Mr. JOHN DENTON of Cardew made large extracts from the Efcheators books for Cumberland, and from the records in the Tower and other public offices; containing accounts of fines levied, pleas of lands, inquifitions poft mortem, grants of fairs and markets, parks, free warren, and many other particulars. Copies of which extracts are now at Rydal hall, in the poffeffion of Sir Michael le Fleming baronet. From the faid extracts Mr. Denton compiled his manuscript history of Cumberland, which is in feveral hands.

Sir DANIEL FLEMING of Rydal baronet, great grandfather of the faid Sir Michael, made very large collections relating to both counties; and from his family evidences, which have been accumulating almost ever fince the conqueft, he formed a manufcript hiftory of his own family (and incidentally of divers other families) in two volumes quarto. Amongst his other collections (befides the abovefaid copies from Mr. Denton) are many pedigrees of ancient families, marriage fettlements, inquifitions poft mortem, extracts from the records at London and from the Bodleian library at Oxford, and decrees in courts of equity on matters arifing within the faid two counties. He also writ a small manuscript history of Weftmorland; one copy whereof is at Rydal, and another in the said Bodleian library.

The right honourable ANNE countefs dowager of PEMBROKE, DOrSET, and MONTGOMERY, at a vaft expence, procured from all the publick offices copies of every thing that could be found relating to any of her ancestors the Veteriponts and Cliffords, lords of Weftmorland and hereditary fheriffs of the fame; and caufed the faid copies to be ingroffed in three large folio volumes, and lodged in her caftle at Appleby, where they now remain. In making this collection, the employed that learned antiquary Mr. Roger Dodsworth, who left a large collection of manufcripts to the univerfity of Oxford. From thefe records fhe caused to be compiled an history of her ancestors, from the first Robert de Veteripont in the reign of king John, down to her own time: In the digefting of which memoirs fhe employed that great and learned lawyer Mr. Hale, afterwards lord chief justice.

The reverend THOMAS MACHEL, M. A. fometime fellow of Queen's College in Oxford, and rector of Kirkby Thore, from his first entrance in the university to the day of his death, employed himfelf with unwearied affiduity in collecting materials for an history of Weftmorland; and as his collections multiplied, an hiftory alfo of Cumberland.

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Cumberland. At his death, he left his collection to the aforefaid bishop Nicolson, with a request (if it might easily be done) that his papers fhould be put into form and published. This collection, the bishop fays in a prefatory introduction, was all in loose papers; and fo imperfect and indigefted, that he could not think of compleating the defign. But he gathered all the scattered fragments together, and bound them up in fix volumes in folio, and lodged the fame in the library of the dean and chapter of Carlisle, that they might be made use of, if any perfon afterwards fhould undertake an hiftory of the faid two counties. This collection of Mr. Machel confifts, first, of extracts from the evidences at Appleby caftle and at Skipton castle (another feignory belonging to the lords of Weftmorland). Next, Mr. Machel by himself, and by divers amanuenfes, made many extracts from the records in the Rolls chapel and in the Tower; unto which he had free access by the friendship of Sir Joseph Williamfon, fecretary of state, who had formerly been fellow of the aforefaid college. He also made extracts from the private evidences of feveral ancient families; which extracts are become more valuable, as many of the originals are now loft. Mr. Machel had also confulted the records in the heralds office, and the separate collections of several particular heralds, and especially of Sir William Dugdale his intimate friend. It was ufual in ancient time for the heralds to perambulate the several counties at certain intervals, where they received and examined the pedigrees of the feveral: families, approved the genuine, rejected the spurious, and respited the doubtful for further confideration, blazoned their arms, granted new bearings to new families, or new marks of distinction to different branches of the fame ancient family. The laft vifitation of that kind: in Westmorland and Cumberland was made by the fame Sir William Dugdale in the years 1664 and 1665; and Mr. Machel received copies from him of all the particulars. But above all, the faid Sir William Dugdale had made a collection in 62 volumes in folio and quarto of matters relating to different parts of the kingdom. From thence Mr.. Machel hath copied all that related to the faid two counties.

The reverend HUGH TODD, D. D. vicar of Penrith and prebendary of Carlisle, compofed an hiftorical defcription of the diocese of Carlifle, in a large folio manufcript, and intended the fame for publication, but was prevented by the most obvious of all reasons, namely, waiting for further materials. Hence it hath happened, that there is. no account in his manufcript from what fountains he derived his in-formation: and in fact, many of his accounts, when compared with

the records of ancient times, appear to have wanted a reconfideration. Nevertheless, he was a gentleman of ability and learning, and there are many things in his collection both curious and inftructive. Copies of this work are in feveral hands.

Sir THOMAS CARLETON of Carleton hall made divers extracts from the public offices relating to Cumberland and Weftmorland, and writ large notes on fome of Mr. Denton's extracts; and particularly, there is a large and curious collection of letters, which he fays were found in the library at Carleton hall after his grandfather's death, relating to the Border fervice, during the time that lord Dacre was warden of the Weft Marches in the reign of king Edward the fixth: Which particulars make part of the valuable collection at Rydal hall.

CHRISTOPHER RAWLINSON of Cark hall in the county of Lancafter efquire left a large collection of manufcripts, in which are many particulars relating to the counties of Weftmorland and Cumberland: Copies of these alfo are at Rydal.

JAMES BIRD of Brougham efquire, who had been steward at Appleby caftle, made a collection in alphabetical order of matters relating to the feveral townships or manors in Weftmorland holden of the faid caftle, from the fame materials which Mr. Machel had made use of before: And there are in Mr. Bird's collection fome inquifitions and other evidences, which had not fallen under Mr. Machel's inspection. This Mr. Bird appears to have had a most ample repofitory of old evidences; but after the ftricteft inquiry, nothing hath been found now remaining, fave only the above mentioned alphabetical digest, preferved from oblivion by the aforefaid Sir Daniel Fleming.

To all these we may add the original CHARTULARIES of the feveral religious houses of HOLME CULTRAM, WETHERAL, and LANERCOST; the first of these at Hawkfdale, the fecond in the library of the dean and chapter of Carlisle, and the third at Naward caftle belonging to the right honourable the earl of Carlifle. As alfo the Regifters of the feveral bifhops of Carlisle at Rofe, from the year 1293 to the prefent time, but with feveral intermiffions, efpecially during the long and dreadful conteft between the two houfes of York and Lancaster: Thefe ecclefiaftical Registers are extremely useful even on a temporal account, in helping to rectify the heraldic pedigrees of ancient families; for as most of the great men were patrons of advow

fons,

fons, the hiftory of the incumbents helps to elucidate the fucceffion of their patrons.

But our greatest curiofity is a folio manuscript (at Hawksdale) of RICHARD BELL in the reign of queen Elizabeth warden clerk of the Weft Marches of England over against Scotland; which, above all our other materials, affords the fullest and most fatisfactory account of the ancient state of the Borders, and confequently of that remarkable and extraordinary tenure of Border fervice, with which the cuftoms of every manor throughout both the counties are most intimately connected.

It would be tedious to recount all the affiftances we have been favoured with from individuals: These will more properly be noticed in their respective places.

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