bene driven into want, and then you will I know ernestly strife to rememb' him whom I suppose you have most unwillingly forgotten, soe not doubting 0£ your LaP'8 helpe at this tyme, I humbly take my leave ever resting Your LaP's Humble servant to comand pt Dec. 1645. T. S. To Capt. HowE at Maidston. Worthie Sir-I have rec' a Ticket to quarter 4 foot soldiers here where I dwell. The truth is I have not above 2011 a yere in this parish, in mine owne occupac'on. I p'sume you have bene misinformed concerning me, w0h I intreat you to rectifie according to Justice, and let me not exceed the rate & p'porc'on of other men; howbeit y£ you shall thinke fitt to shew favour to me (0£ your owne ranke & p'fession) it shalbe to him whoe abhol'res ingratitude Your humble servant West Peck. 4 Oct. 1647. T. S. Son Walsall/I-I have long expected money, vizt 8211 rem' at Mich' last, 5011 & 181i at Lady Day, alsoe money £or my wheat w0h you p'mised at a month 19 qrs 4 b at 8Ii p' qr, w0h will now come to nere 6011 ; and now, notwithstanding my great necessity, instead 0£ money (long waited for & with much patience) I am supplied with wordes; nay w0h is worse, insteed of money to me you would have money from me, to lend you 50 or 60Ii p'sently & to be bound for 2oou; surely you have not your reasonable wits about you, in demanding such a thyng 0£ me, with whome you are soe much * Received. t Letter. 1 Tarrying=delay. § .Against. II One Barnabas Walsall married drie Stanley, widow of William Stanley, at West Peckham Church, on the 25th of September 11925. He was Mayor of Rochester in 1689-40. "Son Walsall," also named Barnabas, was Mayor in 1649. Constant Walsall, distiller at Strood, issued a oopper token in 1667, LETTERS OF THOMAS STANLEY OF HAMPTONS. 369 run behinde, and have broken soe many p'mises & ingagemts. Be it known unto you, that my necessities are made soe great by you, & my patience soe far p'voked, that I doe not only utterly re£use your request, but doe really intend to take a speedy course ag' you. I see that my very much forbearance hath harmed us both, yet I did it out 0£ my love, but seeing my love p'ves your p'iudice it is high tyme to take another course. You write that you will follow my advice to your utmost abillity, but I cannot beleve it, nor intend to try it, for (besides all former direcc'ons & instrucc'ons) I gave you some in writing about.3 yeres since w0h you p'mised to observe, but I doe not know that you have observed any one of them. Touching your p'posic'ons for putting of* theBrewhouse I can say little, bicauseiknow not how thinges stand; onlyinyour third p'posic'on you demand 80011 for your addic'onall buildinges, without w0h Mr Duling thrived well, grew rich, and would not soe build, though an Owner & a man of great estate; yet, your estate being alwaies weake, you would needs weaken it more with unnecessarie building, etc. Me thinkes yf you mean to put of, you should looke & thinke much upon those articles & termes, as were p'pounded, debated & lastly agreed on, betweene M1• Duling & us. And yet y£ you can put of upon better condic'ons I shalbe very glad, but I doubt you must content your selfe with worse, bicause for ought I see, you have put your selfe upon an absolute necessity of putting of, & cannot tarry a better market then the p'sent tyme will afford. I advise you to take heed & be wise, least an improvident close bring upon you an utter undoeing, w0h you may p'vent. The cause requires me to write much more at large, but I have noe tyme nor will soe to doe ; consider how much your friend I have bene, and doe not now in£erre the contrary. Vale. Yours in what I reasonably may. 3 Sept. 1649. T. S. Son Walsall-I am much obliged to Mrs Dalysont for her affectionate inclynac'on towards my daughter, but that the very young couple should in the first place see each other I doe not well approve of, especially here at my house, untill all other matters are * Off; i.e. selling. t Mrs. Dalison was Elizabeth, daughter of Sir James Oxenden, of Dene in Wingham. Her husband, William Dalison of Halling, had died in May 1642, in the 33rd year of his age, leaving her with one son Maximilian, and two daughters Mary and Margaret. In 1650, on the 20th of September, Thomas Stanley records his intention to let to Mrs. Dalison on lease (at a rental of' £61 per annum) his house at Hamptons in West Peckham, with garden, 2 orchards and fishponds, £10; Kitchenfield, 5 ar.res, £4; The Park, £9; Upper Horslease (5½ ac.), £4; Mi.lfield 4, Mildrede 3½, the Strake ¾, Pondbrook 1½, Horesmede 4½, the Upper Orchard 1, being special good meadow containing 15¼ acres, at 26s. Sd. per acre, £20; Hillyfield and Sheepcroft (5 ac.), £5 ; Calvescroft (3 ac.), £2; 2 pieces of Upper Highlands (15 ac.), £7. Total £61. Young Max. Dalison, in 1651 or 1652, married Frances Stanley, Thomas Stanley's only child; and as a consequence of this connection between them Mr. Thomas Stanley henceforth (oddly enough) spoke of Mrs. Dalison, senio1􀂥 as " Sister Dalyson," VOL. XVII. B D 370 D.ALISON DOCUMENTS. in some measure agreed; in Order wherunto I tbinke :6.tt, y£ Mrs Dalyson soe please, that she come hither with you under the notion to accompany you and as haveing occasion this way, only I am not p'vided for her enterteynmt according to her worth ; after w0h I may take occasion to see her son & soe p'ceed on or of* as the cause shall requier. This matter I desire to be a while concealed from my wife, who I know will oppose it what in her lies; bicause she inclynes to another whom you well know, being noe far dweller from you, and where she inclynes her byas drawes hard. A good opportunity doth now p'sent it sel£e, bicause she is not at home. Vale. Yours very assured 18 No' 1649. T. S. Son Walsall-by your l're wch I rec' last night, I finde that the Alpha & Omega of it concernes my takeing a course ag't you, £or that great p'tet 0£ my estate w0h is in your handes ; you say that upon your giveing me satisfaction £or my wheat I p'mised to stay (but you say not how long) this I deny. Did you thinke 1 would be content with nothing of those great .A.rreres £or the Maine (wch is my chiefe livelyhood) and noe assurance when to receive or what. Yo-a speak much of my wisdom, piety, pitty, Clemency, etc., but to suffer you (as I have already too long) to go on in a consuming way and so sinke me with your selfe would be neither wisdom, piety, or pithy, £or true pitty & charity begin at home. Your serious o:ffers, promises & p'testac'ons made by many l'res & otherwise cannot stand with innocency & integrity bicause not p'£ormed, y£ they were I should not be brought into such vexatious penury as I am, and soe forced (with great griefe of hart) to take a course soe destructive to you & unpleasing to myselfe. I have forborne & forborne iterum atque iterum, untill my most scrutinous thoughtes can find noe hope 0£ help but this on hand, wch I £ear (as you doe) will tear & mangle your estate much more then I would it should. I shalbe glad, very glad to stay the good tyme wherein you may make the most, & put 0£ with the best advantage, (yf a short tyme) but not soe long untill you have nothing 1e£t to make the most of, £or I see and for many yeres past have observed· that your courses tend to manifest consumpc' on, how ever you flatter your selfe & will not be removed from it. When you followed my Modell you could in a weake estate keep touch, buy for ready money and pay currant, and increast in few yeres from 500li to 250011; but then you grew proud 0£ your estate £orsakeing myne & falling into extravagances, whero£ when I took notice & used some rep'hension and advise, you slighted the same or rather scorned it, as appeares by your l're 11 Oct. 1643 wherin are these wordes " though much ingaged to you 1 know my self for estate able & for resoluc'on willing to pay, I desire you would £orbere your frequent too sharp reproo£es, grave & gentle admonic'ons become the mouth & pen of a friend, but to be continually like an Apprentice boy or slave, subiect to the lash, I have * Off. t Against, LETTERS OF THOMAS STANLEY OF HAMP'rONS. 371 not patience to bear it." Upon the reading of this l're I resolved therin to be silent, untill by a visible declinac'on from that tyme, you fell soe lowe and brought your A:ffaires to soe p'plexed a Condition, that you prayed my .A.yd, wherupon int' alia I sent you instrucc'ons in writing w0h, yf you had punctually observed, you might have kept tyme with me & all men els, and not have brought this trouble & damage both upon your self & me. You write that with a little help you might not only hold forth but thrive, etc., but can you expect help from me, who besides 150011 principall debt are run behinde above 20011, w0h you p'mised at your last contract to pay in due tyme (it being a great p'te of my maintenance) ; and not only soe but to pay of, before this tyme, a good p'te of the principall? You complaine that bad Clerkes have been your greatest hinderance, Whose fault is that ? Whie did you not p'vide better, and when you had them whie did you not looke better to their Accountes ? I should write much now of this, but I cease bicause you intend to be here on Tuseday next wherof I pray faile not. Touching the l're of Attorney it is not intended to alter the nature of the Executorship but only thus-My Cosen* Leiston, being a Coexecutor and lyable therunto, doth desire for his own security & indemnity that the money therin menc'oned may be put into safe handes, to be desposed of by the ioynt consent of yr Executors & not by me, and to that end did intreat me to receive the same, and soe much is exprest in the l're 0£ Attorney. Touching ]Y.[rs Dalyson I know not how to treat untill I can know the strength of my estate. Vale. Yours assuredly soe far as conveniently 18 No' 1649. T. S. Mr Maur-Having occasion to send to my Attorney I thought fit to write to you, my chief errand is to put you in minde that you neglect no opportunity w0h may conduce to the putting oft the brewhouse, for (as I often prest it before) it must be done, and you must not stand upon niceties & Puntilioes, to have your Customers offer them selves ; but he that hath a comodity w0h lies upon losse, must either send it to market, or use other meanes to put it of, least he £all under the Censure 0£ extreme neglect, etc., this will be your case yf you take not the more care of it, for I assure you I am not able, nor will my a:ffaires p'mitt me, to forbere longer then Mich' at the farthest, w0h is the greatest favour I am able to do you ; wherfore I pray you in tyme consider the great detrymt may accrue unto you yf you neglect this thyng, £or then I cannot avoyd (yet with great grief 0£ hart) to take such spedy course ag' you as the Law will allow. I say noe more now but that you send me your Account. 9 Aprill 1650. Your very loveing friend T. S. * Cosen here means nephew. t Putting off= selling. J3 J3 2 372 DALISON DOCUMENTS. To my Cosen DILLINGHAM late STANLEY.* Kinde Cosen-I p'mised Mr Powell to send you an account 0£ Rentes from Gravesend & Peckham, web I here send you though long; first, the first rent from Gra. due at Mich.1648 besides the taxes was 13u 158; but there is noe reason in the world you should expect that, for in N ovemb' foll. there was 33u 68 8d due £or a whole yeres int'est, £or 500U, £or weh that at Gr. was ingaged, & is not yet redeemed. As £or the 2 tenemts here-Terry & Best; they were then in M1• Bowlest his handes, & he rec' that Mich. rent ; ther£ore good Cosen doe not urge it any farther, but according to your own native gentlenesse and loving kindnesse sit down & be quiett. The Rentes afterwards stand thus :-the Lady daies Rent (taxes deducted) from Gra. was 1311 156, last Mich. Rent £or that was 13u 58 , and last Lady Day 14u 58• Terry paid £or a whole yere at Mich. last besides taxes 6li 58, and Best £or a yere then beside taxes & reparac'ons 511 05 6d, Last Lady Dayes rent they have not yet pd. weh I suppose will come to about 5u 158 , all web amounts to the some 0£ 5811 158 6d. This according to my J udgemt must, and by my will shalbe -pd. you, y£ you will accept thero£. I rec' this last week 15711 ; whero£ there was but 711 for int'est, weh 711 I have appoynted to be paid to you; tbe int'est came to 1811 more, all weh you should have had, but it seemes that Mr Mour rec' 611 0£ it, & th' other 12li was pd. to Mr Callice £or Phisick. I hope you shall rec' the next rentes your se1£e, and £or the said arreres I will contribute my best assistance, that they may be so spedily pd. as contently they may, ttnd over & above I shall ever rest Your really loveing uncle 5 May 1650. T. S. ' Since these pages were printed I have ascertained that Mr. Stanley was Portreeve 0£ Gravesend from Michaelmas 1611 to Michaelmas 1612, and also, a''. second time, from Michaelmas 1616 to Michaelmas 1617. w. A. SCOTT RonERTSON, * Ann, daughter and coheir of Thomas Streatfeild of Shoreham (who was buried at Chiddingstone in 1628) by Frances daughter of John Reeves (afterwards in 1632 wife of John Seyliard), married three times. Her first husband was William Stanley, of the Middle Temple, nephew of Thomas Stanley. She married him in 1644, and her marriage settlement is still preserved at Hamptons, .Ann St,reatfeild's second husband was the Rev. Samuel Dillingham. She married, thirdly, the Rev. Dr. Stephen Luddington. t Mr. Bowles was the clergyman, Vicar of West Peckham,