During my project of transcribing documents from the Edenhall Estate for sale on eBay, I came across this letter by Christopher SOWERBY of Langwathby, Cumberland, regarding an estate in the parish of Soulby, Westmorland, sent to Sir Christopher MUSGRAVE of Edenhall, who was an MP for Carlisle living in London. Sir Christopher's father Sir Philip MUSGRAVE was the second baronet and had died in February 1677/8. The current baronet at the time of this letter was Sir Richard MUSGRAVE, Sir Philip's oldest son. Sir Richard's brother Christopher, the recipient of this letter, did not inherit the baronetcy until 1687, when his older brother Richard died. Nevertheless, going by this letter, Sir Christopher MUSGRAVE appears to have been the Lord of the Manor of Soulby after the death of his father, the second baronet. A fine was due to the Lord of the Manor when a new tenant entered a tenancy, and also on the death of the Lord of the Manor. What appears to have happened here causing such a problem for Christopher SOWERBY is that his brother Anthony had entered the tenancy and paid the fine (for which he had to borrow money). When Sir Philip, the Lord of the Manor, died, a second fine was due. Then Anthony died, and yet another fine became due when Christopher SOWERBY took over the tenancy. As fines for arbitrary rents in Soulby around that time were usually twenty times the amount of the rent, the fine on each occasion would have been three shillings eight pence x 20 - that was £3, 13 shillings and four pence each time, so £11 in total - a lot of money for one family to stomp up within the space of a year or so. Not surprising Christopher SOWERBY was asking for reconsideration of the third fine! What didn't help of course was that apparently Anthony's widow was sitting tight on the property and would not allow her brother-in-law to take over... I'd love to know what the outcome of this story was! Enjoy! Petra ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ For Sr Christopher MUSGRAVE a Member of the Parliament Att Deanes yard neare Westminster / London ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Right worshipfull! May it please your worshipe hereby to be enformed that whereas my Brother Anthony SOWERBY was Both by your father and you Admitted Tennant of a Little estate at Sowlby, being of your worships Lands, Is now disceased, And had before his discease payed you one fine, which was compounded for in your fathers day, And entered in bond for a nother fine Compounded for with your self at Edenall the Last time your worshipe was downe there and hath not as yet obtained any benefit by it. And now the third fine I doe acknowledge to be due to be Compounded for which I hope you will be graciously pleased to Consider off since I have nothinge But the Said Land to pay all the aforesaid fines with; for my Brother had Borrowed the Money to pay the first fine. And now the third of this Instant June I have Been presented to ye Jury of Soulby, but am not willinge to Compound for my fine, till you will be pleased, to Certifie me what I must pay, or can in Reason be Required since Five fines hath ! been payed in a Little time by me, or my relations, which Considered I hope you will moderate, And I desire it may be done By a Letter shortly and I will enter securely to your Steward, or whome you doe appoint to take ye same. Secondly and in like reason I doe desire that you will be pleased to Rectefie an Abuse that ye widdow Livinge on the same, doth seeme to put upon me, for she threatnete that I shall not have possession of the same, But that she will endite me if I goe to my own, And doth keep ye Chiefe fire. Therefore I desire to write to me, that there may be admision made, and I will present it to ye Jury, for your Baylife saith it will be done, if that you doe, but Command, and sure you will Consideringe what dammage doth accrew unto your tennant in respect of the same. No more at present but in hopes to see your favourable lines, in both respects, as shortly as may be, which if you will be pleased to doe, you will oblidge me to pray for your health & happiness, w! ho are your faithfull Servant to command [signed] Christopher SOWERBY Langwathby June The Arbitrary Rent of the aforenamed Land is 3s - 8d the 6th: - 78 per Annum therefore I desire to know what your fine must be, by a Letter to me Chr SOWRBY at Langwathby

How VERY interesting to read such an ancient letter, Petra; and, yes, I too would love to know the outcome ! Thanks for transcribing it for us. Barb, Ontario, Canada.

Petra, that was very interesting. Thanks, Art in New Hampshire, USA Petra Mitchinson wrote: