1678 06 06 : Letter regarding fines for an estate in Soulby

Update on Wednesday, February 24, 2010 at 5:27PM by Petra Mitchinson

06 Jun 1678. LETTER REGARDING FINES FOR AN ESTATE IN SOULBY. A pre stamp letter datelined Langwathby. A bit aged, with the ubiquitous file fold and seal tear, but otherwise a fine letter. Contains request by Christopher SOWERBY for reconsideration of an entry fine to his deceased brother’s estate. 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, who 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