diversis terris, messuagiis, grangis, dominiis et maneriis de Allerton, alias Allertonshire, in comitatu Eborum, ac de dominiis et maneriis de Esington alias Esington Ward alias Esington Coronatorum, Sedburgh, CottonMonvile, Midleham, et Gateshed, in dicto episcopatu Dunelmensi, ac de terris et tenementis in Holden et Holdenshire in dicto comitatu Eborum, nobis heredibus et successoribus nostris execantium sive solubilium:"

1646. So early as the month of September, 1642, the memorable long parliament had appointed a committee for the sequestration of the lands of all bishops, deans, and chapters,* and subsequently proceeded to utterly abolish the name and title of archbishops and bishops, by an act passed 9th October, 1646, by which they vested all their honors, manors, lordships, &c., all their charters, deeds, books, &c., in the hands of trustees, (for the payment of the just and necessary debts of the kingdom.) The trustees were empowered to appoint from time to time fit and able persons to survey the premises, to hold courts of surveys, and to demand and receive all the evidences and title deeds relative to the

same.

All the residences and manors of the bishop of Durham are returned. The present rents and profits of North Allerton yearly were £229 14s. 8d., and the improvements above per annum, £920 5s. 6d.§

Pursuant to the above act, an ordinance was issued for the sale of all the bishops' lands and estates for the service of the commonwealth. By the same authority all purchasers were to have letters patent under the great seal of England for these grants, and to hold of the king in fealty only, according to the tenure of the manor of east Greenwich. The attorney-general was authorized to prepare a bill for each grant or sale, and the lord chancellor empowered to pass it; whilst the titles of the purchasers were to be defended at the public charge. In addition to these securities, and in order to give greater encouragement to their chapmen, (as Walker calls them,) the estates were sold at an appraisement barely equivalent to the materials of the

* Whit. Mem. p. 63.

+ Scobell.

§ Rawlinson's MSS.

mansion-houses and timber on the ground; so that, as Dr. Bate truly remarks, "Episcoporum latifundia vili pretio sub hasta posuerint, unde sectores innumeri confluxerunt, qui materia ruderibusque palatiorum et silvis excisis pretium emptionis solventes, prædia ampla et integra maneria gratis fere adi piscuntur." It was further ordered that all surveys, particulars, contracts, &c., of the lands so sequestrated should be registered by a public officer, and catalogues drawn up of all evidences and writings touching the titles of the same.* The same steps, in regard to the lands of deans and chapters, were taken in April, 1649, in referring to which, and to the previous act, Walker says, "Having no information relating to the proceedings on that act, I can only assure the reader, that the lands, &c., were, in fact, sold, or converted by the commissioners to their own private uses; but can give no particulars relating to these matters."

The account of the sale of the episcopal lands, with the names of the purchasers, and price, will show to what an extent the proceedings in question were carried. It is transcribed from a MS. presented to the British Museum by William Bray, esq., F.S.A. (MSS. Add. 9049.) A recent copy also exists among the Rawlinson MSS. in the Bodleian library, B. 236.

Sale of Bishop's lands, between 1648 and 1651.

As a necessary prelude to the restoration, the two acts of sequestration were repealed in March, 16591660; and, on the king's return, the subject of the restoration of these lands to the rightful owners, and the compensation to be made to the purchasers, became a subject of frequent deliberation in parliament, and produced several pamphlets on the side of the latter party.

The king had partly pledged himself to some equitable accommodation, and communicated his wishes on the subject to the parliament in September, 1660; and on the 7th October following, a commission was especially appointed, "To enquire into the pretended sales and purchases of crown and church lands."* These commissioners sat in the star chamber, and their proceedings are stated to have given the parties concerned general satisfaction.

1836. His majesty's ecclesiastical commissioners having made certain suggestions in a report, an act (6 & 7 Will. IV. cap. 77) was passed this year by which an episcopal see was established at Ripon. Among the various endowments of the sce was the manor of North Allerton and Allertonshire, which was now transferred from the bishop of Durham to the bishop of Ripon,§

*Kennet's Register, p. 273.

† William Van Mildert, D.D., consecrated bishop of Durham in 1826, and was the last who enjoyed the dignity and revenues of the palatinate; he died in 1836, and was succeeded by

Edward Maltby, D.D., F.S.A., consecrated bishop of Chichester in 1831; translated to Durham in 1836; resigned (by act of parliament) in 1856.

§ Charles Thomas Longley, D.D., first bishop of Ripon, consecrated in 1836; formerly head master of Harrow School; translated in 1856, on the resignation of bishop Maltby, to the see of Durham, and was succeeded by

Robert Bickersteth, D.D., late rector of St. Giles's, and canon of Salisbury; consecrated in 1857 to the see of Ripon.

after the former had held it almost uninterruptedly for the space of seven centuries and a half. It remained attached to the see of Ripon during the episcopate of bishop Longley only.

1857. May 6. An order in council was made, transfering, among other portions of the revenue of the see of Ripon, the manor of North Allerton, from the see of Ripon to the ecclesiastical commissioners, in whose possession the manor now remains.

The Castle, Episcopal Palace or
Manor House, &c.

T

HIS castle was erected for the protection of the town and neighborhood, in those times of feudal tyranny, when the inferior inhabitants of this country, from the depressed state of their minds, and the severity of unequal laws, were not able to protect themselves. Hume says, "The great chief resided in his country seat, which he was commonly allowed to fortify. His vassals received from him education in all military exercises; his hospitality invited them to live and enjoy society in his hall; their leisure, which was great, made them perpetual retainers on his person, and partakers of his country sports and amusements; they had no means of gratifying their ambition but by making a figure in his train; his favor and countenance was their greatest honor, his displeasure exposed them to contempt and ignominy; and they felt every moment the necessity of his protection, both in the controversies which occurred with other vassals, and what was more material, in the daily inroads and injuries committed by the neighboring barons."

It seems most probable this castle was built by bishop Galfrid, surnamed Rufus,* in the time of king Henry the 1st., that prince restoring North Allerton to the see. The castle was surrounded by a moat, and con

Rufus was chancellor to Henry I., consecrated bishop of Durham by Thurstan, archbishop of York, Aug. 6, 1133. He departed this life at his castle at Durham, May 6, 1140, and was interred in the chapter house which he had built.