[From Manx Quarterly, #25]

The Contents of Peel Castle and Castle Rushen, 1650

A vivid glimpse into the higher or official life of the Isle of Man at the time of the Commonwealth is provided by an examination of the papers stored in the Record Office, in Chancery Lane, London, with which few readers here are familiar.

These documents are made available through the medium of the work entitled: The Royalist Composition Papers, being the proceedings of the Committee for Compounding, A.D. 1643-1680, as far as they relate to the County of Lancaster. Extracted from the Records Preserved in the Public Record Office, London, Vol. ii.. C-F. Edited by J. H. Struning, M.A., Vicar of Leigh. Printed for the Record Society (of Lancashire), 1892.

(I am indebted for the loan of this work to Mr James Bromley, J.P., probably the most learned of Lancashire archeologists now living, and a great collector as his printed catalogue would shew.)

Our interest begins at page 122, under the heading:

JAMES STANLEY, 7th Earl of Derby, Charlotte his wife, and Charles, Lord Strange, his son, afterwards 8th Earl of Derby.

Fo. 599. His delinquency, that being a peer of the realm he deserted the Parliament and took up arms against it, and was one of the persons excepted from pardon in the . . . propositions, but by the late votes left to compound at a moiety. He petitioned 22 January, 1648 (9). He compounded upon a particular delivered it under his own hand, by which he did submit to such fine, &c.

Then follows the details of the properties involved, the yearly value in demesnes, quit and improved rents, old rents, manors ensiles, rectories, etc., including possession in Lancashire (chiefly at Lathom, Bursco(Childwall, West Derby, etc.), Yorkshire, Warwickshire, Westmoreland, Oxfordshire, and Middlesex. (The total is about £4,300.)

Fo. 408. The Information of George Sayer, servant to Robert Massey, of Warrington, in the County of Lancaster, mercer, taken upon Oath before Collonell Thomas Birch, Governour of Liverpoole, and one of the Justices of Peace within the said County, the thirteenth day of August, 1650.

He recounts the seizure of the Mary of Liverpool, on the 30th June next before, by "one Capt. Georg Bradshawe, with a longe boate from the Iland of Man, manned with Sixteene Oares, wherein was 2 guns, one murderer (a piece of ordnance), & several musketts," and of the Earle of Derby claiming her as lawfull prize." The cargo included " taffatyes, silkee, ribens, haberdash wares, grosery, ffive thrids," &c. intended for Crickfergus in Ireland. The taffatyes silkes and most of the stuffes were disposed of in the Earle's own house and made into sevrall Garmts for the Commandr's Gentlewomen and others in the Informer's presence.

" Immediately after the Countesse went towards the King in Scotland, & therefrom comand was given that not any who were in the sd ship should be Inlarged till they heard of the safe Landings of the sayd Countesse in Scotland, to Pvent the Bringing of Intelligence into England."

The bill of loss was set out as follows :-

(Signed) George Sayer. and witnessed by

Tho : Birche (Capt. of the Parliamentary Forces at Liverpool).

Fo 412. The certificate of Capt. Birche that the goods were " divyded & shared betwixt the said Earle and his compliceys."

Fo 413. The confirmatory evidence of another witness from which it appears that the Countesse was " much displeased" that Bradshaw upon the taking of the Mary had not cast this Informant & all the rest of the poassengers with him over board into the sea as Rebells & Traytors." He also affirmed that "within the house or Castle where the said Earle lives & keepes his Court of Guard, hee, this Informer, saws about xxiij Telors at worke, making garments of the stuffes, silkes &c." And that certain of the Earl's officers said that of the prize a fifteenth pt belonged to the Kinge a tenth to the the Earle and the rest to the Capt and takers.

Fo. 416. A certificate that Massey was a Reall and trustie friend to the Parliament, that thereby he had been a great sufferer in his estate, that he had been kept a prisoner at Latham for 25 weeks, and that he had suffered great loss and damage at the instance of the Earl and his pyte by fire and otherwise estimated at £1161 10/-. Or £1488 16/- in all. Signed by

G. Booth.
H. Brooke.
Tho Marbury.
G. Ireland.
S. Hyde.
Robte Duckenfield.
P. Nolforde.

Fo. 820. Petition from Robert Massey, of Warrington, which mentioned that Parliament had been pleased to settle £1000 on petitioner out of the Countess of Derby's estate.

Fo. 846. A petition regarding discoveries of concealed estates of the Countess of Derby.

Fo. 847. The order of Parliament to pay Robert Massey a fifth part of the discovered estate of the Countess of Derby.

Fo. 312. Petition.

Fo. 459. A memorandum to write sharp letters to parties who had been remiss in sending in duplicates (of the properties seized).

Countess Darby's goods in the Isle of Man. A Lre to Col : Duckenfield To send an acct of wt goods are at Rushen Castle, to know wt became of them, wt Invent: of them was taken, and whose hander he knows any of them to be in.

Fo. 395. viij of October 1653, this Act passed.

" An Act to admitt Charlott, Countesse Dowager of Derby to Composition, and for £1000 to be given to Robert Massy for satisfaction of his losses."

Fo. 401. Report by Mr Peter Brerceton. According to your order . . . directing me to state her (the Countess's) case

After dealing with English possessions we come to:

" The Personall Estate" and the intimation that:-" She also desires to compound for the Plate, household stuffs, & other Goods wch were in her possession in the Isle of Man, and were Inventoried, wch Inventorie is returned to this Comittee and a copie thereof is hereunto annexed, wch goods she values at Two Thousand Pounds. £2000 00 00

Fo. 417.

'Gentl,

" Yors of the 25th of ffebruary last We reed the 8th Instant, touching the goods late belonging to the late Earle and Countess of Darby in Rushen and Peels Castles, in the Isle of man. And in Observant thereof Mr Massey, the one of us, attended Colonell Robert Duckenfield, and delivered to him yor honnors Letter, ffrom whome alsoe we receved ordrs directed to the officers in the said Isle, together wth copies of two Inventories of the same Goods and a Particular or Schedule of some 'Plate by Colonell Duckenfield already taken thence, and procured Coppy of all which we have hereunto sent. And make it or humble desire that whereas Colonell Duckenfield by his said ordr seemeth to Inhibite the delivere or such goods as are absolutely necessary for the said Castles till further Ordrs from the State or himselfe to that purpose, that therefore we may obtaine yor honnors direottion concerning the same. And shall give yor honnors a further Accompt of or proceedings wth all possible speed. And in the meantime rest,

" Yr honnors humble Servts, (Signed) " E. Aspinwall Robt. Massey." Aprill ye 13, 1653.

Fo. 419. " To all and every of the officers in the Isle of Mann under my Comand.

" Youe are hereby required upon notice hereof to deliver or cause to be delivred all the goods and Plate Inventoryed or not Inventoryed in the Isle of Man that did belong unto the late Earle of Darby or to his Counteis which be in Rushen or Peele Castles unto the Comittee for Sequestracions for Lancashire, or to any sufficiently authorized by them to receve the said goods, they giving you a sufficient Acquittance for receipt of the said goods. Provided that you dispose not of such goods as are absolutely necessary for the said Castles till further order from me or the State to that purpose, & you are to give what Information and assistance you can every way to the Agents that shall be sent herewith by the said Comittee for Sequestracions unto the said Isle for selling, or enquire after the said goods wthout delay, for wch this shal be yor sufficient warrant, witness my hand and Seale hereto this Eleventh day of Aprill 1653.

" (Signed) Robert Duckenfield."

The real interest in these moth-eaten documents begins when we read the detailed Inventory of the Earl and Countess's mock " Court" with its throne and rich hangings.

THE EARLIEST MANX TEA CUP.-THE CHAIR OF STATE OR THRONE OF MANX KINGS COVERED WITH ORANGE TISSUE INTERWOVEN WITH THREADS OF GOLD.

The Captain Pawns the Manx Plate,

" The Schedule whereof mention is made in the writing or Bill hereunto annexed, etc. " A Pticular note of the Plate in the hands of Colonell Robert Duckenfield :

" Three fruit Basketts, 20 fruit Dishes a Silver and guilt bason & Ewer enameled, three faire dishes, a guilt Tankard, a great salt wth Branches, Case, and Cover, two under cupps for preserves, a gilt standish, a Chafffn Dish, a sugar box & spoon, a faire branch Candlestick and three socketts wth Cover, a Candlestick and three sockette wth cover, a candlestick foote, three Boules, a Bason & Ewer, Three Trencher Salts, a gilt Taster, Eight Tumbrells, tenn fruits Dishes, ffoure under Cupps, nyue Candlesticks, two Ewers, a Cisterne, a Bason, part of a Pfuming Pann, a Bill in a wood frame.

"All these, weighing together Three thousand three hundred & tenn ounces, I was forced to pawne for seaven hundred and fifty pounds, because £955 was owing me by the State, as is acknowledged by Sevrall Comittees, yet the said Plate is forthcomin upon the payt of my said Debt, wch humbly crave allowance for. witness my hand this 11th of Aprill, 1653.

" (Signed) Robert Duckenfeild."

" A Great Salt with Branches."

When the Earl of Derby dined with those retainers constituting his swash-buckling court, the place occupied by " the Great Salt with Branches" would be an important dividing line. Sitting " below the Salt" was reserved for those of mean estate, but probably all grades, from the highest to the lowest, sat at meat within the precincts of the same hall, or chamber.

In early times, salt in the Isle of Man would be exclusively obtained by the processes of evaporation of sea water, which contains common salt to about 2.5 per cent. But at the time of the Commonwealth it is more than likely that it was obtained by shipments from the Dee, at some point in proximity to the great salt mines of Northwich, etc. It would be kept in the larder of Peel Castle in small sacks, and being nearly as soluble in cold water (or from mere damp) as in hot, it was no doubt tended with considerable care in order to avoid any waste of so valuable a commodity.

Englishmen as Slaves.

Salt was not served at table like the fine flour, to which the invention of " Cerebos" has accustomed us; but in lumps, or coarse grains; and every one at table converted his little lump, or coarse grains, into fine powder, by pressure under his drinking glass, or goblet.

Salt mines in England were at one time worked exclusively by slaves, and all Englishmen.

Peel Castle Plate.

Fo. 421. An Inventory of the Plate, household stuff, Lynnen, Armes, amunicon, & provicon remaining in Peele Castle at the surrender thereof, taken the 3rd day of Novembr, 1651.

" PLATE.

" IMPRIMIS TO THE LITTLE TRUNKE.-

One great Silver Salt wth 3 braunches or Candlesticks, 4 Socketts and a Cover, 3 Trencher Salts, 2 binder Cupps, 6 Plaine Candlesticks, 1 gilt Candlesticks & a foote for another & cne smale bason & Ewer, 3 plaine boules 6 Tumblers, 1 sugar box & spoone, tea cuppe gilt, 1 Wall-Candlestick wth Branches & Socketts, 1 Silver bell."

The Earliest Manx Tea Cup.

This " tea-cupp gilt" is very noteworthy, having regard to our isolation. Legend says that the tea plant was introduced into China from India about 500 A.D. but tea was unknown to Europe until the end of the sixteenth century. Small quantities were brought to England; but it was not till 1657 that it began to be used as a beverage, and Garraway opened his tea-house in Exchange Alley, London, the price being at that time from £5 to £10 per lb., or, say, 12/6 per oz., or nearly a shilling a cup !Tea, therefore, in that day was an immensely costly luxury; yet it was being consumed in Peel Castle some years before the first tea-house was opened in London, and at a moment, when the vast bulk of the people of the Isle of Man were on the edge of starvation, a woman "old" at 40, and a man ready for the grave at 50. What would we not give for that " tea cupp gilt," a most interesting curio to-day ?

" IN THE BIGGER TRUNCKE.-2 greate peeces of Plate fastened like unto a shelfe, with 12 pillars, 4 Double Socketts, 7 small peeces yt belong to the Socketts, 5 branches And 5 boules, 5 branches, & 12 knobes, all wch together makes one hanging candlestick; 2 Tankards, 2 little drinking Cups 2 Candle Capps wth covers & one Candle dapp without a cover, 2 boules, I salt, 4 Trencher salts, 1 trencher plate, 2 broken sawsers, I payre of Snuffers & one extinguisher, one warming pann, one dozen of S cones, 1 long ladle, 5 Severall pieces which make a toasting forks.

"IN THE PACKES-3 dozen fruite dishes, 1 great Sesterne, 3 fruite basketts, one Ewer, 3 flatt bassens, 1 great basin and Ewer gilt, 1 little Cisterns, 4 under cupps, 2 Candlesticks & 1 Chaffing dish, 1 Silver Cann, 1 guilt Tanckerd, I Smale bason, one Trencher & Salt in one ( 8) guilt 2 great wall Candlesticks with 3 branches & 3 Socketts a peece, one perfuming pann.

" LYNNEN.

"IN THE TRUNCKE BOUND WITH IRON IN THE CHAMBER OVER THE CHURCH.- Imprimis 4 pairs of fine flaxon sheets, 7 Damask Table Cloths, 2 Damask Towells, 14 Diaper Table Cloths, 11 Diaper Cubbard Cloathes, 30 Dozen of diaper napkins.

"IN THE ARMERY IN A GREAT TRUNCKE.9 pairs of flaxen sheets, 8 diaper table clothes, 8 diaper Cubbard Clothes, 1 Dozen of diaper Napkins, 5 dozen of flaaxen napkins, 3 flaxen Towells, 3 Pillow-beers.

"IN THE LESSER TRUNCKE.-9 table clothes, 8 Cubbard Clothes, 8 paire of sheets, 5 Towells and six dozen of Napkins.

" IN THE CHEST.-7 pair of sheets, 3 Table Clothes, 6 pillow beeres, 2 Towells, 10 dozen of Napkins.

"ARMS AND AMUNISON.

" Three Iron Sacres, 4 basten sacres, 3 Iron ffaulkens, 1 Iron Demie Culverine, 1 mixt mettle gunn Demi Culverin boare, 4 brass minims, 4 little brass listen 1 chamber Peesk of Iron, 2 Iron Murders ('Murderers), 1 brass pott gunn."

The Sacre.

*SAKER, or SACRE, a great gun. Halliwell says that it was of three inches and a half bore; weight of shot, five pounds and a half. The falcon, according to the same authority, had a bore of two inches and a half, and carried two pounds weight of shot. The minim is said to have required a shot of 3 inches in diameter. A demiculverin was a nine-pounder, and a chamber piece was a kind of short cannon, like a mortar.

"30 musketts, 99 suits of Armes, 19 Buckles & brests but not any head peeces to them. 35 barrells of powder, 1 Tinne of Shott, small & great for the great gunns, 14 cross barr and Chayne Shott, 1 Tinn j of match, 1 Slett Saere, 10 barrens of muskett shott, j dozen ~ of Shovells & Spades, 3 dozen of Sithes, 107 barrs of lead, twixt 2 or 300 of Iron & Shele, 2 Cakes g of stone pitch, 12 Round heads.

" PROVISION.

" 5 Barrells of wheate, 3 Barrens of Rice, 30 Barrells of Barley, 3 Barrells of Mault, 23 firkins of butter, 2 barrells beef sent on board the hart for Captains Chamberlains into England, 20 bundles of poore John (i.e., Hake), 3 hogsheads of pease, 4 barrells of Oatmeale, 1 hogshead of wheate flower, 53 barrells of herrings, 10 Tunn of gray salt, 3 Tunn of Coales two whereof be spent, 29 cheeses, 4; firkins of sope, nere a barrell of brown powder suger, 5 naggs 3 whereof giuven to Capt. Chamberlain, 10 Sheepe, 1 poore bullock spear.

" MORE IN THE TRUNCKE BOUND WITH IRON IN YE CHAMBER OVER YE CHURCH then was specified before.-1 damaske Towell, 8 Diaper Clothes, 8 dozen of Diaper napkins.

" HOUSEHOLD STUFF.

"IN THE CHAMBER OVER THE CHURCH, IN THE CHEST NEXT THE DOORS.-1 white fustian bedd wrought wth ye furnuture thereunto belonging, wth the furnuture for 6 Chaires & 3 stooles suitable; 1 greens brood cloth bedd laced wth gold & silver bone lace, lined with red Taffety wth it furniture,

" fo. 424. and the furniture for a great Chayne, 4 back Chayres, and 6 Stooles suitable, & 1 Carpett; 1 peece of greene & 1 peece of blue bayes belonging to ye bedd, 2 ffeather Ticks, 1 fine holland quilt, 1 red silks quilt, 2 red seerge window curtaines, 1 crimson plush Coat lined wth furr wch the Countess tooke away, 1 Swane's skin stomager, 1 plate looking glass.

" IN THE SQUARE TRUNCKE.-1 rich red velvett bedd, laced wth gold & silver lace, wth Curtaines, vallence thereunto belonging; 1 yellow damask bedd, with Silver frngs, curtaines, vallence, and furniture thereunto belonging, and two window curtains suitable; 2 leather Carpets, 1 Damaske Skreene.

1 peece of red bayes for the covering of the Truneke.

" IN THE GREAT FLATT TRUNCKE.-8 peece of Arrice hangings of Sampson storye, 1 watchett (i.e., pale blue) velvett Oarpett & 1 bagg suitable layd on with Silver lace, 4 rich Imbroidered Cushions, 1 red velvett close Stoole, some players clothes.

" Arrice Hangings of Sampson storye."

Arras, so called from Arras, the capital of the department of Pas-de-Calais, in the north of France, where this article was manufactured-tapestry; i.e., hangings, consisting of woven stuffs ornamented with figures.

Shakespeare has the stage direction, " Polonius hides behind the arras" (Hamlet, Act III). Beaumont and Fletcher have the lines, " I have of yore made many a scram= bling meal, in corners, behind arrases, on stairs," which would suggest a curtain; but Byron says, " Arras they prick'd and curtains with their swords," so that it is clear that Arras hangings were distinctive cur tains, i.e., decorated with figures. Tennyson uses the noun as an adjective " In Arthur's arras hall at Camelot," so that these beautifully decorated wall coverings were in vogue as early as 500 A.D.

My friend, Captain T. E. Harrison, who takes a very lively interest in this particular aspect of our study, writes me :-" The eight pieces of Arras hangings were unquestionably tapestry, and from the fact that they depicted the Old Testament story of Samson, dated, maybe, from the period of Henry VIII. Cardinal Wolsey had a great taste for this particular form of wall decoration. He both stimulated the importation of Flemish tapestries and the weaving of them in this country. Scriptural and mythological subjects were generally depicted. The Samson story is both scriptural and mythological, being no more than a Hebrew version of the Egyptian or Phoenician Sun legend, of which the story of Cuchulain the hero of the Ulster saga, in Irish mythology, is the best Celtic variant.

-IN THE TRUNCKE WITH THE FIGURE OF 6 on - 1 black velvett Canipie vallence, 2 damask curtaines wth a cord for the Canipie, 2 redd Taffity Curtaines belonging to the rich bedd, 1 purple damask bedd wth curtaines, vallence, and furniture suitable, 4 Darkish Culler Taffity Curtaines, 1 yellow Counterpayne, little taffety curtaines & vallence furniture for a Canipie, 1 new peece of Dasnix (or Darnix, a coarse sort of damask) Testerne, 5 Vallence embroidered upon, 2 blue curtain bayes.

The Chair of State, i.e., the Manx Throne.

" IN THE OAKE PLANKS CHEST.-1 orringe culler cloth of Tushie (cloth of tissue, i.e., cloth interwoven with gold), large CanipIe to a Chayre of State, wth furnuture for the Chayre, stooles, & foots stoole suitable, laced wth rich plate lace, beinge fourteene peeces, & fringed wth large Silver fringe (not finished) ; 1 silke quflt Carpett of Divers cullers for a foote Oarpett, 4 papers of large Silver fringe wch belongs to the finishing of the Tushie Canipie, Coverings of yellow bayes for the Chayre and stooles 1 window Curtain of red stuffs that covers tits Canipie; one other Crimson Velvet Canipie for a chayre of State, wth cords to it, and one chayre suitable, all laced & fringed with gold lace and fringe; i window Ourtaine of yellow Taffetie; i yellow damaske furniture for a great Chayre, laced & fringed wth rich silver lace & fringe.

" IN THE OTHER TRUNCKE.-In one peece of redd bayes 9 Siler Cprds wth tassells in two other peeces -of- red bayes.

" Fo. 426. 72 Couple of rich silver buttons & loops, 15 of yt sort found since, i whole new peece of yellow watered damask of 80 yards or thereabouts, ffurniture of wrought Irish stitch with redd & white fringe for 10 black Chayres, and the like for 11 stooles & for a Couch, i holland quilt for a bedd.

" IN THE FLATT TRUNCKE WITH TWO LOCKS.1 blew velvett bedd wth gold fringe, wth curtaines & vallence and furniture thereunto, wth 8 Chayres & 6 Stooles suitable, & 4 Taffetie Curtaines for the windowes Suit. able; i Redd velvett bedd wth gold fringe, wth Curtaines & vallence and furniture thereunto, wth 8 chayas and 6 Stooles suitable, wth covers to them; Redd Velvett Carpett wth silk fringe, 2 Redd Searge Curtaines for the windows, 3 leather Cexpetts for the tables, 6 rich buttons and six tassells of silver wth a silke and silver Cord belonging to the great Candlestick, 2 peeces of '• redd Cloth yt comas about the bedd, 1 large border of Ermin's furr ffouled up in a sheet, 4 yellow taffity peeces for Curtains covered -, wth a murry culler (dark red), Cob-web lane : - (cobweb lawn-thin transparent lawn),:= wrought with Mowers of silke, 1 yellow; Taffity Curtains wthout Cob-web lane, 8 - peeces of little and big of the Cob-web lam wthout Taffity (wch is not finished).

" IN A SMALL CHEST-8 peeces of rich guilt lether hangings, 31 peeces of Arris hangings, 15 long Turkie Carpetts, 19 Turkie Court Cubbard Cloths, 2 window Curtains, of rood Stuffs; 4 window Cushions of Crimson Sattin imbroidred in branches of silver and gold; 2 little Crimson Velvdtt Cushions, 3 window Cushions, wrought win Silke; 1 Window Cushion, wrought with Cruell; 1 Ash culler Cushion, wrought wth silks and flowers; 2 Cushions of Cloth of Gold; 5 Velvett Cushions, playne; 1 Velvett Cushion, wth 3 gold laces; 2 peeces of Darnix hangings, 1 ffether bedd and quilted dawns or Cotton.

" IN THE CHAMBER OVER.-1 ffether bed and boulster, 3 blankets, 1 quilt,. bedd wth Curtains, 1 Dozen of Pewter Dlehes.

" GOODS IN THE SAME CHAMBER THAT CAME OUT OF THE SHIP CALLED THE HART.-1 peece of gray Lynnen Cloth, 2 Cover-lids, one blankett, 1 peace of Tick, 2 peeces of Stuff, 7 yards; 1 strong water seller (a spirit ceilaret), 2 bottles wth pewter Covers."

Captain T. E. Harrison writes :Peel Castle in its Glory and Decay.

" The great Cardinal furnished Hampton Court with a superb series in covering the rough stonework of the halls and chambers. " At Peel Castle there were apparently, in all, 39 pieces of such tapestry. I suggest that it is possible that some are still in existence. Do any survive at Knowsley? They would be even in reproduction of the greatest interest to all historical students as aids to a vivid presentment of the character of the highest official life of the Island in the fifteenth, sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. When is your Museum going to materialise? When nothing survives to put into it ?

" All the furnishings mentioned are of an exceptionally fine character, and it is not difficult to call up to the mind's eye the imposing appearance the principal apartments of the Castle presented when decorated with the profusion of silver plate set out in the Inventory.

" It is possible that the chair of State was occasionally used in the Cathedral, which in pre-Refoarmation times was probably in keeping with the general richness of the Castle and domestic quarters of the King, Lord, Earl, or Governor.

" The Inventory marks Peel Castle in its glory and in its dismantling and decay."

The Contents of CastleRushen at the Commonweatth

CURIOUS DOMESTIC INVENTORY.

THE FIRST MANX LIBRARY.

" IN CASTLE RUSHIN, as followeth, Novembr 9, 1661:

"11 barrells and j of powder, j and I of a barrell hand granades, 4 Hides greene powder.

"POWDER HOUSE.-1 barrell & j of powder.

" GENERAL ROOME-100 bundles match, each of 10 Skeaues; j a barrell of powder in Catharses, 8 granads feild (filled), & 20 unfeild; 400 weight great and small shot.

"KITCHEN TOWRE-1 ffaucon Ironpeeee.

" HALL TOWRE-1 Slings peace.

"GUNNERS TOWRE.-1 ffaucon peace of Iron, and another of brass.

"COURT OR GUARD.-100 musketts, 1 Drum, 400 round shote, 10 picker, a shipp flagg, 2 ffether bedds.

" PORTERS LODGE.-Bed and boulster wth Curtaines and vallence of a gold cuflored brood Cloth, lyned wth yellow Tafffty, & trim'd wth yellow and redd silke lace wth one yellow quilt & Testerne; 1 White blanett, 1 Cover for a great Chayre, suitable to the Va1lence and Curtaines, and one velvett Cushin for ye Chairs; 2 ffether bedds and boulsters, and 5 Blanketts.

Beds, i.e., Large Flat Bags of Down, Wool, or Chaff.

"IN A LONG CHEST, IN THE ARMORY.--2 white ffustion bedds, the one wrought wth redd, the other wth greens and redd, wth ye furniture thereunto; 10 Covers for stooles and 6 Covers for Chayres, suitable; 1 old greene damask curtains and vallenee for a bed, wth silver lace on; fuurniture for 8 little greene searge bedds, i little yellow searge bedd, wth redd & white Crewell fringe, wantinge the Testerne; Vallence, curtains, and Counterpaines of stained Callico; 5 greene searge Curtaines for windowes, i Carpett of Course greene broad cloth, i White imbroidered Covering far a bedd, 2 redd Damask Curtains, 2 Window Curtaines of Greene Damask, i old window Cuchion, i old silks quilt.

" IN THE GOVERNOUR'S CHAMBER.-i bedstead, wth a fether bedd & boulster, and quilt bedd; 2 blanketts, 2 Scotch broken Curtaines, i Table, wth a Carpett, 2 Chayres, 3 pesoes of hangings, 2 ffether bedds, 2 boulsters, and furniture made up out of other rooms since.

" ROOME UNDER THE CHAPPELL-5 Cakes Pitch 3 qrs of a punch of Prunnes, i punch of Wheat flour, i barrell of Stirrop Irons, i barrell of Snaffles, Spurrs, and Buckles, a large halfe barrell of the coursest browns sugar, i chest of nayles, girth buckles and sheepe bells, j a barrell; i box of locks and keys, a barrell of horse shoes i Ship bell, 3 Tubs, & 4 basketts, i payre of Iron Skales, & 200 lead weights.

" QUOYR ROOME.-1 Tunn of Iron, 1 barrell of Allom, and two brass kettles.

" CHIRURGEON'S ROOMS.-One bedd.

" IN THE ROOMS ABOVE.-One bedd, one sheet, and one Coverlid.

" SMITHY.-One great Cable, & two small ones.

"'BREWHOUSE-80 fadom of Netts, one great brass pott, 2 brewing Combes, and 2 leaders.

" BREWHOUSE CHAMBER.-One bedd and Clothes.

" HEARING [ ? HERRING] HOUSE.-12 barrills, 1 Tubb, and one Hd hearings.

" STOREHOUSE.-300 weight of old Iron, i Hd of Brimston, 6 barrells of Tarr.

" OVER THE STOREHOUSE.-5 stone wool.

" PANTRY.-i brass Cisterne, 5 pewter fflaggons, i Dozen of pewter plates, one pewter voyder, and on [one] wooden one wth 4 silver handles.

"ROOMS OVER THE SELLARS-4 ould bedds (one removed into the Taylors roome).

" Room OVER THE DuNGEON.-One old bedstead wth Curtaines.

" MR. HENRY'S CHAMBER.-

One bedd, one blankett, and Coverlett flocks bed, bolster, 2 pillowes, 2 Tables, i 6haire, 2 Stooles, wth Curtaines.

" HIGHER GREANNERIE-

8 Barrells of Mault, 32 barrellë of oatmeale, 3 firkins of old glass, wth some old cordinge and Sayles.

Barrels of Evidence and Old Writings.

" LOWER GRANIARIE-

5 boules of wheat, 12 boules of mault, 4 Barrells of peace, 5 Boules oates, one boule of Barley, one old flock

bedd, 2 (1) [the figure 1 has been crossed out] barrells of old Evidences, one chest and one Trunek old writings.

" KITCHEN,-

3 dozen old pewter dishes, small & great; 2 brass potts, 3 Iron potts, 2 brass pans, 7 brass Skillets (a small pot with a long handle).

" CELLAR.-

10 hhd of beare.

" SALTHOUSE.-

25 barrells of Salt Drye.

" LARDER.-

2 punchions pease, 2 barrells of oatmeale, 4 Cakes of Tallow.

" WETT LARDER.-

I barrell of soused puffiens (pickled puffins), 3 barrells of Salt, 8 Ceeves, 2 Cakes of Tallow.

" RECEIVERS CHAMBER.-

One bedd, wth yellow Curtaynes & Vallence; one little chayre, one table, and Carpett.

The Archdeacon's " Standing Bed."

" ARCHDEACON'S CHAMBER.-

One standing bedd, wth hangings of Kiderminster Stuff. "

MR. TREOTIONS CHAMBR-

2 ffether bed and boulsters, 2 blanketts, 1 Coverlett, 1 Rug gd 1 Chest, & a new payre of boots and

an ol trumpry, one Chayre, and one Table. "

CONTROLLER'S CHAMBR.- One Cettle, one Chest, one table.

" MRS. MORRIS CHAMBR.- One standing bed, 4 fether bedds and boulsters, 2 old tables, 6 Blanketts, 3 dozenfflaxen napkins, 10 coarse cuissions, about halfe a barrell of white starch, 6 payre of fflaxen sheets, 6 pillow bers, 2 long table Cloths, 4 little ones, one fether bedd ticks.

" IN A TRUNCKE OF MR. GREENHOUGH- 16 payre of sheets, 9 payre of pillow bers, 3 Towells, some writings and papers, Mr Greenhalgh's; pewter dishes, 17; 2 old fflaggons, one Chamber pott, and one Candlestick, 2 washing bassons, 2 porridgers, 2 old Ewers, 5 old pewter plates.

" IN A TRUNCK OF My LADYES- 18 Diaper table Clothes, ½ a Dozen of Cubbard Clothes, 2 fflaxen ones, ii dozen of Diaper napkins, 5 payre of old sheets.

" IN ANOTHER TRUNCK,- 3 dozen Diaper Napkins and table Cloths one Cubbard Cloth of Diaper, 13 payre of course Sheets, 4 payre of old sheets.

"IN A HALFE HAMPER.- 5 dozen of fflaxen napkins, one fflaxen table Clothes.

" IN ANOTHER TRUNCK.- 6 fushion [ ? fustian] Coverings.

" IN A TRUNCKE WITH A HORNS PNND [ ? PAINTED] ON IT.- 1 peices and 2 Remnants of Dowlas (coarse linen), 1 wrought sheet, 1 remnant of holland, 1 Roule flannel], one peace of unwhited fflaxen, 2 remnants' of ffustian, one smale remnant Tafted holland, and a smale remnant of Lynsie woolsie, one small bundle fine thred & 6 of course; one bundle of broad tape, & one of narrow; one smale remnant of holland.

"IN THE LANDRES.- 1 long Chest with Somme browne Suger in; an old bedsted, 3 tables.

"IN THE ROOME WHERE THE CLOCK Is.- A great Cubbard wth Chency Cupps and bottles ; and one peece of Canvas."

Books of Great Volume.

" IN THE LIBRARY.- 265 bookes of great vollomes, whereof guilded 54, besides smale bookes; 8 Mapps, 3 pictures, 2 Nether bedds, 1 quilt, I blankett, 2 boulsters, 2 little tables, one covering for a smale, I Scrine.

" THE LONG ROOME.-

All hung wth old hangings, one smale trunck of Mercers, i Trunek, 6 paire of sheets; i payre delivered tf, 11aJ'or HOX, another to Major Duckenfield' 12 pillowes covered wth yellow damask, 6 btooles tsc 6 Chairas covered wth redd -el,vett, 1 great ehayra wth redd velvett, removed to my Ladyes Closett below; 4 white fetters for bedd Testers, 3 black velvett imbrollered stooles and quishir: [ ? .oushicn 1, lion stiv,h; 4 ffether bedds with mattris & bouleters, 1 removed into the GOUrnors Chamber, 8 pillowes, 1 Carryed into ye Gournors Chamber; 58 peeces of Scotch Cloth, remaines 19; 1 old Sell [ ? cellar] of glasses, bottles, and one new close stoole, 1 hamper wth broken pewter, 1 Chest of browne suger, whereof one part delivered to the Lady; 7 Stone of wool(, my Lady PI; 2 guilt Clocks, 8 old bedds & boulsters, 5 delivered for ye souldiers ; 8 more roughe ffether bedds of the souldiers, 6 ryding saddles, & 2 women's sadles, wth their furniture, disposed of by Co-mrs ; 4 Cross bower, 2 brushes to be sett before a Chimney, i Chest of Mr ffowler's Chirurgery, one still in ye soape roome, 2 frkins of Soape and some Castle Soape."

- IN YE CHAMBER OVER YE CHAPPELL, WHICH WAS MR SINCOCKES CHAMBR.-

One peece of redd Cloth, about 4 yards; i Silver Tankerd, a porringer, and a little aqua vite bottle of plate, i bedsted, stript wth furniture; i ffether bedd, i mattris, 4 blanketts, i payre of sheets, 2 boulsters & two Caddowes & illows more, 9 old blanketts, i ffether bedd,

boulsters, 5 mattris, & 2 blanketts, 3 stooles & 2 chaires, i ioynt stoole, i Table, 2 old quishins (cushions); 2 Truneks came from Capt. Radclif, & in one of them some small ,remnants of holland, and a wasti eoate with some other smale things Capt. Radolift bought of Capt. Turner's pursir, or [I for] 54 baarells of Salt at 13s p barrell, yt are not paid for.

A Lamb for 2d., Shoep 3d., Calf 8d.!

"An after Acompt or a noate of Sevrall things, for wch full satisfaction shall be given as followeth :

" BROUGHT IN BY MR SLADER IN MR SMITH'S NAME. (The writing in the margin is not the

same as in the body. It appears to be a commentary by some official on the particulars.)

Fo. 440. On Endorsement,

" Countess of Derby, Lancaster, 28 Oct, 1653

" Fine upon the Act of Pliamt of ye 8th of Octob, 53, wch gives libty to ye Countess to Compound £7,200."

F. 392. Petition, 19 Oct., 1653, desiring to be admitted to compound (autograph signature).

Fo. 393. " The Excepcons of Colonell Duckenfeild, agst the Countess of Derbyes Compoundinge for some plate Seized on by him when the Isle of Man was reduced to the Parliamt.

" That the said Colonell, after the reducement of the said Isle, had in his charge 3,310 ounces of the late Earle of Derbyes plate, wch was Inventored in the said Island, in liewe of a farre greater debt oweinge to him from the State. As he can make appere by Sevrall Aecompts, & in pticular by a report made by Colonell Downes, from the Comittee of the Army.

" The said Plate belonged properly to the late Earle of Derby & his sonne, and not to his Lady, as he doubts not but to prove.

"The said Colonell desires only to be allowed to speake in his own behalfe & in the behalfe of the Comonwealth touching the said before she be admitted to Compound for the same. And that reasonable time may be allowed him herein (he being in Cheshire, about 140 miles distance, upon Speciall Concernments).

" Other goods & plate in the said Isleland that the Colonell had charge of, much of it sold by the Sequestrators, & some in Chester Castle & Captain Eyton's custody.

(Signed) " Ro : Duckenfield." Fo. 383. Daniel Trioche maketh oath that the severall parcells of plate hereafter mentioned, viz. :-"A Cesterne, Two wall Candlesticks, One Table Candlestick, one tumbler, foure spoones-Are part of the goods deliever'd at the surrender of the Isle of Man by the Countesse of Derby, and mentioned in the inventory annexed unto the particular of her personall Estate Compounded for. Which he can the better depose in regard he was in the Isle of Man, and present when the same were inventoried; & he further deposeth that he saw the peeces of plate above mentioned in the hands of one Na: Wilson, Living at the Whitehart, in Bashinghall Street, on Saturday last."

(Signed) " Daniel Trioche." " Sworn before ye Comrs ye

" 31 of Jany, 1653 (4). " R. W.

The Countess's Compound.

On the 15 Feby, 1653 (4) a letter was ordered to be written to Mr "Wilson, asking how he came by the goods, whether he received them from the Comrs, and whether they received any orders from other Comrs to sell the same; the letter beginning "Foras much as we are informed," etc.

Next we have an order to the Comrs in the country to certify the state of the case, whether the goods were ever in their hands and in whose hands they are, and to show cause by the ensuing Tuesday wh the goods should not be delivered to the Countess according to her composition, and in the meantime to forbeere disposing of same. It was further ordered that the bonds given by the Tennants for payment of the rents, he delivered to the Countess.

Then we have an intimation to Mr Hancocke that he may accept the " Countess and Colonel Edward Coke as seuritye for the second moiety or the Countesse, her fine."

Quarrelling over The Spoils.

Fo. 357. From the report of Mr Bre reton, dated 18 Oct., 1664, are the extracts next following :

Heard 19 December, 1654

" Accordg to your Order of the 11 Dy April, 1654,

" I have examined the Petition of Charlotte, Countess Dowager of Darbie . . and I find

" That, by Act of Parliamt, passed the 8 of October, 1653, the Comissionrs for Compounding were empowered to Compound with, Charlotte

" In pursuance of which Act she petitiond the 19 of October, 1653, to compound; and on the 26 of the same month compounded for . . . And she compounded them also in general for a personall Estate of £1,000, being part of a personall estate £2,000 mentoned in her Particular, vizt., Plate, Household Stuff, and other goods in her possession in the Isle of Man, an Inventorie whereof was returned to the Commissioners here and a Copie annexed to her Particulars, for wch £1,000 goods her fine was sett £336 088 08d, in all £7,200. The moyetie whereof, the Countesse having paid into the Treasurie and secured the other moyetie, she had the Sequestration discharged by several orders to the Commissioners of the 1st of November, 1653, whereby the Comissioners for the Counties of Chester & Lancaster are directed to restore unto her all such goods are are mentioned in the said Inventorie excepting such as are in the hands of Colonell Duckinfield, for which her composition was respited.

Craft?

Mr Brereton found that the Lancashire Commissioners certified on the 2nd June, 1654, that the Countess's Agent desired that Laurence Owen, their late agent, who was sent over to the Isle of Man to seize the estate, might be examined as to what had become of the goods. Owen produced a book of account, but as he could not answer " punctually" he was not examined on oath, the Commissioners passing the accounts into the hands of their auditor.

Great Chair of State.

The account was set out under five heads. The first shewed a list of the goods of which Owen had knowledge, their value, and how some were disposed of by officers therein mentioned. The second account shewed those that. came to the " disposal" of Owen himself; the third account those sold by Owen for £748 12s 8d. The fourth account was a particular of the goods delivered to Mi Henry Ashton, as follows :-" One great dhaire covered with velvet, laid with gold laoë and fring, Six chairs and five stooles covered with silk and gold fring, Power stooles covered with Yellow damask with short silver fring, Five pieces of Old Arras hangings, one ski-ewe desk for a book, one pillar for a bowls to wash in, some curtaines for a bedd, one Greene Rugg, Thirtie-five Pictures and Mapps in oyl wthout Frames Seaventie-six Pictures in Frames, one great chest filled with old deeds and writings, one Trunck and in it seaven hard twists thred or silk, Three hundred and sixtie books of great volume, Five hundred and seaventie books of lesser volume, one guilt clock, one great frame for a looking glass, one wooden voyder with four silver handles, Four table covers of leather, Two green skreen %

Twelve pieces of old rotten hangings, one wooden chest having in it two old cushions and 21 yards of coarse ticking."

But no value was set down to these items. The fifth account shewed such goods still in the hands of Henry Asheton, valued at £20. Ashton deposed that all the goods which this examinant received from Laurence Owen for the use of the Countess of Darbie were in the whole worth about four score pounds (£80).

Ro. 370 is a copy of the petition 11th April 1654, praymg for an order directing the Lancashire Commissioners to examine into the matter and return the same with aReed that it might be reported so that she might have an abatement out of the second moiety of her fine.

The only other record has reference to the living of Winwick in Lancashire, which was at one time held by Thomas, "Bishop of Man" (1563), and a prolonged law-suit that arose out of a lease for ninety-nine granted to Sir Thomas Standley, Knight; but except for the mention of the Manx Bishop, the papers have little or no concern to the Isle of Man.