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mark, which my predecessors have quietly enjoyed from BOOK one to another, since king Edward the Thirds time; till Dr. Thirleby possessed the bishoprick of Ely, by his executors with-holden. Other suits I have, for that I cannot get my rents of divers of my tenants; besides Mr. Styward, and the unjust dealing of one Symcotts for a piece of land.

[All these articles before, were drawn up by Austin Styward, for spite and malice against the bishop, he having a controversy with the bishop. His pretence is framed into the last article: which follows. And it is this.]

XXXV. Austin Styward, having twenty-nine years to come in the lease of the manor of Downham, tendring his rent upon the ground according to his lease, the bishop de sirous of his farm a long time, because his wife pretended a forfeiture for non-payment, he made a lease of the said farm to two or three several persons, onely supposing sixty shillings of rent to be behind unpaid. Which hath been offered him, and 207. more for his favour. But it hath been denyed; and his men have been imprisoned by his absolute authority, and without law.

Answer. This is falsely reported. The truth is, I made a re-entry for lack of payment of my rent. And I did it not without good consideration. My farm in Downham hath a great deal of arable land belonging unto it: which being tilled and occupied as it ought to be, and hath been heretofore, had been a great help to the inhabitants of the town: which be a great number. And now of late years, the tenant that did occupy the farm hath left a great deal of the arable land to ly lay, and will neither till it himself, nor let the poor men of the town have it for their mony, (as other farmers have done heretofore,) to the great impoverishment of the town: and also a very great loss unto the person. Also he will not suffer my poor tenants, according to their time out of mind, to common upon his lay-grounds. So that by this means they are less hable to maintain themselves, their wives and children, as heretofore they have done.

BOOK

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These and such like complaints came daily to me, and desired my help. I remembring these complaints, upon just occasion given unto me for not paying my rent, reentred that by having the farm in my hand I might redress these disorders.

This done, a young man, Edward Meggs, (who at the same time had the lease of the farm, and said nothing to me, that he had put it away,) came unto me, bringing with him a letter in his favour, from Mr. Nowel dean of Powles, and desired my favour for Meggs: for that his tenant had without his knowledge forfeited his lease. I minding by this means to have a redress of those defaults above rehearsed, told him at that time, I was not fully resolved what was best to be done; minding nothing less than to take it from him, as may appear by mine answer at that time to Mr. Nowel's letter. And further I willed my receiver to say unto Mr. Nowel, by word of mouth, that I minded so to deal with the young man, that Mr. Nowel should well like thereof. But at his next coming I was determined to set down in writing what order should be taken to help my poor tenants. But I never heard of him after, till a bruit was given out all over the town, that he had sold his lease to one Austin Styward: who shortly after came thither in great heat, and said, I had undone him in taking his farm from him threatning that he would complain of me to the best in England. And ever since hath been full of trouble, seeking by outragious speeches, and buying other men's titles, to vex and molest me.

Yet notwithstanding, I was content, at his request, the matter should be tryed in Westminster-hall, at the common place bar, to avoid all partiality: when he, clean contrary to his promise, brought it down into the country, and a quest was pannelled very favourable, as I was informed, on his behalf, and as it appeared by their verdict. And further, 98 understanding that the lord North is bent against me, he hath sold the farm to him, to move further vexation, (he taketh it.) Who strait upon the sale hath made an entry in great hast, not only on the farm, but also upon my park, wherein

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my dwelling house doth stand: which the farmer, unto BOOK whom the lease was first made by bishop West, in the fourteenth year of king Henry VIII. never enjoyed. Which bishop lived eleven years after the lease was made; and enjoyed the park still notwithstanding the lease. And after him bishop Goodrike was bishop twenty-one years, and enjoyed the park quietly. After him bishop Thirleby, who was in the see five years, enjoyed the park quietly. And now I have been these sixteen years; which maketh in all fifty-three years. And all this time the park was never claimed. Because he knew well enough it was never the bishop's meaning to let away his park from his dwelling house, from him and his successors.

I am most humbly to crave at your honours hand, to be so good and gracious lords to me, as to take so much pains for me and my successors; that a quiet and a good end may be made in this matter: which otherwise, I doubt will grow to great trouble; which is not convenient for me now in mine old age. And this I desire for peace sake, which our Saviour Christ so much commended unto us all.

Causes of complaints against the bishop of Ely, by Hasyl of Cambridge, who had been his servant seven years; of the same spiteful nature with the former. The chief whereof were these that follow.

THERE is a bank in the Isle, called Watersea Bank, which is the safety and defence of four townes, containing in them all twenty-six score households: which calsey or bank is the bishop's charge. These four townes were drowned about six years past with rage of water, the bishop being asked before but 107. to repair the said bank, to save those townes. But the bishop unchristianly denyed to disburse any mony. Moreover, he hath raised great tolls and exactions upon all travailers passing through the Isle, taking 2d. for man and horse, without any letters patents or authority from the prince. There are two of the Ashwoods of Dodington, which have paid in one year for

BOOK toll for their parts twenty marks. This toll hath continued

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twelve years.

Answer. What charge I have been at touching Watersea Bank, the whole country can tell. And as for 107. which he saith was required of me for the banks, is untrue. And yet both at the time, and since the time, at the great outrage of stormes, I have bestowed upon the banks within the hundred of Wisbich more than my whole revenue of the country, (which is six-score pounds by year,) for the space of three years and more together. And as for toll for helping of the bank, it hath continued time out of mind. And at this present, the bank is well repaired, whatsoever this article slanderously doth report. It is answered more at large in the eighth article of Styward's complaint. He reporteth that two Ashwoods, which be horse-coursers, have paid for toll twenty marks. I cannot tell what they have paid for toll; but I hear it reported by the whole country thereabouts, that those two horse-coursers do more hurt with the number of cattel that they drive, than many other that pass that way.

Another article was this. An house and ground violently taken away by the bishop.

Answer. This is not true. There was no house and ground violently taken away by me, nor none for me. But one Thomas Coward of March, being my copy-holder of a tenement with the appurtinences, holden of my manour of Dodington, one George Hasel, brought down a commission for conceled lands, (as it was said,) which Hasel so informed, 99 and persuaded this poor man, Coward, my tenant, (as it should seem,) that he was contented to become tenant of the said tenement, and to purchase it of the said Hasyl; and so to hold it freely. By reason whereof, ipso facto, the copy-hold was forfeited. For that according to the custom of my manour, no tenant may do any act to alter his copyhold to free-hold. And therefore upon the said forfeiture, which was apparent, I graunted such interest as I had in the same copy-hold unto one Henry Serle and to John

Chapman, two of my servants. And what end or order they BOOK have taken in the same, since my graunt, I know not.

Item, The servant of this complainant was indicted of felony for four hogs, and should have been hanged by the bishop.

Answer. The man was charged for four hogs, and brought before the justice, who committed him for felony. And at the next sessions an indictment being presented against him, the great inquest found the bill true. And thereupon arraigned, and found guilty. And in the end saved by his book.

Item, A lease taken away by force by the bishop.

Answer. It is utterly false. There was no lease taken away by force; but there was an house let by lease (being a copy-hold) without licence; contrary to the custome of the manour. And thereupon a lawful seizure made into the lord's hands. Also the commissioners of sewers had laid a paine of 30%. for the not scowring of a certain loade, belonging to the said copyhold. The not doing whereof was very noysome to the whole country thereabout. And for that of necessity the thing was to be done forthwith, I was faine the rather to take the house and load into my hands, and to set men a work to do it myself, to my great cost and charge. At the suit and request of the lord North, I gave a like forfeiture to his brother in a town of mine, called Thriplow. And then it was lawful; but now it is not, against his man.

Item, The bishop's men forcibly entred Hasyll's house, and took away a patent out of a chest they brake open; which the bishop had graunted him of divers offices.

Answer. First his patent was delivered him of trust, to shew what authority I had given him, and to return the same again to my keeping. The said Hasyl used himself so naughtily in the office, that the whole country exclaimed of him, and of his evil dealing. And divers times he was indicted of extortion, as appeareth by the records. This exclamation of his evil doing coming to mine ears, I oftentimes after spake unto him, to bring me the patent again,