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REMAINS 


HISTORICAL  &  LITERARY 


CONNECTED  WITH  THE  PALATINE  COUNTIES  OF 


LANCASTER  AND  CHESTER 


PUBLISHED  BY 


(THE  CHETHAM  SOCIETY. 


VOL.    IX. 


I      MZ9 


PRINTED  FOR  THE  CHETHAM  SOCIETY. 
M.DCCC.XLVI. 


638357 
io  7  S 


(olO 

LI1C5 


Council* 

EDWARD  HOLME,  ESQ.,  M.D.,  PRESIDENT. 

REV.  RICHARD  PARKINSON,  B.D.,  CANON  OF  MANCHESTER,  VICE-PRESIDENT. 

THE  HON.  &  VERY  REV.  WILLIAM  HERBERT,  DEAN  OF  MANCHESTER. 

GEORGE  ORMEROD,  ESQ.,  D.C.L.,  F.R.S.,  F.S.A.,  F.G.S.,  SEDBTJRY  PARK. 

SAMUEL  HIBBERT  WARE,  ESQ.,  M.D.,  F.R.S.E.,  EDINBURGH. 

REV.  THOMAS  CORSER,  M.A. 

REV.  GEORGE  DUGARD,  M.A. 

REV.  C.  G.  HULTON,  M.A. 

REV.  J.  PICCOPE,  M.A. 

REV.  F.  R.  RAINES,  M.A,  F.S.A.,  MILNROW  PARSONAGE,  NEAR  ROCHDALE. 

JAMES  CROSSLEY,  ESQ. 

JAMES  HEYWOOD,  ESQ.,  F.R.S. 

WILLIAM  LANGTON,  ESQ.,  TREASURER. 

WILLIAM  FLEMING,  ESQ..  M.D.,  HON.  SECRETARY. 


THE 


N  O  R  R  I  S     PAPERS 


EDITED    BY 


THOMAS    HEYWOOD,    ESQ.,  F.S.A, 


PRINTED  FOR  THE  CHETHAM  SOCIETY. 
M.DCCC.XLVI. 


Manchester: 
Printed  "by  Charles  Simms  and  Co 


INTRODUCTION. 


THE  MSS.  here  printed  are  a  portion  of  a  much  larger 
collection  made  by  several  generations  of  the  family  of 
Norris,  of  Speke.  These  documents  are  said  to  have  been 
distributed  when  the  estate,  fifty  years  ago,  passed  into  the 
hands  of  Mr.  Watt.  They  have  since  fallen  into  the  hands 
of  auctioneers,  booksellers,  and  virtuosi,  and  are  now  dimin- 
ished in  number,  and  separated  beyond  the  possibility  of 
ever  again  being  collected  so  as  to  form  a  connected  series. 

Fortunately  the  CORPORATION  OF  LIVERPOOL,  and  MR. 
NORRIS,  of  Manchester,  are  the  possessors  of  many  of  the 
Papers,  and  the  CHETHAM  SOCIETY  have  to  acknowledge 
the  very  liberal  manner  with  which  these  MSS.  have  been 
placed  at  their  disposal  for  publication. 

A  few  of  the  earlier  documents  are  printed,  but  the 
great  interest  of  the  book  is  the  insight  which  it  affords 
into  the  characters  and  actions  of  the  men,  who  at  the  close 
of  the  seventeeenth,  and  the  beginning  of  the  succeeding 
century,  founded  Liverpool.  Defoe,  whose  visit  is  alluded 
to  in  the  following  correspondence,  (1705,)  has  left  on  record 
his  surprise  at  the  change  which  this  little  community  of 
merchants  had  effected,  though  opposed  by  what  appeared 
to  him  almost  insurmountable  natural  difficulties. 


iv  INTRODUCTION. 

The  principal  person  in  directing  the  energies  of  the 
infant  town  was  SIR  THOMAS  JOHNSON,  a  name  which, 
excepting  for  the  lists  of  members  of  Parliament,  and 
Mayors,  would  be  unknown  in  the  place  he  so  largely 
benefited.  For  whilst  Clayton  and  Cunliffe  repose  under 
their  marble  monuments  in  the  Parish  Church,  in  all  the 
odour  of  municipal  sanctity,  Johnson,  who  was  always  poor, 
lies  probably  in  some  obscure  corner  of  Virginia.  If,  how- 
ever, the  separation  of  the  parish  from  Walton,  —  the 
building  of  St.  Peter's,  —  the  formation  of  the  first  dock, 
—  the  creation  of  the  Corporation  property,  —  and  the 
seeking  out  new  sources  of  wealth  by  distant  and  daring 
adventures,  entitle  the  merchants  of  Liverpool  who  lived 
in  the  reigns  of  William  and  A  nne,  to  be  considered  as  the 
founder  of  the  town's  prosperity,  of  those  traders  Johnson 
was  the  acknowledged  head;  and,  therefore,  to  him  more 
than  to  any  one  else  is  the  town  indebted  for  its  vigorous 
and  well-omened  commencement. 

We  have  purposely  retained  some  of  the  letters  bearing 
upon  the  mode  in  which  the  customs  were  collected  in 
Liverpool,  because  the  want  of  honesty  towards  the  King's 
revenue  officers,  or  rather,  the  understanding  which  existed 
between  them  and  the  merchants,  was  universal  at  the 
time  these  letters  were  written,  arid  forms  a  peculiarity  in 
the  age  when  contrasted  with  that  in  which  we  live. 


INTRODUCTION.  V 

THE  NORRIS  PAPERS  afford  little  information  as  to  the 
Speke  family  before  1668.  The  appearance  of  the  Hultons, 
as  holding  property  in  Childwall,  will  justify  the  conjecture 
that  when  Sir  William  Norris  fell  unmarried  at  Musselburgh, 
1547,  a  part  of  his  estate  went  to  his  sister,  who  married 
Adam  Hulton,  of  the  Park.  Speke  descended  to  Sir 
William's  half  brother,  Edward,  who  dying,  1596,  the 
mansion  and  land  were,  after  his  enjoyment  of  them  for 
half  a  century,  transmitted  to  his  son,  in  a  state  of  good 
order,  which  they  did  not  afterwards  maintain.  That  son, 
William,  made  K.B.,  1603,  was  a  spendthrift,  and  his  father 
directed  that  the  Cheshire  estate  should  be  placed  in  trust 
for  ten  years,  and  then  delivered  to  his  son.  But  this 
disposition  was  of  little  avail,  Sir  William  pawned  every- 
thing down  to  two  suits  of  clothes ;  he  even  obtained  from 
his  mother,  for  many  years,  the  money  left  her  to  buy 
clothes;  and  here  is  a  letter  imploring,  in  the  most  abject 
terms,  a  little  delay  from  one  of  his  creditors.  He  died, 
1626,  and  his  son  William  in  1651.  This  William,  with 
his  two  sons,  Edward  and  Thomas,  zealously  fought  for  the 
King,  in  Lancashire.  Of  these  two  mention  will  hereafter 
be  made. 

In  1664,  Thomas,  the  second  son,  had  the  family  pro- 
perty; he  is  stated  to  have  been  born  in  1618,  and  notwith- 
standing the  pedigree  makes  him  to  have  died  in  1700, 
there  can  be  no  doubt,  from  these  MSS.,  he  was  dead  before 
1687. 

This  Thomas  Norris  married  Katherine  Garway,  daughter 
of  Sir  Henry  Garway.  Her  letters  in  this  collection  are 


vi  INTRODUCTION. 

very  numerous.  She  survived  her  husband  until  1708,  and 
acted  a  large  part  in  the  history  of  the  Norris  family. 

The  Garways,  or  Garroways,  originally  came  from  the 
Leys,  near  Weobley.  There  was  lately  a  brass  in  the  church 
of  that  place,  half  worn  away,  to  Watkin  Garway,  and 
Agnes,  his  wife:  their  son,  John,  sold  the  estate,  and  settling 
in  London,  married  the  daughter  of  Sir  John  Brydges,  Lord 
Mayor,  1521.  —  Dallaway's  Sussex,  vol.  ii.  p.  50.  This 
John  had  two  sons,  the  second,  William,  born  1538,  was 
the  founder  of  the  wealth  of  the  Garways,  and  lived  to  be 
88,  dying  1625.  This  man  long  held  the  lucrative  office 
of  chief  of  the  customs,  and  his  epitaph  was  to  be  read  in 
the  church  of  St.  Peter  le  Poor,  to  which  he  added  an  aisle, 
the  very  year  in  which  another  government  contractor 
charged  him  with  systematic  fraud.  James  heard  the  mu- 
tual revilings  of  Swinnerton  and  Garway  in  bed,  and  decided 
in  favor  of  the  latter.  —  Egerton  Papers,  Camden  Society, 
459.  It  was  a  species  of  Peachem  and  Locket  controversy, 
and  the  circumstances  under  which  old  Garway  was  knighted, 
(Nicholl's  James  /.  vol.  ii.  514,)  as  well  as  his  evidence  on 
the  trial  of  Middlesex,  very  much  confirm  Swinnerton's 
charge,  of  whom  doubtless  the  same  story  might  have  been 
told.  Garway  had  seventeen  children,  was  often  in  Parlia- 
ment, but  refused  the  Mayoralty.  (Qui  purpuram  recu- 
savit,  nunc  triumphat  in  albis.)  The  landed  property  he 
accumulated  in  Berkshire,  Sussex,  and  Hertfordshire,  was 
very  considerable. 

Henry,  the  eldest  son  of  this  William,  incidentally  tells 
us  of  his  own  bringing  up.  "  I  have  been  in  all  parts  of 


INTRODUCTION.  Vll 

Christendom,  and  have  conversed  with  Christians  in  Turkey, 
why  in  all  the  reformed  churches  there  is  not  anything 
more  reverenced  than  the  English  Liturgy,  not  our  Royal 
Exchange,  nor  the  name  of  Queen  Elizabeth  so  famous. 
In  Geneva  itself  I  have  heard  it  extolled  to  the  skies.  I 
have  been  three  months  together  by  sea,  not  a  day  without 
hearing  it  read  twice."  It  was,  however,  in  Turkey,  (like 
Pindar  and  North,)  that  Henry  Gar  way  principally  spent 
his  youth  — 


"  which  hath  seen 


Aleppo  twice,  is  known  to  the  great  Turk, 

Hath  'scap't  three  shipwrecks,  to  be  left  off  to  thee, 

And  knows  the  way  to  Mexico  as  well  as  the  map." 

He  settled  in  London  about  1609,  being  then  forty  years  of 
age,  and  married  Margaret  Clitherow,  of  a  distinguished  city 
family.  Three  sons  are  mentioned  in  these  letters,  William, 
Thomas,  and  John.  The  eldest  daughter,  born  1610,  mar- 
ried Hale,  of  King's  Walden;  Margaret,  the  second,  married 
Saville,  of  Methley ;  and  Katherine,  (Mrs.  Norris)  we  con- 
jecture to  have  been  the  youngest  daughter.  There  were 
formerly  in  this  collection  many  letters  of  Bale's  and  Saville's. 
In  1638,  Henry  Gar  way  was  governor  of  the  Levant 
Company,  and  to  him  Lewis  Roberts  dedicates  his  Map  of 
Commerce.  In  1639-40,  in  times  of  extreme  difficulty, 
Garway  served  the  office  of  Mayor.  We  must  refer  the 
reader  to  the  usual  authorities  for  the  events  of  the  year, 
briefly  enumerating  only  those  in  which  Garway  took  a 
part.  It  appears  from  the  articles  of  the  impeachment  of 


Vlli  INTRODUCTION. 

Gardiner,  the  recorder,  that  Garway  raised  troops  for 
Charles,  and  sent  them  to  York,  paying  for  them  out  of  the 
city  money,  against  the  wish  of  the  Corporation.  In  the 
tumult  at  Lambeth,  May  11-12,  Lloyd  states  that  Sir  Henry 
Garway  was  most  active  in  suppressing  the  disturbance, 
and  it  is  right  to  add  that  his  name  does  not  occur  in  con- 
nexion with  the  proceedings  against  Acton,  who  it  now 
appears,  from  the  warrant  lately  discovered,  was  tortured 
before  being  executed,  for  high  treason,  for  taking  part  in 
this  riot.  The  evidence  of  Garway  on  Strafford's  trial,  and 
the  minutes  of  Council  in  the  Hardwick  Papers,  show  that 
this  loyal  merchant  was  opposed  to  money  being  raised  by 
modes  not  authorised  by  Parliament,  and  that  he  shared  in 
the  universal  feeling  of  the  city, 

"  I  do  hate  thee  now 

Worse  than  a  tempest,  quicksand,  pirate,  rock, 
Or  fatal  lake,  aye,  or  privy  seal," 

as  Jasper  Mayne  writes,  in  a  play  acted  for  the  first  time 
at  Whitehall,  in  the  year  of  Garway's  Mayoralty.  Now, 
with  this  feeling,  and  seeing,  as  Charles  himself  remarked, 
the  royal  difficulties  resolved  themselves  into  the  question 
of  money,  Sir  Henry  quitted  office,  without  serving  the 
cause  to  which  he  was  so  devotedly  attached. 

When  the  King  determined  on  leaving  London,  January, 
1641,  Coke  says  that  Garway  and  Gurney  entreated  Charles 
to  stay,  and  promised  to  guard  him,  a  promise  which  was  so 
frequently  put  forth  that  at  last  the  patient  King  rebuked 
those  who,  ill  measuring  their  strength,  made  it.  When 


INTRODUCTION.  ix 

Garway  took  his  leave,  he  said,  — "  Sir,  I  shall  never  see 
you  again;"  "however,"  adds  Coke,  "his  eldest  son,  a 
worthy  gentleman,  who  yet  lives,  went  with  the  King, 
and  followed  him  in  all  his  wars."  A  Captain  Garway  is 
once  mentioned  by  Clarendon,  but  we  are  inclined  to  think 
that  Sir  Henry's  son  lived  in  London,  and  was  the  East 
India  Director,  whose  name  occurs  in  Thurlow,  1654. 

It  was  after  the  battles  of  Edge  Hill  and  Brentford  that 
the  King  endeavoured  to  regain  his  ancient  influence  in  the 
city.  The  attempt  failed,  and  the  Guildhall  seemed  aban- 
doned to  Pym  and  his  friends,  when  on  January  17th,  1642, 
Garway  made  the  last  speech  heard  in  that  place  for  many 
years  in  favour  of  royalty.  A  copy  of  this  bold  harangue, 
anonymously  printed,  is  lying  before  us;  a  more  earnest, 
eloquent,  appeal  could  not  have  been  made,  and  the  effect 
on  the  auditory  was  great.  "  As  soon  as  this  speech  was 
done,  and  the  great  shout  and  hem  ended,  the  Lord  Mayor, 
trembling  and  scarce  able  to  speak,  asked  what  their  reso- 
lution was  concerning  assisting  the  Parliament  with  money, 
but  the  cry  was  so  great,  '  No  Money  !  No  Money  ! '  '  Peace ! 
Peace  !'  that  he  could  not  be  heard."  Lloyd  alludes  to  this 
speech,  (Memoirs,  p.  633,)  and  states  "that  Garway  was 
afterwards  tossed,  as  long  as  he  lived,  from  prison  to  prison, 
and  his  estate  conveyed  from  one  rebel  to  another,  he  dying 
of  a  grievous  fit  of  the  stone." 

The  subsequent  fate  of  Sir  Henry's  family  was  perhaps 
better  than  that  of  most  royalists.  With  many  losses,  and 
having  to  sell  the  Berkshire  property,  William  Garway  still 
retained  much  of  his  grandfather's  land,  and  especially 

b 


x  INTRODUCTION. 

Climping  and  Ford,  in  Sussex.  At  the  Restoration  the 
Garways  were  rewarded ;  the  widow  of  Sir  Henry  had  lodg- 
ings in  the  palace,  and  William  is  set  down  as  Gentleman 
of  the  Privy  Chamber,  1662.  He  also  resumed  the  an- 
cient family  connexion  with  the  customs,  of  which,  although 
many  accounts  were  formerly  amongst  these  Papers,  the 
following  letter  of  Sir  Nicholas  Pelham  is  all  that  we  now 
find:  — 

"  MR  GARRAWAY,  Novr  29. 

At  the  Custom  House. 
Sir, 

I  am  still  importun'd  by  this  Bearer,  Jeffrey 
Glyd,  to  recommend  him  to  you  to  make  him  a  tydesman. 
I  have  hopes  he  will  be  faithfull  in  whatever  you  may  em- 
ploy him,  if  he  be  not,  you  will,  I  am  sure,  quickly  discover 
it,  and  turn  him  out,  that  he  may  not  long  cheat  the  King, 
or  abuse 

Yr  very  faithfull  serv*, 

N.  PELHAM." 

William  Garway  represented  either  Arundel  or  Chichester 
from  1660  to  1689.  He  was  a  senator  of  great  eminence, 
and  in  a  note  to  the  Oxford  edition  of  Burnet,  written  by 
Speaker  Onslow,  it  is  stated  that  Sacheverell  and  Garway 
were  long  the  leaders  of  the  House  of  Commons.  From 
the  reports  in  the  Parliamentary  History  this  would  hardly 
have  been  supposed,  although  Gar  way's  speeches  are  there 
very  numerous,  neither  is  it  easy  to  discover  the  party  with 


INTRODUCTION.  XI 

which  he  acted.  The  reputation  of  William  Garway  was  that 
of  a  leader  of  opposition  Yet,  during  a  considerable  period 
of  his  parliamentary  career,  he  must  have  been  in  office, 
and  though  joined  in  the  attempt  to  impeach  Clarendon, 
yet,  in  1673,  he  earned  the  enmity  of  Burnet,  by  abruptly 
leaving  his  party  and  assisting  the  Court  to  obtain  an  ex- 
travagant sum  for  the  second  Dutch  war.  The  imputation 
was,  that  Garway  acted  thus  from  being  bribed,  and  prob- 
ably this  was  not  wide  of  the  truth. — Lingard,  vol.  xii.  p. 
261,  note,  p.  462 ;  and  Burnet,  vol.  ii.  p.  623.  When  Shaftes- 
bury  and  Russell  took  a  more  determined  line  of  opposition, 
Garway  no  longer  acted  with  them,  and  after  the  Revolution, 
of  which  he  was  a  promoter,  we  find  him  opposing  a  grant 
to  William.  In  his  views  of  indulgence  towards  Dissenters, 
Garway  went  with  Buckingham,  and  desired  to  see  the 
Church  doors  made  wide  enough  to  admit  all  Protestants. 
After  the  Convention  Parliament,  this  veteran  member  re- 
tired from  public  life,  and  being  both  rich  and  a  bachelor, 
received  that  homage  which  such  a  person  exacts  from  his 
family.  His  two  brothers  were  rich  men,  and  childless; 
his  three  sisters  had  families,  and  we  find  Mrs.  Norris 
reproved  by  Thomas  Garway  for  sending  cheeses,  made  by 
her  daughters,  to  his  brother  William.  Of  his  death  the 
account  is  here  printed:  it  took  place  in  August,  1701. 

Thomas  Norris  left  his  widow,  Katherine,  with  seven  sons 
and  four  daughters.  Thomas,  the  eldest,  born  in  1653,  was 
returned  to  Parliament  for  Liverpool  in  1688,  and  repre- 
sented the  town  until  1695,  when  marrying  Magdalen, 
second  daughter  of  Sir  Willoughby  Aston,  Norris  retired 


Xll  INTRODUCTION. 

from  public  life.  In  the  statement  of  his  property  at  the 
time  of  the  marriage,  we  have  a  curious  insight  into  the 
small  pecuniary  means  of  a  Lancashire  Gentleman  of  the 
first  consequence,  in  the  seventeenth  century.  It  may  be 
premised  that  the  Speke  estate  was  set  down  as  worth 
£1,200  per  annum,  in  the  Royal  Oak  list,  1660 ;  and  that 
about  1795,  at  the  time  of  the  sale,  the  rental  was  £2,800 
per  annum.  "  The  estate,"  writes  Mr.  Norris,  "  I  stand  pos- 
sessed of,  is  of  equal  value  to  £700  p.  ann."  Of  this  estate, 
three  hundred  and  fifty  acres  were  land,  and  estimated  to 
be  worth  £300  per  annum ;  the  mother's  annuity  was  £220 
per  annum;  the  brothers  had  £100  per  annum,  amongst 
them ;  and  a  debt  of  £2,000  would  not  take  less  than  £100 
per  annum;  leaving  £280  per  annum  for  Mr.  Norris,  or 
rather,  as  the  sums  to  the  brothers  and  the  interest  of  the 
debt  required  coin,  the  Squire  does  not  appear  to  have  had 
more  than  £100  per  annum,  of  actual  money  ;  the  re- 
mainder coming  under  the  head  of  "  Conveniencies  for 
House  Keeping,"  as  boons,  gifts,  rent,  hens,  &c.  Upon 
these  means  Mr.  Norris  kept  a  liberal  house,  his  mother 
living  with  him;  he  had  six  coach  horses,  worth  £7  a 
piece;  and  receiving  with  Miss  Aston  £2,500,  he  settled 
on  her  £200  per  annum,  and  at  his  death,  left  his  sisters 
£50  each,  and  made  legacies  to  his  servants. 

The  Parliamentary  career  of  Mr.  Norris  cannot  now  be 
traced;  he  was  a  whig,  and  joined  in  Fenwick's  attainder, 
and  the  speech  of  Norris  on  that  occasion  is  all  of  his 
harangues  that  have  come  down  to  us.  Both  of  the  ques- 
tions, incident  to  the  proceedings,  are  discussed  in  the  speech. 


INTRODUCTION. 

First,  "  Whether  great  offences  against  the  Commonwealth 
may  justly  incur  the  penalty  of  death  by  a  retrospective  act 
of  the  Legislature,  which  a  tribunal  restrained  by  known 
laws  is  not  competent  to  inflict?" — Hallam's  Constitutional 
History,  vol.  ii.  p.  149  (Strafford),  and  vol.  iii.  p.  117  (Fen- 
wick); —  and  second,  "Whether,  having  executed  a  person 
by  legislative  enactment,  it  is  correct  to  protest  against  its 
being  drawn  into  a  precedent?"  Norris  was  led  by  his 
party  zeal  to  maintain  the  affirmative  of  the  first,  and  by 
his  sense  of  the  ridiculous  to  put  a  negative  on  the  second 
—  "the  famous  and  wise  proviso,"  as  Macintosh  styles  it 
in  Straffbrd's  case.  The  Charter  of  Liverpool,  of  1695, 
was  procured  by  Mr.  Norris,  and  he  appears  to  have  been 
a  judicious  and  valued  representative. 

In  1696  Mr.  Norris  served  the  office  of  Sheriff  of  Lanca- 
shire. The  gentlemen  who  were  in  attendance  upon  him 
were  about  twelve,  and  the  horsemen  forty.  At  the  assizes 
he  paid  for  fifty-nine  horses  being  kept,  besides  coach  and 
other  horses,  about  fifteen  in  number.  The  javelin  men 
were  ten  in  number,  in  liveries  of  blue  and  white,  with 
swords  and  "half  javelins"  with  fringe;  two  trumpeters 
with  banners  and  scarves,  attended  by  two  pages,  marshalled 
the  procession,  and  five  porters  and  five  pages  completed 
the  escort.  A  crowd  of  neighbours  attended  the  Sheriff 
from  Speke  to  Preston.  The  Judges  were  met  by  the  Under- 
sheriff  at  Burton,  and  this  entry  occurs: — "Spent  in  meeting 
the  Judges,  being  thirteen  men,  besides  myself,  staying  near 
five  hours  of  the  Judges,  18*."  There  were  floods,  and  two 
shillings  are  given  to  "  two  men  who  conducted  the  Judges 


XIV  INTRODUCTION. 

through  the  field  and  water,  by  Broughton."  After  the 
assizes  the  Sheriff  and  Judges  went  to  Wigan,  where  £11 
15s  6d.  was  spent,  chiefly  in  wine  and  ale.  Here  the  Judges, 
to  the  no  small  consternation  of  the  Sheriff,  decided  on 
leaving  the  county  by  different  routes.  Chief  Baron  Ward 
preferred  the  usual  way  by  Warrington,  and  with  a 
trumpeter  and  some  Sheriff's  men,  and  at  a  cost  of  £2 
2s.  6cf.,  transferred  himself  into  Cheshire;  whilst  Judge 
Turton,  without  a  trumpeter  or  banner,  and  on  an  allowance 
of  £1  12$.,  retreated  through  Manchester. 

Mr.  Norris  died  at  Harrogate,  in  June,  1700.  The  sur- 
geon received  £8  12s.  for  "  seering  the  body."  A  younger 
brother,  John  Norris,  went  over  to  make  the  necessary 
arrangements,  and  the  body  was  brought  by  Leeds,  Man- 
chester, Rochdale,  and  Warrington,  to  Speke.  At  Man- 
chester the  procession  only  baited,  but  there  is  a  charge 
of  10s.  for  the  "two  chaplains  and  clarkes."  The  journey 
from  Rochdale  to  Warrington  was  made  in  a  day,  and  here 
the  Speke  tenantry  must  have  met  the  corpse,  for  the 
expenses  rise  from  £1  5s.,  for  the  night,  to  £6  2s.;  besides, 
a  messenger  is  charged  for,  sent  from  Rochdale  to  announce 
the  approach  of  the  funeral.  We  pass  rapidly  over  the  vari- 
ous mournings ;  the  young  widow  in  "black  napped  baize," 
with  "a  fine  long  training  veil"  costing  £4  5s.,  and  "a  fine 
crape  girdle;"  the  old  mother  "in  black  serge;"  and  the 
sister  in  "fine  black  Queen's  cloth."  Silvester  Moorcroft, 
who,  against  his  will,  served  the  office  of  Mayor  of  Liver- 
pool, A.D.  1706,  was  the  draper  employed,  and  William 
Hurst,  Mayor,  1704,  assisted  in  the  double  capacity  of  man 


INTRODUCTION.  XV 

milliner  and  woman's  tailor.  The  charge  for  cravats  and 
ruffles  alone  was  £9  2s.  5d.  Henry,  John,  and  Richard, 
followed  their  brother  to  the  grave;  William  and  Edward 
were  in  the  East  Indies.  The  concourse  of  people  must 
have  been  great:  eight  hundred  and  ninety-nine  quarts  of 
ale  at  4^d.  were  drunk ;  whilst  £2  Os.  6d.  is  set  down  for 
wine  consumed  at  Speke,  and  £11  4s.  Id.  for  wine,  to- 
bacco, and  broken  glasses,  at  Childwall.  The  fine  was 
paid  for  burying  in  linen,  and  also  the  burial  tax.  Mr. 
Norris  left  one  daughter,  Mary;  and  the  widow  posses- 
sing nearly  one  third  of  the  income  of  the  estate,  and 
the  mother  another  third,  —  although,  after  providing  libe- 
rally for  his  child,  he  had  settled  Speke  and  Garston  on 
heirs  male,  —  yet  ho  one,  in  Sir  William  Norris's  absence, 
seemed  inclined  to  undertake  the  management  of  a  pro- 
perty so  burthened.  There  was  much  ill  humour  and 
litigation,  and  Mrs.  Magdalen  Norris  lived  sometimes  at 
Speke,  at  other  times  at  Aston;  and  there  is  a  receipt 
for  £30  for  "half  a  year's  table"  February  23rd.,  1700-1, 
signed  by  Mrs.  Hopwood,  by  which  the  widow  appears 
to  have  lived  at  Hopwood  immediately  after  her  bereave- 
ment. When  Dr.  Norris  and  his  son  were  both  dead, 
(about  the  year  1736,)  this  Mary  Norris  became  the  heiress 
of  the  whole  Speke  property,  and,  being  36  years  old,  mar- 
ried the  person  thus  described  by  Lord  Dover:  —  "Lord 
Sidney  Beauclerc,  fifth  son  of  the  first  Duke  of  St  Albans, 
a  man  of  bad  character.  Sir  Charles  Hanbury  Williams 
calls  him  *  worthless  Sidney.'  He  was  notorious  for  panting 
after  the  fortunes  of  the  old  and  childless.  Being  very 


INTRODUCTION. 

handsome  he  had  almost  persuaded  Lady  Betty  Germaine, 
in  her  old  age,  to  marry  him,  but  she  was  dissuaded  from 
it  by  the  Duke  of  Dorset  and  her  relations.  He  failed, 
also,  in  obtaining  the  fortune  of  Sir  Thomas  Reeve,  Chief 
Justice  of  the  Common  Pleas,  whom  he  used  to  attend  on 
the  circuit,  with  a  view  of  ingratiating  himself  with  him. 
At  length  he  induced  Mr.  Topham  of  Windsor  to  leave  his 
estate  to  him.  He  died  in  1744,  leaving  one  son,  Topham 
Beauclerc,  Esq."  —  Notes  on  HOT.  Walpoles  Letters  to 
Mann,  vol.  i.  p.  183.  Topham  Beauclerc,  the  friend  of 
Johnson,  Reynolds,  &c.,  left  a  son,  who  disposed  of  the 
Speke  estate  about  fifty  years  since. 

The  next  son,  William,  born  in  1657,  had  a  more  active 
career  than  his  eldest  brother.  From  1695  to  1701 
William  represented  Liverpool,  and  was  evidently  much 
valued;  he  was  returned  for  the  borough  during  his 
absence  in  India,  and  unseated  on  the  petition  of  Sir 
Cleave  More.  He  married  the  widow  of  a  Pollexfen,  who 
had  a  son,  Nicholas  Pollexfen,  M.P.  for  Bedwin  from  1707 
to  1710,  and  made  Commissioner  of  Prizes,  November 
18th  1707.  There  are  many  letters  both  of  Lady  Norris 
and  of  her  son ;  the  former  appears  to  have  been  a  woman 
of  fashion,  very  illiterate,  and  connected  with  the  Lord 
Ranelagh,  whose  ejectment  from  office  was  so  long  an  occu- 
pation to  the  tories. 

In  1698  the  English  East  India  Company  obtained  an 
act  of  Parliament,  and  subsequently  a  charter,  to  trade  to 
the  East  Indies.  The  old,  or  London  Company,  were  still 
in  full  activity,  with  large  means,  servants  well  skilled  in 


INTRODUCTION.  XV11 

war  and  diplomacy,  gained  in  dealings  with  native  princes, 
interlopers,  and  pirates ;  they  had  also  forts  and  garrisons, 
and  the  experience  of  a  century  of  legal  possession  of  the 
India  trade;  their  servants  were  not  only  devoted  to  the 
London  Company,  but  they  were  unscrupulous  as  to  the 
means  by  which  they  supported  their  interests,  and  especi- 
ally regarded  with  contempt  all  acts  of  Parliament. —  Mill's 
India,  vol.  i.  p.  113 ;  Hamilton's  New  Account,  i.  232. — 
There  was,  besides,  a  not  unfounded  feeling  on  the  part  of 
the  London  Company  that  they  had  been  ill  treated  by 
the  Legislature.  When,  therefore,  William  Norris,  who 
was  made  a  Baronet  for  the  occasion,  went  out  on  the 
appointment  of  the  English  Company,  with  the  King's  com- 
mission and  in  the  King's  ships,  as  ambassador  to  Auveng- 
zebe,  a  more  onerous  undertaking  could  hardly  be  imagined. 
Sir  William's  proceedings,  from  the  19th  of  September 
1699,  when  he  landed  at  Masulipatam,  to  the  29th  of  April 
1702,  when,  by  bribing  the  native  governor  of  Surat,  he 
was  allowed  to  embark,  are  in  part  set  forth  in  Bruce's 
Annals,  (vol.  iii.)  It  is  to  be  regretted  that  Sir  William's 
voluminous  despatches,  which  are  enumerated  by  Bruce, 
should  still  repose  in  the  archives  of  the  India  Company. 
Europe  has  long  been  instructed  and  amused  with  Bernier's 
account  of  the  court  of  Auvengzebe,  when  that  despot  was 
at  his  middle  age,  and  the  history  of  his  failing  years  and 
empire  could  not  be  otherwise  than  valuable.  Every  species 
of  vexation  fell  to  the  ambassador's  lot,  and  at  last,  like 
Pym,  he  put  forth  a  vindicatory  declaration.  Norris  failed 
in  all  the  objects  he  had  in  view;  his  conduct  is  variously 


INTRODUCTION. 

represented,  but,  on  the  whole,  he  carried  himself  with  more 
propriety  than  any  other  of  the  Company's  servants.  He 
sent  home  a  rich  cargo,  the  investment  of  which  was  a 
fruitful  source  of  litigation  to  his  relations,  and  died  him- 
self between  the  Mauritius  and  St.  Helena,  on  the  10th  of 
October  1702. 

Of  John,  the  next  brother,  we  know  little.  He  was  sent 
to  sea,  in  the  merchant  service,  twice;  contracted  intem- 
perate habits ;  grossly  insulted  his  venerable  mother ;  lived 
poorly,  in  the  neighbourhood  of  his  sister's,  at  Hopwood 
and  Rayton ;  and  by  the  expressions  of  regard  of  the  chil- 
dren towards  him,  and  consequently  of  the  mother's,  he 
may  be  taken  to  have  passed  a  kind  of  Will  Wimble  life, 
disfigured,  however,  by  intemperance. 

Henry,  the  fourth  son,  (we  adopt  the  order  in  Lodge's 
pedigree,)  was  a  clergyman,  and  probably  Fellow  of  Brazen- 
nose,  where  he  resided.  This  name  occurs  as  M.A.  January 
31, 1687,  and  B.D.  November  29, 1697.  He  died  unmarried, 
June,  1702.  After  his  brother,  Sir  William  Norris,  he  had 
been  left  his  uncle  William  Garway's  estate,  and,  on  their 
both  dying  without  heirs,  the  property  passed  to  Christ's 
Hospital,  London.  There  are  many  letters  from  this  Henry 
Norris,  and  others,  as  to  Garway's  death  and  will.  It  was 
an  eccentric  disposition,  for  Garway's  two  brothers,  John 
and  Thomas,  were  both  living  at  his  decease,  besides  the 
children  of  his  three  sisters. 

Edward,  the  fifth  son,  was  also  of  Brazennose ;  M.A. 
June  1,  1689 ;  B.M.  January  19,  1691 ;  and  M.D.  March 
12,  1695;  and  thence  he  went  to  practice  at  Chester. 


INTRODUCTION. 

After  some  hesitation  amongst  the  brothers,  Edward  was 
selected  to  accompany  Sir  William  to  India.  In  the  pro- 
cession of  the  28th  of  April,  1701,  with  which  the  am- 
bassador entered  the  Mogul  camp  at  Parnella,  we  find 
"Edward  Norris,  Esq.,  secretary  to  the  embassy,  in  a  rich 
palanquin,  bearing  his  Majesty's  letters  to  the  Emperor; 
on  each  side,  Mr.  Wingate  and  Mr.  Shuttleworth,  in  rich 
laced  coats,  on  horseback." — Bruce,  vol.  iii.  p.  463.  Dr. 
Norris  sailed,  with  fourteen  of  his  brother's  suite,  in  the 
China  Merchant,  a  vessel  bearing  a  rich  cargo,  of  which 
60,000  rupees  in  value  belonged  to  the  Company,  and 
87,000  to  Sir  William  Norris.  The  brothers  again  met 
at  the  Mauritius  on  the  llth  of  July,  1702,  and  on  Sep- 
tember the  7th  they  sailed  with  a  large  fleet  for  England, 
but  the  Scipio,  the  ambassador's  vessel,  parted  company, 
and  the  Doctor  saw  Sir  William  no  more. 

Although  Dr.  Norris  returned  to  England,  yet  the  calm 
which^  succeeded  to  perils  and  anxieties,  operated  fearfully 
on  his  mind.  "  But  the  concern  I  am  in  for  my  poor  dear 
mother,"  writes  Mrs.  Hop  wood,  July  18,  1703,  "on  the 
account  of  my  dear  brother,  hath  filled  me  with  such  appre- 
hensions it  is  as  much  as  I  can  do  to  bear  up,  tho'  had  it 
not  been  for  that  paper,  mother  showed  me  after  the  unlucky 
thing  of  the  banquetting  house,  I  should  never  have  sus- 
pected anything  of  that  kind ;  I  hope  it  will  wear  quite  off, 
his  friends  must  not  let  him  be  too  much  alone,  tho'  I  am  in 
constant  fear  for  him,  God  will  be  so  merciful  to  him  as  per- 
fectly to  restore  him." 

Dr.  Norris  was  perfectly  restored.     On  his  return,  the 


XX  INTRODUCTION. 

Speke  estate  was,  to  the  extent  of  two-thirds  of  its  value, 
pledged  to  the  annuities  of  his  mother  and  sister-in-law,  and 
the  other  third  nearly  taken  up  by  debts.  He  resided  for 
awhile  at  Utkington,  near  Chester,  and  in  1705  married 
the  daughter  of  William  Cleiveland  of  Liverpool.  This 
lady  is  marked  in  the  pedigree  as  his  second  wife,  (we  dis- 
cover no  mention  of  the  first  in  these  Papers,)  and  after 
his  death  she  is  stated  to  have  married  Dr.  Tarleton.  The 
death  of  this  Doctor's  first  wife  took  place  October  15, 
1702,  and  he  married  again,  a  Mrs.  Norris,  in  the  life  time 
of  Dr.  Norris.  The  inscription  on  Dr.  Norris's  tomb,  in 
Garston  chapel,  goes  far  to  convict  the  Norris  pedigree, 
(to  which  the  name  of  that  excellent  herald,  Lodge,  is,  we 
suspect,  very  improperly  appended,)  of  this  mistake :  — 
"Under  this  tomb  lies  interred  Edward  Norris,  M.D.,  of 
Speek,  who  departed  this  life  the  22d  of  July,  1726,  in  the 

year  of  his  age.     Also  Ann,  his  wife,  died  the  3    of 

Jany,  1729,  aged  53." 

They  had  one  son,  born  in  1712,  who,  it  may  be  conjec- 
tured, survived  his  father,  yet  was  dead  before  1736,  and 
with  him  the  name  of  Norris  of  Speke  ceased  to  exist. 
Dr.  Norris  represented  Liverpool  from  1714  to  1722.  Of 
Jonathan,  the  sixth  son,  no  account  is  given. 

Richard,  the  youngest,  and  from  whose  counting-house 
at  Liverpool  the  greater  part  of  the  following  letters  are 
derived,  was  born  in  1670.  He  served  the  office  of  Bailiff 
in  1695,  Mayor  in  1700,  and  represented  the  borough  from 
1708  to  1710,  was  Sheriff  of  Lancashire  in  1718,  and  was 
living  in  1730.  This  Richard  had  been  married,  for  on 


INTRODUCTION.  XX I 

the  5th  of  May,  1698,  he  writes  that  he  has  been  delayed 
answering  a  letter  two  posts  "by  the  ceremony  of  his 
wife's  funeral." 

There  were,  also,  four  sisters,  Margaret,  Ann,  Katherine, 
and  Elizabeth.  The  two  last  married  in  1687 ;  the  first  to 
Richard  Percival  of  Royton,  and  the  latter  to  John  Hop- 
wood  of  Hopwood,  both  eldest  sons  of  ancient  families. 
Ann,  in  October,  1703,  married  William  Squire  of  Liverpool, 
merchant.  Margaret  died  unmarried ;  she  is  alluded  to  as 
very  ill  on  the  15th  of  April,  1699,  and  in  Childwall  church, 
in  the  table  of  benefactors,  her  name  occurs : — "Mrs  Margaret 
Norris  gave"  (by  will)  "  to  be  layed  out  in  land  annexed  to 
the  vicarage,  anno  1699,  £50." 


CONTENTS. 


i. 

Collection    of   a    Subsidy,    temp.    Hen.    8.  —  (Huyton,    Childwall, 

Walton)  .page       1 

II. 
Receipt   to   Edward   Norris   for   expence   of    renewing    Charter    of 

Liverpool,  1603 6 

III. 
Memorandum  of  Annuity  due  from  Crown  to  Mr.  Norris 7 

IV. 
Henry  Norris,  to  get  his  Apprentice  Indenture  cancelled,  to  Common 

Council  of  London,  1622 9 

V. 

Charge  of  Thomas  Norris  of  Speke  against  Sequestrators,  1660 13 

VI. 

Extract  from  the  Order  of  the  Garston  Leet  Jury,  1686    ,  16 

VII. 
Presentment  of  the  Speke  Leet  Jury,  1699 17 


XXIV  CONTENTS. 

VIII. 
Liverpool  Election,  1 690.  —  Bill  of  Expenses  incurred .page     1 8 

IX. 

Lord  Lieutenant's  Order,  (Lord  Gerard,)  summoning  Horse,  1691 24 

X. 

Thos.  Norris,  M.P.,  to  Richard  Norris,  London,  April  2,  1695.  —  On 

the  Liverpool  Charier 25 

XL 

The  Same  to  the  Same,  April  20,  1695. — Sir  T.  P.  Cooke's  affair  — 

The  Charter  27 

XII. 

William  Norris  to  Thomas  Norris,  June  8,   1695.  —  The  King  in 

Flanders  —  The  Charter  gained  28 

XIII. 
William   Norris   to    Thomas  Norris,  July  29,  1695.  —  The  Charter 

returned  from  Flanders 30 

XIV. 

William  Norris  to  Thomas  Norris,  April  23,  1696.  —  Rookwood's 
Trial — Rooke's  arrival —  Venetian  Ambassador  visits  House  of 
Commons  31 

XV. 

The  Same  to  the  Same,  May  9, 1696.  —  Lord  CapeTs  Death  —  Fenwick's 

witnesses  bribed 32 

XVI. 
The  Same  to  the  Same,  October,  6,  1696. —  Weather  prevents  Mrs. 

Norris  from  travelling  —  King  expected — Necessity  for  Peace. . .     34 

XVII. 
William  Denton  to  Richard  Norris,  Liverpool,  Dec.  26,  1697.  —  To 

get  a  place  in  the  Customs 36 


CONTENTS.  XXV 

XVIII. 

Thomas  Patten  to  Richard  Norris,  Warrington,  Jan.  8,  1697.  —  On 
suppressing  Fish  Wears  in  the  Mersey  —  On  making  the  River 
navigable  to  Manchester  . . .page  37 

XIX. 

William  Norris  to  Thos  Norris,  Nov.  29,  1698.—  Bids  him  fare  well— 

On  the  Baronetcy  being  conferred 40 

XX. 

The  Same  to  the  Same,  Madeira,  Feb.  18,  1698.  —  Description  of  a 

visit  to  Madeira 43 

XXI. 

Jasper  Mauditto  Richard  Norris,  Nov.  5,  1700.  —  Termination  of  suit 

with  the  Cheesemongers  —  Wishes  to  return  46 

XXII. 

Thomas  Johnson  to  Richard  Norris,  Nov.  14,  1700. —  Wishes  to  return 
—  Pleased  that  the  Duke  of  Anjou  succeeds  to  Spain  —  Town's 
matters 48 

XXIII. 

Jasper  Maudit  to  Richard  Norris,  Nov.  26,  1700. — Exchange  with 

More  finished 50 

XXIV. 
Lady  Norris  to  Richard  Norris,  Dec.  17,  1700.  —  Parliament  to  be 

dissolved —  Hopes  Liverpool  will  return  Sir  William  Norris 51 

XXV. 

Lady  Norris  to  Richard  Norris,  Jan.  7,  1700-1.  —  Nicholas  Pollexfen 

cannot  be  present  at  Election  —  News  of  Sir  William 53 

XXVI. 

William  Clayton  to  the  Mayor  of  Liverpool,  (Richard  Norris,)  Feb.  1, 

1700.  —  Has  got  to  London  —  Sir  Cleave  Mores  Petition  —  War.     54 


XXVI  CONTENTS. 

XXVII. 
The  Same  to  the  Same,  Feh.  6,  1700.  —  Has  taken  the  Oaths  —  Choice 

of  Speaker  —  Sir  Cleave  More's  Petition  page     55 

XXVIII. 
Lady  Norris  to  Richard  Norris,  Feb.  13,  1700.  —  Sir  Cleave  Mores 

Petition  56 

XXIX. 

William  Clayton  to  the  Mayor  of  Liverpool,  Feb.  18,  1700  —  M ores 

Petition  57 

XXX. 

Daniel   Lawton   to   the   Same,   Feb.    6,    1700.  —  Purchase  of  Lord 

Molyneux's  Land —  Manor  of  Liverpool 58 

XXXI. 

William  Clayton  to  the  Mayor  of  Liverpool,  March  1,  1700.  —  Sir 

Cleave  More's  Petition  59 

XXXII. 
P.  Haddon  to  the  Same,  Wigan,  Jan.  7,  1700. —  Wigan  Election 60 

XXXIII. 

J.  Tucker  (Under  Secretary  of  State)  to  the  Mayor  of  Liverpool, 
Whitehall,  April  3,  1701. — Directs  suspected  persons  to  be 
prosecuted  61 

XXXIV. 

Joshua  Horton  to  the  Mayor  of  Liverpool,  Oldham,  April  8,  1701.  — 

Return  of  Papists  ordered  throughout  the  County 63 

XXXV. 

J.  Tucker  to  the  Mayor  of  Liverpool,  Whitehall,  April  12,  1701. — 

Disaffected  persons  in  Liverpool 64 

XXXVI. 

William  Clayton  to  the  Same,  April  12,  1701.  —  More's  Petition  — 

Harrington 65 


CONTENTS.  XXV11 

XXXVII. 

Robert  Scarisbrick  to  the  Same,  Scarisbrick,  30th  April,  1?01.  —  Asfo 

for  Protection page     66 

XXXVIII. 
Hon.  Charles  Stanley  to  the  Same,  Cross  Hall,  Aug.  4,  1701.  —  Lists 

of  the  Disaffected  ordered 67 

XXXIX. 

Clayton  to  the  Same,  May  13,  1701.  —  Glad  Papists  are  proceeded 

against  —  Sir  Cleave  More  68 

XL. 

John  Morris  to  Richard  Norris,  Nov.  15,  1701.  —  Lord  Molyneux's 
seizure  of  the  Castle  —  Lord  Macclesfield's  Death,  and  disposition 
of  kis  plates  —  Keys  of  Armoury  in  Castle 69 

XLI. 

The  Same  to  the  Same,  Feb.  10,  1701. — Money  not  duly  paid — Lord 
Rivers' s  Patent  opposed  by  Lord  Molyneux,  but  passed — Morris 
expects  to  be  Deputy  —  Claims  the  rent  owing,  and  opposes  the  debt 
being  set  against  it 71 

XLII. 

Extracts  from  Letters  to  Richard  Norris  from  Lady  Norris  and  Henry 
Norris,  relating  to  the  coming  Election,  September  29,  and 
December  3  and  19,  1701 73 

XLIII. 

Jonathan  Murray  to  Richard  Norris,  Chester,  Nov.  27,  1701.  —  Chester 

Election 75 

XLIV. 

Thomas  Johnson  to  Richard  Norris,  Dec.  30,  1701.  —  Letter  on  taking 
his  seat  for  the  first  time  in  Parliament  —  Harley  speaker,  and  his 
speech  —  Observations  as  to  the  temper  of  the  house  —  Money  to  be 
raised  for  St.  Peters  Church  —  Corporation  concerns  want  more 
attention 76 


XXV111  CONTENTS. 

XLV. 

Johnson  to  Richard  Norris,  Feb.  16,  1701.  —  Sir  John  Gower,  (Chan- 
cellor of  the  Duchy,)  promises  to  secure  grant  of  the  Castle  —  Lord 
Molyneuxs  opposition .page  78 

XL  VI. 

Johnson  to  Richard  Norris,  March  17,  1701.  —  Queens  Accession  — 
Profligacy  of  political  leaders  —  Foreign  news  —  Official  changes 

—  Is  for  tolerating  Dissenters  —  Place  for  Corn  Market  in  Liver- 
pool—  Objects  to  clause  directing  re-shipment  of  Tobacco  without 
allowances  —  Parliamentary  news 79 

XL  VII. 

The  Same  to  the  Same,  March,  19,  1701.  —  Scotch  news — County 

Address — No  Address  from  Liverpool —  The  Mayor  seldom  writes.     83 

XL  VIII. 

Extracts  of  Letters  from  Henry  Norris  to  Mrs.  Norris    85 

XLIX. 

Johnson  to  Norris,  March  26,  1702.  —  Regrets  differences  amongst 
the  Townspeople  —  Frauds  on  the  Customs  universal  at  Liverpool 

—  Character  of  Clayton  —  Ready  to  resign,  and  only  in  Par- 
liament to  keep  the  seat  for  Sir  William  Norris  —  Harley  bets  his 
brother  Parliament  would  rise  before  April  8 89 

L. 

The  Same  to  the  Same,  April  2,  1702. — Ready  to  resign  —  More 

intends  to  stand — Difference  with  Houghton  —  Clayton  left  Town.     92 

LI. 
John  Travers  to  Richard  Norris,  July  16,  1702.  —  Leaves  Sir  William 

Norris' s  Election  to  be  determined  on  by  his  Friends    94 

LII. 

Johnson  to  Norris,  Liverpool,  October  9,  1702. — Election  of  Mayor — 

Towns  matters   ,  95 


CONTENTS.  XXIX 

LIII. 

The  Same  to  the  Same,  October  18,  1702. — Same  subject .page     07 

LIV. 

Peter  Hall  to  Richard  Norris,  October  20, 1702.  —  Two  new  Surveyors 

arrive  at  Liverpool  —  Great  sensation  there  99 

LV. 

Johnson  to  Norris,  December  10,  1702.  —  Bill  for  occasional  Con- 
formity —  Johnson  in  favour  of  it  —  Message  for  grant  of  £5000 
to  Duke  of  Marlborough,  and  debate 101 

LVI. 

The  Same  to  the  Same,  December  12,  1702.  —  Lord  Derby,  Sir  John 
Gower,  and  lease  of  Castle  —  Debate  on  Message  —  Custom  House 
Officer  informing  to  be  made  "truly  black"  104 

LVIL 

The  Same  to  the  Same,  December  15,  1? '02.  —  Debate  on  Message  ...   106 

LVIII. 
The  Same  to  the  Same,  December  17,  1702.  —  Occasional  Conformity 

—  The  Castle 108 

LIX. 

The  Same   to  the  Same,  December  22,  1702.  —  Castle  —  Church  — 

Justices  of  the  Peace 110 

LX. 

The  Same  to  the   Same,    December  29,    1702.  —  Liverpool   Towns 

affairs     112 

LXI. 
The  Same   to  the   Same,  December   31,    1702.  —  Liverpool  Town's 

affairs     114 

LXII. 

The  Same  to  the  Same,  January  5,  1702 [3].  —  The  same  subject   116 


XXX  CONTENTS. 

LXIII. 

The  Same  to  the  Same,  January  9, 1702 [3].  —  The  same  subject... pay e  119 

LXIV. 
The  Same  to  the  Same,  January  14,  1702[3].  —  The  same  subject 121 

LXV. 

The  Same  to  the  Same,  January   16,    1702[3].  —  Town's  affairs  — 

Abuse  of  the  Tories  —  And  of  Mr.  Bold  123 

LXVI. 
The  Same  to  the  Same,  January  30,  1702[3].  —  Johnson  ill,  attended 

by  Dr.  Ratcliffe 125 

LXVII. 
The  Same  to  the  Same,  Feb.  4.  1 702 [3].  —  Liverpool  affairs    126 

LXVIII. 

The  Same  to  the  Same,  Liverpool,  June  25,  1703.  —  Liverpool  affairs  128 

LXIX. 

The  Same  to  the  Same,  September  17,  and  October  16,  1703. — 

Materials  for  St.  Peters  Church 129 

LXX. 

The  Same  to  the  Same,  Liverpool,  October  15, 1703. — Liverpool  affairs  131 

LXXI. 
John  Cockshutt  to  Eichard  Norris,  October   15,   1703.  —  Liverpool 

affairs     132 

LXXII. 
Johnson  to  K.  Norris,  October  19,  1703.  —  Liverpool  affairs 133 

LXXIII. 
Extracts  from  two  Letters,  October  22,  and  December  10,  1703,  W. 

Squire  and  Mrs.  Markland,  Relating  to  Ann  Norris's  Marriage...   135 


CONTENTS.  XXXI 

LXXIV. 

Relating   to   the    Tyldesleys  Extracts   from  Letters  of   Edward  and 

Thomas  Tyldesley,  and  Case,  1704  —  1705 .page  137 

LXXV. 
Isaac  Green  to  Richard  Norris,  Prescot,  September  7,  1705.  —  On 

Hesketh's  Mortgage    141 

LXXVI. 

Extracts  of  Letters  on  Liverpool  Affairs,  1704  — 1705 142 

LXXVII. 

Johnson  to  R.  Norris,  February  18,  1705.  —  Contest  for  Rector  — 
Hardness  of  Norris' s  dealing  —  Desires  to  liberate  a  Pressed  man, 
because  he  has  a  handsome  wife  —  Clayton  only  looks  after  his  own 
servants  —  News  to  be  written  out  and  left  at  Phillips' s  146 

LXXVIII. 
Alexander  Hesketh  to  Richard  Norris,  January  21,  1705-6. —  Urges 

sale  of  land  to  be  completed 148 

LXXIX. 

T.  Johnson  to  R.  Norris,  January  26,  1705.  —  Defaulting  Custom 
House  Collectors  —  Bonds  enforced — Interest  to  be  remitted — 
Scarborough's  funeral — Commissioners  open  the  coffin  —  Claytons 
officiousness  149 

LXXX. 

The  Same  to  the  Same,  February  23,  1705.  —  Contest  for  Rector  151 

LXXXI. 

The  Same  to  the  Same,  February  1,  1706  —  The  Corporation  and  Sir 

Cleave  More  153 

LXXXII. 

Henry  Watts  to  R.  Norris,  September  14,  1706.  —  Norris  has  won  by 

Turin  being  taken  —  Foster  Cunliffe  —  Proposes  new  bets 154 


XXxil  CONTENTS. 

LXXXIII. 

Henry  Watts  to  R.  Norris,  December  14,  1706.  —  Norris  has  lost  and 

explanations  are  offered — List  of  bets  offered  by  Gaittonet    ...page  156 

LXXXIV. 

T.  Johnson  to  R.  Norris,  April  5,  1707.  —  Cause  against  Lord  Moly- 

neux  gained  —  Town's  improvements  —  Scotch  affairs 159 

LXXXV. 

The  Same  to  the  Same,  April  8, 1707.  —  Lord  Molyneux  and  the  Town  160 

LXXXVI. 

The  Same  to  the  Same,  January  17,  1707.  —  Harley  proposes  to  Clay- 
ton to  buy  off  the  present  Collector  at  Liverpool,  and  leave  him  to  put 
one  in  —  Johnsons  surprise  —  Regrets  Lord  Derby  does  not 
interfere  —  Present  Collector  an  enemy  —  Invites  a  letter  161 

LXXXVII. 

The  Same  to  the  Same,  January  24,  1707.  —  Collectors  place  —  Har- 
ley s  offer  repeated — Johnsons  surprise  —  Complains  of  Clayton  163 

LXXXVIII. 

The  Same  to  the  Same,  Jan.  27,  1707.  —  Liverpool  affairs   165 

LXXXIX. 

The  Same  to  the  Same,  Jan.  31,  1707.  —  Collector  s  place  —  Claytons 

conduct — Lord  Derby  takes  no  pains   166 

XC. 
The  Same  to  the  Same,  February  12,  1707.  —  Tories  going  out  and 

Whigs  taking  office. 167 

XCI. 
The  Same  to  the  Same,  February  18,  1707.  —  Clayton  receives  favours 

fromthe  Whigs  168 

XCII. 
The  Same  to  the  Same,  February  19, 1707. — Public  affairs — Treating 

in  Liverpool  .169 


CONTENTS.  XXX111 

XCIII. 
The  Same  to  the  Same,  March  10,  1707. — Johnson  knighted. 170 

XCIV. 
J.  Green  to  K.  Norris,  July  15,  1707.  —  Cause  between  Lord  Anglesea 

and  Lord  Derby 172 

xcv. 

Order  of  Sessions  for  Repair  of  Roads  in  the  Hundred  of  West  Derby, 

1688  174 

XCVI.  , 

William  Sacheverell  to  Richard  Norris,  July  4,  1692.  —  Affairs  of  the 

Isle  of  Man  178 

XCVII. 

William  Sacheverell  to  Richard  Norris,  August  15,  1694. — Is  dismissed 
from  Governorship  of  the  Isle  of  Man  180 


>  ERRATA. 

P.  xii.,  1. 10.— For  "  were  land  "  read,  were  in  hand. 

P.  xiii.,  1. 1.— For  "  First  "  read,  Firstly. 

P.  xiii.,  I.  6.— For  "  Second  "  read,  Secondly. 

P.  xv.,  1.  5. — For  "  quarts  of  ale  at  4J  "  read,  gallons  oj  ale  at  1%. 

P.  xvii.,  L  6  from  bottom.— For  "  Auvengzebe  "  read,  Aurengzebe. 

P.  xviii.,  L  11.— For  "  Rayton"  read,  Royton. 

P.  36, 1.  3  of  Note  from  bottom. — For  "  were  "  read,  was. 

P.  60,  L 1  of  Note.— For  "  Sixteenth  "  read,  Seventeenth. 

P.  64, 1. 1  of  Letter.— For  "  Hodges  "  read,  Hedges. 

P.  85, 1.  2  of  Letter.— For  "  Garwin  "  read  Garway. 

P.  91, 1.  8  of  Note. — For  "  base  idea  "  read,  bare  idea. 

P.  102, 1. 1  of  Letter.— For  "  Calquitt"  read,  Colquitt. 

P.  141,  L  4  of  Note  from  bottom.— For  "  Wallsesia  "  read,  Wallasey. 

P.  154, 1.  3  of  Introduction.— For  "the  host,  a  friend  "  read,  the  host  and  friend, 

P.  165, 1.  2  of  Letter.— For  "  Serowld  "  read,  Serocold. 


THE  NORRIS  PAPERS. 


I. 

COLLECTION  OF  A  SUBSIDY,  TEMP.  HEN.  8,  (Huyton,  Childicall,  Walton.) 


[THE  following  is  a  paper  issued  in  the  collection  of  a  subsidy,  and  contains 
the  rounds  of  a  collector,  including  Huyton,  and  great  part  of  Walton,  and 
Childwall.  The  two  Earls  of  Derby  of  the  name  of  Thomas  existed  from 
1485  to  1521,  and  probably  the  fifteenth  here  to  be  collected  was  either  of 
the  3d  or  the  6th  of  Henry  the  Eighth.  The  almost  total  omission  of  the 
Molineux  property  arose  from  that  family  being  the  collectors.  The  assess- 
ment for  Liverpool  seems  very  complete,  and  the  Mores  do  not  appear  to 
have  a  preponderating  interest.  Some  of  the  families  here  mentioned  long 
remained,  as  Kayneford,  Seacome,  and  Main  waring ;  and  Cross  and  Aghton 
(Houghton)  are  still  connected  with  the  town.] 


The  Assessment  of  Towns  to  the  Fifteenth  by  the 
Commissioner. 

WALTON  juxta  LYUERPOLE. 

Vx  Johannis  Crosse  p  terr  suis ij  s   iiij  d: 

Idem  p  bonis  suis  ibidem VJ  §  viij  d 

Sma    ixS 


THE    NORRIS    PAPERS. 


WALTON.  DERBIE   CU    THYNGWALL. 

Nicolas  Fazakerly  p  terr  suis  ibm jij  §    xct 

Wiltmus  Norres  p  terr  suis  ifcm xiiij  d 

Johes  Keykewyc  p  terr  suis   xiiij  d 

Johes  Fletcher  p  terr  suis  xiiij  d 

Vx  Johis  Rydeng  p  terr  suis vij  d 

Willm?  More  p  terr  suis     x  d    ob 

Johes  Thomasson  p  terr  suis vij  d 

Vx  Rici  Accres  p  terr  suis vij  d 

Ricus  Standisshe  p  mr  sua  pro  tris    xiiij  d 

Thomas  Greues  p  terr  suis vij  d 

Thomas  Comes  Derbie  p  terr  suis xiiij  d 

Rogerus  Ogle  p  terr  suis ij  S    iiij  d 

Will9  Molyneux  p  terr  suis    ix  d    ofe 

Johes  Pasmythe  p  terr  suis    xiiij  d 

Petrus  Rideng  p  terr  suis    vij  d 

Thomas  Harebroune  p  terr  suis xxj  d 

Nicolas  Wolfalt  p  terr  suis ixd    ofe 

Thomas  Accres  p  terr  suis xiiij  d 

Sma    xxjg    vd    ofe 
WALTON. 

KYRKEDALE. 

Hered  Thome  Eyves  p  terr  suis ijg    iiijd 

Sma    ij  §    iiij  d 
WALTON. 

BoTYLL. 

Thomas  Comes  Derbie  p  terr  suis vij  §    xj  d    ofc 

Sma    vij  §    xj  d    ofe. 
WALTON. 

FoRMEBY. 

Abbas  de  Merevale  p  terr  suis   xxiij  S    iiij  d 

Thomas  Comes  Derbie  p  terr  suis viij  §    ij  d 

Greorgi9  Holford  p  terr  suis iij  S    xd    ob 


THE    NORRIS    PAPERS.  o 

Willm0  Formeby  p  terr  suis iij  s    x  d    ob 

Willm?  Norres  Miles  p  terr  suis    . .  xiiij  d 

Sma    xl  §    v  d 
WALTON. 

LYUERPOLE. 

Thomas  Comes  Derbie  p  terr  suis ij  §    iiij  d: 

Ricardus  Crosse  p  terr  suis  ibm xj  §    viij  d: 

Willm?  Mor  p  terr  suis   xjS    viij  d 

Idem  Willm?  p  bonis  suis vjs    viij  d 

Joh.es  Warrant  Miles  p  terr  suis     iij  §    xd    ob 

Thomas  Harebroune  p  terr  suis xiiij  d 

Henricus  Mosok  p  terr  suis    xiiij  c? 

Hered  Rici  Starky  p  terr  suis    ij  §    iiij  d 

Carolus  Maynwareng  p  terr  suis    iij  §    j  d 

Johes  Myels  p  terr  suis  vij j  d 

Georgius  Raynford  p  terr  suis    x  d    ob 

Idm  Georgius  p  bonis iiij  S 

Henricus  Preston  p  bonis   xiiij  d 

Hered  Hugonis  Swyndeley  p  terr x  d    ob 

Willm9  Tatlok  p  terr  suis xiiij  d 

Thomas  Seycom  p  terr  suis    ij  §    iiij  d 

Robart  Preket  p  terr  suis    ix  d  ob 

Idem  Robertus  p  bonis  suis    ij  S 

Johes  Wyllme  p  bonis  suis    iiij  S 

Willm9  Harebroune  p  bonis  suis   x  § 

Huan9  Aghtofi  p  bonis  suis    vj  §  viij  d 

Thomas  Corbet  p  bonis  suis    v  §    viij  d 

Ric  Bexwyc  p  bonis    v  § 

Willm9  Preket  p  bonis  xvj  d 

Johes  Haydok  p  bonis    viij  d 

Ricus  Lunte  p  bonis  suis    xij  d 

Sma    iiijli    xiijs    vjd    ob. 
CHILGWALL. 

GARSTON. 

Johes  Irland  de  Lydeat  p  terr vS  xd 

Sma    v  S    x  d 


•I  .  THE    NOBRIS    PAPERS. 

CHILGEWALL. 

Thomas  Cornes  Derbie  p  terr  suis x  s    x j  d 

Sma    x  §    xj  d 
CHILGWALL. 

SPEYKE. 

Wilhn9  Norres  Miles  p  terr  suis    xxxvij  s    vij  d 

Wilim9  Charnok  p  terr  suis   vij  s    xjd    oft 

Robert9  Lathu  de  Allerton  p  terr  vij  s    xj  d    ob 

Wilim?  Lathu  p  terr  suis  xj  §   viij  d 

Jacobus  Toxstath  p  terr  suis y  S    xd 

Sma    iij  ii    xj  s 
CHILGWALL. 

HALEWODE  cum  HALEBOUKE. 

Thomas  Comes  Derbie  p  terr  suis , Iviij  s    iiij  d 

Jones  Irland  p  terr  suis  Iviij  s    iiij  d 

Jofces  Irland  p  terr  suis xiij  d 

Thomas  Tarleton  p  terr  suis  , , xij  d 

Idm  Thomas  p  bonis  ij  § 

Sma    vj  ii    x  d 
CHILGWALL. 

WARETRE. 

Comes  Derbie  p  terr  suis    ij  §    xj  d 

Dauid  ap  Gruffyth  p  terr  suis     xiiijd 

Idm  p  bonis  suis xl  s 

Thomas  Harebroune  p  terr  suis ix  d    ob 

Sma    xliiijs    xd    ob 

HYTON  TORBOK. 

Wilim9  Torbok  p  terr    xxxjs    xjd 

Jofres  Irland    vij  d 

Johes  Esthed  vijd 

Thomas  Knolle    vijd 

Sma    xxxiij  §    viij  d 


THE    NORRIS    PAPERS.  5 

HYTON. 

KNOWSELEY. 

Thomas  Comes  Derbie    iij  ii   vj  s    vj  d 

Nicolas  Stokley vij  d 

Sma    iij  ti    vij  §    j  d 

HYTON  cum  ROSY. 

Hamo  Haryngton  p  terr vijs    xj  d    ob 

Bicus  Tyldesley  p  terr    iij  §   j  d 

Thomas  Lathome  p  terr iij  §    x  d 

Hered  Henr  Lee.. xiijd 

Harr  Bellusbe iijs    xd    ob 

Thomas  Wofalt iijg    xd    ob 

Harre  Mossok xiiij  d 

Wiltm?  Orme xiiij  d 

Thomas  Bury iij  s    x  d    ob 

Roger  Ogle  p  terr    xxiij  d    ob 

Idem  Eogerus  p  bonis vj  s    viij  d 

Sma    xxxviij  s    vij  d    ob. 

Sma  totalis    xxviij  ii    vij  §    vj  d    ob. 


THE    NORRIS    PAPERS. 


II. 

RECEIPT  TO  EDWARD  NORRIS  FOR  EXPENCE  OF  RENEWING  CHARTER  OF 

LIVERPOOL,  1603. 


[THE  territorial  interest  of  the  Mores  in  the  Borough  of  Liverpool  was  early 
opposed  by  neighbouring  families,  and  the  following  receipt  shows  that  Mr. 
Norris,  who  resided  eight  miles  from  that  town,  and  possessed  no  land 
within  its  precincts,  assisted  in  discharging  one  of  those  illegal  imposts  by 
which  James  recruited  his  Exchequer  at  the  expence  of  the  corporate  towns. 
There  is  a  curious  account  of  a  quarrel  and  suit  at  law  in  1632,  between 
"  More  Arm :  &  Norris  Knight,"  in  Eushworth,  vol.  iii.  p.  35,  (Appendix.) 
The  families  appear  afterwards  opposed  to  each  other.] 


Primo  die  februarii  anno  Regni  Regis 

Jacobi  Anglie  2,  et  Scotie  38. 

Received  of  Edw :  Norres  of  Speke  in  the  Countie  of  Lane :  Es- 
quire the  daie  and  yere  above  said  the  Sume  of  24s  which  he  was 
assessed  to  paie  for  his  porcion  towards  the  chardge  of  the  Renewinge 
of  the  Charter  for  the  confirmacion  of  the  freedom  and  franchises  of 
the  Towne  of  Liverpool. 

EDW  :  MOORE 

Maior. 


THE    NORRIS    PAPERS. 

% 

III. 

MEMORANDUM  OF  ANNUITY  DUE  FROM  CROWN  TO  MR.  NORRIS. 


[THE  Society  of  Scottish  Antiquaries  interested  themselves  some  years 
ago  in  an  inquiry  "  into  the  probability  of  a  tradition  that  the  library  and 
furniture  of  James  the  4th  of  Scotland  was  carried  off  after  the  battle  of 
Flodden,  and  set  up  at  Speke  Hall."  Mr.  Whatton  contributed  to  the 
Archceologia  Scotica,  (vol.  iv.  part  i.  1831,)  an  article  interesting  as  relating 
to  the  Norris  family,  but  of  no  value  in  the  determination  of  the  strange 
inquiry  proposed.  There  could  be  no  reader  of  history  but  must  have 
known  that  in  1513  the  English  never  came  near  Edinburgh. 

The  inscription  in  the  volumes  now  in  the  Athenaeum  at  Liverpool, 
(Baines's  Lancashire,  vol.  iii.  p.  155,)  proves  that  Sir  William  Norris 
in  1543  brought  away  books  from  Edinburgh,  and  as  he  fell  in  the  next  ex- 
pedition, 1547,  at  Pinkey,  the  probability  is,  the  annuity,  mentioned  below, 
was  then  granted  to  his  heirs. 

We  find  in  the  Norris  Papers  a  strong  opinion  on  the  extortion  practised 
in  the  deductions  to  which  this  grant  was  subjected.] 


Edw.  Norres  Esqr  Receives  from  the  Crowne  a  yearly  annuity  due 
to  him  and  his  heirs  for  ever  the  Sum  of. £5  .  6  .     8 

The  Court  deducts  for  Taxes 0  .  13  .    0 

for  Court  Fees  0  .  11  .  10  1   .  4  .  10 

4  .  1  .  10 


8  THE    NORRIS    PAPERS. 

Hee  paies  rent  for  Child  wall 


3  .     7.4 
2.  H.  9..  .0.0.8 


3.8.0 
Allow  for  taxes  .  .  0  .  15  .  0          2  .  13  .     0 


Bests  to  bee  paid  him  1  .     8  .  10 


[In  the  enumeration  of  the  property  to  which  the  heiress  of  Mr.  Norris 
was  entitled  (1700)  there  occurs  "a  Debenture  out  of  the  Dutchy  of  Lan- 
caster for  service  performed  by  one  of  the  family  in  Scotland.  Enquire 
after  it."1 


THE    NORRIS    PAPERS. 


IV. 


HENRY  NORRIS,  TO  GET  HIS  APPRENTICE  INDENTURE  CANCELLED,  TO 
COMMON  COUNCIL  OF  LONDON,  1622. 


[THERE  was  no  class  in  society  more  influential,  in  disturbed  times,  than 
the  apprentices  of  London.  The  following  narration  contains  an  every  day 
tale,  yet  as  bearing  upon  the  manners  of  the  persons  alluded  to,  at  a  very 
important  period  of  their  history,  it  is  here  selected  for  publication.  A  few 
years  later,  and  the  institutions,  under  which  Henry  Norris  changed  his  flat 
cap  and  shining  shoes  for  the  steel  cap  and  breast-plate,  produced  the  most 
active  of  the  first  opponents  of  Charles.  Eighteen  of  that  King's  Judges 
had  been  apprentices  in  London.  Massey  and  Brown  were  once  apprentices, 
though  perhaps  little  meriting  the  appellation  of  base,  which  Scott,  with 
more  propriety,  might  have  applied  to  Isaac  Pennington,  Venn,  Fowke, 
Barkstead,  &c. 

Mr.  Hallam  is  of  opinion  (Constitutional  History,  vol.  ii.  p.  183,)  that 
from  the  time  of  the  Armada  to  1640,  the  youth  of  London  were  trained 
to  arms.  This  is  a  mistake,  for  Elizabeth  did  not  encourage  the  martial 
propensities  of  these  boys  beyond  the  occasion  which  required  them.  The 
introduction  to  Hey  wood's  play  of  The  Four  Apprentices  shows  that  James 
"  first  awakened  the  rememberance  of  these  arms  in  the  artillery  gardens," 
and  permanently,  in  evil  hour,  established  the  drilling  of  apprentices, 
whilst  dramatists  and  ballad-mongers  worked  upon  the  susceptible  vanity  of 
these  youths.  With  Perkin,  Kevelour,  Tradewell  jun.,  and  Goldwire  jun., 
apprentices  were  often  rogues,  and  they  were  besides  easily  persuaded  they 
had  a  military  character  to  sustain  :  — 

"  I  have  as  much  power  to  sit, 
Sort  out  my  wares,  and  scribble  on  a  shop  board, 
When  I  but  hear  the  musick  of  a  drum, 
As  to  abstain  from  meat  when  I  am  hungry." 


10  THE    NORR1S    PAPERS. 

The  last  Stuarts  endeavoured  to  give  apprentices  an  ephemeral  importance, 
but  Cromwell  had  already  lowered  them  to  their  proper  station.  Glass  win- 
dows put  a  period  to  the  eternal  "  What  lack  ye  ?"  and  a  vigorous  police  did 
away  with  the  necessity  of  the  cry  "  Clubs  !  Clubs  !" 

Henry  Norris  is  set  down  in  the  pedigree  as  the  seventh  son  of  Sir  Wil- 
liam Norris  of  Speke,  K.B.,  who  died  about  1626,  by  Eleanor,  daughter  of 
Sir  William  Molyneux  of  Sefton.  This  Henry  was  a  colonel  of  foot  in 
Flanders,  and  died  unmarried.] 


RIGHT  HONORABLE  SIRS, 

Whereas  my  father  Sir  William  Norreis  Knight,  did 
bynde  me  Henry  Norreis  prentisse  unto  one  Mr.  Robert  Geoffreys 
marchant,  who  upon  some  dislike  did  put  me  from  his  service.  And 
now  understanding  that  my  said  Mr  hath  put  my  father's  bonde  in 
suite,  therefore  I  thoughte  it  goode  to  certifie  unto  your  honors  upon 
my  oath,  confirmed  under  my  hande  and  scale  of  the  truth  of  all 
proceedings  therein,  viz : 

That  he  doeth  denye,  that  he  did  not  turne  me  awaye  from  his 
service,  I  affirm  the  contrarie,  for  he  gave  me  warninge  to  be  gone, 
oftentimes,  the  space  of  twelve  moneths,  that  I  should  provide  for 
myself  another  Maister,  for  hee  would  keepe  me  noe  longer,  to  the 
wch  commaunde  I  answered  that  I  woulde  not  departe  from  his  ser- 
vice untill  such  time  as  my  said  father  had  clered  the  bonde,  that  he 
was  bounde  in  for  me,  and  the  money  that  my  said  Mr  had  with 
me,  being  110U< 

And  this  my  said  Mr  seinge  that  I  woulde  not  begon,  did  come  to 
me  upon  a  Satturday,  and  taking  the  Keighes  from  me,  commaunded 
me  to  begon  upon  Monday  followinge,  and  I  cominge  unto  him  upon 
the  said  Monday  morninge,  demaunding  of  him,  in  presence  of  Sir 
Francis  Dunken,  Knight,  my  said  Mr  his  wief,  and  servants,  viz. 
Ralph  Burnett,  Rebecca  Gibs,  with  others,  demaunding  of  him 
whether  that  he  continued  the  said  determinacion  of  puttinge  me 
awaye  as  before,  whereunto  hee  answered  that  hee  did,  I  replied 
thereupon  that  I  would  not  begone,  unless  that  he  thrusted  me  out, 
the  wch  hee  did  presentlie  at  that  instante. 


THE    NORRIS    PAPERS.  11 

The  same  daye  at  night  I  with  my  father's  man  Robert  Quicke 
came  to  the  old  Exchange  to  tender  myself  unto  him,  findinge  him 
not  there,  wee  met  with  Mr  Dury  [Drury]  now  alderman,  and 
acquainted  him  of  all  that  had  hapned,  and  what  my  intencion  was, 
hee  repliing  said  that  hee  would  beare  witness  that  I  had  ben  there 
to  tender  myself  unto  him,  and  that  so  had  heard  my  said  Mr  saye, 
that  he  had  putt  me  awaye,  I  called  him  before  the  chamberlaine, 
and  Alderman  Proby,  and  as  I  remember,  they  commauiided  to  be 
Registered  the  manner  of  this  my  saide  turning  awaye.1 

Whereas  he  sayeth  that  he  gave  me  good  Instructions  in  his  pro- 
fession, I  affirme  that  I  was  imployed  about  his  affaires,  only  as  a 
Stranger,  without  any  particular  directions  therein,  excepting  one 
moneth  that  hee  being  in  the  Countrey,  that  I  received  his  letters  for 
him,  and  thereby  had  some'insight  in  his  proceedings.  And  whereas 
my  said  Mr  denieth  my  goinge  to  Market,  and  makinge  clene  of 
shooes,  I  doe  affirme  that  in  the  time  that  I  was  with  him,  hee  kept 
no  other  Servaunte  but  myself,  and  that  upon  some  dayes  sent  to 
Markett  with  a  hande  baskett  some  four  or  five  times  upon  a  daye, 
all  which  I  did  as  he  commaunded  me.2 

And  whereas  he  had  with  me  a  110  ft)  as  aforesaid,  five  ponde 
thereof  he  said  and  condicioned  that  it  should  be  imployed  for  my 


1  Geoffrys  might  probably,  with  justice,  answer  to  all  this, — 

The  Masters  never  prosper'd 

Since  gentlemen's  sons  grew  'prentices.    When  we  look 
To  have  our  business  done  at  home,  they  are 
Abroad  in  the  Tennis  Court,  or  in  Partridge  Alley, 
In  Lambeth  Marsh,  or  a  cheating  ordinary. 

The  City  Madam. 

2  It  appears  to  have  been  the  duty  of  an  apprentice  to  take  a  part,  at  least,  of  the 
office  of  a  modern  footman.    In  the  City  Match,  (act  iii.  sc.  2,)  we  read :  —  "  Enter 
Mrs.  Seathrift  and  Mrs.  Holland,  with  a  'prentice  before  'em,  as  conversin."  Whe- 
ther, however,  this  species  of  service  could  be  exacted  is  not  clear.    The  apprentice 
oath  in  Stowe  is  very  general  in  its  terms,  yet  menial  service  was  much  disliked. 
Massinger  makes  Gold  wire,  jun.,  say :  — 

His  courteous  nieces  find  employment  for  him 
Fitting  an  under  'prentice,  or  a  footman. 

Also  see  Fortunes  of  Niyel,  chapter  i. 


12  THE    NORRIS    PAPERS. 

learninge  arithmaticke  and  keepinge  accompts,  but  to  my  knowledge, 
there  was  no  more  imployed  for  my  learninge,  beinge  but  2  or  3 
moneths  but  eight  shillings,  and  that  was  unto  Lewes,  a  Scrivenor  in 
the  same  streete  of  my  said  Mr  as  will  apeare  in  the  cash  booke,  that 
hee  hath  in  his  keepinge.1 

After  this  ill  usage  and  beinge  thrust  out  of  his  service,  I  lived  a 
yeare  and  a  half  at  Grayes  Inne,  expecting  reconciliacon  into  his 
favor,  till  at  last  being  constrayned  to  seeke  fortunes  in  other  Coun- 
treys ;  hee  had  7  or  8  before  my  time,  that  served  him,  that  were 
badlie  used  by  him  as  some  of  the  Aldermen  can  testifie. 

In  witness  whereof  that  this  aforesaid  affirmacion  of  myne  to  be 
true,  I  have  taken  My  oath,  and  hereunto  sett  my  hande  and  scale, 
this  present  19  of  September.  And  the  better  to  confirme  this  to  be 
my  acte  and  deede  I  have  procured  the  Burgermaisters  of  Groole,  the 
garrison  wherein  I  doe  live,  to  put  to  their  handes,  together  with  the 
town  scale.  Datum  Groulse  this  19  of  the  above  named  September 
1622. 

HENRY  NORRES. 

[!N  the  attestation  both  of  the  Burgomasters,  and  of  Mr.  William  Trum- 
bull,  Envoy  to  the  Archduchess  at  Brussels,  this  late  apprentice  is  styled 
Captain  Norris.] 


Warehouse.    In  this  half  year  that  I  shall  be  away 

Cypher  shall  teach  you  French,  Italian,  Spanish, 
And  other  tongues  of  traffic. 

PMwell.    Shall  I  not  learn 

Arithmetic  too,  sir,  and  short  hand  ? 

Warehouse.    'T  is  well  remember 'd  ;  yes,  and  navigation. 


THE    NORRIS    PAPERS.  13 


V. 

CHARGE  OF  THOMAS  NORRIS  OF  SPEKE  AGAINST  SEQUESTRA-TORS,  1660. 


[The  annexed  is  a  summary  of  the  losses  of  the  Speke  family  during  the 
Civil  Wars.  In  the  catalogue  of  those  that  have  compounded  for  their 
estates,  "  Thos.  Norris  of  Speak,  Lancashire,  Esquire,"  is  set  down  at 
£508.  This  book  was  originally  printed  in  1655,  and  in  the  following  paper 
it  is  evident  Thomas  Norris  had  the  estate  at  the  time  of  its  being  drawn 
up,  which  was  probably  about  1660.  There  is  no  mention  made  of  any 
possessor  of  Speke  but  of  Thomas  and  his  father,  William,  and  yet  there  was 
an  elder  son,  Edward.  Here  is  a  memorandum  from  the  Sequestrators' 
books;  "Edward  Norris  of  Speke  a  Papist,"  (and  then  an  enumeration  of 
twenty-five  acres  of  land,)  "  the  above  said  estate  was  added  to  the  book  of 
surveighs,  the  24th  of  June  1 652."  The  father  of  these  two  died  in  1 651,  and 
Edward  in  1664;  and  whether  from  the  circumstance  of  the  disqualifications 
under  which,  in  that  persecuting  age,  his  religion  placed  him,  or  because  he 
had  only  a  daughter,  or  for  some  other  reason  which  does  not  appear,  it  is 
however  clear  that  Edward  was  disinherited,  and  here  are  receipts  by  which  it 
appears  he  received  from  his  father  an  annuity  through  his  younger  brother, 
Thomas. 

There  is  amongst  these  MSS.  an  uncancelled  bond  of  Col.  John  More's, 
(he  spelt  his  own  name  Moore,  but  the  reader  would  hardly  know  him  so 
designated,)  the  celebrated  member  for  Liverpool  who  signed  Charles's  death 
warrant.  William  Norris  must  then  have  been  ill  enough  off,  and  More, 
who  was  waiting  for  a  wind  to  pass  with  his  regiment  into  Ireland,  thus  oc- 
cupied himself  in  defrauding  an  unfortunate  Cavalier ;  and  Martindale  has 
shown  us  that  More  and  his  household  were  little  better  than  freebooters.] 


30  September,  1649. 

Mdum  that  I  John   Moore  of  Bank  Hall  Esqre  do  acknowledge 
myself  to  owe  and  to  be  indebted  unto  William  Norrcs  of  the  Speake 


14  THE    NORRIS    PAPERS. 

Esqre  in  the  full  sum  of  fifteen  pounds  of  lawful  English  money, 
which  sum  I  do  bind  me,  my  heirs,  executors,  administrators,  or 
assigns,  to  pay  unto  the  said  William  Norres,  his  heirs,  &c.,  upon 
the  last  day  of  this  present  month,  as  witness  my  hand  the  day, 
and  year,  above  written. 

JOHN  MOORE. 

The  information  and  charge  of  Thomas  Norris  of  Speak  in  the 
county  of  Lancaster  Esqre  against  such  persons  who  being  Seques- 
trators,  seized  and  took,  the  goods  and  chattels  of  William  Norres 
late  of  Speak  aforesaid  Esquire  deceased,  late  father  of  the  said 
Thomas,  and  alsoe  the  Rents  and  profits  of  the  demesne  lands,  and 
Milnes,  together  with  the  rents  of  the  tenants  of  the  said  William 
between  the  thirtieth  day  of  January  1642  and  the  21st  day  of  June 
1660. 

Imprimis  the  said  Thomas  Norres  chargeth  John  Broughton 
of  Much  Woolton,  William  Plombe  of  the  same,  and  William 
Singleton  of  Little  Woolton,  in  the  county  of  Lancaster,  yeo- 
men, to  have  seized  and  taken  horses  and  cattle  of  his  late 
father  within  the  years  beforesaid  to  the  value  of  ....  ^oOO 

Item,  the  said  Tho:  Norres  chargeth  Peter  Ambrose1  of 
Toxteth,  John  Lathom  of  Whiston,  in  the  said  county,  or  the 
one  or  the  other  of  them,  to  have  seized  and  taken  the  Bents, 
Issues,  and  Profits  of  the  demesne  Lands,  and  Mills,  of  his 
said  late  father,  being  of  the  yearly  value  of  «^?200,  for  the 
space  of  eight  yeares  within  the  years  before  mentioned,  in  tot :  £1 600 


1  Peter  Ambrose  (as  is  shown  by  the  Sequestrator's  papers,  which  Seacome  had 
access  to)  was  the  universal  appraiser  and  agent  for  the  disposal  of  the  forfeited  es- 
tates in  Lancashire.  That  he  survived  the  restoration  is  here  shown,  and  how  he 
fared  may  perhaps  be  hereafter  discovered.  The  other  names  were  those  of  local 
agents  called  in  by  the  superior  one,  or  of  persons  who,  like  Bradshaw  in  Seacome, 
helped  themselves,  and  after  whom  Peter  Ambrose  was  sent. 


THE    NORRIS    PAPERS.  15 

Item,  the  Baid  Tho:  Norres  chargeth  the  said  Peter  Am- 
brose, and  John  Lathom,  the  one  or  the  other  of  them,  with 
the  Receipt  of  the  rents  of  the  tenants  of  his  said  father,  being 
^90  f  ann:  for  the  space  of  seven  years  within  the  time 
aforesaid,  in  tot : <£630 

Item,  the  said  Tho:  Norris  chargeth  the  said  Peter  Ambrose 
with  the  taking  of  goods,  and  of  him  the  said  Tho:  two  horses 
of  the  value  of  . 


16  THE    NORRIS    PAPERS. 


VI. 


EXTRACT  FROM  THE  ORDER  OF  THE  GARSTON  LEET  JURY,  1686. 


[THE  uses  made  in  Garston  and  Speke,  of  a  Leet  Jury,  are  worth  pre- 
serving, and  stand  in  contrast  to  the  inferior  duties  assigned  to  them  in  the 
present  day.  Yet  this  was  the  old  English  mode  of  administering  justice, 
the  magistrates'  tribunal  in  such  matters  being,  comparatively  speaking,  of 
recent  date.] 


[  November  the  second,  anno  1686. 

j 


It  is  ordered  by  this  Jury  that  the  Lord  of  this  Manor  may 
and  shall  have  free  privilege  to  set  hunting  gates,  lay  platts,  cut,  and 
ditch,  in  any  place  within  this  Lordship,  according  to  His  Worship's 
pleasure,  for  hunting,  or  any  other  Recreation,  and  the  disturbers  of 
the  same  to  forfeit  the  sum  of  twenty  shillings. 

This  is  a  true  copy  taken  out  of  the  Town's  books,  attested  under 
our  hands. 

[THE  signatures  of  the  Leet  Jury,  fifteen  in  number,  follow.] 


THE    NORRIS    PAPERS.  17 


VII. 

PRESENTMENT  OF  THE  SPEKE  LEET  JURY,  1699. 


29  die  1()bria  anno      domini  1699 

Presentments  made  by  the  Jurors  within  the  sd  Manr  the  day 
and  year  abovesaid,  as  follows  — 

s.  d. 
Robert  Plompton  of  Hale  for  a  Tussle  with  Wm  Lynton  the 

younger  of  Speke 1  .  .. 

Wm  Lynton  junr  for  the  like  with  Bob*  Plompton 1  ... 

James  Bolton  of  Speake  for  getting  apples  and  Pares  in  the 

orchard  of  Wm  Gill  of  Speake  aforesaid 5  .  .. 

James  Bolton  for  feloniously  takeing  away  Wm  Tatlock's  hat- 

chett  out  of  his  field 5  .  .. 

Willm  Lindley  for  buying  a  Board  and  Potatoes  of  Lawrence 

Golden's  Child,  whose  goods  were  the  goods  of  Anne  Eyes, 

Widow  3  .  4 

John  Brookes  for  getting  Fish  and  Wood  within  the  demesne 

of  the  Lord  of  the  said  Manor 3  .  4 

John  Brooks  for  neglecting  to  bring  a  Bent  Henn  according  to 

ancient  custom 1  .  .. 

The  oecupt  of  Elizabeth  Almond  for  opening  a  Pitt  in  the 

comons  or  highwayes  without  consent  of  the  Lord  of  the 

said  Manor    3  .  4 

John  Goodall  for  an  assault  on  James  Pilkington 1  . 

Tho:  Smith  of  West  Derby  (Doctor)  for  courseing  within  this 

Manor    3  .  4 

Wm  Diconson  of  Allerton  for  the  like    3  .  4 

James  Almond  of  Muchwoolton  for  the  like 3  .  4 

John  Scowles  of  Muchwoolton  for  the  like 3  .  4 

D 


IS  THE    NORRIS    PAPERS. 

VIII. 

LIVERPOOL  ELECTION,  1690. — Bill  of  Expenses  incurred. 


[THE  circumstances  under  which  Liverpool  in  1688,  from  returning  mem- 
bers attached  to  the  house  of  Stuart,  adopted  the  principles  of  the  Revolution, 
and  chose  Lord  Colchester  and  Mr.  Norris  as  its  representatives,  will  appear 
in  part  from  the  treating  of  which  a  record  is  here  preserved,  and  in  part 
from  a  retrospect  of  the  political  history  of  the  horough. 

During  the  whole  of  the  seventeenth  century  the  Earls  of  Derhy,  except- 
ing in  the  period  of  the  Civil  War,  endeavoured  to  influence  the  return  of 
members  for  Liverpool.  In  this  they  were  generally  successful,  and  princi- 
pally from  their  power  in  the  state  and  county,  and  not  from  their  posses- 
sions in  the  borough,  which  were  only  an  old  castellated  house,  with  its 
yards  and  gardens.  If  the  Derby  family  adopted  politics  opposed  to  the 
Court,  the  Mores  were  ready  to  join  them ;  and  if  they  leaned  to  the  oppo- 
site party,  the  Molyneuxes,  who  were  Roman  Catholics,  gave  their  assist- 
ance. The  Mores  were  the  principal  landholders  of  the  Borough;  the 
Molyneuxes,  however,  were  the  constables  of  the  castle,  and  had  the  mano- 
rial and  fiscal  rights  belonging  to  the  Crown,  and  when  men  of  their  religion 
were  in  favour  at  Court,  the  return  of  Roman  Catholics,  or  Jacobites,  marked 
the  absolute  sway  of  the  Crown  in  Liverpool:  such  was  the  case  in  1623, 
and  in  1685.  All  three  families,  Stanleys,  Moleyneuxes,  and  Mores,  had 
residences  in  Liverpool,  and  the  Mores  chiefly  lived  there.  The  returns, 
prior  to  1642,  are  of  a  very  heterogeneous  political  character,  and  the  cause 
of  this  must  be  sought  in  the  patrons  of  the  borough,  and  not  in  the  inhabit- 
ants, who  had  but  a  small  part  in  the  elections.  Thomas  May  and  Lord 
Strange,  Henry  Jermyn  and  Lord  Cranfield,  all  remarkable  names,  were 
strangely  opposed  in  politics;  and  perhaps,  when  the  character  of  Lord 
Strange  is  examined,  this  want  of  political  consistency  will  be  found  to  origi- 
nate with  him,  towards  whom  Liverpool  had  otherwise  every  reason  to  be 
grateful,  as  obtaining  the  first  intelligible  charter,  (1626,)  and  as  the  early 
promoter  of  its  commerce. 


THE    NORRIS    PAPERS.  19 

Iii  nomination  Boroughs,  the  return  of  the  patron  is  the  rule,  his  being 
rejected  the  exception,  and  the  latter  only  occurs  in  times  of  great  excite- 
ment. The  fate  of  the  Mores  in  Liverpool  reversed  this,  and  it  was  only  in 
times  of  revolution  that  they  were  returned,  and  that  by  adopting  the  most 
extreme  politics.  Colonel  John  More,  who  was  first  returned  for  the  Long 
Parliament,  after  serving  Cromwell  faithfully,  sate  on  Charles's  trial,  and 
signed  his  death  warrant;  out  of  which  acts  grew  the  emancipation  of 
Liverpool,  and  the  ruin  of  the  Mores.  The  first  great  impetus  to  the  town's 
prosperity  is  usually  assigned  to  the  shipping  of  soldiers  to  Ireland,  during 
these  wars.  For  this  purpose,  when  to  be  done  on  a  great  scale,  Chester 
was  found  inadequate.  On  February  16,  1647-8,  (Rushworth,  vol.  vii.  p. 
1000,)  it  is  stated,  —  "From  the  city  of  Chester  by  letters  was  thus  cer- 
tified," "  The  northern  horse  intended  for  Ireland,  after  five  times  shipped, 
were  by  contrary  winds  beat  back  again."  In  No.  133  of  the  Journal  of 
the  day,  (Perfect  Occurrences^  &c.,)  July  14,  1649,  it  is  stated, — "All  the 
forces  here  and  at  Liverpool,  wait  the  good  houre,  Col.  Reynolds  at  Bew- 
morris,  Col.  Venables  at  Moston  [Mostyn],  Col.  Hunts  and  Col.  More  at 
Liverpool.  All  the  provisions  for  Col.  Reynolds  and  Col.  Venables  are 
aboard  the  boates,  to  go  down  to  the  shipps.  The  want  of  water  in  our 
miserable  river  hath  kindred  two  dayes.  For  cheese,  Mr.  Whalley  is  send- 
ing all  he  can,  and  is  now  going  to  Liverpool,  having  finished  all  for  Col. 
Reynolds  and  Col.  Venables."  Johnson,  in  one  of  his  letters,  finds,  in  1644 
the  commencement  of  the  cheese  trade  in  the  Mersey.  The  troops  last 
mentioned  lay  at  Liverpool  some  months,  and  Colonel  John  More  with 
them.  In  "  The  Perfect  Diurnall"  of  December  10,  1649,  in  a  letter  from 
Liverpool,  Colonel  More  and  his  three  hundred  and  fifty  men  are  said  to 
have  been  shipped  the  week  before ;  and  in  the  next  number  of  the  paper 
it  is  stated,  —  "  There  hath  bin  of  late  transported  in  Chester  and  Liverpool 
water  2708  soldiers."  There  is  a  difficulty  in  ascertaining  the  fate  of  Colo- 
nel John  More ;  indeed,  owing  to  the  existence  of  a  cotemporary  Colonel 
Richard  More,  M.P.  for  Bishop's  Castle,  the  acts  of  the  two  cannot  now  be 
separated.  In  two  numbers  of  The  Nouvelles  Ordinaires  de  Londres,  1 9th 
October  and  26th  October,  1656,  a  Colonel  More  and  his  regiment  are 
stated  to  have  embarked  at  Carrickfergus,  in  Braynes's  expedition  to  Jamaica. 

Colonel  Thomas  Birch  was  the  other  member  for  Liverpool,  and  governor 
of  the  castle,  during  the  Civil  War.  Of  him  we  have  little  to  add  to  what 
Dr.  Ormerod  has  so  well  given  in  the  Society's  recent  publication.  Birch, 
too,  from  the  similarity  of  his  name  with  that  of  Colonel  John  Birch,  of 


20  THE    NOREIS    PAPERS. 

Herefordshire,  has  not  always  his  own  deeds  assigned  to  him,  and  the  editor 
of  Burton's  Diary  seems  not  aware  of  the  existence  of  the  Liverpool  mem- 
ber, although  he  prints  a  speech  concluded  with  cries  of  "  Thomas  Birch." 
This  man  died,  aged  70,  August  5,  1678,  and  a  contemporary  writes  "that 
he  had  been  an  active  man  in  the  wars,  but  was  deaf  and  in  dotage  some 
years." 

Both  More  and  Birch  appear  to  have  been  ill-conditioned  men,  and  the 
former  inherited  a  bad  temper  from  his  father,  who,  when  member  for 
Liverpool  in  1626,  was  committed  for  speaking  seditious  words,  (Rush worth, 
vol.  i.  p.  376,)  and  in  1632  got  into  a  quarrel  with  Sir  William  Norris,  which 
ended  in  a  law-suit,  (Rushworth,  vol.  iii.  p.  35.) 

To  Richard  Cromwell's  Parliament,  Sir  Gilbert  Ireland,  one  of  that 
numerous  class  of  Presbyterians  who,  after  diligently  achieving  the  over- 
throw of  Charles,  occupied  themselves  in  restoring  his  son,  and  Alderman 
Blackmore,  who  had  his  expenses  paid  by  contributions,  were  returned. 
After  the  Restoration,  Ireland,  with  a  nominee  of  the  Earl  of  Derby,  sate 
until  1678,  from  which  date,  to  1685,  Wentworth,  a  connexion  of  the 
Stanleys,  and  John  Dubois,  sate.  Lord  Derby  had,  however,  to  exert  him- 
self to  maintain  his  interest,  and  with  his  son,  and  son-in-law,  were  succes- 
sively Mayors  of  Liverpool.  If  John  Dubois  be  the  person  of  the  same 
name  who,  with  Papillon  in  1682,  opposed  North  and  Rich,  as  Sheriffs  for 
London,  it  would  connect  Lord  Derby  with  Shaftesbury  and  Russell,  whose 
dislike  to  the  Stuarts  he  certainly  shared.  The  election  of  1685  went  with 
the  party  of  James  the  Second,  and  for  a  while  the  Stanleys  were  not  only 
obliged  to  yield  this  borough  to  the  Molyneuxes,  but  also  to  give  up  to  them 
the  lieutenantcy  of  the  county. 

Liverpool  had,  previously  to  the  Revolution,  been  a  place  of  much  political 
intrigue.  Monmouth,  in  1682,  and  Labourne,  in  1687,  did  not  visit  this 
obscure  port  without  important  objects.  As  respects  the  latter,  it  appears, 
from  Cartwright's  Diary,  that  at  the  date  last  given,  that  old  Roman  Catholic 
cavalier,  Caryl,  Viscount  Molyneux,  was  living  in  great  splendor  at  Crox- 
teth,  and  that  the  Corporation  of  Liverpool  willingly  did  honor  to  his  guests. 
On  this  Lord,  who  died  1698,  aged  77,  times  of  quiet  were  thrown  away; 
and  when  he  could  no  longer,  as  in  his  youth,  ride  in  fields  of  battle,  (or 
even  in  his  age,  for  he  took  up  arms  for  James  in  1688,)  or  be  driven  from 
his  home  by  sequestrators,  he  gathered  round  himself  countless  intrigues, 
evidently  in  James  the  Second's  time,  labouring  with  Bishop  Labourne,  to 
introduce  the  Romanist  belief,  and  in  William's  time  subjecting  himself  to 


THE    NORRIS    PAPERS.  21 

arrest  for  treasonable  practices.     After  the  Revolution,  Molyneux  was  strip- 
ped of  all  his  offices. 

The  poverty  of  the  Mores  and  their  having,  through  the  Fenwicks, 
courted  the  Stuarts  to  remove  the  attainder,  and  hence  become  Jacobites, 
arising  from  John  More's  signing  the  King's  death  warrant,  and  the  re- 
cusancy of  the  Molyneuxes  which  left  them  without  power,  placed  Liverpool 
in  a  situation  to  follow  its  own  inclination,  and  to  take  advantage  of  the 
new  order  of  things.  Richard,  Lord  Colchester,  and  Mr.  Norris,  of  Speke, 
were  therefore  returned,  though  perhaps  not  without  opposition.  Thomas 
Lord  Colchester,  Mayor  of  Liverpool,  1667,  married  the  Lady  Charlotte, 
daughter  to  Charles,  Earl  of  Derby,  and  this  Thomas  was  the  elder  brother 
of  the  member  for  the  borough  in  1688.  Swift,  in  Stella's  Journal,  makes 
frequent  mention  of  Richard,  who  was  a  profligate  and  handsome  soldier, 
succeeded  to  the  title  of  Rivers,  1694,  and  died,  1712.  (Mackay-Banks.) 
This  Lord  Rivers  is  memorable  for  two  things :  — a  kind  of  rivalry  in  which 
he  delighted  to  stand  towards  Marlborough,  and  which  Harley  seriously 
encouraged  ;  and  for  being  the  father  to  Savage,  and,  therefore,  chronicled 
in  Johnson's  Lives  of  the  Poets.  Swift's  account  of  Rivers's  Will  is  very 
amusing.  As  for  his  being  comparable  to  Marlborough,  the  year  (1706) 
the  latter  gained  Ramillies,  the  former  ignominiously  quitted  Spain.] 


Disbursements  by  order  of  the  E*  honble  Lord  Colchester  and  the 
worshipful  Tho:  Norris  Esqrat  Liverpool  4°  March  1689-90. 

ft>.     B.     d. 

To  Edm:  Eigby  for  bear  and  tobacco 0.16.    0 

To  Tho:  Sharpies    1.    3.    0 

ToThoiEow 1.4.0 

To  Hen:  Leadbett' 0  .  16  .    6 

To  Law:  Turner 1  .  10  .    0 

To  Peter  Mason 1  .  16  .    6 

To  Widdow  Eadcliffe 1  .  16  .    0 

To  Wm  Travers  2  .  10  .    0 

To  Ja:  Hodgson 2  .  10  .    0 

TotheEingers    1.    0.    0 

To  James  Benn  .  ....  3.0.0 


22  THE    NORRIS    PAPERS. 

ft).       S.       d. 

To  Widdow  Haslam  0.10.  0 

ToJoiStory 1.    0.  0 

To  Ellin  Lyon , 0  .  10  .  0 

ToJoiLawson    1.0.0 

To  Eliz:  Peele 0  .  10  .  0 

To  Wm  Knowles 0  .  10  .  0 

To  Widd:  Cowkett 0  .  10  .  0 

To  Widd:  Mollenexe 0  .  10  .  0 

To  Widd.  Halsall    1.    0.  0 

To  Jo:  Anderton 0.10.  0 

To  Alix:  Oroston     0  .  10  .  0 

To  Jane  Whithead 0  .  10  .  0 

To  Fran:  Dodgson  0  .  10  .  0 

To  Edwd  Hornby    0.10.  0 

To  Widd:  Bell    0.10.  0 

To  the  poor 10  .0.0 

To  M'  Rollins,  his  note 31  .  16  .  0 


Sum  toto     68  .  181.    0 


One  moity  is     34  .  09  .  00 

Received  5°  March  1689  of  the  R*  Worshipful  Tho8  Norris  Esqr 
by  the  hands  of  Mr  Richard  Norris,  thirty-four  pounds  and  nine  shil- 
lings, being  one  moiety  of  the  within  accompt  of  sixty-eight  pounds 
and  eighteen  shillings.  I  say  recd> 

f>  PETER  ATHERTON. 
Witnessed  by 

JOHN  MOLINEUX. 

Dineing  Rome          29  Ordinaries  1.    9.    0 

Rose  and  Crowne    24 1  .    4  .    0 

In  the  Rose  13.. 0.7.6 

1  Sic  in  orig. 


THE    NOBRIS    PAPERS.  23 


ft,. 

S. 

d. 

In 

the 

Mermaide 

18  

0. 

9. 

0 

In 

the 

Unicorne 

10  

0. 

5  . 

0 

In 

the 

Parlor 

12  

0. 

6. 

0 

In 

the 

Kitchin 

23  

0. 

13. 

6 

In 

the 

Boxes 

17  

0. 

7. 

6 

In 

the 

Crowne 

15  

0. 

7. 

6 

In 

the 

Bell 

11  

0. 

5  . 

6 

In 

Clarett,  Sack, 

Ale,  Tobacco,  &c  

24  . 

2. 

10 

172  29  .  17  .    4 

Since  the  Bill  was  made 0  .  15  .  10 

The  ostlers  Bill    15.10 

To  the  Servants  .  .0.7.0 


31  .16 

Received  5th  March  89  of  the  R*  Honouble  Lord  Colchester  and 
the  Rt  Worshipful  Thos  Norris  Esqr  by  the  hands  of  Peter  Atherton 
thirty-one  pounds  and  sixteen  shillings  in  full  of  the  above  acco*.  I 


say  recd< 


WM  ROLLINS. 
Verse  Copise. 

Witnessed  by 

RICHD  NORRES. 


24  THE    NOBRIS    PAPERS. 


IX. 

LORD  LIEUTENANT'S  ORDER,  (LORD  GERARD,)  SUMMONING  HORSE,  1691. 


[Collins  states  that  William,  ninth  Earl  of  Derby,  succeeded  his  father, 
1672,  and  was  made  Lieutenant  of  Lancashire  May  11,  1676,  and  that  he 
was  displaced  from  this  office  in  favor  of  Lord  Molyneux,  1687,  and  restored, 
1688.  It  does  not,  however,  appear  that  this  restitution  took  place,  for  in 
1688  Charles,  Lord  Gerard  of  Brandon,  (son  to  the  Earl  of  Macclesfield) 
received  this  appointment,  with  that  of  Constable  of  Liverpool  Castle,  and 
retained  both  until  his  death,  1701.  The  cause  of  these  places  being  given 
to  Lord  Gerard,  in  preference  to  Lord  Derby,  it  would  be  difficult  to  ex- 
plain. The  latter  had  promoted  the  Revolution,  and  his  wife  was  the 
personal  friend  of  Mary,  and  at  the  head  of  her  household.  Macclesfield 
had  been  imprisoned  in  James's  reign,  and  on  December  8,  1688,  when 
William  rode  into  Exeter,  led  the  grotesque  procession  which  preceded 
the  King.  This  Earl  had  for  his  first  wife  the  mother  of  Savage,  and  died, 
1693.] 


m  )  By  command  of  the  Eight  Honorable  Charles 
tt:  HattC**)  Lord  Brandon  Gerard,  Lord  Lieut*  of  the  said 
County,  We  require  you  to  warn  all  the  Persons  mentioned  in  a  List 
hereunto  annexed  to  appear  with  a  very  strong  Man  and  Horse  of 
about  Thirteen  pounds  price,  with  a  good  case  of  Pistolls  (all  other 
things  being  provided  for  them,)  att  Ormskirk,  the  fifteenth  of  this 
instant  June,  at  eleaven  of  the  clocke  the  same  day.  And  every  of 
them  is  to  bring  fower  days  pay,  and  a  proportion  of  ammcon  as  the 
Law  directs  ;  and  you  the  said  Constable  are  to  be  then  and  there 
present  to  make  appear  what  you  have  done  in  Execucion  hereof. 
No  person  concerned  herein  is  to  faile  att  his  pill.  Given  under  our 
Hands  and  Seales  the  third  day  of  June  Anno  Regni  Gulielmi  et 
Marise  Angl:  Rex  et  Regina  tertio,  annoque  Domini  1691. 

To  the  Constable 
of 


THE    NORRIS    PAPERS.  25 


X. 

THOS.  NORRIS,  M.P.,  TO  RICHARD  NORRIS,  LONDON,  APRIL  2,  1695. — 
On  the  Liverpool  Charter. 


London,  April  2,  1695. 
MR.  RICHARD  NORRIS. 
Sir, 

I  yesterday  received  several  letters  giving  me  the  same 
account  with  yours,  by  which  I  find  your  Mayor  and  Aldermen  mistake 
their  case.1  The  point  is  not  whether  a  charter  is  valid  in  Lancashire 
that  passes  the  Duchy  Seal,  (for  no  doubt  but  it  is,)  but  your  question 
is,  whether  the  surrender  of  the  Charter  granted  by  King  Charles  the 
First  be  enrolled  ?  I  am  told  it  is  not,  and  employed  very  good  hands 
to  search,  as  also  many  of  the  officers  in  the  Rolls.  Now,  the  advice 
I  sent  my  friends  was,  that  no  succeeding  Charter  can  be  valid  if  the 

1  Mr.  Norris,  against  the  wishes  of  a  powerful  party  in  the  Borough,  obtained  the 
Charter  of  1695,  which  continued  to  regulate  the  Corporation  until  the  General  Act 
of  1835.  The  Charter  which  Lord  Strange  procured  in  1626,  was  probably  a  more 
important  one,  as  controlling  the  power  of  the  Crown  and  its  representatives,  the 
Lords  Molyneux,  and  as  the  foundation  of  the  Charter  of  1695.  In  the  excellent 
Guide  Book  of  Liverpool  (Kaye's)  a  lease  is  said  to  have  been  granted  of  the  Manor 
to  the  Corporation  about  1674  for  1,000  years.  The  "pretended  Manor,"  (as  it  is 
styled  in  one  of  the  letters,)  was,  however,  at  a  much  later  period,  with  the  ancient 
lord  ;  and  the  manner  in  which  the  Crown  rights  would  be  used  was  still  a  subject 
of  anxiety  to  the  inhabitants.  There  had  been  new  Charters  granted  both  by 
Charles  the  Second  and  James  the  Second,  (29  Car.  ii. — 1  Jac.  2.)  But  the  Charter  of 
Charles  the  Second  had  its  supporters  after  the  Revolution ;  hence  the  Tories,  with 
the  Jacobites,  (who  allied  themselves  to  every  species  of  discontent,)  formed  the  party 
called  "  the  Old  Charter-men  "  in  the  correspondence.  No  doubt  this  division  grew 
out  of  the  absolute  dominion  which  those  supporting  the  Revolution  sought  to 
exercise,  and  which,  by  the  men  who  were  allied  to  the  Croxteth  politics,  or  who 
had  accepted  Charles  the  Second's  Charter,  (that  of  James  the  Second  was  uni- 
versally abandoned,)  was  resisted. 


26 


THE    NORRIS    PAPERS. 


surrender  of  your  former  Charter  be  not  enrolled.  This  I  was  told 
by  my  counsel,  and  by  the  Chief  Justice  Treby,  and  the  Lord  Keeper. 
I  am  sure  the  law  is  true,  and  believe  the  fact  to  be  as  them  I  employed 
to  search  the  Rolls  told  me,  and  if  so,  you  have  an  undoubted  right 
to  your  old  Charter,  (and  it  may  be  your  interest  to  stick  to  that,) 
but  since  your  petition  is  sent  up,  I  will  deliver  it  to  the  counsel ; 
after  which  I  shall  be  able  to  send  you  some  further  intelligence. 
Present  my  service  to  Mr.  Molyneux,  and  tell  him  this,  and  also 
Mr.  Done,  who  have  written  to  me  since  I  answered  them — tell  them 
that  though  I  have  not  always  time  to  write,  I  never  neglected  their 
business.  Desire  all  our  friends  to  keep  their  own  counsell,  and  not 
set  the  other  party  right  in  any  of  their  mistakes.  Though  we  cannot 
get  the  Transport  Debt  to  be  paid  this  year,  yet  we  have  settled  the 
debt,  and  given  funds  to  pay  the  interest  ;  and  I  hope  we  shall  have 
time  to  pass  the  debt.  I  have  not  time  to  write  this  case  over,  so 
that  you  must  shew  it  to  few  but  friends. 

I  am,  &c. 

THOMAS  NOERIS. 


THE    NORRIS    PAPERS.  27 


XI. 

THE  SAME  TO  THE  SAME,  APRIL  20,  1695.  —  Sir  T.  P.  Cookis  affair 

—  the  Charter. 


London,  April  the  20th 
MR.  RICHARD  NORRIS,  (1695.) 

Liverpool. 
Sr- 

I  am  willing  to  give  you  the  trouble  of  a  letter,  tho1  I 
feare  you  are  not  in  towne,  because  I  have  not  heard  from  you  for  a 
great  while.  Our  sessions  might  have  concluded  before  this,  but  our 
house  willingly  kept  back  the  mony  bill  (before  us)  that  Sir  Thomas 
Cooke  might  confess  to  whom  he  gave  that  great  some  for  the  servis 
of  the  East  India  Company.  Tuesday  is  the  day  we  expect,  and 
have  promised  the  Lords,  who  this  day  addressed  the  King  to  pass 
the  bill  against  Sir  T.  C.  to-morrow ;  this  is  all  material  before  us. 
You  may  believe  that  the  opposers  of  your  new  Charter  for  the  con- 
firmation of  your  ould  one,  have  but  small  hopes,  since  their  whole 
endeavor  is  to  delay  the  Attorney  Generall  from  making  his  report 
as  ordered  by  the  P.  Councill,  but  Wednesday  next  is  to  be  the  day, 
if  no  new  tricks  be  played.  Be  pleas'd  to  present  my  servis  to  Mr 
Molyneux,  and  tell  him  that  I  ordered  Mr  Braddon  to  write  to  him 
this  post,  that  he  might  see  his  letters  came  safe.  My  brother  Wm 
will  also  write  to  Mr  P.  A.  [Peter  Atherton  ?]  so  that  I  have  no  oc- 
cation  to  write  further  this  post,  but  as  soone  as  our  heareing  is  over 
Fie  give  a  full  account.  In  the  meane  time  all  is  done  that  is  re- 
quisit.  You  may  tell  Mr  Molyneux  that  I  received  his  last  with  the 
enclosed.  I  shall  goe  out  of  towne  the  end  of  the  next  weeke  for 
some  time,  but  you  do  not  need  to  feare  any  neglect  of  your  business. 
I  am  your  loveing  brother  and  friend, 

THO:  NORRIS. 


28  THE    NORRIS    PAPERS. 


XII. 

WILLIAM  NORRIS  TO  THOMAS  NORRIS,  JUNE  8,  1695.  —  The  King  in 
Flanders  —  the  Charter  gained. 


London,  June  8,  1695. 
To  THOMAS  NORRIS  ESQ.  M.P. 

Speke. 
Honrd  Sir, 

The  enclosed  came  to  my  hands  yesterday,  soe  I  tooke 
the  first  opportunity  of  sendinge  it  to  you,  though  I  had  nothing  of 
moment  to  incert  with  it.  My  Lord  Rivers  and  the  commanders 
that  went  with  him  I  hope  are  gott  safe  in  Flanders  by  this  time, 
though  they  mett  with  a  storm  and  contrary  winds  in  their  passage, 
which  forced  them  back  to  Shernesse,  and  were  all  separated  from 
the  convoy.  Wee  are  now  in  daily  expectation  to  heare  from  the 
army  that  the  King  has  forced  the  lines,  for  he  is  fully  resolved  on 
the  attempt,  and  I  hope  it  will  be  with  successe.  I  suppose  you  have 
been  joyfully  received  att  Leverpool  before  this,  I  meane  by  those  you 
have  been  assistant  to  in  acquiring  their  libertys.  I  perceive  by  your 
letter  Brother  Dick  and  his  Landlord  are  down  for  Bayliifs,  who  I 
doubt  not  but  will  execute  the  office  very  cordially.  Pray  give  my 
humble  service  to  all  our  good  friends  there  next  time  you  goe.  I 
hope  this  will  find  you  safe  and  hearty  after  your  journey.  I  was  to 
wait  on  my  Lord  Macclesfield  this  morning  to  know  when  he  designed 
for  Lancashire,  but  his  honour  was  not  stirring,  soe  desired  me  to  come 
to-morrow.  Pray  give  my  duty  to  my  mother,  and  love  to  sisters  ; 
my  wife  gives  her  humble  service,  and  Nick  hopes  you  will  not  for- 
gett  him,  nor  his  service  to  the  young  Lady.  I  heare  Sam:  Legay1 

1  The  names  of  Sam:  Legay  and  Thomas  Cooke  (probably  the  person  mentioned 
in  the  postcript,  and  who  was  of  Hale)  are  still  to  be  seen  in  Childwall  Church,  as 


THE    NORRIS    PAPERS.  29 

is  come  to  town,  but  have  not  seen  him  yet.      I  am,   Hond  Sir,  yr 
affectionate  Brother  and  humble  Servant, 

WM  NORRIS. 

Pray  remember  me  heartily  to  yr  good  neighbours  Alderman  Per- 
civall1  and  Mr  Cooke. 


increasing  the  vicarial  endowment  £50, 1702.  In  one  of  his  letters  Isaac  Greene 
speaks  of  his  "  aunt  Legay."  Now  as  the  acquisition  of  estates  and  manors  near 
Liverpool  by  Greene  has  long  been  a  subject  of  much  remark,  ("  It  was  the  saying  of 
a  certain  gentleman's  (Bamber  Gascoyne)  Grandfather,  that  if  he  had  his  days  over 
again  he  would  have  all  Lancashire  in  his  hands,"  —  Election  Papers,  1780  ;  also 
Aikin's  Manchester,  p.  377,)  it  is  due  to  his  memory  to  point  out  that  the  lands  pur- 
chased by  the  Legays  during  the  Civil  War,  and  which  we  believe  comprise  the 
greater  part  of  the  Gascoyne  property,  might  have  come  to  Greene  by  descent,  as  we 
know  they  belonged  to  his  relations. 

1  Of  the  Percivals  there  is  an  account  in  Gregson.  The  alderman,  who  was  may  or 
in  1658,  must  now  have  attained  an  extreme  age.  The  families  of  Cooke  and  Per- 
cival  united,  by  a  marriage,  in  1702.  The  latter  bought  Allerton  in  1670 ;  the 
grandson  of  the  alderman  failed,  and  his  land  was  bought  by  the  Hardmans,  1732. 


THE    NOBRIS    PAPERS. 


XIII. 

WILLIAM  NORRIS  TO  THOMAS  NORRIS,  JULY  29,  1695.  —  The 
Charter  returned  from  Flanders. 


London,  July  29,  (circ.  1695.) 
To  THOS  NORRIS,  ESQR 
Honoured  Sir, 

I  have  been  so  much  out  of  order  for  these  ten  days,  that  I 
could  but  just  write  a  line  to  my  brother  Dick  last  week.  Mr.  Braddon 
has  been  with  me  this  morning,  who  came  directly  from  the  Secre- 
tary^ office,  and  told  me  he  expected  to  have  the  Charter  returned 
from  Flanders  on  Tuesday  next,  and  then  doubts  not  to  dispatch  it 
in  a  fortnight,  if  the  petition  of  the  Cheesemongers1  proves  no  obstruc- 
tion. I  fancy  he  is  in  some  want  of  supplies  in  carrying  the  business 
on,  for  he  borrowed  £30  of  me  last  week,  (but  this  only  to  yourself.) 
Mr.  Mauditt  came  to  take  his  leave  of  me  this  week,  and  was  to  set 
forwards  for  Liverpool  yesterday  in  the  Chester  coach.  If  I  can  do 
you  any  service  in  this  or  any  other  matter,  I  shall  be  most  ready. 
We  have  no  foreign  post  since  Tuesday,  so  consequently  no  news, 
and  are  very  quiet  at  home.  Pray  give  my  duty  to  my  mother,  love 
to  sisters,  and  humble  service  to  all  friends  and  acquaintance. 

I  am,  &c., 

WM  NORRIS. 

1  The  Cheesemongers,  citizens  of  London,  petitioned  the  Lords  Justices  to  be 
relieved  from  the  exactions  of  the  Liverpool  Corporation,  who  claimed  4d.  and  12^. 
$*  ton,  Port  or  Town  dues,  for  cheese  put  on  board  any  ship  anchoring  in  the  river 
Mersey.  The  new  Charter  appears  to  have  left  the  matter  as  it  found  it  ;  but  the 
Corporation  had  to  sustain  an  action  which  was  protracted  to  1700,  when  they  paid 
£176  10s.  taxed  costs,  and  repaid  £68  5*.  6d.  dues.  In  the  petition  the  Cheese- 
mongers give  a  strange  account  of  the  modes  of  proceeding  at  Liverpool.  The  Lord 
Mayor  writes  to  be  informed  of  the  reasons  of  the  exactions,  and  the  Corporation 
reply  :  "  They  have  a  thousand  pounds  to  spend,  and  the  Cheesemongers  may  take 
their  course  at  law."  It  was  long  before  process  could  be  served  on  the  Corporation, 
"  by  reason  of  the  menaces  to  any  that  should  serve  them  with  it ;  and  being  at  length 
served  on  them  by  an  attorney  of  the  town,  they  caused  him  to  be  suspended  of  his 
practice  in  their  town,  and  forced  him  to  send  for  a  mandamus  to  be  restored." 


THE    NORRIS    PAPERS.  31 


XIV. 

WILLIAM  NORRIS  TO  THOMAS  NORRIS,  APRIL  23,  1696.  —  RookwoocTs 

Trial  —  RooJcis  arrival' —  Venetian  Ambassador 

visits  House  of  Commons. 


London,  April  23,  1696. 
THOS  NORRIS,  ESQ., 
Speke. 
Hond  Sir, 

The  enclosed  will  give  you  the  best  accounts  of  the  late 
Trials1  and  we  have  little  news  else  stirring  ;  hut  we  had  the  good 
news  just  now  of  Admiral  Rooke's  safe  arrival  20  leagues  off  Ushant, 
and  that  to  our  great  consolation,  (for  we  have  heen  under  some  ap- 
prehensions,) we  may  expect  him,  as  the  Wind  stands,  to-Morrow 
morning.  The  Venetian  Ambassador  sent  to  desire  the  favour  of 
seeing  the  House  of  Commons  to-day  whilst  we  were  sitting.  He 
accordingly  came,  with  ten  noble  Venetians  to  attend  him,  where  he 
sat  down  for  half  an  hour  in  the  Gallery,  and  we  very  mute,  and  as 
grave  as  the  senate  at  Venice  could  be. 

I  am,  &c., 

WM  NORRIS. 


1  The  trials  of  Kookwood,  Lowick,  and  Cranburn,  (April  21.)     They  were  exe- 
cuted April  29. 


32  THE    NORB1S    PAPERS. 


XV. 

THE  SAME  TO  THE  SAME,  MAY  9,  1696.  —Lord  CapeVs  death  — 
Fenwictfs  witnesses  bribed. 


London,  May  ye  9th,  1696. 
THOS  NORRIS  ESQE, 

Speake. 
Hond  Sir, 

I  received  yours,  but  have  not  yet  heard  any  thing  of 
Mr  Done.  When  he  comes  to  Town,  I  shall  observe  your  orders  in 
every  point.  I  have  already  discovered  my  Lord  Macclesfield,  who 
designs  to  present  it  to  the  Lords  Justices,  who  are  the  same,  to  a 
man,  they  were  last  year.  The  King  is  long  ere  this  got  over  into 
Holland,  the  Wind  having  been  fair  now,  though  for  a  Day  or  two 
he  was  retarded  and  blown  back  by  contrary  winds.  We  have  not 
much  News  stirring,  but  shall  expect  great  matters  from  fflanders 
this  Summer,  for  the  French,  as  well  as  we,  design  to  make  their 
utmost  efforts  this  campaign.  There  is  an  express  came  from  Ireland 
to  Day,  which  brings  word  of  the  Lord  Lieutenant's,  my  Ld 
Capel's,1  death.  I  suppose  we  shall  have  a  new  one  constituted  very 
speedily,  and  it  is  my  private  opinion,  (but  I  have  no  further  ground 
for  it,)  that  my  Ld  Wharton,  the  Comptroller,  will  succeed  to  the 
place.  There  has  been  a  wretched  attempt  made  lately  by  some 
English  and  Irish  Papists  to  Bribe  off  Porter2  from  being  an  evidence 

1  Banks  sets  down  Lord  CapePs  death  as  occurring  30th  May,  1696.    Sir  C. 
Porter,  Lord  Chancellor,  was  made  chief  governor  by  the  Council,  but  dying  De- 
cember 8,  1696-7,  on  February  6  Viscount  Galway  and  Lord  Chancellor  Methuen 
were  made  Lords  Justices. 

2  Fenwick  was  not  taken  until  June,  Porter  appeared  against  him ;  Goodman  was 
successfully  bribed  not  to  be  a  witness  j  hence  the  necessity  for  the  Act  of  Parlia- 
ment to  execute  Fenwick. 


THE    NORRIS    PAPERS.  33 

with  a  Sum  of  Money,  to  be  given  here,  and  a  large  annuity 
promised  him  if  he  would  go  over  into  France.  He  took  300 
Guineas  in  earnest,  and  declared  the  whole  matter  to  the  Secretary 
of  State.  I  have  sent  you  enclosed  Villers's  receipt  for  six  pounds  I 
paid  him  for  a  Champaign  Perriwig  for  you.  We  are  in  a  little 
distress  about  payments  of  Money,  which  I  hope  will  be  easier  ere 
long.  Pray  give  my  Duty  to  Mother,  respects  to  your  Lady,  love 
and  Service  to  Sisters. 

I  am,  &c., 

WM  NORRIS. 


THE    NORRIS    PAPERS. 


XVI. 

THE  SAME  TO  THE  SAME,  OCTOBER  6, 1696.  —  Weather  prevents  Mrs. 
Norris  from  travelling  —  King  expected  —  Necessity  for  peace. 


London,  October  6,  1696. 
To  THOMAS  NORRIS,  ESQE 

High  Sheriff  of  Lancashire. 
Hond  Sir, 

I  removed  from  Chelsea  last  week,  after  which  came  my 
mother  and  sister.  Upon  earnest  solicitation  went  to  my  Lady 
Strouds  in  Hatton  Garden,  to  be  nearer  the  coach  which  they  had 
taken  the  beginninge  of  the  weeke,  with  intention  to  have  sett  for- 
ward towards  Lancashire  the  5th  ins*,  and  accordingly  last  Fryday 
sent  their  goods  and  cloathes  all  away  by  the  carrier;  but  their 
having  fal'n  great  quantitys  of  rain  for  these  two  days,  made  my 
mother  and  sister  very  apprehensive  of  the  waters  being  out,  and  soe 
rather  chose  to  lose  theire  arnest  than  run  the  hazard  of  drowninge, 
or  overturninge.  I  am  almost  of  opinion  if  the  weather  continues 
bad  a  weake  longer,  they  will  not  venter  on  a  Northern  journey  this 
winter.  I  am  making  all  the  haste  I  can  to  have  our  new  house  in 
readynesse  to  be  att  my  mother's  and  sister's  service  if  they  think  of 
stayinge.  It  is  large  enough,  I  think,  just  to  furnish  them  with  con- 
veniencys,  and  I  shall  be  glad  of  their  company  this  winter.  I  had 
a  messenger  come  to  me  from  Mr.  Woods,  of  Littleton1  to  sumon 
me  to  a  gossipinge.  His  eldest  daughter  is  newly  brought  to  bed, 
and  my  wife  is  to  make  the  child  a  Christian.  I  shall  not  stay  above 
2  days  from  London,  and  if  you  please  to  favor  me  with  a  letter 


1  The  family  of  Wood  of  Littleton,  Middlesex,  represented  that  county  for  one 
session,  1779-80,  with  Wilkes  ;  the  present  member  is  also  of  this  family. 


THE    NORRIS    PAPERS.  35 

before  the  parliament  meetes,  it  will  find  me  if  directed  for  me  at  my 
house,  upon  the  Terras  at  St.  James,  near  Westminster.  The  king 
is  expected  hourly,  and  if  the  badnesse  of  the  weather,  and  the  wind 
veeringe  a  little  southerly,  has  not  turned  him  back,  I  believe  he  will 
land  before  I  reach  Littleton. 

Wee  are  as  much  in  the  dark  as  to  peace  as  we  were  a  moneth 
agoe.  If  it  is  honorable  and  secure,  itt  will  be  a  great  blessing  at 
this  juncture,  for  it  will  puzzle  a  more  politick  Noddle  than  mine  to 
find  out  wages  and  means  to  carry  on  the  war  ;  for,  considering  that 
the  Land  Bank  failed,  and  other  funds  prove  deficient,  there  will  be 
at  least  3  millions  to  make  good  of  the  last  yeare,  and  how  that  will 
be  found,  and  enough  to  carry  on  the  service  of  the  next  year,  is  dif- 
ficult to  imagine  in  this  great  scarcity  of  money.  And  when  all  is 
said,  if  wee  have  not  a  peace,  we  are  ruined  to  all  intents  and  pur- 
poses, as  far  as  the  French  king  and  K.  James  can  ruin  us,  if  wee  doe 
not  still  prosecute  the  war  [sic.]  I  should  be  very  glad  you  would 
please  to  impart  what  notions  you  have  about  it,  and  how  it  is  possible 
to  be  done,  and  yet  done  it  must  be,  or  ten  times  worse  than  want  of 
money  will  be  the  consequence.  My  most  humble  service  to  your 
Lady,  and  I  wish  her  a  happy  minute,  I  am,  &c. 

WM  NORRIS. 


THE    NORRIS    PAPERS. 


XVII. 

WILLIAM  DENTON  TO  RICHARD  NORRIS,  LIVERPOOL,  DEC.  26,  1697. — 
To  get  a  place  in  the  Customs. 


To  MR  EICHARD  NORRIS. 
Sir, 

There  is  one  Mr  Floyd  who  is,  (as  yett,)  a  Land  waiter 
here,  but  is  now  att  London  in  order  to  be  removed  to  some  port  of 
Wales  in  order  for  better  preferment.  Mr  Joanes,  a  Tyde  waiter  here, 
endeavours  to  be  settled  in  his  place,  but  cannot  make  interest ;  and 
there  is  some  talke  that  Mr  Mauditt  is  about  to  sollicit  for  Mr 
Ashurst  for  itt,  but  has  not  as  yett  affected  anything ;  therefore  I  de- 
sire that  you  will  please  to  see  how  the  matter  stands,  and  if  there 
be  any  hopes,  to  make  what  interest  you  can  for  me,  and  if  you  think 
fitt  Tie  gett  my  old  Master's  assistance,  and  if  you  want  some  few  guines 
to  eifect  the  matters  Fie  return  them  at  your  order.1  Sir,  your  as- 
sistance in  this  matter  shall  never  want  due  acknowledgement  from 

Your  servant  to  command, 
Liverpoole,  26  Decr  1697.  WILL:  DENTON. 

1  The  endeavour  to  impose  upon  government  as  to  custom  dues  was  a  character- 
istic of  English  commerce,  from  the  earliest  period  to  a  date  long  subsequent  to  the 
one  here  given.  The  appointment  of  the  officers  could  not  he  more  improperly 
placed  than  in  the  Members  for  Liverpool,  heing  also  merchants  there  ;  and  yet 
there  was  no  patronage  those  Members  more  diligently  sought,  or  more  frequently 
obtained.  It  is  no  part  of  our  present  design  to  go  back  to  the  oppressions  of  the 
Tudors  and  two  first  Stuarts,  in  the  capricious  fixing  of  these  dues,  in  the  mode  in 
which  their  collection  was  delegated,  and  in  the  uses  to  which  they  were  applied. 
Under  Cromwell  a  better  state  of  things  began,  and  after  the  Revolution  it  can  only 
be  said  that  the  governed  did  not  get  into  honest  ways,  in  this  respect,  as  rapidly  as 
the  governors.  In  1733  "Walpole  attempted  a  remedy,  and  amidst  the  bonfires 
and  rejoicings  at  Liverpool  and  elsewhere  with  which  the  failure  of  his  mea- 
sure was  received,  two  things  were  apparent,  that  if  the  universal  roguery  then 
detected  were  essential  to  commerce,  there  could  not  be  a  more  disgraceful  occupa- 
tion, and  that  in  bringing  such  practices  to  light,  Walpole  obtained  his  end,  and  in- 
sured their  being  done  away  with. 


THE    NORRIS    PAPERS.  37 


XVIII. 

THOMAS  PATTEN  TO  RICHARD  NORRIS,  WARRINGTON,  JAN.  8, 1697. — 

On  suppressing  Fish  Wears  in  the  Mersey —  On  making  the 

River  navigable  to  Manchester. 


[THOMAS  PATTEN,  the  writer  of  this  letter,  was  the  Cousin  of  Mr.  Patten 
of  Bank.  This  Thomas  was  twenty-eight  in  1697,  and  died  1733 ;  he  was 
with  his  father,  who  died  1698,  in  trade  in  Warrington.  The  making  the 
Irwell  navigable  to  Manchester  was  achieved  by  the  act  of  1720,  of  which 
the  Pattens  were  great  promoters.  The  want  of  suitable  conveyance  at  this 
time  must  have  been  greatly  felt,  as  appears  by  the  following  letter  about 
1701.  "  I  have  recd  answer  from  Mr  John  Hall  of  Stockport  relating  to 
carriage  of  Tobacco  that  way  to  Hull,  which  he  says  is  not  to  be  done  in 
the  hhd:  by  cart  or  waggon,  but  in  packs  by  horse,  and  tho'  this  seems  no 
good  method,  yet  in  regard  of  the  slow  conveyance  hither,  I  am  resolved  to 
make  a  tryall  of  it,  and  would  have  forthwith  20  or  30  hhd8  sent  from  Bank 
key  to  Stockport,  by  cart,  where  he  is  to  break  them  into  3  or  4  parcels,  and 
after  putting  them  in  canvas,  to  load  3  parcels  upon  a  horse,  and  the  distance 
thence  to  Doncaster  (whence  they  pass  to  Hull  by  water)  being  only  36  miles, 
I  presume  we  may,  by  imploying  a  great  many  horses,  make  a  good  rid- 
dance."] 


Warrington,  ye  8th  Jan7  1697. 
To  MR  RICHARD  NORRIS. 
Sir, 

I  am  informed  that  there  is  a  design  to  bring  a  bill  into 
the  house  of  Commons  against  fish  wears  that  hinder  Navigation,  in 
Navigable  Rivers,  and  that  take,  and  destroy  fish,  and  the  fry  of  fish. 
You  very  well  know  the  mischief  that  is  done  in  the  River  Mercy, 
or  at  least  have  frequently  heard,  what  vast  numbers  of  Salmon  Trout 


38  THE    NOBRIS    PAPERS. 

are  taken,  so  as  to  supply  all  the  Country,  and  Market  Towns  20 
miles  round,  and  when  the  Country  is  cloyed,  or  when  they  cannot 
get  sale  for  them,  they  give  them  to  their  Swine.  Your  brother  did 
formerly  take  3  or  4  Salmon  a  Week  at  a  fishing,  in  or  near  Speake, 
but  of  late  hath  taken  very  few,  or  none,  of  which  he  hath  complained 
to  me ;  and  he  imputes  this  loss  to  the  destruction  of  the  fry,  and 
hath  often  threatened  to  prosecute  your  fishermen ;  but  wanting  the 
assistance  of  Cheshire  Justices,  and  the  deficiency  of  the  Law  already 
made  to  redress  such  grievances,  I  believe  put  a  stop  to  his  good  in- 
tentions, for  indeed  the  penaltys  that  the  Law  have  hitherto  inflicted 
on  such  offences  are  so  poor,  and  such  tedious  ways  to  recover  them, 
that  it  is  not  worth  while  to  prosecute.  And  the  profits  of  the  fish 
wears  are  so  inconsiderable  to  the  Gentlemen  that  own  them,  being 
let  for  £15  or  ^20  the  most  ^  aim:  that  one  would  think  the  gen- 
tlemen themselves  (were  there  no  law  to  force  them)  would  scorn  to 
let  them  stand  and  do  so  much  mischief;  and  besides  the  fry,  they 
take  all  summer  long  great  numbers  of  Kippers,  which  have  come  up 
in  the  River  to  spawn,  and  come  down  in  the  summer  poor,  lean, 
and  unwholesome,  towards  the  Sea,  to  recover  their  strength,  and 
grow,  and  would  return  up  the  same  River  to  spawn,  and  preserve 
the  breed ;  but  our  Mercy  fishermen  have  mercy  on  none  they  can 
catch,  for  all  are  fish  that  come  to  their  net,  and  none  safe  they  can 
lay  their  hands  on.  Then  again  these  wears  are  as  mischievous  an- 
other way,  by  their  hindering  the  passage  of  ships,  boats,  and  barges, 
as  for  example,  in  the  same  River  Mercy  what  a  vast  advantage  would 
it  be  to  Liverpool  if  the  River  were  made  navigable  to  Manchester 
and  Stockport.  Since  I  made  it  Navigable  to  Warrington,  there  have 
been  sent  to  Liverpool  and  from  Liverpool  2000  tons  of  goods  a  year, 
and  I  believe  as  much  by  Land,  which,  if  the  River  were  cleared  of 
Wears,  would  all  go  by  Water ;  for  the  River  to  Manchester  is  very 
capable  of  being  made  Navigable  at  a  very  small  charge.  And  this 
would  encourage  all  tradesmen  (in  Manchester,  Stockport,  Maccles- 
field,  Congleton,  Bolton,  Bury,  Rochdale,  some  part  of  Yorkshire, 
Derbyshire,  and  Staffordshire)  to  come  to  Liverpool  and  buy  their 
goods,  instead  of  going  to  Chester,  Bristol,  or  London  ;  the  carriage 


THE    NORRIS    PAPERS.  39 

would  be  so  easy  and  cheap,  I  think  it  would  nearly  double  the  trade 
of  Liverpool.  There  is  a  great  deal  to  be  said  in  this  matter,  but 
now  I  have  not  time ;  but  that  which  I  desire  of  you  is  that  you 
(now  having  the  opportunity)  would  acquaint  your  brother,  and  other 
members  that  you  know,  of  these  things,  and  to  encourage  the  Act, 
and  that  your  brother  would  give  Mr  Brotherton  the  meeting  to  con- 
sult the  drawing  up  of  the  Bill.  One  great  matter  is,  whether  the 
Bill  should  be  for  the  River  Mercy  only,  or  a  general  Bill  ag*  all  the 
Fishweares  in  the  Kingdom.  I  think  if  it  were  for  Mercy  only,  it 
would  meet  with  little  or  no  opposition.  And  let  Mill  Damms  alone, 
for  there  are  none  that  do  this  County  any  harm,  but  good ;  but  there 
may  be  a  great  penalty  laid  upon  all  such  as  destroy  the  fry  of  Fish 
at  Damms,  and  let  the  Damms  stand,  for  it's  the  fish  wears  only  that 
hinder  Navigation,  and  destroy  the  greatest  quantities.  I  pray  par- 
don this  tedious  letter,  and  I  desire  a  line  in  answer.  My  most 
humble  service  to  your  brother,  thon  I  have  not  the  happiness  to  know 
him ;  but  I  know  he  is  very  industrious  to  serve  his  country,  and 
hee'le  find,  if  this  business  takes,  he  never  did  it,  but  more  especially 
the  port  of  Liverpool,  a  greater  piece  of  favour. 

I  am,  &c. 

THO:  PATTEN. 


40  THE    NOBRIS    PAPERS. 


XIX. 

WILLIAM  NORRIS  TO  THOMAS  NORRIS,  Nov.  29,  1698.  —  Bids  him 
farewell —  On  the  Baronetcy  being  conferred. 


London,  Novr  29,  1698. 
THOMAS  NORRIS,  ESQR 

Speke. 
Honored  Sir, 

It  will  be  now  but  a  very  few  days  before  I  shall  embarke 
in  order  to  my  voyage,  soe  lay  hold  of  opertunitys  for  takinge  leave 
of  my  friendes  by  degrees,  not  havinge  the  happinesse,  satisfaction,  or 
Time  to  take  my  leave  any  other  wave  than  by  letter,  and  have  soe 
much  bisinesse  on  my  hands,  that  I  have  but  very  little  comand  of 
that  time  I  have  left,  soe  least  I  should  be  disappointed  of  bidinge 
you  farewell,  if  I  deferred  it  longer,  I  take  this  opertunity  of  wishinge 
you,  and  your  Lady,  all  the  hapynesse  this  world  can  afford,  and  re- 
turn my  hearty  thankes  for  all  your  favours. 

The  Lords  Justices  on  Saturdy  last,  wholly  unknown  to  me,  were 
pleased  to  pass  a  complement,  and  much  beyond  either  my  ambition 
or  expectation,  and  contrary  to  my  desire,  surprised  me  with  a  peice 
of  Honour  I  little  dreamt  of,  and  had  signed  an  order  for  a  patent 
for  a  Baronett  before  ever  they  soe  much  as  intimated  their  intentions ; 
as  soone  as  they  made  me  acquainted  with  it  by  their  Secretary,  I 
waited  on  them  all,  to  return  my  thankes  for  the  greate  honour  they 
designed  me,  but  sincerely  beg'd  they  would  excuse  me  from  it ;  they 
were  pleased  to  say  my  character  as  the  King's  Embassadour  extra- 
ordinary required  it,  and  that  this  was  the  only  single  instance  of  any 
Badge  of  Honour  conferred  for  these  severall  years  by  the  Lds  Jus- 
tices, and  beinge  soe,  and  the  only  one  that  would  be  bestowed,  they 


THE    NORRIS    PAPERS.  41 

did  this  out  of  a  particular  respect,  and  hoped  I  would  take  it  as 
such,  and  accept  of  it,  and  were  soe  farr  farther  obliginge,  that  they 
offered  me  to  have  it  inserted  in  the  patent  in  case  I  dyd  without 
Issue,  to  have  the  honour  goe  where  I  would  nominate,  but  gave  me 
but  from  Saturday  to  Monday  to  apoint  how  I  would  have  it  entayld, 
because  all  expedition  is  used  to  have  me  gon  with  all  speed,  upon 
account  of  some  pyracys  that  have  lately  been  committed  upon  the 
Mogull  ships  by  one  Captn  Kidd,  an  Englishman.  It  was  in  my 
thoughts  forthwith  to  have  namM  you,  and  your  Heirs,  but  I  durst 
not  venter  on  my  own  head,  without  further  consultation  with  Bro- 
ther Henry  and  Brother  Doctor,  by  whom  I  was  resolved  to  be  con- 
cluded in  this  point  to  act  most  suitable  to  your  inclinations,  and  upon 
weighinge  circumstances  they  were  of  opinion  you  might  thinke  it  a 
loade  on  your  posterity,  as  what  would  occasion  greater  Retinue  and 
expence,  and  soe  forbore  to  have  you  incerted.  I  must  confesse  in 
my  own  particular,  had  I  ever  a  son  livinge,  or  at  present  in  any 
likelyhood,  I  would  by  no  means  have  been  persuaded  to  accept  of  it, 
but  since  in  all  probability  it  will  cease  with  me,  and  I  could  not 
handsomely  avoid  it,  being  soe  pressed  to  it  as  a  particular  instance 
of  honour  and  their  favour,  and  being  knighted  must  unavoidably 
have  hapned,  I  thought  it  would  be  a  badge  of  greater  honour  to  our 
family  to  have  the  bloody  Hand  than  otherwise,  consideringe  it  was 
bestowed  not  only  without  my  seeking  but  contrary  to  my  inclination. 
If  the  patent  could  have  been  stopt  till  I  could  have  heard  from  you, 
it  should,  but  havinge  both  my  Brothers1  opinion,  not  ventringe  to 
rely  on  my  own,  I  hope  wee  have  done  as  you  desired.  The  winds 
have  been  contrary  a  longer  time,  and  kept  the  Kinge  in  Holland, 
for  the  parliament,  which  by  apointment  mett  to-day,  was  further 
prorogued  to  the  6th  inst.  I  am  not  resolved  yet  whether  I  shall 
carry  the  patent  when  it  has  passed  the  broade  scale  with  me,  or  send 
it  down  to  you  to  be  reserved  if  I  dy  for  no  dishonorable  mark  to 
posterity.  Deare  Sir,  I  have  nothing  more  to  add  but  my  best 
Eespects  and  sincere  Love  and  Service  to  your  Lady  and  yourself, 
wishinge  you  all  health  and  happinesse,  and  if  it  be  God's  will  a  happy 


42 


THE    NORRIS    PAPERS. 


meeting.     I  am,  your  most  affectionate  Brother,  faithfull  friend,  and 
very  humble  Servant, 

WM  NORRIS. 

As  to  my  annuity  you  may  please  to  pay  it  to  my  wife,  and  if  it 
please  God  I  should  dy,  and  you  make  any  payment  in  your  own 
wronge,  she  will  refund  it  as  soon  as  she  knows  it,  and  once  more  I 
take  my  leave  and  bid  Adieu. 


THE    NORBIS    PAPERS.  43 


XX. 


THE  SAME  TO  THE  SAME,  MADEIRA,  FEB.  18,  1698. —  Description  of 
a  visit  to  Madeira. 


Maderas  Feby  !  1698. 
THOMAS  NORRIS  ESQ. 

Speke. 
Honrd  Sir, 

I  hope  this  will  find  you  in  better  health  than  when  I 
left  England,  and  if  the  weather  be  soe  pleasant  with  you  as  it  is  here 
where  wee  are,  it  will  conduce  much  to  it.  I  arrived  here  the  15th 
instant,  and  every  day  since  I  came  has  been  warmer  then  any 
weather  I  remember  in  England  last  yeare ;  the  spring  is  soe  forward 
that  the  Vines  are  in  leafe,  and  which  I  wondred  to  see  the  people 
but  now  pruninge  of  them,  which  is  contrary  to  our  practice,  who 
generally  doe  it  att  Christmas,  soe  I  fancy  it  would  be  noe  hurt  to 
learn,  for  the  vines  here  bear  very  well,  this  little  island  producinge 
20000  pipes  a  yeare,  which  here  is  sold  for  4  Ib  sp  hogshead,  which 
is  accounted  a  very  greate  price.  Peas  and  Beanes  are  just  upon 
blossominge,  and  Tuberoses  and  Jasmins  full  in  flower,  and  the  wea- 
ther soe  very  pleasante  and  warme  that  I  who  love  to  goe  thick  clad 
can  content  myself  with  very  thin  apparel.  The  Island  is  very  fer- 
tile, but  abounds  in  nothing  soe  much  as  pagans  and  Jesuits,  who, 
except  some  few  Jesuits,  are  very  ignorant  themselves,  but  keepe  the 
common  people  in  the  grossest  ignorance  imaginable,  and  in  greate 
subjection.  I  have  been  to  visit  all  their  convents,  churches,  and 
Nunnerys,  and  had  the  prettyest  entertainment  given  me  by  the  Je- 
suits that  ever  I  saw,  composd  of  all  sorts  of  delicious  wines,  sweet- 
meats such  as  I  never  tasted  before,  and  oranges  and  lemons  fresh 


44  THE    NOBRIS    PAPERS. 

pluckt  from  the  Tree.  The  2  superiours  of  the  College  were  English- 
men, who  came  afterwards  and  made  me  a  visitt.  The  women  of 
this  Island  have  the  character  of  beinge  as  kind,  or  kinder,  than  a 
man  would  wish  them.  I  am  informed  by  those  that  made  the  ex- 
periment, that  it  is  a  constant  practice  amongst  the  Portugueze 
women  to  kisse  like  Christians,  and  will  take  it  for  a  greate  afront  if 
the  men  are  not  as  cominge  that  way  as  themselves.  Wee  are  just 
come  at  the  frolicksome  time,  this  beinge  their  carnivall.  I  went  to 
make  a  visitt  to  the  Nunnery,  and  hearing  who  I  was,  came  all  flock- 
ing to  see  and  be  seen.  The  English  Consull,  who  speakes  the  lan- 
guage, was  with  me,  at  whose  house  my  Brother  and  I  are  nobly 
entertained,  and  he  speakinge  Portugueze,  we  held  discourse  with 
them  for  an  hour,  and  very  diverting  they  were ;  they  were  very  in- 
quisitive whether  I  was  married,  and  when  I  asked  them  whether  if 
I  was  not  marryd  I  might  hope  to  gett  a  wife  out  of  the  Nunnery, 
they  fell  a  shakinge  their  heads  and  said  it  was  too  late,  that  it  was 
impossible  now.  They  chid  the  Consull  that  he  did  not  send  them 
word  sometime  before  to  tell  them  I  designed  them  a  visit,  that  they 
might  have  appeared  in  better  order,  and  soe  desired  me  to  come 
againe.  There  were  severall  had  been  handsome,  but  very  few,  in 
my  opinion,  were  so,  nor  are  their  faces  and  shapes  at  all  compara- 
ble to  the  English.  The  Governour  att  my  first  arrivall  sent  the 
captain  of  his  Guards  to  complement  me,  and  bid  me  welcome,  which 
I  returned  by  my  Brother  attended  by  my  Secretary  and  Mr  of  the 
Horse,  which  he  tooke  for  such  a  peice  of  Eespect  showd  him  that 
he  sent  me  word  the  Island  and  all  that  was  in  it  were  att  my  service. 
I  thought  to  have  been  Incognito  all  the  while  I  stayd  here,  but  the 
Consull  would  needes  persuade  me  to  make  a  visitt  to  the  Governour, 
he  intimating  his  desire  to  see  me,  which  could  not  be  done  unless  I 
made  the  first  visitt,  and  that  it  would  be  for  the  Honour  of  the 
Nation  to  appear  in  some  Grandeur ;  soe  accordingly  I  sent  for  all 
my  Retinue  on  shoare,  and  the  Comodore,  and  all  the  officers  in  the 
men  of  warr,  the  Consull,  and  all  the  English  in  the  Island,  came  to 
goe  along  with  me.  Wee  were  all  very  richly  clad,  though  not  in 
our  best,  and  made  such  an  appearance  that  the  Portugueze  never 


THE    NORRIS    PAPERS.  45 

sawe  the  like  before.  The  Governour  tooke  it  as  a  particular  Honour 
and  Respect  to  himself,  and  returned  the  civility  in  all  ways  he  could 
imagine,  returning  the  visitt  in  the  like  manner  the  next  day,  order- 
ing the  Guard  to  stand  to  their  Armes  and  salute  me  whenever  I  pass 
by,  and  complemented  me  with  a  company  of  Guardes  to  attend  me, 
which  I  excused,  and  has  given  order  when  I  goe  to  fire  all  the  Guns 
round  the  Castle,  and  has  made  me  a  present  of  what  the  Island 
affordes,  such  as  Rich  Wines,  fresh  Provisions,  sweetmeates,  oranges 
and  lemmons,  and  all  sorts  of  sweet  waters,  which  I  return  him  in 
severall  cases  of  fine  pistols  and  fine  Guns,  some  white  Beaver  Hatts, 
and  fine  English  Stuffs,  which  is  in  greate  Esteeme  amongst  them. 
Not  knowing  when  I  should  have  another  opertunity  has  been  the 
occasion  I  have  tyred  you  now.  The  next  place  wee  touch  att  will 
be  the  Cape  de  Verd  Islands,  on  the  coast  of  Africk ;  if  I  can  meet 
with  any  conveyance  you  shall  hear  from  me  thence,  and  as  often  as 
I  write  to  England.  I  thanke  God  all  are  well  and  in  health ;  pray 
give  my  very  humble  service  to  my  sister,  and  all  friends. 

I  am,  Sir, 

Your  most  affectionate  Brother,  and  very  humble  Serv*, 

WM  NORRIS. 


46  THE    NORRIS    PAPERS. 


XXL 

JASPER  MAUDIT  TO  RICHARD  NORRIS,  Nov.  5,  1700. —  Termination 
of  Suit  with  the  Cheesemongers  —  Wishes  to  return. 


[MAUDIT,  who  retired  from  the  representation  in  1698,  is  here  shown  to 
be  still  active  in  the  town's  affairs.  Sir  John  Moore  was  an  Alderman  of 
London,  and  mortgagee  of  the  More  estate.  Whether  he  was  the  Sir  John 
Moore  the  Lord  Mayor,  1681-2,  and  who  so  warmly  espoused  the  cause  of 
the  Stuarts,  and  the  benefactor  to  Christ's  Hospital,  does  not  appear.  North, 
in  the  Examen,  speaks  of  Moore  as  very  aged,  1689  ;  the  person  alluded  to 
in  this  letter,  was  probably  his  son.] 


London,  5th  Novr  1700. 
BICHD  NORRIS,  ESQ., 

Mayor. 
Honoured  Sir, 

Mr.  Lawton  went  home  last  Saturday  morning,  his  busi- 
ness could  not  permit  him  to  tarry  to  see  the  decree  drawn  up,  nor  the 
costs  to  be  taxed,  in  which  we  doubt  the  Cheesemongers1  Solicitor  will 
be  very  extravagant,  if  care  be  not  taken  to  prevent  him.  I  fully  in- 
tend to  set  out  for  Liverpool  next  Thursday,  but  Alderman  Johnson 
and  Mr  Lawton  have  requested  me  to  tarry  to  see  these  things  per- 
fected, and  to  get  Sir  John  Moore  to  seal  the  writings  touching  the 
Exchange  of  lands,  and  though  my  own  affairs  importune  my  speedy 
return  home,  having  been  so  lately  forty  weeks  absent  from  my  con- 
cerns, in  the  service  of  the  Town,  yet  if  you  shall  think  my  stay 
necessary  also,  I  will  put  off  my  journey  till  these  things  be  accom- 
plished, if  you  shall  tell  me  so  by  the  return  of  this  Post.  Sir,  as 
yet  the  little  crooked  girl,  Mary  Masey,  and  her  father,  are  not  come 


THE    NORRIS    PAPERS.  47 

to  town,  but  I  saw  his  letter  which  he  writ  to  my  Lord  Montagu, 
in  his  journey,  for  my  Lord's  gentleman  came  to  my  Lodgings,  from 
my  Lord,  and  assured  me  nothing  of  his  Porter's  estate  shall  be 
parted  with,  tho1  there  are  now  many  Pretenders  to  it,  without  first 
giving  me  notice  thereof.  Sir,  this  is  all  at  present  from,  &c., 

JASPER 


1  Maudit  had  been  an  Attorney,  and  by  his  writing,  and  being  denominated  "  Old 
Jasper,"  must  have  been  well  stricken  in  years.  He  represented  the  town  from 
1689  to  1698,  and  was  Mayor,  1693.  Maudit  finally  sided  with  the  Tory  party,  or 
Old  Charter  Men.  Beatson  states  that  Brotherton  petitioned  against  Maudit's 
return  in  1694.  This  must  have  been  an  election  during  the  existence  of  a  Par- 
liament, and  that  a  person  like  Brotherton,  (who,  we  conclude,  was  the  member  for 
Newton,)  after  having,  with  no  common  assiduity,  ousted  Leigh  from  one  of  his 
seats,  although  agreeing  in  the  Jacobite  politics  of  that  gentleman,  should  seek  to 
transfer  himself  to  Liverpool,  is  remarkable.  Of  Brotherton  we  know  little.  He 
was  a  determined  Jacobite,  and  refused  to  sign  the  Association,  1696.  He  appears 
to  have  been  very  active  in  Lancashire,  is  referred  to  in  Mr.  Patten's  letter  as  a 
person  to  be  consulted  as  to  the  Irwell  Navigation,  and  probably  belonged  to  the 
family  of  that  name  living  near  Newton. 


48  THE    NORRIS    PAPERS. 


XXII. 

THOMAS  JOHNSON  TO  BICHARD  NORRIS,  Nov.  14,  1700. — Wishes  to 

return  —  Pleased  that  the  Duke  of  Anjou  succeeds 

to  Spain  —  Town's  matters. 


[THERE  are  earlier  letters  of  Johnson  in  which  he  signs  himself  "  Junr," 
and  we  therefore  conclude  he  was  the  son  of  the  person  of  the  same 
name  who  was  Bailiff,  1663,  and  Mayor,  1670,  and  it  is  possible  he  was 
descended  from  William  Johnson,  who  represented  the  town,  1614.  These 
letters  are,  however,  omitted,  as  they  relate  entirely  to  matters  of  business. 
Johnson  was  Bailiff  in  Clayton's  Mayoralty,  1689,  and  Mayor,  1695,  and 
represented  Liverpool  from  1700  to  1723,  without  interruption,  serving  in 
eleven  Parliaments  for  twenty-three  years  and  a  half;  and  in  that  time,  and 
the  previous  few  years,  Johnson  beyond  doubt  was  concerned  in  all  the  first 
great  public  works  of  the  place.  His  zeal  for  the  town  was  well  seconded 
by  the  decaying  fortunes  of  the  Mores,  and  the  temporary  helplessness  of 
the  Molyneuxes,  and  of  the  opportunity  afforded,  he  availed  himself  for  the 
public  good.  There  is  everything  here  to  confirm  the  traditionary  reputa- 
tion of  this  person  as  the  founder  of  the  modern  town,  and  also,  the  no  less 
firm  belief,  that  he  was  one  of  the  most  diligent  of  those  smugglers  who 
called  themselves  Virginia  Merchants,  and  who  at  this  time  comprised  every 
principal  Trader  in  Liverpool. 

Johnson,  unlike  Pemberton,  Cleveland,  or  Clayton,  was  always  needy,  and, 
after  a  long  career,  retired  to  a  custom  house  officer's  situation,  on  the  Rap- 
habannock  river,  in  Virginia,  valued  at  £80  per  annum.  It  may  be  men- 
tioned that  this  person,  excepting  for  a  short  time  at  the  beginning  of 
Anne's  reign,  was  a  whig;  and  when,  in  1714,  Dr.  Norris  and  he  sate  to- 
gether, the  former  having  changed  his  family  politics,  they  voted  against 
each  other.  The  Johnsons  existed  in  Liverpool  until  a  very  recent  period, 
and  in  the  map  of  1769  are  set  down  as  proprietors  of  land  near  the  town.] 


THE    NORRIS    PAPERS.  49 

London,  14  Novr,  1700. 
MR  RICHARD  NORRIS, 
Hond  Sir, 

I  am  ill  wearied  of  this  place,  but  being  deeply  in  daily 
expectation  of  oak  stays  me.  I  do  not  find  that  the  death  of  the 
King  of  Spain  makes  any  alteration  in  Trade ;  oyles,  by  little  and 
little,  are  advanced ;  most  are  of  opinion  all  will  be  well,  and  plea- 
sed with  the  Duke  of  Anjou  ;*  the  prints  give  you  a  full  account. 

Mr  Mauditt  takes  all  possible  care  about  the  Corporation  business. 
I  suppose  ere  this  Mr  Clayton  hath  his  tobacco ;  there  will  be  no 
charge;  Ralph  Peters2  was,  (as  well  as  the  Sheriff,)  too  busy;  they 
had  no  power  to  take  the  Corporation^  goods  or  effects;  the  Collectors 
had  best  get  the  money  paid,  will  prevent  a  great  deal  of  trouble  and 
charge.  You  must  mind  Mr  Sandiford,2  that  the  Collectors  of 
Windows,  Births,  and  Burials,  and  Land  be  kept  even,  their  hath 
been  a  neglect  in  some.  I  long  to  be  at  home. 

Sir, 

Your  humble  Serv1, 

THOS  JOHNSON. 


1  It  may  be  doubted  whether  the  War  of  Succession  would  not  be  better  named 
a  war  against  Louis  XIV.  for  acknowledging  the  Stuarts. 

2  John  Sandiford,  town  clerk  of  Liverpool  from  1678  to  1706,  and  Ralph  Peters 
his  successor  from  1706  to  1742.    The  family  of  the  former  had  long  been  in  the 
town.    Ralph  Sandiford  was  Bailiff,  1627,  and  Mayor,  1631.    The  name  of  Ralph 
Peters  continued  in  the  town  until  very  lately. 


50  THE    NORRIS    PAPERS. 


XXIII. 

JASPER  MAUDIT  TO  RICHARD  NORRIS,  26  Nov.  1780.  —  Exchange 
with  More  finished. 


London,  26  NoV,  1700. 
MR  RICHARD  NORRIS, 
Hond  Sir, 

At  last,  after  severall  disappointments,  I  prevailed  with 
Sir  John  Moore  to  scale  the  writings  for  the  exchange  of  lands,  the 
which  he  executed  jester  evening,  when  I  took  Alderman  Johnson, 
Mr  John  Travers,  and  Mr  Isaac  Greene,  Mr  Daniel  Lawton,1  late 
Clerk  with  me,  to  be  witnesses  of  the  same,  which  said  writings  will 
be  forthwith  sent  down  to  Mr  Lawton  for  Sir  Cleve  Moore  to  scale, 
in  the  Country,  and  then  the  writings  will  be  exchanged,  which  will 
put  an  end  to  this  affair.  Alderman  Johnson  sate  out  for  Liverpool 
this  morning,  designing  to  be  with  you  next  Saturday  early,  whom  I 
could  have  wished  to  have  gone  down  with,  but  the  cheesemongers 
solicitors  are  so  dilatory  in  perfecting  the  decree,  and  in  getting  costs 
to  be  taxed,  that  I  understand  not  the  meaning  of  it,  unless  it  is  to 
have  us  out  of  Town,  that  they  may  do  what  they  list ;  but  if  they 
do  it  not  in  a  day  or  two  more,  I  design  to  summon  them  before 
my  Lord  Chief  Barons  to  compel  them  ;  this  with  the  tender  of  my 
humble  service  to  yourself,  and  the  corporation. 

I  remain, 

JASPER  MAUDIT. 


1  Here  is  a  long  list  of  Attorneys,  but  not  the  Town  Clerk,  Sandiford,  and  his 
thus  being  repeatedly  passed  over,  may  justify  the  conjecture,  that  he  had  been  put 
into  his  office  when  different  politics  prevailed  in  Liverpool,  and  was  now  laid  aside- 


THE    NOBRIS    PAPERS.  51 


XXIV. 

LADY  NORRIS  TO  RICHARD  NORRIS,  DEC.  17,  1700. — Parliament  to  be 
dissolved — Hopes  Liverpool  will  return  Sir  William  Norris. 


[THERE  are  several  letters  relating  to  the  last  attempt  of  the  Mores  to 
represent  what  they  deemed  to  be  their  Borough  of  Liverpool.  The  oc- 
casion was  inviting ;  Sir  William  Norris  was  absent ;  there  was  a  dislike 
between  William  III.  and  the  Whigs,  which  strengthened  the  Jacobites, 
and  these,  with  the  family  adherents,  agreed  to  support  More  in  standing 
for  Liverpool.  Sir  Cleave  More  was  unsuccessful,  and  petitioned ;  but  the 
parliament  meeting  February  16,  1700-1,  being  dissolved  June  24,  1701, 
the  matter  was  never  decided.  The  Tory  party,  as  it  has  since  existed  in 
the  borough,  grew  out  of  this  election;  and  Clayton,  who  in  1701  was 
most  opposed  to  More,  in  December  1701  was  chiefly  returned  by  that 
gentleman's  friends,  and  on  his  principles. 

More  and  his  father,  (the  author  of  the  querulous  notice  of  Liverpool,) 
suffered  for  their  regicidal  progenitor.  Sir  Cleave,  in  1701,  could  not  appear 
without  a  protection,  so  desperate  were  his  circumstances ;  but  obtaining  by 
marriage  another  property,  he  sold  his  Lancashire  estates,  sate  for  Bramber, 
1708,  and  died  March  29,  1729-30. 

William  Clayton,  who  represented  Liverpool,  with  intermissions,  from 
1698  to  1714,  sitting  ten  years  and  in  eight  parliaments,  and  who  died  1715, 
was  one  of  the  most  eminent  merchants  the  town  has  produced.  Gregson 
notices  Clayton's  family,  and  these  letters  mention  a  brother,  a  Doctor  in 
Medicine  at  Dublin.  When  Clayton  lapsed  from  the  Revolution  party,  and 
attached  himself  to  Gower  and  the  Tories,  his  seat  was  disputed  by  the 
Norris  family.  Thus,  in  1705,  Richard  Norris  tried  to  turn  Clayton  out,  for 
which  attempt  Sir  John  Gower  removed  Norris  from  the  Commission  of  the 
Peace.  In  1708  and  1710  Clayton  was  not  returned;  but  in  1713  and 
1714  he  had  the  satisfaction  of  assisting  Harley  and  Bolingbroke  in  parlia- 
ment.] 


52  THE    NORRIS    PAPERS. 

London,  December  17,  1700. 
MR  RICHARD  NORRIS, 

This  is  to  tell  my  dear  Brother  that  this  parliament  will 
be  dissolved  on  Thursday  next,  and  the  writs  will  be  ready  to  be  sent 
abroad  in  a  few  days.  I  hope  the  good  town  of  Liverpool  will  choose 
Sir  William  again  ;  indeed  he  has  always  found  them  so  very  kind 
and  obliging,  that  I  have  no  reason  to  question  their  kindness  now, 
and  I  am  sure  no  man  has,  and  always  will  study  to  do  them  the 
best  service  he  can,  and  now  being  to  live  some  part  of  the  year  at 
Speke,  he  will  let  them  all  see  that  he  has  a  great  kindness  for  them. 
I  do  believe  he  will  be  here  in  March,  which  will  be  so  soon  as  a  new 
parliament  can  be  in  order  to  do  business.  Pray  give  my  duty  to  my 
mother,  and  service  to  all  friends. 

Your  humble  servant  and  sister, 

E.  NORRIS. 


THE    NORRIS    PAPERS.  53 


XXV. 

LADY  NORRIS  TO  RICHARD  NORRIS,  JAN.  7, 1700-1. —  Nicolas  Pollen- 
fen  cannot  be  present  at  Election  —  News  of  Sir  William. 


[As    the    election    approached,    Richard  Norris  wrote  to  Lady  Norris, 
requesting  that  her  son,  Mr.  Nicolas  Pollexfen,  might  come  down.] 


London,  Janr  7th,  1700-1. 
MR  RICHARD  NORRIS, 

I  received  yours,  dear  Brother,  but  my  son  Nick  is  gone 
into  the  country  with  Mr  Cecill,  and  I  neither  know  where  he  is, 
or  how  to  direct  a  letter  to  him,  or  else  I  am  sure  he  would  have 
heen  very  glad  to  have  taken  a  journey  into  Lancashire  to  serve  his 
father  and  see  his  friends.  The  Norris  set  sail  the  29th  of  May  last 
from  Surat,  and  is  arrived  here  with  news  that  Sir  William  was  very 
well,  and  was  then  so  near  the  Mogul's  camp  that  he  will  see  that 
Prince  two  months  sooner  than  was  expected,  and  consequently,  I 
hope,  will  be  in  England  so  much  the  sooner,  which  is  the  best,  and 
almost  the  only  news  my  dear  Brother  can  receive  from  me. 

E.  NORRIS. 

I  am  very  sorry  Nick  cannot  come  to  town  soon  enough  to  go  to 
Liverpool,  but  nevertheless  hope  to  hear  the  news  of  Sir  William's 
election,  who  1  am  sure  values  the  honour  of  serving  them  above 
everything. 


54  THE    NORB1S    PAPERS. 


XXVI. 

WILLIAM  CLAYTON  TO  THE  MAYOR  OP  LIVERPOOL,  (RICHARD  NORRIS,) 

1  FEB.  1700. — Has  got  to  London  —  Sir  Cleave 

Morels  Petition  —  War. 


London,  1  Feby  1700. 
THE  MAYOR  OF  LIVERPOOL, 
Honored  Sir, 

I  got  this  night  hither,  had  good  weather,  and  good 
roads,  never  better  at  this  time  of  the  year.  I  met  many  members 
on  the  road,  and  they  are  of  opinion  it  is  a  jest  for  Sir  Cleave  to  pe- 
tition. Mr  Travers  is  out  of  town,  but  on  Monday  shall  see  him 
and  many  more,  then  will  write  to  you  more  fully.  My  service  to 
all  friends.  All  the  discourse  here  is  for  war,  and  most  inclined  to 
it,  as  I  see  yet  Ostend  and  Newport  in  the  French  hands,  and  it  is 
said,  at  Dunkirk  they  are  already  fitting  out  Privateers. 

Your  humble  servant, 

WM  CLAYTON. 


THE    NOBBIS    PAPEBS.  55 


XXVII. 

THE  SAME  TO  THE  SAME,  FEB.  6,  1700.  —  Has  taken  the  Oaths  — 
Choice  of  Speaker  —  Sir  Cleave  Morels  Petition. 


London  6  Feb?,  1700. 
To  THE  WORSHIPFUL  THE 

MAYOR  OF  LIVERPOOL, 
Honoured  Sir, 

We  this  day  met  at  Westminster,  and  took  the  oaths 
without  doors ;  when  we  went  to  the  house  we  was  prorogued  'till 
Monday  morning,  so  cannot  choose  a  Speaker  till  then ;  the  old 
Speaker  hath  orders  not  to  appear,  so  now  Mr.  Harley,  Sir  Richard 
Ownsley  [Onslow],  Sir  Rowland  Winn,  and  some  others,  are  spoke 
of.  Sir  John  Boules  told  me  Sir  Cleave  Moore  had  been  with  him, 
and  designed  to  petition,  but  he  advised  him  to  the  contrary,  for  that 
I  was  well  beloved,  so  he  said,  he  had  nothing  against  me,  nor  the 
other  neither,  said  Sir  John ;  so  I  found  he  meets  with  little  en- 
couragement, as  he  acts  I  shall  advise.  I  have  been  unfortunate  in 
meeting  your  sister,1  but  to  day  I  met  Mr.  Polixfen,  and  so  we  have 
sett  a  time. 

I  am,  «fec., 

WM  CLAYTON. 


1  On  the  8th  of  February  Lady  Norris  writes,  "  I  have  not  seen  Mr.  Clayton 
since  he  came  to  town,  he  was  here  one  day  but  did  not  find  me  at  home,  but  sent 
me  word  he  would  dine  with  me  to  morrow."  In  the  state  of  hostility  in  which 
Clayton  and  Norris  afterwards  appear,  this  friendship  at  the  commencement  of 
Clayton's  career  is  remarkable. 


56  THE    NORRIS    PAPERS. 


XXVIII. 

LADY  NORRIS  TO  RICHARD  NORRIS,  FEB.  13,  1700. — 
Sir  Cleave  Morels  Petition. 


London  Feb?  13,  1700. 
MR  RICHARD  NORRIS, 

I  was  in  hopes  that  I  should  have  had  a  petition  the  last 
week  from  my  dear  Brother,  for  if  it  is  not  ready  to  deliver  so  soon  as 
Sir  Cleve's  it  will  do  no  good.  I  have  heard  that  Sir  William's 
friends  had  a  great  deal  the  more  trouble,  and  Sir  William  the  fewer 
votes  than  there  would  have  been,  by  your  going  to  Speake,  when 
you  should  not  a  stirred,  for  staying  there  a  whole  week  was  more 
than  a  year  another  time ;  I  am  sure  my  mother  would  have  excused 
you  at  that  time.  I  hear  Sir  Cleve's  petition  is,  that  the  Town  say, 
they  cannot  be  without  two  Parliament  men,  'till  Sir  William  comes. 
I  find  that  he  is  out  of  sight,  and  out  of  mind  often,  we  do  believe  he 
will  deliver  his  Petition,  but  hope  it  will  not  be  heard,  if  it  is  it  will 
be  for  a  new  election,  and  not  Sir  Cleve  More,  so  that  I  am  informed 
they  may  choose  Sir  William  again ;  so  hope  you  will  take  care  to 
keep  his  friends,  and  make  as  many  more  as  you  can.  I  write  the 
worst  as  can  come,  that  you,  anpl  Sir  William's  friends,  may  be  pre- 
pared. I  hope  it  will  come  to  nothing,  but  for  fear  it  should,  I  write 
this.  Mr.  Clayton  and  I  are  making  all  the  friends  we  can  to 
prevent  it. 

Yours,  &c., 

E.  NORRIS. 


THE    XORRIS    PAPERS.  57 


XXIX. 

WILLIAM  CLAYTON  TO  THE  MAYOR  OF  LIVERPOOL,  18  FEB.  1700. — 

Morels  Petition. 

London  ye  18  Feb?,  1700. 
THE  MAYOR  OF  LIVERPOOL, 
Hond  Sir, 

I  received  yours,  and  yesterday  Sr  Cleave  Moored  Peti- 
tion came  into  the  House,  being  the  46  Petition,  so  that  there  is  no 
fear  of  having  it  heard  this  Session,  but  however  you  may  be  arming 
yourself,  and  enquire  amongst  the  Custom  House  Officers  who  threat- 
ened them,  and  what  they  said  they  would  do  if  they  would  not  vote 
for  Sir  Cleave,  and  also  others ;  and  .enquire  of  Lyon  if  they  did  not 
offer  him  Money  to  vote,  and  some  others,  and  when  they  did  drink 
who  paid  the  shot ;  for  what  he  alledgeth,  you  refuse  his  Agents  to 
inspect  the  Poll,  you  can  prove  he  had  two  Clerks ;  he  never  de- 
manded a  Copy  of  the  Poll  nor  a  Scrutiny  that  I  heard  of,  and  when 
to  be  tried  I  believe  Mr  Entwisle  will  be  a  good  evidence,  Mr  Johnson, 
Mr  Sharpies,  and  others  that  was  by  all  the  time,  for  I  told  the  House 
there  was  not  one  word  of  truth  in  it,  but  that  Sir  Willm  was  beyond 
Sea.  Sir  John  when  he  delivered  the  Petition  said  there  was  many 
precedents.  To-day  was  voted  a  supply  for  the  Fleet,  and  the  King's 
Answer  and  Memorial  I  have  sent,  as  also  the  copy  of  the  letter 
that  is  mentioned  in  the  Votes.  I  paid  6s.  8d.  for  the  copies  of  the 
Petition,  which  my  Lady  I  suppose  will  pay  me.  I  fear  an  embargo, 
and  the  answer  on  the  King's  is  to  be  considered  on  Thursday. 

I  am,  &c., 
The  votes  my  Wife1  hath  and  WM  CLAYTON. 

letter. 
Do  not  let  every  one  see  the  Petition. 

1  Mrs.  Clayton  staid  in  Liverpool ;  she  was  a  very  managing  person,  and  it  is  more 
than  insinuated  directed  her  husband  in  most  of  his  acts  ;  she  survived  him  30  years, 
and  died  1745. 

I 


58  THE    NORRIS    PAPERS. 


XXX. 

DANIEL  LAWTON  TO  THE  SAME,  FEB.  6,   1700.  —  Purchase  of  Lord 
Molyneux's  land  —  Manor  of  Liverpool. 


6  Feby,  1700. 
THE  MAYOR  OF  LIVERPOOL. 
Hond  Sir, 

Enclosed  is  a  Copy  of  the  writing  to  be  sealed  on  Sa- 
turday which  I  have  sent  for  your  perusal,  and  that  you  may  get  as 
many  of  the  persons  together,  as  you  can,  against  two  of  the  clock  on 
Saturday,  and  such  of  the  persons  as  cannot  then  seal  may  another 
time. 

I  have  got  Mr  Cheshire  on  your  part,  and  Mr  Blundell  on  my  Lord 
Molineux's  part,  to  settle  the  prsecipe  and  concord,  in  order  to  have 
a  fine  from  my  Lord  Molineux  the  next  Assises  pursuant  to  the  Deed 
he  sealed,  and  then  will  be  taken  away  the  causes  of  two  sorts,  and  in 
some  measure  a  third,  about  the  Commons,  for  now  you  have  my 
Lord's  interest  therein,  not  only  as  a  pretended  Lord  of  the  Manor,  but 
as  a  Charterer,  and  if  some  good  means  were  used  to  get  my  Lord 
Derby's  Interest  and  Mr  Cross's,  you  would  stand  in  less  doubt  of  the 
rest. 

Your  humble  Serv*. 

DANL  LAWTON. 


THE    NORRIS    TAPERS.  59 


XXXI. 

WILLIAM  CLAYTON  TO  THE  MAYOR  OF  LIVERPOOL,  MARCH  1,  1700. — 

Sir  Cleave  Morels  Petition. 


London,  ye  1  of  March,  1700. 
THE  MAYOR  OF  LIVERPOOL, 
Hon^  Sir, 

I  received  yours,  and  have  inclosed  sent  you  the  copy  of 
the  Petition,  and  the  names  of  them  that  signed  it,  and  being  that 
Mr.  Preison  is  so  forward,  you  must  inquire  if  he  did  not  throw 
down  John  Wallis,  who  came  to  vote  for  Sir  Wm  and  me,  and  also 
you  must  inquire  of  all  those  that  Mr.  Brixtar  did  threaten,  that  we 
may  make  public  example  of  them.  Inclosed  is  the  Proclamation 
against  Papists,  which  I  doubt  not  but  you  will  put  in  execution,  and 
send  away  Conder,  and  Dermot,  and  some  others.  The  Petition 
was  wrote  by  James  that  was  Mr.  Sandiford's  man. 

This  Day  we  was  in  a  Committee  of  the  whole  House  of  that  part 
of  the  King^s  Speech  which  related  to  the  Succession,  and  came  to 
the  inclosed  resolution  unanimously,  and  so  I  hope  it  will  be  agreed 
to  in  the  House  on  Monday,  when  it  is  to  be  reported  ;  our  business 
cannot  coine  on  this  Session,  let  Mr.  Bawling  say  what  he  will.  My 
service  to  all. 

I  am,  &c., 

WM.  CLAYTON. 


60  THE    NORRIS    PAPERS. 


XXXII. 

P.  HADDON  TO  THE  SAME,  WIGAN,  JAN.  7,  1700.  — 
Wigan  Election. 


Wigan,  Jany  7,  1700-1. 
KICHARD  NORRIS,  ESQ., 

Mayor. 
Worshipful  Sir, 

The  day  of  election  for  Burgesses  in  Parliament  for  this 
corporation  is  proclaimed  to  be  on  the  13th  instant;  this  is  therefore 
to  desire  you,  (if  possibly  you  can,)  so  to  order  the  day  of  election 
for  your  Town,  that  we  may  have  those  of  your  corporation  who  are 
Burgesses  of  this,  here,  to  give  their  votes  at  this  election,1  whereby 
you  will  oblige  very  many,  and  among  them. 

Your  humble  and  already  obliged  servant, 

P.  HADDON. 


1  Each  political  party  in  Lancashire  during  the  sixteenth  century  was  united  in 
itself  throughout  the  county,  and  acted  singularly  together.  This  may  be  seen  hy 
examining  the  returns  to  Parliament,  where,  and  especially  before  the  great  civil  war, 
the  members  opposed  to  the  Court  interchanged  boroughs,  and  apparently  had  seldom 
a  personal  interest  in  the  place  they  represented,  Wynn,  Holcroft,  Birch,  &c.,are  all 
instances  of  men  representing  a  political  party,  wholly  removed  from  any  local  in- 
fluence. The  Stanley  family  early  saw  the  value  of  political  power,  and  the  "inju- 
rious intermeddling"  of  the  great  Earl  with  elections  was  a  charge  brought  against 
him.  Johnson  writes,  "London,  March  24,  1701, —  dined  with  the  Lord  Derby 
amongst  our  Lancashire  members  at  the  Swan,  Billingsgate,  all  full  of  interest  for 
members  ;  Mr.  Bridgman  was  there."  The  Bridgmans  had  large  estates  at  Wigan 
and  Bolton,  and  appear  to  have  been  first  connected  with  the  county  in  the  person 
of  the  Bishop  of  Chester,  (temp.  Car.  I.)  who  was  from  Devonshire. 


THE    NOBRIS    PAPERS. 


61 


XXXIII. 

J.  TUCKER  (UNDER  SECRETARY  OF  STATE)  TO  THE  MAYOR  OF  LIVER- 
POOL, WHITEHALL,  APRIL  3,  1701. — Directs  suspected 
persons  to  be  prosecuted. 


[THE  incessant  attempts  of  the  exiled  royal  family  to  regain  the  English 
throne,  from  1688  to  1745,  are  well  known,  and  also  that  Lancashire  con- 
tained many  of  their  adherents.  The  trials  of  1694,  and  Caryl,  Lord  Moly- 
neux's  death,  hardly  repressed  the  plotting  in  and  round  Liverpool.  Even 
the  merchants  were  deeply  infected  and  on  more  than  one  occasion  they 
sought  to  avoid  taking  the  oaths.  In  1692  Richard  Norris  writes  from  Liver- 
pool, —  "  The  Papists  are  mighty  high,  and  most  frequently  are  in  great  hopes 
of  some  considerable  things  this  spring,  which  the  Lord  avert."  On  March 
7th,  1701-2,  (William  died  the  morning  after,)  Johnson  writes, —  "I  have 
wrote  Mr.  Maior  that  it  may  be  convenient  to  double  the  guard  in  the  Castle 
for  some  time,  we  do  not  know  what  people  may  carrie  on,  we  have  but 
little  guard  in  England  at  this  time,  save  our  fleet,  you'l  excuse  me,  I'm 
almost  asleep/'  Then  on  23d  January,  1703,  Mrs.  Norris  says  to  her  son, 
— "Whether  you  come  or  stay,  I  pray  God  keep  you,  God  knows  what  place 
is  safest,  I  believe  mischief  is  in  hand,  for  our  Gentles  meet  more  than  or- 
dinary, and  very  well  mounted;  if  they  have  any  ill  designs  I  pray  God 
defeat  them,  for  I  fear  we  are  not  like  to  do  much  towards  it."  The  letters 
here  printed  contain  further  proof  of  the  unquiet  state  of  the  county,  and 
this  was  only  finally  changed  by  the  severities  which  followed  the  rising  of 
1715.  Lancashire  suffered  greatly  on  that  occasion,  and  Liverpool  had  its 
share  of  the  trials  and  executions,  although  by  this  time  the  Hanoverian 
party  having  divided  itself  into  Whig  and  Tory,  (almost  as  essential  to  the 
existence  of  an  English  community  as  the  distinction  of  the  sexes,)  the 
Stuart  party  had  greatly  lessened,  and  in  1745  the  town  was  unanimously 
against  the  Pretender.  The  year  1715  may  be  taken  as  the  culminating 
point  of  the  Stuart  fortunes  in  Lancashire ;  and  their  wane  was  so  sudden 


62  THE    NOBRIS    PAPERS. 

and  so  bloody,  and  involved  so  many  men  of  the  first  families  —  Shuttle- 
worth,  Tyldesley,  Townley,  and  others  —  that  in  1745  a  person  distantly 
related  to  the  Townleys,  and  the  sweepings  of  the  streets  of  Manchester, 
were  all  that  Lancashire  contributed  to  the  "  foray."] 


Whitehall,  3d  April,  1701. 
RICHARD  NORRIS,  ESQ,., 

Mayor. 
Sir, 

The  inclosed  letter  to  Mr.  Taffe  being  brought  by  one  of 
the  letter  carriers  of  the  Post  office  to  Mr.  Secretary  Hodges,  he 
directs  me  to  send  it  to  you,  and  desires  you  will  please  examine  into 
the  matter  of  it,  and  give  him  an  account  of  what  you  find,  and  if  there 
be  occasion,  that  you  direct  the  offenders  to  be  prosecuted  according 
to  law. 

I  am,  &c., 

J.  TUCKER. 


THE    NORRIS    PAPERS. 


63 


XXXIV. 

JOSHUA  HORTON  TO  THE  MAYOR  OF  LIVERPOOL,  OLDHAM,  APRIL  8, 

1 701 .  —  Return  of  Papists  ordered 

throughout  the  County. 


Oldham,  April  8th,  1701. 
THE  MAYOR  OF  LIVERPOOL, 
Hond  Sir, 

I  received  yours  since  my  comeing  to  this  Town,  in  an- 
swer whereto  this  comes  to  acquaint  you  that  upon  reading  the  King's 
Proclamation  at  the  Sheriff's  Board,  it  was  unanimously  resolved, 
that  the  Justices  in  each  Hundred  should  meet  at  the  respective 
places  agreed  upon,  to  receive  an  account  from  the  respective  Petty 
Constables  of  the  Papists  and  other  disaffected  persons,  in  each  Town- 
ship, and  to  send  out  particular  summonses  to  all  so  presented  to  us, 
for  their  appearance  at  the  Quarter  Sessions  to  take  the  Oaths.  In  order 
whereto  we  then  ordered  the  Clerk  of  the  Peace  to  issue  out  War- 
rants to  all  the  High  Constables  to  require  the  Petty  Constables  to 
make  each  Presentment  to  us  upon  Friday  the  llth  instant  in  every 
Hundred.  I  remember  nothing  more  done  there  that  is  worth  trou- 
bling you  with. 

I  am, 
Your  affectionate  humble  servant, 

JOSHUA  HORTON. 


64  THE    NORRIS    PAPERS. 


XXXV. 

J.  TUCKER  TO  THE  MAYOR  OF  LIVERPOOL,  WHITEHALL,  APRIL  12, 
1701.  —  Disaffected  persons  in  Liverpool. 


Whitehall  12th  April  1 701.     No.  2.  * 
Sir, 

Mr  Secretary  Hodges  directs  me  to  acquaint  you  that 
yesterday  he  received  your  letter  of  the  8th  instant,  with  two  Infor- 
mations taken  by  you  and  Mr  Justice  Johnson  upon  the  letter  which 
I  sent  to  you  by  his  order  the  3rd  instant,  whereby  it  plainly  appears 
that  Mr  Harrington  and  Mr  Blundell  have  shewn  themselves  to  be 
very  ill  men  to  His  Matie  and  His  Government,  and  had  this  been 
discovered  within  the  time  limited  by  the  law  for  punishing  offences 
of  that  nature  they  ought  to  have  been  severely  proceeded  against,  but 
one  of  the  offences  being  committed  six  yeares  since,  and  the  last 
above  two  yeares  ago,  the  Law  cannot  now  take  hold  of  them.  How- 
ever, Sir,  Mr  Secretary  thanks  you  for  your  care  and  zeal  for  his 
Maties  service,  and  desires  that  if  you  discover  anything  relating  to 
these  Gentlemen  that  the  Law  can  take  hold  of,  that  you  will  please 
to  give  him  notice  of  it. 

I  am,  Sir, 

Your  most  humble  Servant, 

J.  TUCKER. 

RlCHARD  NORRES,  Esq., 

Mayor  of  Leverpoole. 


THE    NORRIS    PAPERS.  65 


XXXVI. 

WILLIAM  CLAYTON  TO  THE  SAME,  APRIL  12,  1701  ^—  Morels 
Petition  —  Harrington . 


London,  12th  April,  1701. 
THE  MAYOR  OF  LIVERPOOL. 
Hond  Sir, 

I  received  your's,  and  have  been  with  Secretary  Hedges, 
and  he  is  very  well  satisfied  with  your  proceeding,  but  saith  it  is  too 
late  for  anything  to  be  done  in  it,  and  I  suppose  will  give  answer. 

Last  Night  Sir  Cl.  got  5  to  sit  at  the  Committee,  but  they  came  to 
no  resolution  that  will  hurt  Sir  Wm,  are  to  sit  on  Monday  if  can  get 
5,  but  will  signify  nothing,  but  my  Lady  takes  no  pains  about  it,  but 
all  are  of  opinion  that  it  will  come  to  nothing.  Pray  have  an  Eye 
to  Harrington,  if  you  can  bring  him  to  unawares  it  will  do  well,  what 
he  did  was  abominable ;  pray  mind  the  people  to  pay  in  their  money. 
I  hope  to  send  down  the  Warrant,  but  however,  they  may  be  pro- 
ceeding. 

I  am,  &c. 
WM.  CLAYTON. 


66  THE    XORRIS    PAPERS. 


XXXVII. 

ROBERT  SOARISBRICK  TO  THE  SAME,  SCARISBRICK,  30TH  APRIL, 
1701.  —  Ash  for  Protection. 


Scarisbrick,  April  30,  1701. 
RICHARD  NORRIS,  ESQ. 
Hond  Sir, 

I  must  ever  retain  a  gratefull  memory  of  the  favorable 
opinion  you  were  pleased  to  express  as  to  my  case,  when  I  was  to  wait 
upon  you  the  other  day,  which  encourages  me  likewise  to  the  bold- 
ness of  giving  you  this  further  trouble.  For  having  since  taken  advice 
on  my  case,  am  directed  to  keep  it  as  far  from  being  upon  Record  as 
I  can,  and  if  it  could  be  prevented  before  the  sessions  it  would  be 
safer,  lest  in  the  mean  time  I  should  be  summoned,  and  a  sudden 
return  be  made  of  the  warrant  in  the  beginning  of  the  sessions  which 
might  be  of  ill  consequence,  and  I  conceive  a  supersedeas  may  be  a 
proper  way  to  put  a  stop  to  the  part  of  the  warrant  relating  to  me, 
being,  if  I  mistake  not,  that  was  your  judgment  and  opinion  to  me  at 
Liverpool,  which  made  me  the  more  desirous  to  follow  that  method, 
and  therefore  I  am  sending  this  about  to  that  end,  and  do  most 
earnestly  entreat  that  you  will  be  pleased  to  favour  me  with  the 
signing  of  this  supersedeas,  and  shall  ever  remain,  &c., 

ROBERT  SCARISBRICK. 


THE    NORRIS    PAPERS.  67 


XXXVIII. 

HON.  CHARLES  STANLEY  TO  THE  SAME,  CROSS  HALL,  AUG.  4,  1701.— 
Lists  of  the  Disaffected  ordered. 


Cross  Hall,  Aug*  4th,  1701. 
THE  MAYOR  OF  LIVERPOOL. 
Sir, 

I  thought  fit  to  acquaint  you  that  at  the  Sheriff's  Table 
it  was  agreed,  that  Warrants  should  be  sent  to  all  High  Constables, 
for  them  to  send  theirs  to  the  Petty  Constables,  for  them  to  make  a 
Return  of  all  that  are  thought  wont  conform  to  the  Government,  and 
that  the  Justices  should  meet  in  every  hundred  to  receive  them  on 
the  eleventh  day  of  this  Month,  being  the  Coronation  Day ;  the  place 
for  our  Meeting  is  appointed  at  Prescot,  by  nine  in  the  Morning, 
where  your  Company  is  desired  and  expected,  and  where  you  will 
find 

Sir, 

Yours,  &c. 
C.  Z.  STANLEY.! 


1  Charles  Zedenno  Stanley,  ninth  son  (of  whom  six  were  in  1700  dead)  of  the 
eighth  Earl  of  Derby,  and  brother  of  the  ninth  and  tenth  Earls,  born  December  8, 
1666,  M.P.  for  Preston  12  Queen  Anne,  and  for  the  County  1705-10,  died  unmarried 
ApriJ  1715.  He  was  apparently  on  a  visit  to  Sir  Thomas  Stanley  of  Cross  Hall, 
whose  descendants  are  now  Earls  of  Derby.  For  the  old  Stanleys,  like  the  Norrises, 
so  far  from  securing  the  perpetuity  of  their  race,  the  one  by  nine,  the  other  by  seven 
sons,  became  extinct  with  the  generation  which  promised  such  a  continuance. 


68  THE    NORRIS    PAPERS. 


XXXIX. 

CLAYTON  TO  THE  SAME,  MAY  13,  1701 — Glad  Papists  are  proceeded 
against  —  Sir  Cleave  More, 


London,  ye  13th  May,  1701, 
MR.  RICHARD  NORRIS. 
Hond  Sir, 

I  received  yours,  and  am  glad  that  you  so  proceeded  at 
the  Quarter  Sessions,  and  hope  we  shall  never  be  afraid  to  put  the 
Laws  in  execution  against  the  Papists,  and  although  we  are  hot  in 
the  house  yet,  when  the  King^s  business  comes  before  us,  there  is  no 
division,  nor  yet  he  never  asked  anything  this  Sessions  that  was  not 
heartily  complyed  with,  but  the  4  impeached  Lords  make  great  heats, 
and  these  Kentish  Men,  one  being  escaped,  writ  to  the  Sarjeant,  that 
if  he  did  not  release  the  rest,  50  should  not  keep  them,  on  which  the 
42  remaining  are  ordered  to  the  Gate  House,  a  further  address  for  a 
Proclamation  for  apprehending  that  that  made  his  escape,  and  that 
the  former  address  be  effectually  put  in  execution,  as  you  will  see  by 
the  inclosed.  Sr  Cleavers  Petition  is  on  this  Sessions,  and  now  Burke 
is  Soliciting  for  Kidd.  3  East  India  Ships  arrived,  but  yet  the 
Letter's  not  read,  so  that  I  cannot  hear  what  News  from  Sr  Wm,  and 
my  Lady  is  out  of  Town.  We  are  to  send  10,000  Men  to  Holland, 
5,000  from  Ireland,  and  5,000  to  be  raised  immediately,  which  is 
agreed  in  the  House,  and  I  believe  part  of  the  5,000  will  pass  through 
you  to  Hull,  if  so,  give  them  a  quick  despatch. 

I  am,  &c. 
WM.  CLAYTON, 


THE    NORRIS    PAPERS.  69 


XL. 

JOHN  MORRIS  TO  RICHARD  NORRIS,  Nov.  15,  1701.  —  Lord  Moly- 

neux's  seizure  of  the  Castle — Lord  Macclesfield'1  s  Death,   and 

disposition  of  his  places  —  Keys  of  Armoury  in  Castle. 


[BANKS,  in  the  Extinct  Baronage,  states  that  Lord  Macclesfield  died  in 
1701,  when  Ambassador  at  Hanover,  (vol.  iii.  p.  306,)  and  this  is  copied  into 
other  books.  It  appears  he  was  in  England  when  he  died,  and  had  at  the 
time  an  Address  of  the  Corporation  of  Liverpool  to  deliver  to  the  King. 
"  The  late  Earl  of  Macclesfield"  (says  Morris,  the  Agent  of  the  Earl)  "being 
taken  ill  the  same  night  he  came  home  out  of  Holland,  and  dying  in  a  few 
days  afterwards,  was  the  occasion  the  address  was  not  sooner  delivered." 
Lord  Macclesfield  was  very  recently  dead  on  November  llth,  1701.  Lord 
Molyneux  not  only  put  in  a  caveat  against  the  Constableship  of  Liverpool 
Castle  being  given  to  another,  but  actually  seized  the  Castle.  The  Constable- 
ship  was  given  to  Earl  Rivers,  and  the  Lieutenantcy  of  Lancashire  to  the 
Earl  of  Derby.  The  Corporation  of  Liverpool  rented  the  Castle  at  £28 
per  annum.] 


London,  15th  NoV,  1701. 
MR.  RICHARD  NORRIS, 
Sir, 

I  received  your  letter  last  night,  and  this  morning  shewed 
it  to  a  Noble  Lord,  who  is  a  GreatMan  in  the  affairs  of  the  Government, 
and  his  Lordship  was  pleased  to  direct  me  to  write  to  you  this  post, 
that  you  would  get  affidavits  taken  before  Mr  Mayor  or  Mr  Mauditt, 
of  the  manner  of  the  Lord  Molyneux^s  seizing  the  Castle,  and  to  send 
them  to  me  next  Post  to  London.  You  will  see  in  a  very  short  time 
my  Lord  Molyneux  will  have  occasion  to  repent  of  this  unadvised 
Action.  The  death  of  my  Lord  and  Master  is  a  National  loss,  as 


70  THE    NORRIS    PAPERS. 

well  as  to  all  his  friends  and  Servants,  and  especially  my  Self,  and  I 
may  say  your  Corporation  has  a  loss  in  particular.  I  believe  the  Con- 
stableship  of  the  Castle  will  be  granted  in  a  few  days  to  a  friend  of 
the  late  Earl  of  Macclesfield,  and  I  am  promised  to  be  made  Deputy, 
and  to  enjoy  the  profits  as  I  have  hitherto  had.  I  wrote  you  a  Post 
or  two  ago,  about  the  half  year's  Rent  for  the  Castle  due  at  Michael- 
mas last,  which  I  hope  you  will  be  so  kind  to  remember,  as  you  pro- 
mised when  I  saw  you  last.  My  Lord  was  buried  last  night  at 
Westminster  Abbey.  His  Majesty  hath  not  as  yet  disposed  of  any 
of  the  places  his  Lordship  had,  but  it's  believed  the  present  Earl  will 
have  the  Lieutenancy  of  Lancashire.  I  have  enquired  after  your 
address ;  it  had  been  delivered  long  since  had  my  Lord  been  alive ; 
the  present  Earl  has  it  in  Custody,  and  just  now  told  me  that  he 
would  deliver  it  to  Morrow,  or  Early  on  Monday  Morning.  Sooner 
he  could  not  do,  by  reason  he  could  not  appear  at  Court  till  after  his 
Brother's  funeral,  which  was  but  yesterday.  I  hear  Mr  Maudit  has 
got  the  Keys  where  the  Arms  are,  which  I  am  very  glad  of.  I  desire 
you  will  give  my  humble  service  to  him,  and  desire  him  to  take  great 
care  of  the  Arms. 

I  am,  &c. 

JNO.  MORRIS. 


THE    NORRIS    PAPERS. 


71 


XLI. 

THE  SAME  TO  THE  SAME,  FEB.  10,  1701.  —  Money  not  duly  paid  — 
Lord  Ewers 's  Patent  opposed  by  Lord  Molineux,  but  passed  — 
Morris  expects  to  be  Deputy* — Claims  the  rent  owing,  and  opposes 
the  debt  being  set  against  it. 


London,  10*  FebJ,  1701. 
MR.  RICHARD  NORRIS. 
Sir, 

I  have  received  your  Letter  sent  enclosed  to  Mr  Johnson, 
but  think  it  both  unjust  and  unreasonable  that  Mr  Mayor  should  stop 
my  money  for  another  man's  debt ;  when  I  saw  you  last  you  promised 
to  take  care  the  Bent  should  be  paid  as  long  as  you  continued  Mayor, 
but  my  Ld  Macclesfield  being  dead  I  see  both  he,  and  all  his  friends, 
must  be  forgotten.  • 

My  Lord  Mullineux  put  in  a  Caveatt  against  the  passing  of  my 
Lord  Rivers'  Patent  for  the  Constableship  of  the  Castle,  and  there 
hath  been  a  hearing  before  my  Lord  Stamford,  Chancellor  of  the 
Dutchy,  and  the  Attorney  General,  who  have  given  their  opinion  my 
Lord  Molineux's  pretensions  are  all  void  in  Law  by  several  Acts  of 
Parliament,  and  I  am  now  passing  my  Lord  Rivers'  Patent,  both  for 
the  Castle  and  prisage,  just  as  my  late  Lord  Macclesfield  had  it.  My 
Lord  Rivers  is  mighty  kind  to  me,  and  I  make  not  the  least  doubt 
but  to  have  a  Deputation  from  his  Lordship  to  Act  relating  to  the 
Castle,  as  I  did  in  my  late  Lord's  time.  There  is  a  whole  year's  Rent 
due  at  Lady  day,  and  I  would  know  from  you  whether  Mr  Mayor 
will  pay  me  or  not,  and  whether  the  Town  will  hold  the  Castle  any 
longer,  or  I  must  take  care  to  dispose  of  the  Rents  as  my  Lord  shall 
direct  me,  otherwise.  Sir,  as  to  the  debt  due  from  Mr  Buckingham 
for  boards,  it  will  be  proper  to  send  a  bill  of  the  whole,  and  what  has 


72  THE    NORRIS    PAPERS. 

been  paid,  and  what  remains,  to  one  of  your  members  of  Parliament, 
as  soon  as  ever  M1'  Buckingham^  Accounts  are  adjusted.  I  will 
speak  to  my  Lord  Mohun,  who  is  Executer  to  the  late  Earl  of 
Macclesfield,  and  I  cannot  in  the  least  doubt  but  when  a  fair  account 
is  made,  but  that  the  money  will  be  justly  paid  :  if  anything  be  owing 
to  Mr  Tyrer  for  boards,  let  him  send  his  whole  account. 

I  am,  &c., 

JOHN  MORRIS. 


THE    NORRIS    PAPERS.  73 


XLIL 

EXTRACTS  FROM  LETTERS  TO  RICHARD  NORRIS  FROM  LADY  NORRIS  AND 
HENRY  NORRIS,  RELATING  TO  THE  COMING  ELECTION,  SEPTEMBER 
29,  AND  DECEMBER  3  AND  19,  1701. 


[Lady  Norris  writes  to  Mr.  Richard  Norris.] 

September  29,  1701. 

The  King  is  expected  at  England  in  a  fortnight,  and  I  believe 
you  will  find  we  shall  have  a  new  parliament.  One  comfort  is,  we 
can  never  have  a  worse  than  the  last,  and  no  man  in  it  worse  than 
him  you  send.1  I  am  now  at  my  Lord  Eanelagh's,  at  Cranburn, 


1  The  parliament  of  1700  saw  a  great  change  in  Clayton's  avowed  opinions,  and  by 
degrees  Lady  Norris  expressed  herself  of  him  in  the  manner  here  given.  A  few 
months  before  she  had  sought  to  show  him  kindness,  and  spoke  of  the  pleasure  his 
company  afforded  her.  He  had  very  lately  been  returned  against  the  united  efforts 
of  the  Tory  and  Jacobite  parties,  and  in  the  letters  about  More's  petition  had  used 
no  measured  language  as  to  these  his  opponents  ;  yet  throughout  the  session  he  had 
allied  himself  with  the  Tories,  so  that  at  the  beginning  of  Anne's  reign  he  showed 
himself  not  only  the  friend  of  the  "  subtle  and  trimming  Harley,"  but  of  more  sin- 
cere and  determined  men  of  that  side,  as  Howe,  whom  William  had  wished  to  fight, 
Gower,  and  others.  Clayton's  name  figures  with  those  of  Bold,  Hey  sham,  Brother- 
ton,  and  Leigh,  in  the  celebrated  Black  List,  being  members  for  Lancashire  on  the 
Tory  side.  The  first  distinct  information  of  Clayton's  change  is  in  the  postscript 
of  a  letter  to  the  Mayor,  8th  March,  1700,  —  "You  must  be  on  your  guard  to  pre- 
vent Sir  Cleave,  if  they  should  expel  Sir  William,  either  that  Mr.  Johnson,  or  Mr. 
Atherton  of  Beausie  (should  stand).  Pray  meet  and  consult  about  it,  as  we  pro- 
ceed will  inform  you."  The  Athertons  had  long  been  in  Lancashire  at  the  head  of 
the  Stuart  party.  Sir  Richard  Atherton,  the  obsequious  friend  of  James  the  Second 
and  Lord  Molyneux,  was  Mayor  of  Liverpool  1684,  and  with  Thomas  Leigh  repre- 
sented the  town  from  1685  to  1688.  Clayton  now  sought  to  be  elected  on  the  very 
interest  which  More  had  stood  upon. 


74  THE    NORRIS    PAPERS. 

where  we  are  to  have  a  wedding  to-morrow ;  it  is  one  of  my  Lady's 
women  as  waits  on  her,  and  her  cook;  it  is  to  be  a  publick  one,  here 
is  music  come  down,  all  ready. 


[Mr.  Henry  Norris  to  Mr.  Richard  Norris.] 

Brazen  Nose, 

Oxon,  December  19, 1701. 

I  should  be  glad  to  hear  how  squares  are  like  to  go  in  your 
Town.  I  hope  you  will  push  Sir  William's  interest  to  the  highest. 
If  it  be  for  nothing  but  to  keep  a  bad  man  out.  For  I  am  afraid  if 
a  majority  of  the  old  hackle  come  in  again,  they  will  obstruct  the 
publick  affairs  more  this  session  than  the  last,  being  disobliged  by 
this  unexpected  Dissolution. 


Dec'  3,  1701, 

Brazen  Nose. 

I  received  yours,  wherein  I  read  the  account  of  your  Town 
putting  up  Mr  Johnson  in  my  brother's  place.  I  must  own  I  can't 
conscientiously  condemn  your  Town  for  it,  but  am  very  glad  they  have 
pitched  upon  so  good  a  person.  I  should  have  been  much  concerned 
if  they  had  deserted  Sir  Wm  to  have  elected  Sir  Cleve. 


Johnson  was  not  in  Parliament  June  1701,  and  had  therefore  no  connection  with 
Somers'  impeachment.  The  use  of  his  name  (Somers  Tracts,  vol.  xii.  p.  216)  as 
supporting  that  measure  is  a  mistake. 


THE    NORRIS    PAPERS.  75 


XLIII. 

JONATHAN  MURRAY  TO  RICHARD  NORRIS,  CHESTER,  Nov.  27,  1701. — 
Chester  Election. 


Chester,  27  Novr,  1701. 
MR.  RICHARD  NORRIS. 
Sir, 

Herewith  as  to  our  election,  we  have  5  Candidates,  by 
which  means  hope  we  shall  get  in  honest  Mr  Williams,1  he  having 
some  fast  friends  whilst  the  other  interest  is  divided,  but  as  you  would 
befriend  the  true  cause  at  this  juncture,  you  are  desired  to  solicit  Mr 
Pemberton,  and  what  other  freemen  of  the  place  you  have  in  your 
town,  to  appear  at  our  Election,  which  will  be  on  Wednesday  come 
7  night.  I  am  glad,  since  Sir  William  doth  not  stand  himself,  that 
he  is  succeeded  by  so  worthy  a  well  wisher  to  the  present  govern- 
ment as  I  take  Mr  Johnson  to  be,  and  hoping  we  shall  have  a  good 
Parliament,  and  that  there  will  be  a  happy  agreement  betwixt  King 
and  them,  I  conclude,  and  am, 

JONN  MURREY. 

1  Bunbury  and  Shackerley  were  returned. 


76  THE    NORRIS    PAPERS. 


XLIV. 

THOMAS  JOHNSON  TO  RICHARD  NORRIS,  DEC.  30,  1701.  —  Letter  on 
taking  his  seat  for  the  first  time  in  Parliament — Harley  speaker, 
and  his  speech  —  Observations  as  to  the  temper  of  the  house  — 
Money  to  be  raised  for  St.  Peters  Church — Corporation  concerns 
want  more  attention. 


[THE  first  letter  of  Johnson  after  being  sworn  as  Member  for  Liverpool.] 


London,  Dec'  30th,  1701. 
MR.  RICHD  NORRIS. 
Sir, 

This  day  we  made  our  appearances  at  the  House  of  Com- 
mons, and  by  what  follows  you  will  say  a  very  large  one,  about  ten 
o'clock.  At  one  the  King  came  to  the  House  of  Lords,  sent  for  the 
Commons,  ordered  them  to  return  and  choose  a  Speaker,  and  present 
him  to  Morrow  at  11  o'clock.  Accordingly  (after  several  speeches 
on  both  sides)  the  question  was  put  for  Sir  Thos  Littleton,  (being  first 
named,)  on  which  they  divided  yes's  212,  nos  216,  without  any  fur- 
ther division.  Mr  Robert  Harley  was  chosen  Speaker ;  after  the 
usual  method  (I  suppose)  he  expressed  himself,  and  amongst  the  rest 
to  this  effect,  (as  I  remember,)  he  was  sorry  for  the  great  division  in 
the  House  on  that  occasion,  the  only  thing  he  desired  was  the  Union  of 
England,  and  was  assured  the  way  to  perfect  it  was  to  begin  in  that 
house,  which  he  would  as  much  as  in  him  lay  promote. 


THE    NORRIS    PAPERS.  77 

I  cannot  yet  know  persons,  the  Lord  direct  us  —  it  is  early  for  me 
to  give  an  opinion,  (but  pardon  me  if  I  mistake,)  by  what  I  observe 
the  war  will  not  fail  of  our  Side.  My  humble  service  to  Mr  Maior, 
and  Bailiffs,  my  Brethren  the  Aider™,  and  all  my  good  friends.  We 
write  Mr  Maior  joint  this  Post,  after  our  Weeks,  of  which  we  shall 
not  fail.  Good  Sir,  forward  the  raising  money  for  the  Church1  in 
time,  it  is  a  shame ;  and  pray  attend  often  the  Service  of  the  Corpo- 
ration, whose  concerns  does  for  want  of  a  little  care  bleed;  excuse  me 
to  Mr  Cleaveland  this  Post. 

I  am,  &c. 

THOS  JOHNSON. 


1  St.  Peter's,  finished  1704,  built  by  assessment  under  Act  10  and  11  Will.  III. 


78  THE    NOBR1S    PAPERS. 


XLV. 

JOHNSON  TO  RICHARD  NORRIS,  FEB.  16,  1701.  —  Sir  John  Gower, 

(Chancellor  of  the  Duchy,)  promises  to  secure  grant  of  the 

Castle  —  Lord  Molyneucis  opposition. 


London,  Feb?  ye  16th,  1701. 
SIR, 

At  the  last  we  have  got  an  order  for  the  Men's  Oases  — 
as  also  done  all  we  can  about  the  Castle.  Mr  Tyrer  and  Mr  Rich- 
mond are  to  make  a  return  according  to  form,  of  the  Castle,  then  Sr 
John  will  procure  the  Grant  from  the  Queen,  hut  find  Sr  John  is  re- 
solved my  Ld  Molyneux  and  gentlemen  of  the  Country  should  have 
notice,  that  if  they  had  any  thing  to  object  they  might  be  heard ;  we 
had  not  best  be  sure  till  we  have  it.  You  have  the  long  address  — 
which  is  full  of  complaints ;  we  have  other  business  full  as  necessary, 
for  what  have  we  got  thus  far  by  all  our  noise  and  new  commissions? 
Our  friends  into  offices ;  but  the  Majority  will  always  do  things  that 
might  deserve  more  consideration.  These  contending  parties  makes 
the  kingdom  uneasy — we  are  sure  an  unhappy  people  —  and  purely 
occasioned  by  the  Pride  of  Ambitious  Men.  You  will  excuse  me  I 
do  not  now  enlarge.  My  service  to  all  friends. 

I  am,  &c. 
1  Mr  Houghton, }  „  THOS  JOHNSON. 

M^  Tyrer  VT°  be  m  Commissn 

Mr  Case,  j       °f  the  Peace* 

1  Houghton,  a  prosperous  merchant,  and  Tyrer,  a  builder,  and  literally  the  archi- 
tect of  Liverpool,  were  Tories,  and  friends  of  Sir  John  Leveson  Gower,  Chancellor 
of  the  Duchy,  and  Clayton.  Case,  of  the  Red  Hazle,  was  probably  not  altogether 
trusted  by  Gower,  for  he  declined  inserting  his  name  in  the  Commission.  Johnson 
hated  all  that  was  doing,  was  disliked  by  Gower,  and  only  went  with  the  majority 
because  of  his  custom  dues  requirements. 


THE    NORRIS    PAPERS.  79 


XLVI. 

JOHNSON  TO  RICHARD  NORRIS,  MARCH  17, 1701. — Queen's  Accession — 
Profligacy  of  political  leaders  —  Foreign  news  —  Official  changes 
—  Is  for  tolerating  Dissenters — Place  for  Corn  Market  in  Liver- 
pool—  Objects  to  clause  directing  re-shipment  of  Tobacco  without 
allowances  —  Parliamentary  news. 


[Johnson's  views  as  to  toleration  in  this  letter  will  he  read  with  interest. 
Not  only  did  the  Tories  carry  Clayton  as  the  memher,  hut  Thomas  Bicks- 
teth,  a  short  time  hefore  petitioning  against  Clayton,  was  made  mayor.  The 
father  alluded  to  was  mayor  in  1669.  Johnson's  "side  of  the  town"  was 
this  year  entirely  out  of  office.  The  situation  of  the  White  (Weit  ?)  Cross 
as  distinguished  from  the  High  Cross,  does  not  appear.  Throughout  the 
whole  of  this  letter  Johnson's  angry  feeling  towards  Bicksteth,  Houghton 
and  the  Tory  party  is  very  apparent,  and  will  be  traced  in  many  of  the  suc- 
ceeding letters.] 


London,  March  17,  1701. 
To  RICHARD  NORRIS  ESQ., 

Liverpool. 
Sir, 

I  am  favoured  with  your  obliging  letter  of  the  13th  cur- 
rent, for  which  I  am  very  much  obliged  to  you.  I  must  needs  owne 
I  should  be  a  stranger  to  all  proceedings  at  Leverpoole  if  it  were  not 
for  you.  It  was  very  well  you  made  what  appearance  you  cold  at  the 
proclaiming  the  Queen ;  God  grant  she  may  have  a  happy  reigne, 
good  councell  about  her  ;  then  all  things  will  be  well.  The  scheme 
is  now  changed ;  it  was  unanimously  granted  to  Her  Majesty  for  life 
what  the  late  King  had  for  the  civill  list,  there  was  noe  preaching 


80  THE    NORRIS    PAPERS. 

up  good  husbandry  as  formerly  —  all  the  Managers  agreed  some  to 
keep  places  and  some  to  gett  new  —  the  poore  country  hath  lost  all  her 
friends  —  to  see  how  men  are  changed  is  worth  observation,  in  short 
they  are  a  parcel  of  . 

God  be  thanked  the  Dutch  seem  resolved  to  joyne  heartily  with 
us  against  the  French,  and  we  hope  we  shall  humble  the  great  Mon- 
arch. You  see  how  we  have  dealt  with  the  Duke  of  Wolfenbuttle, 
and  hope  shall  have  a  confermation.  There's  no  French  post  to  ad- 
vise us  how  the  French  take  the  news  of  the  death  of  our  good  King, 
as  also  the  Resolution  of  the  Queen  and  Parliament ;  the  former  noe 
doubt  may  be  acceptable,  but  the  latter  will  gaul  them,  for  I  am  in 
hopes  we  are  more  firmly  united  against  the  French  than  before,  and 
we  doubt  he  will  be  apprehensive  of  it  as  soon  as  we.  Severall  al- 
terations are  talked  of —  the  Lord  Rochester  goeing  for  Ireland  ;  the 
Duke  of  Ormond  having  my  Lord  Rumney's  place ;  Sir  Ch:  Musgrave 
Sir  Henry  Goddericke ;  Sir  C.  Hedges  Secretary  of  State  in  room 
of  Lord  Manchester;  my  Lord  Nottingham,  Secretary  Vernon's  — 
—  these  things  you'll  have  in  the  publicke,  and  more  than  I  can  write 
you.  I  would  nott  have  any  of  our  neighbours  be  dejected,  I  hope 
all  things  will  doe  well;  places  of  trust  will  be  given  to  those  esteem'd 
of  the  Church  of  England ;  and  Tolleration  allowed  to  dissenters,  I 
doe  often  say,  is  all  our  dissenters  desire,  and  which  ever  opinion  they 
may  have  of  me,  I  shall  never  give  my  consent  to  abridge  them  of 
that.  I  know  some  have  represented  us  otherwise ;  but  when  I  tell 
you  our  votes  you'll  not  condemn  us.  And  I  hope  I  shall  answer 
anything  that  may  be  alledged  against  me,  and  doe  heartily  wish  all 
men's  votes  were  this  sessions  printed,  that  Gent:  would  be  better 
able  to  judge. 

Sir,  I  am  tould  Mr  Maior  continues  to  alter  the  Corne  Markett ; 
with  submission  I  think  Castle  Street  is  the  properest  place  for  it,  the 
stones  are  there  laid,  and  there's  Room  enough  to  unload  the  Carts — 
methinks  it's  against  the  interest  of  the  corporation  to  draw  all  the 
markett  to  a  beggarly  part  of  the  Towne,  pardon  me.  I  would  propose, 
and  I  hope  it  will  looke  faire.  that  the  Butchers  be  at  the  New  Markett, 
the  Butter,  Cheese,  and  Poultry,  about  the  Change,  as  the  Butchers 


THE    NORRIS    PAPERS.  81 

were.  The  Come  Markett  as  formerly,  the  Yarn  Markett,  Shoe 
Markett,  and  Pottatos,  at  the  wh  [white]  Cross,  —  and  if  you'll  con- 
sider we  draw  most  of  the  people  of  the  Town  farthest  to  Markett,  I 
pray  use  your  Interest  to  quiet  people's  minds.  I  have  some  Com- 
plaints ;  I  am  afraid  the  old  Temper  continues.  When  his  Father 
was  *  *  *  *  it  was  just  so,  he  removed  the  Butchers  part  in  one  place 
and  part  in  another,  and  was  forced  to  alter  it  himself  againe,  but 
never  any  attempted  to  remove  the  Corn  Markett.  Pray  what  does 
your  Market  raise  ?  Doe  you  [know]  anything  of  Widdow  Small- 
place  ?  We  must  have  a  Maior  on  our  side  the  Towne,  and  we'll 
sett  all  things  to  rights.  I  long  to  be  amongst  you ;  the  Land  Tax, 
and  Salt,  prevents  me.  I  note  what  you  say  about  the  Exportation 
of  Tobacco.  Mr  Clayton  showed  me  a  letter  from  Mr  Houghton  the 
last  post,  in  which  he  hopes  that  he  and  I  would  think  it  advisable 
to  have  a  clause  the  Tobacco  should  be  exported  as  imported,  without 
alteration  in  the  same  casque,  marke,  and  number,  and  said  the 
Scotch  had  a  great  advantage  by  selling  all  was  allowed  them  in  the 
country,  and  shipping  to  a  pound  what  was  entered.  I  agreed  soe  far 
it  was  an  advantage,  and  would  consider  of  it.  I  did  not  tell  him 
I  had  anything  from  you.  This  morning  he  began  the  discourse 
again,  and  asked  me  what  we  should  write,  and  I  was  prepared,  — 
Sir,  this  is  a  proposall  of  one  merchant  in  our  corporation,  and  for  us 
to  procure  such  a  clause  without  a  generall  consent  of  the  Merchants 
and  Dealers,  will  not  doe  well.  Eemember  the  bulke  Tobacco,  though 
you  did  use  your  endeavour  to  prevent  the  clause,  you  know  it  hath 
been  otherwaies  represented.  I  told  him  all  our  allowances  were  at 
an  end  if  one  such  practice  [was]  on  foot,  and  then  where  was  our 
Trade  ?  We  might  have  a  small  one  such  as  the  Cuntry  would  ad- 
mitt  of,  but  we  cold  not  expect  it  to  continue  to  supply  those  parts 
we  now  doe.  He  answered,  suppose  there  were  no  damidge  it  were 
better  for  Trade.  Now  the  matter's  explained,  and  that  I'm  afraid 
would  be  aimed  at,  and  received,  if  ever  proposed  by  the  Court,  with 
open  mouth.  And  then  adue  to  half  of  our  Ships  in  Leverpoole ; 
but  this  I  hope  will  never  be  proposed  by  the  L1  [Liverpool]  Mem- 
bers. Is  it  60,000,  or  one  hund:  Tobacco  sold  at  a  low  price  will 

M 


82  THE    NORRIS    PAPERS. 

spoile  our  Markett  ?  What  does  anything  we  now  have  in  our  Cor- 
poration signify  if  none  come  amongst  us  ?  Since  we  have  increased 
in  People,  as  we  have  increased  in  Trade,  and  take  away  that  the 
People  give  too,  and  then  you  have  done  with  the  new  Improve- 
ments. 

He  told  me  Mr.  Pemberton  was  for  such  a  clause ;  but  if  Gent: 
will  consider  the  Inconveniencys  to  the  whole,  as  well  as  the  conve- 
niency  to  a  person  or  two,  they  must  be  of  another  opinion.  Good 
Sir,  manage  this  thing  prudently  so  as  not  to  be  played  with,  for  if 
such  a  thing  come  to  the  custom  house  officers1  ears  it  will  destroy 
us.  I  have  scrawled  this  letter  over  that  you  can  scarse  read  it. 
You'll  please  to  pardon  me.  This  day  severall  private  bills,  a  report 
from  the  Committee  of  Elections  touching  the  Election  for  the  Bur- 
rough  of  East  Eetford,  and  after  3  Divisions  it  went  for  the  sitting 
Members.  Then  the  order  of  the  day  was  read  for  balloting  for  the 
Commision  of  Account,  and  agreed  unto,  and  every  member  put  in 
his  list,  and  a  Committee  appointed  to  withdraw  to  take  account  of 
the  same,  and  report  to  the  house.  Accordingly  they  did  withdraw ; 
I  was  one  ;  we  went  through  the  Glass,  and  then  adjourned  for  one 
hour.  The  majority  will  fall  on  the  Gent,  we  have  proposed,  by  what 
we  can  observe.  I  have  troubled  you  long,  excuse  me. 

I  am, 

Dear  Sir, 
Your  humble  Servant, 

THO.  JOHNSON. 

Be  sure  you  forward  an  address  ^>  post,  if  not  done  already ;  people 
talk  the  parliament  can  sitt  no  longer  than  6  months,  and  must  then 
be  a  new  one  called.  I  wish  the  Nation  may  be  prudent  in  their 
choice. 


THE    NORRIS    PAPERS. 


83 


XLVII. 

THE  SAME  TO  THE  SAME,   MARCH  19,  1701.  —  Scotch  news  — 
Address  —  No  Address  from  Liverpool —  The  Mayor  seldom 

writes. 


London,  March  ye  19th,  1701. 
MR.  RICHD  NORRIS. 
Sir, 

I  have  yours  of  the  15th  Curr*,  and  note  its  contents  for 
answer.  Duke  Hamilton  is  looked  upon  to  be  a  dissatisfied  person, 
and  uneasy  ;  but  I  hope  he  will  not  be  able  to  make  any  disturbance 
in  Scotland.  The  News  tells  you  the  Queen  is  Proclaimed  at  Eden- 
bourg,  pursuant  to  the  late  King's,  and  the  present  Queen's  desire. 
The  House  hath  this  day  voted,  Resolved  that  leave  be  given  to  bring 
in  a  bill  to  enable  the  Queen  to  name  Commrs  to  Treat  for  a  Union 
with  Scotland,  between  the  Kingdoms  of  England  and  Scotland,  and 
a  bill  was  ordered  to  be  brought  in  according  to  the  said  Resolution. 
I  think  it  will  come  to  nothing  at  the  last. 

This  day  we  accompanied  Col1  Stanley1  with  the  County  address. 
Pray  where  is  ours  ?  I  am  afraid  I  displeased  Mr  Maior  in  telling 
him  this  post  he  could  not  expect  in  the  public  an  account  how  the 
Queen  was  proclaimed  at  Liverpool,  for  that  we  never  had  an  account 
from  — but  what  was  from  you  and  others.2  Mr  Clayton  takes 

•* 

1  The  Honourable  James  Stanley,  in  1702  the  tenth  Earl  of  Derby,  who  died  in 
1735.    Mackay  styles  him  more  a  soldier  than  a  statesman.    Swift,  we  suppose, 
meant  something  caustic  when  he  wrote  after  this  Earl's  character,  "  as  arrant  a 
• as  his  brother."     This  James  was  a  distinguished  officer,  and  had  very  lucra- 
tive places  at  court. 

2  Bicksteth  remembered  how  lately  he  had  opposed  Clayton,  and  there  was  evi- 
dently no  cordiality  between  them.    The  probability  is  that  the  Mayor  was  a  Jacob- 
ite, and  not  of  that  party  now  rapidly  forming  which,  adopting  the  Revolution, 


84  THE    NORRIS    PAPERS. 

notice  he  never  writes  one  Scrawl  to  him,  nor  indeed  but  some  2  or 
3  Letters  about  business ;  we  do  not  expect  them  from  him,  but  his 
Clerk  might  write  for  him,  and  when  even  he  does  write  it  should  be 
joint.  For  my  part  I  desire  no  particular  letters  to  me,  but  am  de- 
sirous all  should  be  pleased, 

I  am,  &c., 

THOS  JOHNSON. 


engrafted  upon  it  what  are  called  Tory  principles,  and  to  which  Clayton  belonged. 
Bixteth,  or  Bickersteth,  is  an  old  Liverpool  landholder's  name. 


THE    NORRIS    PAPERS.  85 

XLVIII. 

EXTRACTS  OF  LETTERS  FROM  HENRY  NORRIS  TO  MRS.  NORRIS. 


[THE  reader  is  referred  to  the  Introduction  for  an  account  of  William 
Garway.  We  have  here  the  narration  of  the  death  and  funeral  of  this 
eminent  person.  His  Will  is  given  in  Dallaway's  Sussex.  Of  his  numerous 
relations  he  selected  as  his  heirs  Sir  William  and  the  Kev.  Henry  Norris, 
and  after  their  deaths  without  issue  male,  he  bequeathed  all  to  Christ's  Hos- 
pital. Garway  had  a  mortgage  on  the  Speke  estate,  and  however  kindly 
written,  the  request  of  the  Treasurer  of  the  Hospital  to  Garway's  sister 
caused  great  sorrow,  as  Mrs.  Norris  states  in  her  letters.  It  is  seldom  so 
long  lived  a  family  as  this  of  Garway  occurs ;  the  grandfather  was  born  in 
1538,  and  must  have  been  known  to  the  grandson,  who  died  in  1701.] 


William  Garway's  death  expected —  Wishes  to  see  Mrs.  Norris  — 
Desires  his  Nephew  to  remain  at  Chichester. 

Chichester,  Aug*  3,  1701. 
MRS.  NORRIS, 

Speak. 
Hond  Madam, 

I  can  give  no  other  account  of  the  state  of  my  Uncle 
Garwin^s  health  but  what  I  have  from  his  apothecary,  and  I  perceive 
from  the  first  of  the  month  to  this  time  there  has  been  no  alteration 
in  him.  He  has  a  slow  fever  upon  him,  which  makes  him  continuall 
thirsty,  and  is  very  subject  to  be  drowsie.  He  seemed  very  earnest 
(as  they  tell  me)  to  have  you  come  up.  I  am  sensible  it  must  be 
very  inconvenient  to  you  at  present,  as  well  as  hazardous  to  your 
health  these  Dog  days  to  take  such  a  journey,  but  I  dare  not  mention 


86  THE    NOBB1S    PAPERS. 

a  word  of  that  to  any  of  them.  I  should  be  heartily  glad  if  you  were 
here,  because  I  believe  he  desires  it.  He  may  very  probably  (if  he 
dont  recover  this  fitt)  hold  out  a  pretty  while.  My  orders  are  not  to 
stir  from  this  place  till  his  pleasure.  He  has  sent  me  money  to  bear 
my  charges,  with  several  kind  messages  by  his  servants. 

Yr  obed*,  &c. 

HEN.  NORRIS. 


Gar  way  dead>  and  Henry  Norris  leaving  for  Ford. 

Chichester,  Aug.  4,  1701. 

This  minute  I  am  taking  horse  for  Ford,  bearing  the  ill  news 
of  my  Uncle's  death,  who  departed  this  life  about  six  this  afternoon. 
He  is  translated  without  doubt  to  a  far  better  place,  which  is  the  only 
consideration  that  administers  comfort  to  us  for  the  loss  of  so  good  a 
man,  and  also  so  good  a  friend. 


Funeral  and  other  Arrangements. 

Forde,  Aug*  6,  1701. 

I  sent  you  by  the  last  post  the  unwelcome  news  of  my  Uncle's 
death.  I  have  only  this  to  relate  further  concerning  his  departure, 
that  the  Almighty  heard  his  prayers,  and  according  to  his  desire  gave 
him  an  easie  passage  into  the  other  world,  for  the  apothecary  told  me 
he  never  saw  any  depart  with  so  much  ease  and  quiet ;  he  continued 
sensible  to  the  last  half  hour  of  his  life. 

Some  things  relating  to  his  funeral  he  wrote  down  in  paper,  as  par- 
ticularly what  they  that  carried  him  should  have,  what  the  Minister, 
and  what  the  Sexton,  but  no  farther.  And  since  I  have  heard  him 
declaim  against  pompous  funerals,  I  thought  it  my  duty  in  deference 
to  his  opinion  to  bring  him  to  his  Grave  as  near  as  I  could  to  his  sen- 
timents. Therefore  have  invited  nobody  but  six  neighbour  Gentle- 
men of  his  acquaintance  to  hold  up  the  Pall,  to  each  of  which  I  have 


THE    NORRIS    PAPERS.  87 

ordered  a  handsome  ring,  a  hat  band,  and  a  pair  of  gloves ;  have 
likewise  ordered  his  housekeeper  and  servants  mourning.  And  for 
the  rest  that  are  so  kind  to  attend  him  to  church  I  have  provided  only 
a  glass  of  wine.  If  this  management  be  thought  too  expensive,  they 
must  attribute  it  to  my  being  a  perfect  stranger  here,  and  therefore 
willing  to  seem  kind  to  the  family  I  am  like  to  live  with  at  present, 
that  I  might  engage  them  to  be  more  kind  and  faithful  to  me.  If 
you  think  without  any  damage  to  your  health  you  could  perform  such 
a  journey,  it  would  be  extremely  satisfactory  to  me  to  have  you  here, 
and  indeed  it  is  almost  absolutely  requisite  you  should  come  up. 
But  if  you  dare  not  venture  in  person,  you  must  instruct  somebody 
by  a  letter  of  attorney  to  officiate  for  you  as  Executor,  because  all  the 
small  legacies  he  left  are  to  be  paid  within  a  month  after  his  death, 
which  can't  be  paid  without  your  order. 

As  soon  as  I  can  I  will  get  an  Inventory  of  all  his  household  goods 
and  plate,  because  they  are  to  be  Sir  William's  as  soon  as  he  arrives 
in  England ;  for  as  I  take  it,  by  my  Uncle's  will  he  has  no  title  to 
either  lands  or  goods  till  he  comes  to  England. 


Garwaifs  Funeral. 

Ford,  8*h  August,  1701. 

Yesterday  I  did  the  last  office  to  my  deceased  Uncle,  which  I 
performed  as  nearly  as  I  could  according  to  his  discourses  he  held  of 
that  affair  while  he  was  alive.  I  invited  nobody  to  his  funeral  but 
those  Gentlemen  that  held  up  his  pall,  nevertheless  the  country,  out 
of  a  true  affection,  as  I  really  believe  they  had,  or  I  am  sure  ought  to 
have  had  for  him,  came  in  very  much  to  pay  their  last  respects  to 
him,  insomuch  that  I  was  wholly  unprovided  to  give  any  satisfaction 
to  half  of  them  that  came  to  attend  the  funeral.  I  took  as  good  care  as 
I  could  to  show  respect  to  all  his  tenants,  and  for  the  rest  I  suppose 
they  will  load  me  with  no  small  share  of  scandal,  but  that  is  the 
least  of  my  concern. 


88  THE    NORRIS    PAPERS. 

The  Epitaph. 

Oxon:  Jan7  29,  1701-2. 

In  my  last  I  desired  you  to  give  your  opinion  what  sort  of  an 
Inscription  you  would  have  upon  my  Uncled  monument,  but  I  sup- 
pose you  have  forgot  it ;  but  I  hope  you  will  in  your  next,  for  the 
man  has  completed  it  to  that  part. 


Treasurer  of  Christ's  Hospital  claims  Garwatfs  Property. 

Christ's  Hospital,  London,  6th  April,  1703. 
MRS.  KATHARINE  NORRIS, 

Speke. 
Madam, 

Your  late  deceased  brother,  William  Garway,  Esqre, 
having  devised  by  his  will  the  reversion  of  all  his  real  estate  in  the 
parishes  of  Clemping  and  Ford,  in  Arundel  in  the  county  of  Sussex, 
which  now  by  the  death  of  Sir  Wm  Norris  without  heirs  male  is 
fallen  to  us,  I  do  therefore  by  direction  of  our  Governors  in  Court 
humbly  beg  the  favor  of  your  advice  and  assistance  in  this  affair, 
and  that  you  will  be  pleased  to  let  us  know  how  and  by  what  means 
we  may  come  to  the  Deeds  and  Writings  belonging  to  that  estate, 
and  what  else  you  shall  think  may  give  us  light  thereunto,  it  being 
given  towards  the  support  and  maintenance  of  several  hundreds  of 
poor  orphans.  In  doing  whereof  you  will  do  an  act  of  generous 
charity,  and  will  oblige  our  whole  House,  and  more  particularly, 
Madam,  &c. 

FRAN.  BREREWOOD, 

Treasurer. 

We  had  addressed  ourselves  to  you  earlier  but  that  according  to  an 
account  we  had  from  Madam  Garway,  you  were  expected  every  day 
in  Town. 


THE    NORRIS    PAPERS.  89 


XLIX. 

JOHNSON  TO  NORRIS,  MARCH  26,  1702.  —  Regrets  differences  amongst 
the  Townspeople  —  Frauds  on  the  Customs  universal  at  Liverpool 
—  Character  of  Clayton  —  Ready  to  resign^  and  only  in  Par- 
liament to  keep  the  seat  for  Sir  William  Norris  —  Harley  bets 
his  brother  Parliament  would  rise  before  April  8. 


London,  March  26th,  1702. 
MR.  KICHD  NORRIS, 
Sir, 

I  am  favored  with  yours  of  the  22nd  Curr1,  and  Note  its 
contents  for  answer.  I  am  very  sorry  that  any  business  that  concerns 
the  Interest  of  the  Corporation  should  occasion  any  difference  or  hot 
words ;  but  I  hope  all  will  be  forgotten  when  the  Gen*  have  said  and 
done  what  they  pleased.  Such  a  motion  would  have  been  prejudicial 
to  us,  and  a  certain  handle  to  take  away  all  damages ;  we  must  not 
be  angry  with  one  another  that  we  differ  in  judgment:  nothing  more 
common.  For  my  part,  if  the  majority  had  thought  it  for  their  ad- 
vantage, I  would  have  readily  concurred,  and  that  was  the  reason  you 
heard  of  it ;  for  if  I  had  agreed  to  the  first  proposal,  you  had  never 
heard  of  it  till  the  Votes  had  given  you  acco*.  Mr  Clayton  is  very 
angry  you  said  he  was  only  Member  to  Mr  Houghton  ;  sure  you  did 
not  say  so.  As  to  what  he  wrote  of  me  and  Mr  Hewston  being 
levelled  at  that  I  said  so,  is  false,  for  in  his  own  chamber,  discoursing 
on  this  matter,  "  I  knew,"  says  he,  "  Mr  Hewston  and  some  few  who 
reserve  the  Irish  and  Scotch  Tobacco  may  be  against  it ;  but  for  the 
rest  I  am  sure  it  were  better  that  there  were  no  such  practices."  But 
I  told  him  it  was  practised  by  the  whole  Town,  and  I  thought  what 
did  mostly  promote  our  Trade.  "  Well,  much  good  may  it  do  them; 
I  will  have  no  such  money.'1'1  I  answered,  "  I  must  own  I  do  repack, 


90  THE    NORRIS    PAPERS. 

and  I  knew  Mr  Houghton  did  so  long  before,"  and  a  great  deal  more 
I  said,  but  nothing  of  being  levelled  against  us.  With  submission, 
had  Mr  Hewston  and  I  been  the  only  dealers  in  Town,  then  such  an 
expression  might  come  from  me,  but  there  being  others,  none  will 
think  that  ever  I  could  say  so.  Sir,  he  seems  satisfied  not  to  move 
any  farther,  and  says  it  can  never  hold  long,  nor  the  great  allowances. 
I  hope  they  will  continue  to  us  as  long  as  others,  and  that  we  by  our 
measures  shall  be  no  ways  instruments  to  destroy  them ;  but,  good 
Sir,  no  more  heats  or  words  about  it.  I  do  assure  you  he  is  very  sen- 
sible, I  must  always  do  him  that  justice,  and  has  a  very  good  notion 
of  most  business,  and  a  great  memory ;  he  is  too  apt  to  speak  things 
with  the  largest,  but  that  I  find  here  is  a  necessary  qualification, 
which  I  am  concerned  for,  many  a  good  cause  is  lost  for  want  of  such 
managers.  He  says  you  said  you  would  stand  for  Member  yourself 
before  he  should  be  one ;  he  seems  averse  against  standing  again,  but 
I  take  no  notice  of  that,  for  I  do  believe  he  would  have  Mr  Hough- 
ton.  For  my  part  I  shall  be  willing,  if  the  Corporation  pleases,  to 
resign  to  any  they  shall  think  capable  to  serve  them.  I  have  no 
pleasure  in  this  station,  and  would  never  accept  of  it  but  to  keep  up 
the  Interest  of  Sir  William  Norris,  who  I  hope  will  come  safe  home, 
and  long  represent  us  in  Parliament.  I  shall  be  willing  to  give  you 
my  assistance,  that  you  join  with  Mr  Clayton  till  please  God  he 
comes.  We  are  told  here,  Interest  is  making  at  Liverpool ;  I  shall 
speedily  think  myself  obliged  to  acquaint  the  Town  with  my  resolu- 
tion to  serve  them,  or  decline ;  but  I  rather  incline  to  the  latter,  but 
this  to  yourself.  We  had  work  with  the  Collectors  and  Receivers 
yesterday,  and  told  the  house  how  hard  they  dealt  with  Merchts,  to 
oblige  them  to  pay  Interest  if  they  did  not  pay  their  bonds  in  such  a 
time.  Yet  the  same  order  did  not  go  against  the  Collectors  turned 
out,  who  owed  <£  14000.  You  see  the  votes  we  passed.  I  am  afraid 
we  shall  be  forced  to  pay  back  the  Money  we  received  on  account  of 
the  Corporation.  The  House  seems  resolved  to  put  an  end  to  the 
Sessions.  Mr  Speaker  laid  a  guinea  with  his  Brother  last  night,  that 
the  House  would  be  up  by  the  8th  April.  Mr  Clayton  and  I  dined 
with  him  yesterday.  I  wonder  at  Mr  Cleaveland  should  be  of  the 


THE    NORRIS    PAPERS.  91 

opinion  to  export  Tobacco  in  the  bulk  as  imported.     I  have  troubled 
you  long ;  pray  all  be  friends,  and  no  more  said. 

I  am,  &c. 
THOS.  JOHNSON. 

[However  ill-humouredly  Johnson  and  Clayton  acted  together,  they  re- 
spected each  other's  talents.  Clayton,  by  this  letter,  felt  an  approximation 
to  a  better  system  than  that  under  which  the  customs  of  Liverpool  were 
managed.  Johnson  was  probably  ten  years  younger  than  his  colleague,  and 
the  testimony  to  Clayton's  high  qualities  here  given  is  valuable  from  one  who, 
though  no  friend,  had  been  constantly  associated  with  him.  The  intention 
to  oppose  Clayton  existed  thus  early,  though  Richard  Norris  affected  to  re- 
coil from  the  base  idea  of  such  a  thing.  Harley,  the  Speaker,  betting  a 
guinea  with  his  brother  Edward,  the  member  for  Leominster,  is  character- 
istic of  the  times.] 


92  THE    NORRIS    PAPERS. 


L. 

THE  SAME  TO  THE  SAME,  APRIL  2,  1702.  —  Beady  to  resign  —  More 

intends  to  stand — Difference  with  Houghton —  Clayton 

left  Town. 


London,  April  2,  1702. 
To  RICHARD  NORRIS  ESQ. 
Dear  Sir, 

I  have  your's  of  the  29th  ultimo,  and  note  its  contents ; 
I  am  extremely  concerned  I  should  give  you  so  much  to  answer 
myne.  It  was  never  once  in  my  thoughts  that  you  either  said  you 
would  oppose  Mr  Clayton,  or  thought  so ;  but  what  I  proposed  was 
real,  and  I  still  am  very  ready,  when  there  shall  be  a  dissolution,  to 
lay  aside  my  thoughts  of  standing,  and  readily  serve  any  of  my  good 
friends,  or  whom  they  shall  think  good  to  recommend.  As  to  Mr 
Clayton's  laying  down,  I  know  he'll  not,  neither  would  I  have  him, 
least  we  have  a  worse.  Sir  Cleave  does  certainly  design  to  stand,  or 
will  make  an  interest ;  and  if  Gentlemen  would  consider  the  service 
such  men  does  their  Boroughs,  (as  they  call  them,)  I  am  sure  they 
would  never  choose  such.  I  often  wish  for  our  good  friend  Sir  Wil- 
liam :  pray  let  us  be  cautious  how  we  divide  our  interest,  or  give 
Mr  Rollins  or  them  any  advantage. 

As  to  Mr  Houghton's  expressions,  God  ^forgive  him,  I  doe  freely, 
and  doe  serve  him,  and  all  others  of  the  Corporation,  impartially ;  I 
make  no  distinction.  Pray  what  was  I  to  write  ?  A  public  letter 
about  his  private  letter  that  came  to  Mr  Clayton,  who  showed  it  me  ? 
We  discoursed  about  it,  and  I  told  Mr  Clayton  my  mind,  and  said,  if 
the  majority  of  the  Merchants  desired  such  a  clause,  we  might  pro- 
cure one,  but  was  not  convenient  without  their  consent ;  he  promised 
to  advise,  so  he  did  not  expect  I  should  write  them  to  do  it  except  I 


THE    NOBRIS    PAPERS.  93 

saw  occasion,  but  on  the  other  hand  I  thought  I  might  as  well  give 
you  my  reasons  against  it,  as  he,  or  Mr  Houghton,  their  reasons  for  it. 
I  am  satisfied  his  wife,  and  Mr  Houghton  together,  have  persuaded 
him  to  leave  the  house,  lest  he  should  any  ways  assist  about  the  Bock 
(Salt)  bill.  I  did  put  it  home  to  him  that  I  thought  he  would  not 
have  gone  had  it  not  been  for  the  Tobacco  business ;  I  thought  Mrs 
Clayton  might  be  angry,  (he  was  silent,)  in  short  he's  this  afternoon 
gone.  Several  business  of  the  Corporation's,  publick  and  private, 
persons  never  could  get  his  assistance  in,  and  in  which  he  was  jointly 
desired ;  I  must  now  strive  my  own  Interest.  Two  or  three  days 
before  he  went  away,  I  acquainted  him  the  Grant  for  the  Castle  was 
not  perfected.  0  !  then  he  was  not  for  Petitioning  the  Queen  ;  he's 
for  Mr  Maior's  consent ;  now  he's  gone  he's  a  pleasant  man.  I  could 
make  you  laugh  heartily  about  the  address,  but  that  till  we  be  so 
happy  to  meet.  Mr  Houghton's  ship  Eliza  is  left  out  of  the  list ; 
he'l  be  angry.  Mr  Clayton  knew  I  would  have  put  her  in,  and  he 
would  not  let  me ;  indeed  half  of  the  ships  in  will  not  go,  and  may 
prevent  others  that  would  go.  The  Commons  addressed  the  Queen 
to-day,  and  adjourned  till  Wednesday.  I  wish  I  were  at  home  till 
Friday  morning.  The  post  stays;  I  have  but  rudely  answered 
yours. 

I  am,  &c. 

THOS.  JOHNSON. 


94  THE    NORBIS    PAPERS. 


LI. 

JOHN  TRAVERS  TO  EICHARD  NORRIS,  JULY  16,   1702.  —  Leaves  Sir 
William  Norris's  Election  to  be  determined  on  by  his  Friends. 


London,  July  16,  1702. 
MR  RICHARD  NORRIS, 
Sir, 

I  cannot  think  that  the  Corporation  of  Leverpool  can 
forgett  the  extraordinary  service  Sir  Wm  hath  done  for  them,  and 
should  be  heartily  glad  they  always  bore  a  sense  thereof;  but  as  his 
return  cannot  be  within  the  time  of  the  present  election,  I  must  leave 
you,  and  the  rest  of  his  friends,  to  judge  of  the  expediency  of  put- 
ting him  up,  and  you,  being  on  the  spot,  can  better  make  a  judgment 
than  myself,  which,  with  my  respects, 

I  remain,  &c., 

JOHN  TRATERS. 


THE    NORRIS    PAPERS.  95 


LIL 

JOHNSON  TO  NORRIS,  LIVERPOOL,  OCTOBER  9, 1702.  —  Election  of 
Mayor —  Towns  matters. 


Leverpoole,  October  9th,  1702. 
MR.  RJCHD  NORRIS. 

Sir, 

I  am  very  much  obliged  with  your  kind  letter  of  the  3rd 
curr*,  to  hear  of  your  health  and  prosperity  is  most  acceptable ;  I 
should  have  been  well  pleased  to  have  received  some  good  news  from 
my  ever  Hond  friend  Sr  Wm  Norris.  I  hope  it  is  better  with  him 
than  here  reported. 

I  am  not  yet  resolved  when  to  be  at  London ;  I  should  have  been 
well  pleased  to  have  seen  you  there.  I  have  wanted  you.  I  think 
the  Town  not  like  itself,  we  being  at  such  a  loss  for  a  Man  as  I  never 
knew.  Mr  Benn  and  Mr  Sweeting  will  inform  you  the  Sunday  be- 
fore they  left  Liverpool,  Mr  Cleaveland  having  positively  denied  us, 
we  concluded  to  put  up  Mr  Jos^1  Prior,  with  which  I  must  own  I 
was  not  well  pleased ;  I  complied  with  the  rest ;  Mr  Maior  some 
days  after  spoke  to  him,  but  Joseph  confessing  truly  that  he  had  a 
distemper  in  his  head,  he  could  by  no  means  that  year  serve.  Then 
we  were  again  to  seek.  Last  Monday  we  again  (Mayor  and  3  Aldm) 
could  think  of  no  other  but  Mr  Briggs ;  he  was  sent  for,  and  readily 
accepted  of  the  offer,  but  being  too  much  elevated  with  the  thoughts 
of  it,  was  not  able  to  govern  himself,  but  after  his  usual  manner,  him- 
self to  make  the  thing  Public,  was  drunk  two  nights  together.  This 
made  us  send  for  him,  and  to  be  plain  with  him  and  short  with  you, 
I  desired  he  would  wait  on  Mr  Maior  and  desire  to  be  excused  for 
reasons  he  might  give  him,  for  found  he  was  not  able  to  govern  him- 
self. This  he  took  in  the  wrong  sense,  however  I  told  him  I  would 


96  THE    NORRIS    PAPERS. 

be  of  my  promise,  and  the  next  day  being  the  Councill,  I  found 
Gent1  willing  to  the  same,  and  we  all  agreed  to  chose  our  friend  Jo. 
Cockshut.  But  I  omitted  to  tell  you  Mr  Fleetwood  was  here  on 
Saturday,  and  in  company  discourse  falling  he  must  be  Mayor,  and 
give  200  for  the  Organ.  Some  was  very  fond  of  this,  and  so  foolish 
to  offer  him  to  be  Mayor,  and  the  next  week  a  noise  went  about  In- 
terest was  making  for  him,  and  that  in  our  Council,  and  some  ques- 
tions was  put  to  Mr  Maior  that  made  us  think  to  prevent  any  such 
thing.  We  filled  up  the  Council  to  41,  and  left  no  room  for  *  *  *  * 
*  *  *  *  with  which  I  said  you  would  be  pleased ;  the  names  of  them 
are  R.  Barrow,  Thos  Dean,  Wm  Webster,  Jo.  Eaton  and  Jo.  Fells, 
Ro.  Seacom,  all  honest  men.  The  discourse  of  Mr  Fleetwood  va- 
nished. The  Secy,  Mr  Tyrer,  and  some  others,  are  for  Mr  Briggs, 
but  it  will  not  do,  nor  do  I  believe  it ;  but  when  I  consider  Mr  Tur- 
ner sells  Timber  and  Eopes,  it  almost  makes  me  believe  it,  for  Mr 
Maior  would  rather  bind  any  one  else  than  J.  C.,  and  I  thought  he 
was  afraid  he  should  lose  an  interest  in  the  Captn.  I  have  now  tired 
you,  and  yet  I  cannot  omit  to  give  you  our  account  on  the  other  side. 
The  Gen*  now  at  London  need  not  be  angry  their  Tobacco  is  not 
here.  Here's  orders  that  all  the  principal  Officers  shall  be  on  all 
views,  and  the  Land  Waiter  on  the  Ships.  Mr  N.  is  to  be  on  all 
views,  Captn  Harris  is  come  here,  and  has  complained  to  the  Com- 
mrs  too  great  damage  are  given,  and  desires  some  Gen*  may  be  sent 
to  curb  the  ill  practices  of  this  wicked  Port ;  in  short,  all  are  foul 
frightened.  Mr  Straingeways  is  come  back  from  White-haven,  and 
Bently  and  one  Jones sent  in  his  place.  I  wish  we  had  ex- 
changed with  W.  I  should  be  glad  to  see  you  here  at  our  Election. 

I  am,  &c. 

THOS  JOHNSON. 

Madam  Norris,  I  suppose,  acquaints 
you  with  the  alteration  in  the  Land  Tax, 
which  falls  heavy  on  Speak ;  we  were 
out  voted  by  2.  Several  of  our  Neigh- 
bours went  not  with  us.  Now  I  think 
I  have  told  you  most  of  what  has  passed. 


THE    NORRIS    PAPERS.  97 

Lin. 

THE  SAME  TO  THE  SAME,  OCTOBER  18,  1702.  —  Same  subject. 


Leverpoole,  October  18,  1702. 
MR  RICHARD  NORRIS, 
Sir, 

Youl  now  be  in  expectation  to  know  the  success  of  this 
day,  which  after  some  dispute  we  carried  it  very  clear  for  Mr  Cock- 
shutt.  Mr  Maior  and  Mr  Mauditt,  with  most  of  the  Council,  was 
for  Mr  Briggs,  I  demanded  a  poll  for  Mr  Cockshutt,  soon  after 
he  stood  up  and  said  he  desired  not  to  be  chose;  but  I  told 
him  I  had  given  my  vote,  and  now  the  Poll  must  go  on  ;  if  the 
Majority  fell  on  him  he  might  fine ;  in  short  Mr  Maior  believed 
the  report  of  the  Town,  or  rather  Jo.  Lady  and  Amery's  club,  and 
thought  sure  of  it.  Aldn  Tyrer  (I  thank  him  for  it)  sent  to  me  this 
morning  to  know  who  I  thought  would  be  suitable  Bailiffs  for  Mr 
Briggs,  but  he  had  no  occasion.  Mr  Maior  this  morning  told  M1" 
Maudit  he  would  be  for  Mr  Cockshutt ;  he  has  changed  3  times  in 
14  days.  We  had  good  sport  for  a  little  bit,  but  they  fell  off  to  no- 
thing, the  honest  fellows  came  in  droves.  I  do  assure  you  I  never 
asked  man.  You'll  say  this  was  a  bold  attempt  to  go  against  5  Al- 
dermen and  most  of  the  Council.  I  wanted  you  much.  I  have  dis- 
obliged my  old  neighbour,  and  some  others.  We  are  not  yet  resolved 
when  to  set  out,  but  suppose  on  Friday.1  I  have  this  night  account, 

1  Thus  Johnson,  instead  of  going  to  London  to  assist  in  Barley's  re-election  as 
Speaker,  (October  21,)  stayed  at  home  to  get  a  Mayor  on  his  own  side.  Cleveland 
was  a  great  merchant.  There  were  two  brothers,  John  and  William  ;  the  former 
was  Mayor  in  1703,  and  elected  with  Johnson  to  serve  the  borough  in  1710  ;  William 
was  Member  in  1722.  John  bought  the  Birkenhead  property  ;  William  was  father- 
in-law  to  Edward  Norris.  Cockshutt  left  no  son,  and  his  daughter  married  Hard- 
i,  who  was  M.P.  for  Liverpool  in  1754.  Gregson  says  that  Cockshutt  came  from 

o 


98  THE    NORRIS    PAPERS. 

the  Ann  and  Mary  is  in  Waterford  ;  she  came  out  of  Antigua  the 
1st  of  August,  and  on  the  5th  met  with  a  Pirate,  who  shot  to  bring 
him  too,  and  killed  the  poor  Master,  and  after  took  most  of  their 
provisions. 

I  am,  &c. 

THO:  JOHNSON. 


Leicestershire,  (Staunton  Harold,)  and  refers  to  Nicholls.  He  had  a  brother  who. 
was  a  tailor  in  London.  In  those  days  the  sons  of  the  best  families  were  shop- 
keepers ;  thus  Robert  Aston,  Sir  Willoughby's  son,  and  brother  to  Mrs.  Magdalen 
Norris,  was  a  linen  draper. 

In  these  letters  the  two  parties  in  the  town  are  well  set  forth  ;  no  doubt  the  belief 
in  Anne's  Tory  predilections,  and  the  ignorance  as  to  the  Duchess  of  Maryborough's 
Whig  inclinations,  greatly  strengthened  Bixteth's  party,  in  an  age,  too,  when  com- 
merce greatly  depended  on  Government ;  but  the  energy  of  Johnson  overcame  all 
opposition. 

The  allusion  to  the  setting  out  refers  to  the  custom  of  attending  on  horseback  the 
Members  for  the  borough,  when  they  went  to  parliament.  This  is  frequently  men- 
tioned in  this  correspondence,  and  every  townsman  seems  to  have  made  it  his  busi- 
ness to  attend,  and  some  to  ride  as  far  as  Prescot.  The  ceremony  sometimes  occupied 
two  days.  Done  writes,  October  19,  1705, — "After  a  great  fatigue  yesterday  and 
this  day,  waiting  on  our  Parliament  men  part  of  the  way  to  London." 


THE    NOBRIS    PAPERS.  99 


LIV. 

PETER  HALL  TO  RICHARD  NORRIS,   OCTOBER  20,  1702.  —  Two  new 
Surveyors  arrive  at  Liverpool  —  Great  sensation  there. 


[THE  writer  of  this  letter  was  Johnson's  brother-in-law.] 


Leverpoole,  Octor  20,  1702. 
MR.  RICHARD  NORRIS. 
Dear  Sir, 

Since  my  last  we  have  2  Surveyors  come  down  from 
London,  one  Mr  Manly,  the  other  Mr  Walker ;  no  one  had  any  no- 
tice of  them  till  they  came  into  the  Custom  House  yard  on  Saturday 
morning,  who  immediately  joined  themselves  to  our  Surveyors  to 
view  tobacco,  and  asking  whether  they  had  viewed  any.  They  said 
one,  which  Mr  Manly  desired  to  see  again,  which  was  showed  him, 
and  had  130ft).  allowed  in,  but  he  said  it  was  too  much,  and  reduced 
it  to  50ft).  and  put  all  the  Pilgarlicks  into  a  cold  sweat.  They  con- 
tinued all  Saturday  to  view  with  great  diligence,  making  very  scurvy 
allowance  on  all  that  was  dry,  but  did  better  than  our  surveyor  did 
on  wett.  On  Sunday,  (to  give  you  a  journal  of  our  proceedings,) 
after  divine  Service  we  went  to  the  Exchange  to  elect  a  new  Mayor, 
and  the  old  Mayor  immediately  proposed  as  a  very  suitable  person 
Mr  Jos.  Briggs,  for  whom  he  gave  his  vote,  on  which  Mr  Johnson 
demanded  a  poll  for  Mr  Cockshutt,  which  was  granted,  and  then 
began  old  Jasper  [Maudit,]  Mr  Sharpies,  and  most  of  the  Council, 
for  the  first,  who  went  on  very  briskly,  insomuch  I  was  astonished, 
and  saw  it  was  a  trick  of  the  old  charter  men,  there  being  Aldn 
Tyrer,  Aldn  Windle,  Mr  Hurst,  and  many  others,  to  back  them, 
who  at  first  seemed  mightily  pleased  to  see  the  poll  go  on  their  side ; 
but  Mr  Johnson  began  to  labour  very  hard,  and  when  once  the  Towns- 
men, no  way  biassed,  perceived  the  matter,  they  came  in  whole  droves 


100  THE    NORRIS    PAPERS. 

for  J.  C.,  who  quickly  run  ahead  the  first,  which  put  the  Gentlemen 
into  mighty  trouble,  seeing  this  their  plot  blasted,  and  to  our  credit 
we  set  J.  C.  on  the  seat ;  since  which  I  have  not  seen  his  Worship. 
Monday  morning  is  come,  and  our  2  new  Surveyors  are  on  the 
ground  before  8  o'clock,  and  sent  for  the  merchants  to  come  view 
their  tobacco.  I  began  having  some  few,  and  was  seconded  by 
Messrs  Clayton,  Houghton,  and  others,  and  maintained  pretty  sharp 
disputes  with  them  ;  after  that  we  had  about  ten  hogsheads  Ro.  and 
Eliz.  in  the  yard,  and  Mr  Johnson,  Mr  Cleiveland,  with  about  8  more 
merchants,  all  attended  them,  and  continued  a  very  sharp  dispute 
about  the  nature  of  tobacco,  .especially  such  as  deserved  damage. 
They  said  they  would  not  allow  in  any  that  was  damaged  before 
brought  into  the  country,  as  house  burned,  sun  burned,  chaif,  &c., 
but  with  much  ado  have  brought  them  tolerably  to  stand  on  their 
feet,  and  hope  in  a  few  days  to  learn  them  go ;  they  secured  all  the 
officers1  books,  weighed  several  hogsheads  over  again,  sent  for  some 
hogsheads  ashore  which  had  been  shipt  off,  but  found  everything  right, 
and  our  tobacco  bad  much  contrary  to  their  expectation,  who  are 
now,  I  believe,  rather  induced  to  think  the  Informers  villains.  The 
Ann  and  Mary  is  in  Belfast,  was  taken  <%»  Pyrates,  and  Henry  Pres- 
ton killed ;  the  John  Ferrand  was  taken  ?p  the  same,  and  is  not  yet 
arrived  ;  they  plundered  both  ships'  tobacco. 

I  am,  &c. 

PETER  HALL. 

[ON  October  27,  1702,  Mr.  Hall  writes  —  "We  have  now  clearly  gained 
our  point  with  Messrs.  Manly  and  Walker,  who  are  honest,  rationall,  and 
ingenious  men,  and  big  with  expectation  at  first,  and  treated  us  as  they  be- 
lieved us  to  be,  robbers ;  but  our  light  now  shines  in  darkness,  and  there  is 
not  one  word  to  be  believed  that  was  spoken  against  us  by  the  poor  devils ; 
they  declare  that  they  find  us  to  be  an  honest,  industrious  people,  and  that 
we  deserved  encouragement.  They  have  looked  at  several  of  Mr.  Johnson's 
hogsheads,  who  was  chiefly  complained  against,  and  find  everything  in  our 
favor  and  to  their  great  satisfaction,  saying  that  they  have  had  such  a  hlack 
character  of  us  that  all  men  should  not  have  persuaded  them  all  was  so  fairly 
managed/'] 


THE    NORRIS    PAPERS.  101 


LV. 

JOHNSON  TO  NORRIS,  DECEMBER  10,  1 702.  —  Bill  for  occasional  Con- 
formity—  Johnson  in  favour  of  it  —  Message  for  grant  of 
to  Duke  of  Marlborough,  and  debate. 


[THE  feeling  of  deep  aversion  (the  deeper  because  not  unmixed  with  morti- 
fication) with  which  the  Marlborough  family  regarded  the  Tories,  after  the 
sudden,  unanimous,  and  successful  opposition  which  they  gave  to  the  Queen's 
message  recommending  the  grant  of  £5000  per  annum  to  Marlborough  to  be 
made  perpetual,  is  best  shown  in  the  silence  of  Burnet  and  Hooke  as  to  the 
transaction.  Ealph,  (Other  Side  the  Question,  p.  194,)  attacks  the  Duchess 
on  the  subject,  —  "The  open  rupture  between  the  Tories  and  the  Marlbo- 
rough family,  is  not  to  be  then  ascribed  to  this  bill,"  [against  occasional  con- 
formity,] "  and  we  must  look  out  for  some  other  cause,  which  perhaps  we 
shall  find  in  the  following  incident,  not  the  only  one  most  discreetly  left 
unnoticed  both  by  your  Grace  and  Bishop  Burnet" ;  and  then  the  debate  on 
the  message  of  December  10,  1702,  is  mentioned. 

Now  although  the  politics  of  the  rest  of  Queen  Anne's  reign  turns  upon 
this  difference  between  Marlborough  and  the  Tories,  yet  of  this  debate  we 
have  hardly  any  account.  Coxe,  and  the  editors  of  the  Parliamentary  His- 
tory, mention  that  Musgrave  and  old  Seymour  took  a  part,  but  beyond  this 
these  writers  knew  nothing;  and  the  graphic  description  here  given  by 
Johnson  of  the  intense  interest  excited  by  the  debate,  of  the  want  of  union 
at  first  amongst  the  Tories,  and  of  Harley's  characteristic^exhibitjon,  (we  did 
not  before  know  that  Harley  spoke  at  all,  and  his  speech,  though  briefly,  is 
here  admirably  given,  as  also  Finch's,  which  will  be  found  echoed  in  the 
address,)  all  these  particulars,  so  important  towards  a  right  understanding  of 
a  still  very  obscure  passage  iu  English  history,  are  supplied  in  the  following 
letters. 

The  initials  we  cannot  satisfactorily  explain,  but  Musgrave,  Seymour, 
Finch,  Strickland,  &c.  are  well  known  persons.  The  two  Liverpool  Mem- 
bers voted  with  the  Tories.  Johnson,  at  this  period,  for  the  first  and  last 


102  THE    NORBIS    PAPERS. 

time,  acted  generally  with  that  party,  and  yet  he  did  not  support  the  bill 
against  occasional  conformity.  There  indeed  was  on  Johnson's  mind  a  strong 
feeling  against  the  lavish  grants  of  William,  of  which  he  deemed  this  to 
Marlborough  by  Anne  a  close  imitation,  and  hence  he  separated  himself 
from  his  party.  But  the  irrepressible  burst  of  satisfaction  with  which  he 
hailed  Harley's  resignation,  (February,  1707-8,)  sufficiently  proves  the  ob- 
stinacy of  Johnson's  Whig  prejudices.] 


London,  Decr  10*,  1702. 
MR.  RICHARD  NORRIS. 
Sir, 

I  am  truly  concerned  for  Mr  Calquitt's  family,  but  glad 
Mr  Manly,  and  Walker,  will  take  notice  of  his  Son ;  you  may  be 
assured  that  what  we  can  further  will  not  be  wanting.  I  have  been 
sometimes  in  hopes  we  should  make  a  short  sessions,  but  yet  not  so 
short  as  some  would  cut  out ;  but  now  I  think  we  are  but  beginning. 
Yesterday  the  bill  to  grant  occasional  Conformity  came  from  the 
Lords,  with  several  amendments,  which,  as  I  am  told,  occasioned  some 
warm  speeches.  Mr  Clayton  and  I  was  in  the  City,  where  we  are 
but  seldom.  Sir  R.  M.  K.  for  0,  was  the  little  B.  D.,  he  moved  the 
order  of  the  day,  being  the  Land  Tax,  and  that  all  Public  business 
should  be  put  off  for  a  Week,  and  in  short  it  was  put  off  for  Friday, 
and  they  went  upon  the  amendments,  and  after  the  reading  of  them 
adjourned  the  further  consideration  of  them  to  this  day ;  when  they 
went  through  them,  some  agreed,  and  most  disagreed.  One  clause 
postponed,  and  a  committee  appointed  to  consider  of  it ;  it  is  in  a  fair 
way  to  be  lost.  I  must  own  as  I  took  it  to  be  designed,  I  was  for  it, 
and  am  still  for  that  part  which  goes  no  farther ;  but  what's  more 
I  am  against,  and  shall  be  able  to  give  my  reasons.  I  am  for  ensnar- 
ing no  body,  nor  is,  I  think,  any  body  I  represent.  At  near  5  this 
Evening  we  had  a  Message  from  the  Queen,  setting  forth  the  great 
and  signal  service  of  the  Ld  Marlborough,  which  she  had  thought 
good  to  create  a  Duke,  and  for  the  support  of  that  Honor  to  him, 
and  his  heirs,  she  had  thought  good  to  give  him  50001  ^p  ann.  out  of 


THE    NOBRIS    PAPERS.  103 

the  Post  Office,  payable  quarterly,  and  .desired  the  house  wod  enable 
her  Majesty  to  continue  the  same  sum  to  his  Heirs.  This  seems  to 
be  a  forward  step,  and  no  sooner  read  but  the  B.  D.  like  a  young  K. 
opened  the  matter,  extolling  the  great  service  of  the  Noble  Duke, 
though  I  think  he  called  him  but  Lord,  and  mightily  blessing  the 
late  Reign,  and  concluded  his  motion,  That  a  bill  might  be  brought 
to  assure  the  Duke  and  his  Heirs  what  her  Majesty  had  for  her  life 
given  him.  This  being  altogether  irregular,  yet  wanted  not  seconds 
3 — 4,  but  old  Mils  to  his  Honor  be  it  spoken,  stood  in  the  Gap,  and 
told  them  how  far  he  would  pay  his  respect  to  her  Majesty's  message, 
and  was  not  wanting  to  the  Noble  Duke,  but  whilst  he  had  the  Honor 
to  sit  within  those  walls  he  would  never  give  his  consent  to  give 
Money  upon  a  bare  Message,  contrary  to  the  Antient  Constitution  of 
the  House.  However,  this  did  not  silence  flyers,  and  the  debate  being 
likely  to  continue,  Candles  were  called  in,  after  which  the  old  Gr. 
once  more  exercised  his  Talent,  and  then  it  was  agreed  to  take  the 
Message  into  consideration  to  Morrow  Morning,  which  was  regular. 
I  may  be  blamed  for  writing  these  things,  but  you  will  manage  pru- 
dently. I  am  troubled  to  see  Men  that  I  know  made  the  greatest 
noise  about  their  Constitution  and  the  hardships  of  the  people  of 
England,  and  now  those  poor  people  can  do  any  thing  —  here  is  a 
gloomy  change  in  Men,  but  no  more  than  I  expected ;  I  think  I  told 
you  so  before,  I  find  it  more  and  more  every  day.  I  have  troubled 
you  long,  I  hope  you  will  pardon  me. 

I  am,  &c. 
THOS.  JOHNSON. 


104  THE    NORRIS    PAPERS. 


LVI. 

THE  SAME  TO  THE  SAME,  DECEMBER  12,  1702.  —  Lord  Derby,  Sir 

John  Gower,  and  lease  of  Castle  —  Debate  on  Message  —  Custom 

House  Officer  informing  to  be  made  " truly  black" 


London,  December  y«  12,  1702. 
Sir, 

I  had  Mr  MaiorX  with  Letter  to  my  Ld  Derby,  which 
I  think  to  deliver  next  week. 

Sir,  I  can  communicate  anything  to  you,  as  I  know  it  will  go  no 
farther ;  the  thing  is  this,  as  I  advised  you,  M>  Clayton  and  I  waited 
upon  my  Ld  Derby,  and  he  of  himself  said  he  designed  to  pleasure 
the  Corporation  with  the  Castle,  and  would  put  that  and  the  butler- 
age  into  his  patent  for  Ld  Lieutenant ;  we  thanked  his  Ldship,  and 
what  more  was  needful.  Now  Mr  Clayton,  I  do  believe,  acquaints 
Sr  John  Leveson  Gower  with  what  had  passed.  Sr  John  tells  him, 
"  I  shall  Petition,  and  111  procure  it  from  the  Queen  for  a  long  Lease 
to  the  Corporation."  This  were  certainly  the  best  for  the  Town,  but 
then  how  ill  would  this  look  when  we  had  received  such  an  offer  from 
his  Ldship,  we  should  go  to  oppose  his  Ldship  in  that  which  has  gone 
along  with  the  Lieutenancy ;  in  short  there  is  some  Gren*  would  have 
my  Ld  D.  have  nothing  to  do  in  the  County.  I  hear  nothing  of 
D.  Hamilton  ;  as  you  write,  we  live  in  a  sad  Malicious  Age  —  was 
not  I  so  hung  up  with  him  the  last  sessions,  what  shall  I  do  I  I  am 
sure  I'll  not  promote  it,  but  stave  him  off  to  see  the  success  of  my  Ld, 
for  he  often  talks  of  things,  but  is  a  long  time  before  he  does  it ;  he 
was  hasty  to  move  for  the  Privateer  bill,  and  as  mad  to  second  him, 
and  finding  some  little  difficulty,  as  that  it  might  displease  or  displace 
some  of  his  acquaintance,  he  will  not  be  got  to  it.  Do  not  say  any- 
thing of  this ;  I  will  advise  next  Post  if  any  further. 


THE    NORRIS    PAPERS.  105 

The  Votes  show  you  how  we  proceeded  in  the  Queen's  Message, 
which  was  debated  so  long  that  it  put  off  the  Land  Tax.  I  thought 
nothing  would  have  moved  some  Gen*  to  put  off  the  Public  business. 
We  divided  and  lost  it  by  i,  and  after  the  debate  was,  if  it  should  be 
committed,  and  at  last  agreed.  It  does  not  go  down  well.  I  be- 
lieve we  shall  be  able  to  give  it  a  cant,  if  not  withdrawne.  You  are 
sensible  what  a  noise  such  things  made  in  the  late  Eeign,  and  now 
they  begin  in  the  first  year.  This  day  was  spent  in  private  business, 
and  in  a  Committee  upon  the  Land  Tax,  and  so  go  upon  it  to  Mor- 
row. I  have  no  news,  only  Mr  Clayton's  ship,  the  4  Sisters,  is  taken, 
and  several  others  of  late  brought  in. 

Nash  has  put  in  his  information,  and  says  he  doubts  not  but  to 
make  them  good.  One  thing  I  am  told  is  about  Mr  Scarisbrick's 
wine  that  was  condemned,  but  the  Gentleman  that  told  me  said,  that's 
our  faults  here  if  the  moiety  does  not  answer  the  Duty,  and  truly  so 
it  is.  Culiford  is  the  only  man  that  brings  them  up.  I  am  assured 
we  shall  have  a  reformation ;  we  will  endeavour  to  make  him  truly 
black  when  Mr  Manly  and  Walker  appears. 

I  am,  &c. 

THOS.  JOHNSON. 


106  THE    NORRIS    PAPERS. 

LVII. 

THE  SAME  TO  THE  SAME,  DECEMBER  15,  1702.  —  Debate  on  Message. 


London,  Decr  ye  15th,  1702, 
Sir, 

What  we  advised  the  last  post  I  know  will  make  you 
and  friends  desirous  to  know  this  day's  proceedings.  It  was  two  of 
the  clock  before  the  House  went  upon  the  order  of  the  day,  which 
was  to  go  into  a  Committee  upon  the  Motion  made  for  assuring  the 
sum  of  d£?5000  f»  ann.  to  Ld  Marlborough  and  his  Heir  Male  being 
read,  they  went  into  the  said  Committee  accordingly,  and  the  Gen* 
having  agreed  as  it  was  before  reported,  and  after  by  the  debates 
appeared,  Mr  Finch  making  a  very  excellent  discourse  setting  forth 
the  great  services  of  the  Noble  Duke,  and  the  due  regard  we  ought 
to  have  to  our  Gracious  Queen,  and  enlarging  upon  the  Message,  and 
his  establishing  an  entire  correspondence  with  the  States  General, 
and  then  went  to  examine  how  we  came  to  want  a  new  establishment 
in  their  confidence.  Gentlemen  that  represented  this  kingdom  abroad 
took  the  liberty  to  represent  the  Gentlemen  of  England  to  be  such  as 
would  introduce  a  French  Governing  and  said  the  Treaty  of  Parti- 
tion was  carried  on  without  the  knowledge  of  the  Emperor  or  States 
Gen1.  How  should  we  blame  the  States  if  they  had  not  that  entire 
confidence  in  us  ?  Was  it  not  good  service  to  assure  the  States  that 
the  Gov*  of  England  was  misrepresented  ? 

I  am  not  able  to  give  you  the  full  of  his  discourse,  I  can  but  only 
give  some  part,  by  which  you  may  judge  for  yourself.  He  concluded 
with  making  this  Motion  according  to  the  Eesolution  of  the  Com- 
mittee, which  I  enclose  you. 

Mr  Harley,  Speaker,  after  complimenting  Mr  Finch,  —  You  are 
now  upon  a  consideration  of  a  very  great  weight  and  moment,  and 
doubt  not  but  you  will  do  what  becomes  a  dutiful  and  loyal  house  of 
Commons  to  so  great  a  Queen,  the  Merit  of  the  Noble  Duke  do  very 


THE    NORRIS    PAPERS.  107 

well  deserve.  The  Queen  has  acquainted  you  with  his  conduct,  and 
which  has  confirmed  the  minds  of  your  Friends,  and  certainly  so  great 
a  merit  ought  to  be  rewarded,  for  if  you  cannot  reward  and  punish, 
you  are  in  bad  circumstances.  Gentlemen  will  take  it  into  their  con- 
sideration it  was  far  from  bearing  any  proportion  to  the  Service,  it 
will  be  more  Honor  for  the  Noble  Duke  that  people  should  ask  why 
he  was  not  rewarded,  than  they  shd  say  why  was  he  rewarded ;  he 
showed  the  benefit  the  Nation  reaped  by  the  Duke's  services,  and  was 
out  of  hopes  that  you  should  ever  have  the  like  merits,  with  some 
other  expressions  I  cannot  reach,  but  said  it  would  be  always  to  the 
honor  of  the  Duke  that  he  has  put  a  stop  to  any  grant,  and  then  seconded 
the  Motion.  Several  others  spoke,  but  the  next  was  Mr  How,  which 
was  not  without  reflections,  and  that  begott  others  —  but  Sr  W.  St. 
[Sir  William  Strickland,]  who  is  a  bold  Man,  told  him  he  did  not 
know  how  that  Honble  Gentn  would  come  off  with  one  resolution  he 
had  often  made  in  that  House,  which  he  thought  he  had  failed  in, 
except  it  was  by  seeing  he  had  got  but  ^  a  place ;  you  will  under- 
stand it,  my  Ld  Ranelaugh's  place  being  divided,  it  caused  the  greatest 
Laugh  that  I  have  heard.  J.  H.  did  not  answer  it.  Sr  Edward  Sey- 
mour soon  after  gave  him  a  touch,  for  the  same  Gen*  said  he  had 
none  of  the  grants,  and  Sir  Ed.  said  he  had  none,  but  he  believed 
that  Gen*  might  have  ^  a  grant,  for  Sr  Wm's  father  in  law  has  a  grant 
of  10001  f»  ann.  This  is  no  news,  nothing  more  common,  but  I  can 
not  remember  half.  The  house  sat  late,  after  we  dined,  and  I  have 
been  in  the  City  about  some  business,  or  had  been  more  particular  to 
Mr  Maior,  and  might  have  mended  this.  You  will  excuse  it,  I  hope, 
had  I  time  I  might  have  made  it  more  intelligible.  All  persons  were 
unanimous  in  the  Resolutions  till  the  word  Exorbitant  Grants  of  the 
last  reign  came  in,  and  that  occasioned  a  long  debate.  A  Division 
at  last ;  Yeas  200,  No's  89.  This  will  bring  the  bill  for  resumption 
of  all  grants  in  the  late  Reign ;  one  Gentleman  said  he  hoped  to  see 
it  finished  before  the  House  parted.  I  have  troubled  you  long. 

I  am,  &c. 

I  would  not  write  this  to  any  other,  THOS.  JOHNSON. 

but  you  will  pardon  faults,  I  hope,  and 
I  am  free  with  you. 


108  THE    NORRIS    PAPERS. 


LVIII. 

THE  SAME  TO  THE  SAME,  DECEMBER  17,  1702. —  Occasional  Confor- 

' — The  Castle. 


London,  December  17th,  1702. 
Sir, 

I  am  favoured  with  yours  of  the  13th,  and  doubt  not  your 
prudent  management  of  what  I  write ;  my  last  fully  answered  yours, 
giving  you  account  how  far  that  matter  of  the  Message  was  like  to 
go ;  the  address  is  not  come  in. 

A  conference  was  this  day  desired  with  the  Lds  upon  the  Amendm* 
to  the  Bill  to  grant  occasional  Conformity,  to  which  the  Lords  agreed 
immediately,  in  the  painted  Chamber,  and  the  Manager  appointed 
went  and  delivered  in  the  reason  for  their  disagreeing  with  the  Lords. 
I  do  not  think  it  much  loss  if  the  bill  drop  ;  for  my  own  part  I  do 
not  think  it  of  any  service  to  the  Church,  the  Government  will  take 
care  to  prefer  such  to  offices  of  profit  that  will  not  go  to  Meetings ; 
that,  and  the  making  Members,  is  the  chief  desire  of  most  for  the  bill. 
I  agree  with  you  they  are  the  least  concerned  about  religion.  I  only 
hinted  about  the  Convoys  ;  our  neighbours  might  consider  to  do  as 
they  pleased. 

Since  the  above,  I  am  told  the  Lds  Divided  upon  the  Commons' 
reasons,  yeas  47,  no's  52,  so  that  bill  is  lost.  Mr  Clayton  tells  me 
Ld  Derby  has  been  with  the  Chancellor  about  the  Castle,  who  told 
him  it  was  promised  ;  now  how  far  Sr  Jo.  was  concerned  I  know  not, 
so  cannot  judge  —  if  he  is  soliciting,  it's  by  a  word  or  two  in  the 
House,  and  never  lets  me  know,  but  till  I  have  better  grounds  for  it 
I  shall  not  report  it.  I  shall  wait  upon  my  L(l  Derby  in  a  Day  or 
two,  and  then  I  shall  know  if  there  is  anything  in  it ;  if  it  comes 


THE    NORRIS    PAPERS.  109 

to  our  share  by  either  hand,  it  will  be  a  great  kindness  to  our  Cor- 
poration, and  I  am  sure  I  would  not  lose  one  moment  to  perfect  it. 
He  talks  of  going  home  very  often,  so  one  thing  contradicts  another, 
that  there  is  no  depending  on  any  thing. 

I  am,  &c. 
THOS.  JOHNSON. 


110  THE    NORBIS    PAPERS. 


LIX. 

THE  SAME  TO  THE  SAME,  DECEMBER  22,  1702.  —  Castle — Church  — 
Justices  of  the  Peace. 


London,  December  ye  22nd,  1702. 
MR.  NORRIS, 

I  am  Debtor  to  yours  of  the  15th  and  18th  Curr. ;  the 
last  post  I  was  got  engaged  with  Mr  Manly  and  Walker,  that  I  had 
not  time  to  write  you.  I  met  with  Mr  Manly  in  the  Court  of 
Requests ;  after  the  needful  salutations  he  asked  for  Mr  Clayton,  and 
said  he  wanted  to  speak  with  him,  so  I  brought  Mr  Clayton  to  him ; 
soon  after  the  discourse  began  he  said,  I  have  made  use  of  your  name 
to  the  Commissioners  in  my  report,  that  you  will  assent  that  there 
will  be  no  allowance  made  for  any  Tobacco  but  Wet,  damaged,  and  that 
all  Tobacco  shall  be  exported  as  imported,  I  know  several  merchants 
are  of  your  mind  in  Liverpool  as  to  the  Exportation ;  then  he  run 
on  showing  the  advantages,  and  the  old  story  how  it  would  save  the 
Land  Tax.  I  told  him  that  was  a  great  work,  and  concerned  one  of 
the  chiefest  Trades  in  England,  and  deserved  a  great  consideration 
before  Grentn  run  on  such  a  thing ;  my  partner  would  have  brought 
himself  off  as  to  the  damage  by  proposing  so  much  a  pound,  for  what, 
says  Manly  ;  computing  what  the  dry  Tobacco  might  at  first  weigh. 
Some  men  does  not  care  what  mischief  they  can  do.  Was  there  ever 
such  a  hellish  design  ?  Do  you  .think  Mr  Houghton  and  others  will 
not  repent  if  such  a  question  comes  a  foot  \  The  Corporation  must 
certainly  mark  these  men ;  I  always  thought  it.  I  warrant  you  he 
would  have  given  Money  that  Manly  had  not  spoken.  He  was  no 
better  a  friend  to  our  Salt  affair.  Good  Lord  forgive  such  men.  As 
to  the  Castle  affair,  he  has  wrote  a  letter  to  Mr  Mair,  which  he 
showed  me,  and  said  he  thought  not  to  send  it ;  I  advised  him  not. 


THE    NORRIS    PAPERS.  Ill 

He  purposes  the  getting  a  lease  for  51  years ;  they  ask  £21  ground 
rent  —  that's  too  much.  We  have  been  several  times  to  wait  upon 
my  Ld  Derby,  but  cannot  meet  with  him,  I  hope  to  Morrow  we  may, 
and  if  any  thing  in  this,  my  Lord  will  take  notice  of  it,  but  it  is  all 
foul,  I  protest,  and  it  goes  not  down  with  me,  though  I  know  the 
advantage  the  Castle  would  be ;  but  as  he  Manages  —  he  calls  it  for 
the  Church  —  what  will  the  Town  be  better  for  it  ?  The  Rectors 
will  oblige  you  to  make  them  2001  f>  ann.,  and  if  the  Queen  gives 
anything,  they  will  have  it.  He  never  took  me  with  him  to  Sir 
John,  nor  spoke  when  I  was  present,  as  I  was  there  on  other  days. 
On  Saturday  some  words  past,  I  remember,  but  Sr  John  said,  give  me 
in  writing  what  you  would  have ;  he  said,  after  that,  he  had  done  it. 
I  am  sure  I  never  saw  him  write,  and  if  he  did,  such  a  thing  as  that 
shd  have  been  considered,  and  done  handsomely.  What  shall  a  man 
do  in  this  case  ?  He  gets  it,  and  I  do  not  join  ;  why  then  he  has 
done  it,  and  am  sure  the  Town  must  not  be  twopence  the  better  for 
it.  He  leaves  that  Corporation  like .  In  my  next  I  will  ad- 
vise some  more,  and  be  very  free  with  him ;  pray  communicate  the 
needful  to  Mr  Maior,  and  desire  him  not  speake  of  it. 

I  am,  &c. 

THOS.  JOHNSON. 

He  recommended  Mr  Houghton  and 
Aldn  Tyrer  for  Justices  of  the  Peace. 
Sr  John  asked  after  Mr  Case,  as  he  was 
concerned  in  Salt ;  that  overshipped 
him. 

'  The  Gen*  has  a  good  Estate,  he  is  something  related  to  Sir  John,  and 
I  believe  he  took  it  not  well.  I  told  him  Mr  Brettargh1  was  a  fit  man. 
Oh  !  he  was  in  debt,  and  young.  I  wonder  who  is  out  of  debt,  or 
not  once  young  2  And  yet  he  is  not  so  very  young.  We  were  on 
Sunday  to  wait  on  my  Lady  Norris,  who  is  very  well  in  hopes 
every  day  to  see  Sr  Wm :  she  was  hard  upon  my  partner,  and  he 
was  very  angry  when  he  came  out.  Women  will  talk. 

1  Brettargh  of  Aigburth  was  at  the  time  offering  his  estate  for  sale. 


112  THE    NORRIS    PAPERS. 


LX. 

THE  SAME  TO  THE  SAME,  DECEMBER  29,  1702.  — Liverpool  Towtfs 

affairs. 


London,  Decr  29th,  1 702. 
To  RICHD  NORRIS  ESQ. 
Sir. 

I  am  favoured  with  yours  of  the  25th  Current,  and  am 
glad  you  are  returned  to  Liverpool.  I  thought  you  were  abroad,  and 
so  wrote  Mr  Cleveland  last  post ;  it's  most  sure  as  to  the  Tobacco 
business,  it  was  concerted  at  Liverpool,  for  the  Grentn  had  not  seen 
Mr  Clayton  before  in  London  when  he  told  him  he  had  made  use  of 
his  name  in  his  Report ;  sure  the  thing  cannot  be  paralleled :  what 
can  I  watch  ?  If  once  the  thing  is  moved  in  the  house  it  will  go  like 
lightning.  I  am  troubled  you  took  notice  of  it  to  make  it  public  — 
now  I  would  not  have  had  it  done ;  however  it's  true.  As  to  the 
Castle  affair,  I  moved  several  times  to  wait  upon  my  Lord  Derby,  we 
did  go  to  the  House,  but  did  not  meet  with  him ;  but  last  Thursday 
I  waited  upon  him  with  the  Corporation  Letter,  which  he  received 
kindly.  I  was  with  his  Lordship  some  time  ;  he  asked  me  about  the 
place  for  Arms,  and  who  had  the  care  of  them.  I  told  him  what  I 
knew,  he  said  there  might  be  still  a  place  left,  then  I  thought  I  should 
take  notice  of  what  was  done,  which  I  did ;  his  Lordship  said  he 
had  no  other  interest  but  to  gratify  the  Corporation,  he  also  said  Sir 
John  Leveson  Gower  was  endeavouring  to  bring  it  to  the  Dutchy, 
but  took  no  further  notice.  I  do  not  find  a  lease  of  51  years  will 
signify  any  thing,  for  whenever  my  Lord  Mullineux  his  heir  please 
to  qualify  themselves  they  have  a  right  to  it.  He's  now  off  getting 
it  to  the  Church ;  I  showed  him  ye  inconveniency  of  that,  or  I  rather 
think  he  advised  with  an  Oracle,  for  after  the  post  we  went  to  wait 


THE    NOBRIS    PAPERS.  113 

upon  Sr  John  [Grower,]  but  did  not  find  him.  I  believe  my  Lord 
will  not  be  displeased  let  it  go  which  way  it  will,  but  in  short  it  does 
not  look  well. 

I  hear  nothing  what  Nash  and  his  partner  does,  but  sure  one  story 
will  be  good  till  the  other  be  told. 

I  have  no  news,  we  want  a  Holland  Mail.  Mr  Clayton  asked  me 
hard  what  Mr  Mayor  writes ;  we  had  no  News.  He  said  Mr  Hough- 
ton  keeps  a  constant  Correspondence  with  him,  but  I  never  see  or 
hear  one  word  what  they  are,  as  you  will  observe.  I  am  sure  we  ought 
to  make  no  progress  in  any  affair  wherein  the  Corporation's  concerned 
without  their  knowledge  and  advice  —  you  know  people  well,  I  need 
not  describe  them ;  one  might  think  they  should  be  known  to  the 
world,  our  part  at  least. 

THOS.  JOHNSON. 

Pray,  when  Mr  Maior  writes,  let  it 
be  joint,  and  take  no  notice  of  any  par- 
ticulars. 


114  THE    NORRIS    PAPERS. 


LXL 

THE  SAME  TO  THE  SAME,  DECEMBER  31,  1702.  —  Liverpool  Town's 

affairs. 


London,  December  31,  1702. 
MR.  RICHARD  NORRIS. 
Sir, 

I  have  yours  of  the  21st  Current,  and  do  hope  my  letter 
may  prevent  any  letter  coming  at  this  time  about  the  Tobacco,  except 
it  be  so  worded  that  you  understand  endeavours  are  used,  or  will  be, 
to  take  the  allowances  for  Tobacco,  and  that  your  letter  be  directed 
to  us  both  to  use  our  interest  to  prevent  any  such  bill  or  practice  being 
set  on  foot.  I  believe  Manly  makes  it  his  business  to  hand  it  about, 
and  the  extraordinary  damages  given  with  us,  and  the  bad  Tobacco 
we  import.  Sir  William  Deans  told  me  to-day  he  dined  at  a  Mer- 
chant's house  where  all  the  Surveyors  of  the  Port  dined,  and  after 
some  discourse  about  Tobacco,  and  his  complaining  how  they  had 
lost  their  Trade,  he  said  you  had  100,000  allowed  for  damages  in  one 
ship,  and  some  other  circumstances,  that  I  found  it  came  from  Manly. 
He  could  give  an  account  of  the  Town,  and  how  they  lived,  and  said 
he  was  told  Mr  Houghton  had  a  fine  house,  and  kept  good  wine,  but 
we  all  lived  frugally ;  Mr  Clayton  had  a  fine  house,  but  it  was  not 
furnished.  Now  I  suppose  these  Gentlemen  thought  we  did  not 
make  enough  of  them ;  when  they  come  again  we  shall  know  better 
how  to  deal  with  them.  We  are  sadly  envyed,  God  knows,  especially 
the  Tobacco  Trade,  at  home  and  abroad. 

You  observe  right,  it  does  not  look  well  to  bring  in  a  bill  to  resume 
the  grants  of  K.  W.plliam,]  and  not  of  K.  J.[ames,]  for  it  would 
have  looked  better  to  have  both,  and  after  if  they  had  seen  no  reason 
for  the  latter,  it  could  then  but  have  dropt ;  there  is  but  2  or  3  in  that 
reign. 


THE    NORR1S    PAPERS.  115 

But  that  every  body  does  not  know,  but  that  we  are  going  on 
strangely,  the  country  cannot  relish  these  things  well,  especially  that 
part  relating  to  officers  sitting  in  the  house,  when  those  very  Gentle- 
men in  the  last  Reign  would  even  allow  of  none. 

I  think  the  bill  for  qualifying  Members  will  come  to  nothing ;  for 
my  part  I  do  not  care,  for  I  do  not  think  ever  to  come  here  again 
after  this  time  is  over.  Next  week  we  shall  give  a  guess  how  these 
things  will  succeed. 

I  am,  &c., 
THOS.  JOHNSON. 


116  THE    NORRIS    PAPERS. 

LXII. 

THE  SAME  TO  THE  SAME,  JANUARY  5,  1702  [3].  —  The  same  subject. 


London,  Jany  5,  1702[3]. 
MR.  RICHD  NORRIS. 
Sir, 

I  have  none  of  yours  unanswered  will  occasion  brevity  this 
post.  I  join  with  Mr  Clayton  in  a  letter  to  the  Corporation,  about  the 
Castle,  for  the  contents  of  which  I  refer  you ;  it's  plain  the  Interest  of 
Sir  John  carrys  it  from  my  Lord,  and  now  our  business,  after  the  plan  is 
sent  up,  is  to  make  the  best  bargain  we  can,  for  that  it  must  come  to. 
I  believe  you  will  think  I  am  as  much  for  the  Corporation's  Interest  as 
any  other,  but  I  cannot  think  this  lease  can  empower  us,  or  encourage 
us,  to  build  or  improve  much,  for  the  reasons  I  formerly  advised  ;  I 
do  not  see  any  occasion  for  you  now  to  lay  down  how  it  may  best  be 
improved,  that's  fitter  for  your  consideration  hereafter,  —  but  that  a 
handsome  plan  be  drawn,  and  that  the  side  next  the  Sugar  House  be 
made  the  front  —  that  is,  taking  it  from  Mr  Danver's  Garden  wall  to 
the  farthest  extent  towards  the  Poole  Lane.  I  thought  Mr  Clayton 
had  been  of  that  of  the  Parsons  entirely,  but  I  find  not ;  but  how- 
ever as  this  Letter  now  is  worded,  if  the  grant  be  so,  and  that  it  will 
be  good  in  Law,  which  I  make  some  question,  then  it  will  answer 
our  end,  if  it  leave  the  Inhabitants  any  change.  That,  I  think,  you 
must  take  notice  of  in  your  Letter  to  us,  and  desire  you  will  advise 
about  it.  He  is  satisfied  the  parsons  have  enough,  and  will  take  an 
advantage  to  get  more  if  in  their  power,  and  therefore  it  is  our  Interest 
to  prevent  it.  Consider  amongst  yourselves  what  rent  might  be,  — 
agreeing  the  Materials  are  worth  money  —  and  that  may  ease  the 


THE    NORRIS    PAPERS.  117 

Bent  if  we  shod  be  tied  up,  but  I  hope  the  Honorable  persons  will 
not  screw  us  too  high. 

Mr  Clayton  was  very  angry  at  the  Letter,  and  particularly  against 
you ;  he  seems  well  satisfied  now,  and  this  seems  to  please  him,  I 
told  him  the  Letter  was  very  well  done,  and  took  notice  of  his  Inter- 
est, and  no  ways  reflected  upon  him,  but  hoped  he  would  do  nothing 
that  so  much  tended  to  the  disadvantage  of  the  Corporation  without 
advising  with  them,  a  thing  highly  reasonable.  Pray  did  Mr  Pem- 
berton,  Mr  Par,  and  others,  deny  to  sign  it  ?  I  judge  they  did,  for 
he  said  there  was  as  good  Men  had  not  signed  it  as  had;  but  if  those 
good  Men  knew  the  consequence  of  Manley^s  proposal,  they  would 
be  of  another  mind,  for  if  ever  they  attempt  any  part  they  will  de- 
stroy the  whole.  We  shall  have  the  grants  of  K.  J.  [King  James] 
laid  before  the  House,  and  those  which  are  thought  exorbitant  will 
have  the  same  fate  as  those  of  K.  Wm.  Mr  How  took  notice  of  it 
to-day,  the  House  adjourned  till  Thursday  ;  the  public  business  will 
be  over  speedily. 

Since  we  wrote  the  Letter,  are  informed  Mr  Leigh  is  Surveyor, 
and  he's  coming  from  London,  so  we  shall  get  his  Warrant  to  Mr 
Moss  ;  however,  Mr  Moss  may  send  us  one  in  the  mean  time.  My 
service  to  all  friends. 

I  am,  &c. 
THOS.  JOHNSON. 

By  these  papers  before  the  House,  our 
Fleet  and  Land  forces  are  designed  for  the 
Mediterranean.  You  hear  the  fate  of  our 
countryman  Kirby1  in  the  West  Indies, 
shot  to  death,  he  being  a  Coward. 


1  Smollett's  History  of  England,  vol.  ii.  p.  38.  Kirby  was  shot  at  Plymouth,  and 
not  in  the  West  Indies.  He  commanded  the  Defiance,  of  sixty-four  guns.  We 
conclude  he  was  of  the  family  of  Kirby  of  Kirby,  so  distinguished  in  the  Civil  wars. 
Johnson  alludes  in  another  letter  to  this  officer,  as  though  he  had  more  than  a  com- 
mon interest  in  him.  Roger  Kirby  of  Kirby  was  Sheriff  of  Lancashire  in  1709,  and 
died  in  his  year  of  office. 


118  THE    NOBRIS    PAPERS. 

[THE  foregoing  letter  betrays  the  feeling  as  to  the  Church,  from  which  its 
dependence  on  the  Corporation,  and  on  rates,  was  perpetuated.  Neither 
Johnson  nor  Clayton  were  inimical  to  the  Church,  but  the  building  of  St. 
Peter's,  and  the  endowment  of  the  two  new  Rectors,  were  viewed  as  great 
efforts  on  the  part  of  the  Town.  The  negociation  for  the  Castle,  burthened, 
as  Johnson  frequently  reminds  Richard  Norris,  with  a  right,  only  sus- 
pended, of  the  Molyneuxes  to  the  possession,  must  have  been  brought  to  a 
close  before  1715,  when  an  act  was  obtained  to  build  a  Church  on  the  site 
of  the  Castle,  —  St.  George's.] 


THE    NORBIS    PAPERS.  119 

LXIII. 

THE  SAME  TO  THE  SAME,  JANUARY  9,  1702 [3].  —  The  same  subject. 


London,  January  9th,  1702[3]. 
MR.  RICHARD  NORRIS. 
Sir, 

I  am  favoured  with  yours  of  the  5th  Current ;  for  answer, 
I  was  of  opinion  that  Mr  Clayton  would  write  passionately,  for  that 
he  was  ill  vexed,  and  is  no  less  so  now,  since  he  had  your  letter,  but 
he  does  not  discover  it  to  me,  nor  I  ask  him  no  questions ;  he  has 
been  bringing  out  half  words  and  turns  them  some  other  way,  but  I 
knew  what  he's  chewing  on.  I  hope  he  will  have  no  opportunity 
this  sessions  to  show  himself  publicly,  or  certainly  he  would  do  it. 
He  makes  all  these  officers  think  him  a  saint,  for  no  man  talks  so 
much  against  friends,  which  he  spares  not  as  they  come  in  his  way. 
I  hope  we  may  have  an  opportunity  to  discourse  the  matter  fairly  at 
Home,  and  that  every  body  may  speak  their  judgement  freely.  Cer- 
tainly his  letter  is  a  great  reflection  upon  all  the  Merchts  in  Town 
that  ever  repackt ;  my  neighbour,  R.  H.[oughton,]  does  not  escape ; 
alas  !  there's  the  rise  of  it,  he  sees  he's  outdone  —  it's  a  sad  temper, 
God  knows  ;  when  these  Gen*  comes  to  be  partners  they  will  make 
havock  with  us,  but  as  you  say,  I  hope  they  will  not  stop  up  the 
River.  Sir  John  Leveson  Gower  spoke  to  me  yesterday,  and  told 
me  your  business  of  the  Castle  meets  with  opposition  from  my  Lord 
Derby,  that  he  had  been  himself  to  wait  on  my  Lord,  but  could  not 
meet  with  him  ;  he  desired  Mr  Clayton  and  I  would  wait  on  his 
Lordship,  and  acquaint  him  what  was  doing  for  the  Corporation,  and 
to  desire  his  Lordship  would  not  oppose  it ;  we  should  have  gone 
to-day ;  Mr  C.  shrunk  another  way,  and  I  believe  expected  I  should 
go  myself;  now,  I  am  thinking  to  wait  upon  his  Lordship  as  I  did 


120  THE    NORRIS    PAPERS. 

before,  and  as  I  advised,  his  Lordship  did  not  say  anything  against  it, 
but  I  may  acquaint  his  Lordship  that  we  shall  take  it  as  kindly  from 
his  Lordship  that  it  may  come  this  way  to  the  Town,  being  more 
certain,  and  we  shall  look  upon  it  as  great  an  obligation  as  if  his  Lord- 
ship gave  it  us  —  now  this  looks  damnable  ill,  pray  consider  my  case, 
had  I  not  been  some  way  hearkening  to  this  proposal  of  sir  John, 
and  it  should  have  gone  that  way,  O  !  then,  who  but  him  and  his 
friends  ?  In  short,  it's  done  for  nothing  in  the  world  but  to  lessen 
my  Lord's  Interest  if  possible ;  now  amongst  friends,  my  Lord  will 
never  have  one  friend  less,  nor  they  two  more.1  This  day  was  a  con- 
ference with  the  Lords,  which  Mr  Bromley  reported  to  the  House, 
and  are  very  full,  some  call  them  bantering,  but  truly  several  of  them 
are  weighty,  and  such  as  we  cannot  answer ;  they  insist  upon  most 
of  the  Amendments.2  They  were  too  long  to  copy  to  Day,  being 
past  one  o'clock  before  they  were  reported,  and  the  whole  time  after 
was  taken  up  in  attending  the  report  of  the  Malt  Act,  in  which  were 
amendments  to  be  made  that  concerned  all  our  Matters,  though  they 
never  let  us  know  anything  from  them.  A  Warrington  man  told 
me  some  time  since  of  the  practice  of  the  officers,  or  had  not  known 
it  till  we  heard  some  in  the  house  speak  of  it. 

I  am,  &c. 
THOS.  JOHNSON. 

1  Lord  Derby  was  a  Whig,  and  at  this  time  his  party  was  out  of  power. 

2  These  were  the  proceedings  on  the  bill  against  occasional  conformity.  —  Parlia- 
mentary History,  p.  59,  et  seq. 


THE    NORRIS    PAPERS.  121 

LXIV. 

THE  SAME  TO  THE  SAME,  JANUARY  14,  1702[3.]  —  The  same  subject. 


London,  Jan7  14,  1702  [3], 

I  am  favoured  with  yours  of  the  the  10  Cur. ;  for  answer,  my 
last  advised  how  Sr  John  advised  us  to  wait  on  my  Lord  Derby  to 
have  his  assistance  about  the  Castle,  which  was  a  little  surprising, 
and  really  I  was  at  a  stand  what  to  do ;  however,  I  knew  my  Lord's 
intention  was  to  serve  the  Corporation,  and  if  Sr  John  designed  no 
private  end,  my  Ld,  I  did  not  doubt,  but  would  readily  give  his  consent; 
accordingly,  yesterday  morning  we  went  to  wait  on  his  Ldship, — when 
we  acquainted  his  Ldship  with  our  business,  his  answer  was,  with  all 
his  heart,  if  Sr  John  designs  the  advantage  to  the  Corporation,  but  I 
have  thus  far  understood  Sr  John  was  for  joining  it  to  the  Dutchy ; 
my  Ld  said  he  told  my  Ld  Marlborough  that  the  Arms  of  the  County 
were  kept  in  a  part  of  that  Castle,  and  it  had  been  in  the  hands  of 
the  late  Ld  Lieutenants  —  we  told  my  Ld  that  we  always  proposed 
to  make  a  place  for  the  Arms,  which  he  was  pleased  with ;  truly  we 
are  much  obliged  to  him.  I  told  him,  as  I  had  done  before,  that  I 
had  orders  from  the  Corporation  to  assure  his  Ldship  they  would 
rather  want  the  Castle  then  offer  anything  that  should  be  displeasing 
to  his  Ldship.  Mr  Clayton  was  present.  Now  this  success,  you 
must  believe,  pleased  my  friend  W.  C.,  and  made  him  farther  on  the 
day  tell  me  of  yours  and  Mr  Maior^s  letters,  which  occasioned  some 
words ;  I  need  not  relate  all.  Soon  after,  I  received  Maudit's,  with 
CouncelFs  Opinion  about  the  Castle,  which  I  showed  him.  I  am 
afraid  at  the  last  we  must  all  be  beholden  to  my  Ld  Derby  to  have  it 
under  him,  for  it  appears  that  my  Ld  Mullineux  has  a  title  to  it 
whenever  he  will  qualify  himself,  nay,  has  power  to  put  in  a  Deputy. 
We  desire  to  have  a  new  Opinion  about  it  very  speedily,  and  proceed 


122  THE    NORRIS    PAPERS. 

accords  as  we  are  advised.  I  have  told  him  of  this  all  along,  but 
could  never  persuade  him  to  think  of  it.  I  am  doubtful  we  cannot 
get  an  Act  of  Parliament  to  take  away  another's  right  without  a  con- 
sideration to  the  Crown  and  them  claiming.  As  to  what  you  write 
about  the  address  for  stopping  the  Post,  the  Queen  seemed  to  be 
pleased  with  it,  and  most  I  hear  are  of  opinion  that  the  Dutch  will 
comply  with  it. 

O  !  that  Action  in  the  West  Indies  is  not  to  be  forgot ;  the  dead 
Warrant  is  signed.1  What  news  we  have  I  refer  you  to  Mr  Maior; 
these  bils  makes  clashing  between  the  two  Houses  —  we  are  a  mighty 
unhappy  people,  the  Lord  preserve  us  —  nothing  but  hanging  and 
beheading  one  another,  and  censuring  the  Bishops ;  we  never  prize 
our  Mercys. 

I  am,  &c. 

THOS.  JOHNSON. 

1  For  Kirby's  execution. 


THE    NORR1S    PAPERS.  123 


LXV. 

THE  SAME  TO  THE  SAME,  JANUARY  16,  1702[3]. — Town's  affairs — 
Abuse  of  the  Tories  —  And  of  Mr  Bold. 


London,  Jany  ye  16th,  1702  [3]. 
Hond  Sir, 

I  have  your  kind  letter  of  the  12th  Curr*,  and  observe  the 
Contents ;  for  answer,  we  have  made  no  further  progress  about  the 
Castle ;  we  talk  of  advising  with  Counsel,  but  does  not,  and  I  think 
it  a  folly  for  us  to  trouble  ourselves  and  friends  till  we  know  upon 
what  grounds  we  shall  be  the  securest.  Mr  W.  C.  received  the  plan 
from  Mr  Moss,  but  never  shewed  me  his  letter ;  he  said  Mr  Maior 
would  not  send  it  him  —  was  it  so  ?  I  hardly  think  it.  It's  a  sad 
S*,  you  say  right,  and  hope  shall  never  see  the  two  Gents  joined  to- 
gether —  I  am  satisfied  they  are  enemies  to  the  present  Constitution  of 
our  Corporation.  Some  words  drops  that  they  are  not  so  well  pleased 
with  being  out  of  the  Governing  part,  as  they  would  make  us  believe. 
My  last  letter  but  one  in  some  measure  answers  that  part  of  your 
letter  relating  to  My  Ld  Derby,  whose  kindness  I  must  always  own, 
and  I  hope  the  Corporation  will  never  forget  it  too. 

On  Thursday,  when  the  Malt  past,  and  the  Speaker,  as  usual, 

says,  is  it  yr  pleasure  your  worthy  Member  Mr carry  it  up  to 

the  Lds  ?  And  he  says  order  it.  Seymor  desired  it  might  not  then 
be  put,  so  it  lay  the  next  day.  Mr  Boyle  moved  that  the  bill  might 
be  carried  up,  it  was  seconded,  and  Mr  Howe  spoke  handsomely 
about  it,  and  wondered  the  Gen*  should  oppose  the  Carrying  a  money 
bill  up  to  the  Lords,  he  thought  it  was  a  distrusting  her  Majesty 
that  she  would  not  give  time  to  the  perfecting  the  necessary  bills. 

This  brought  the  old  Gen*,  and  others,  as  M.  H ,  up,  and  this 

was  debated  3  hours,  so  that  we  lost  the  finishing  the  subsidy  bill 


124  THE    NORRIS    PAPERS. 

that  day  —  these  are  the  Men  for  the  Public  good  !  I  leave  you  to 
judge  we  are  but  in  a  miserable  condition.  God  Almighty  open  the 
Eyes  and  hearts  of  the  Commons,  that  they  may  be  able  to  discern, 
and  know,  who  are  for  the  Interest  of  their  Country ;  nothing  but 
pride  reigns  amongst  most  of  these  Courtiers  —  the  number  I  hope 
will  increase  of  Men  truly  concerned  for  the  Public.  We  have  got 
a  Petition  to  the  Ld  Treasurer,  and  are  to  meet  Mr  Lownes  to-night 
about  it ;  Mr  Richmond,  I  hear,  wrote  Mr  Bold  to  assist  us  —  if  he 
knew  how  ready  he  is,  he  would  have  saved  himself  the  labour  of 
writing,  but  suppose  he  had  other  business,  however  we  are  obliged 
to  him,  he  was  never  so  kind  as  to  desire  us.  I  never  saw  Mr  B.  two 
hours,  nor  I  think  one  since  I  came  except  to  serve  some  turn  ;  God 
help  the  Country,  who  really  are  in  the  hands  of  a  few  men,  they  are 
easily  named.  My  old  cold  is  violent  upon  me,  the  Lord  send  me 
quit  of  it.  Our  Committees  are  over  —  we  have  had  3  this  week, 
two  lasted  till  one  o'clock  and  very  throng,  and  at  the  last  came  to  a 
drawn  battle,  for  they  got  one  of  each  side,  for  thats  the  contest 
generally,  which  shall  gain.  I  hope  next  week  we  shall  be  able  to 
give  you  some  certain  Acct8  of  the  Castle,  and  my  Ld  Treasurer's 
answer  about  the  Bonds ;  I  wish  we  could  serve  you,  I  have  no 
other  End,  I  thank  God,  and  every  man's  interest  is  mine.  I  am 
sorry  for  the  loss  of  the  Society  —  the  Men  are  saved  —  pray  was 
any  great  Cargo  on  board  her  ?  Do  you  despatch  the  Mercy  or  we 
had  as  good  stay  at  home.  It's  believed  these  ships,  said  to  be  bound 
for  Jamaica,  go  to  Portugal,  or  the  straights.  My  Ld  Peterbrough, 
its  sd,  does  not  go  for  Jamaica.  My  service. 

Yours  &c., 

THOS.  JOHNSON. 


THE    NORRIS    PAPERS.  125 


LXVI. 

THE  SAME  TO  THE  SAME,  JANUARY  30,  1702  [3]. —  Johnson  ill, 
attended  by  Dr.  Ratcliffe. 


London,  Jan?  ye  30th,  1702  [3]. 
Sir, 

I  have  your  kind  letter  of  the  26th,  which,  God  be  praised, 
found  me  much  recovered.  Doctor  Ratcliffe1  was  very  careful  of  me, 
and  more  then  I  have  heard,  he  never  failed  a  day  to  come  to  see  me, 
and  his  apothecarys,  very  able  Men,  3  or  4  times  a  day.  These  helps, 
through  the  great  goodness  of  Almighty  God,  has  wonderfully  restored 
me,  and  hath  since  added  the  dear  company  of  my  poor  wife,  got  here 
after  a  tedious  journey.  I  am  infinitely  obliged  to  you,  and  my  other 
good  friends  of  Liverpool,  for  their  extraordinary  kindness  towards 
me  and  her.  God  grant  I  ever  be  able  to  make  you  an  acknowledg- 
ment. As  soon  as  I  am  able  I  design  to  leave  this  place,  and  hope 
once  more  to  enjoy  your  good  company,  which  is  always  most  accept- 
able ;  for  news  you  will  excuse  —  have  neither  read  nor  heard  any 
since  this  day  fortnight.  My  Dr  gives  you  his  service  ;  please  to  ac- 
cept the  same  from 

Yours,  &c. 

THOS.  JOHNSON. 


1  It  is  pleasant  to  find  two  such  men  meeting  as  Johnson  and  Radcliffe,  and  still 
more  agreeable  thus  to  detect  the  good  feeling  towards  their  representative  in  the 
town  of  Liverpool.  In  1704  Johnson  went  to  Lathom  Spa  for  his  health ;  he  de- 
scribes the  company  and  walks  as  excellent,  a  good  green,  and  the  Spa  better  than 
that  at  "  Naesborough,"  (Knaresborough).  The  game  (bowls)  he  states  to  be  very 
high,  —  threepence. 


126  THE    NORRIS    PAPERS. 

LXVIL 

THE  SAME  TO  THE  SAME,  FEB.  4,  1702 [3],  —  Liverpool  affairs. 


[Mr.  Johnson  writes  to  Mr.  K.  Norris.] 

London,  Feby  4,  1702  [3]. 

What  Mr  Clayton  writes  you,  or  does,  I  know  not ;  he  tells 
me  a  great  deal,  and  very  busy  he  is.  He  showed  me  a  letter  from 
Mr  Maior  and  others,  I  suppose  in  answer  to  his.  I  [wonder]  at 
Gent:  that  write  things  so  different  in  one  letter,  for  they  say  shall 
treat  with  my  Lord,  and  at  the  same  breath  say  he  has  no  title,  and 
desire  Mr  Clayton  to  proceed.  So  do  I,  but  'tis  after  this  manner ; 
since  ever  I  received  the  copy  of  the  Grant  from  Mr  Maudit,  that  we 
consult  with  Counsel  if  the  Queen  can  grant  the  Castle  for  51  years; 
if  she  can,  then  we  are  to  proceed  and  make  our  interest  to  procure 
the  Granf ;  if  she  cannot,  but  the  Lord  Molyneux  has  a  title,  then 
we  must  treat  with  him  ;  but  here  we  spend  time,  and  feed  ourselves 
and  friends  with  fancies  to  no  purpose.  Please  God  I  get  out,  I'll 
advise  myself.  I  have  desired  him  to  be  plain  with  Sir  John,  and 
when  I  urge  him  to  go  on  anew,  we  must  see  what  my  Lord  Moly- 
neux will  do;  if  we  have  any  dependence  on  him  we  shall  come  short. 
If  we  could  have  been  content,  we  might  have  had  it  my  Lord  Derby's 
time,  and  I  think  my  Lord  M.  would  never  have  disputed ;  time 
must  determine  if  that  had  not  been  best,  but  it's  hard  to  have  to 
deal  with  some  men.  We  have  no  answer  from  our  Petition  to  the 
Treasury,  but  hope  it  will  be  granted  after  the  Parliament's  up.  Mr 
Clayton  has  stood  by  the  Commrs  of  Customs,  and  he  expects  they'l 
do  anything  for  him.  He  says  he  has  desired  Nash  and  Harris  may 
be  removed  from  Liverpool,  but  it's  after  such  a  manner  that  I  did 


THE    NORBIS    PAPERS.  127 

not  observe  any  reason  given.  He  did  not,  as  I  find,  justify  the  pre- 
sent officers,  nor  condemned  these,  but  said  he  was  not  against  them 
being  preferred  so  that  it  was  not  Liverpool,  and  gave  for  reason  that 
N.  had  abused  Mr  Maior ;  but  this  is  some  of  the  old  ps  [pranks  ?] 
I  have  been  several  times  with  this  Gentleman  there,  who  would  never 
say  one  word  to  the  Commrs  of  them,  and  truly  I  have  not  thought 
good  myself,  but  what  has  been  to  some  of  them  privately.  Who 
will  be  our  Surveior,  cannot  determine,  but  it's  most  certain  they'll 
finish  us  if  they  can.  Farewell  all  good  allowances. 


128  THE    NORRIS    PAPERS. 


LXVIII. 

THE  SAME  TO  THE  SAME,  LIVERPOOL,  JUNE  25,  1703.  — Liverpool 

affairs. 


Liverpool,  June  ye  25th,  1703. 
Dear  Sir, 

I  am  favoured  with  yours  of  the  22d  Curr.,  and  am  very 
glad  you  are  safely  returned  to  London.  I  hope  it  will  not  be  long 
before  we  shall  have  your  good  Company  at  home,  which  I  much 
long  for  on  several  Accots.  We  have  been  Hond  this  two  days  past 
with  your  good  Bror  Norris\s  Company,  to  whom  we  are  extremly 
obliged.  We  bowled  very  hard  both  the  days,1  and  not  less  the  latter 
day,  when  we  beat  Topping  Bowlers ;  we  wished  heartily  for  you ; 
you  would  have  been  well  pleased  to  have  seen  Cousin  Maudesley 
dribble  out  his  14  to  12,  and  often  his  2  and  6  to  2  —  those  that  wins 
may  laugh,  but  not  always  so  with  me. 

I  thank  you  for  your  good  news ;  it  is  very  great  all  of  one  post. 
Our  new  Church  goes  on  well ;  we  now  agree  to  seat  it  with  oak, 
though  I  saw  your  Hand  for  fir,  but  I  believe  you  were  out  done  at 
that  time  —  things  go  on  pretty  well  at  the  Custom  House. 

All  our  Town  is  at  Chester  fair,  but  to-morrow  we  will  see  to  get 
the  petition  so  long  talked  of. 

I  am,  &c. 
THOS.  JOHNSON. 

1  The  old  bowling  green  on  Mount  Pleasant.  Cartwright  says  —  "  19  Septr.  1687, 
I  went  with  Sir  Thos.  Grosvenor,  Mr.  Massey,and  my  son  to  Liverpool;  dined  with 
my  Lord  Molineux  at  the  Bowling  Green."  Roscoe  was  born  at  the  house  where 
his  father  lived,  and  kept  the  green.  Though  long  ago  taken  down,  there  is  an 
engraving  of  the  house.  At  the  period  of  these  letters  it  was  the  place  of  meeting 
of  the  higher  class  of  inhabitants,  and  as  an  excuse  for  not  sending  any  news,  the 
phrase  occurs, "  I  have  not  been  lately  at  the  green." 


THE    NOBRIS    PAPERS.  129 


LXIX. 

THE  SAME  TO  THE  SAME,  SEPTEMBER  17,  AND  OCTOBER  16,  1703. — 
Materials  for  St.  Peter's  Church. 


Leverpoole,  17  Septr,  1703. 

Please  to  enquire  what  we  can  have  your  black  and  white 
marble  for  <$»  stoop,  or  yard,  proper  to  lay  in  the  Chancel ;  we  shall 
want  as  much  as  will  lay  about  40  yards.  But  we  would  know  the 
charge  before  we  engage,  lest  it  be  too  large  for  us.  We  have  ordered 
the  black  flag  from  the  Isle  of  Man  to  lay  the  lies  with ;  it  will  be 
much  better  than  our  common  flags. 

240  feet  of  Marble  at  21*  <p  £21. 

450  feet  of      do.     at  do  ^39  .7.6. 


Oct.  16,  1703. 

In  my  last  I  omitted  to  enclose  you  a  draught  of  the  Chancel 
which  is  now  sent ;  we  desire  only  within  the  Rails,  marble,  white 
and  black,  without  will  be  seats,  or  may  be  flagged  with  Manx  flags, 
the  same  designed  for  the  body  of  the  church. 

Your  good  Brother  [Dr.  Edward  Norris]  was  here  this  day,  and 
did  us  the  honor  of  becoming  a  member  of  this  antient  Corporation, 
at  the  same  time  Mr  Squire  was  sworn,  after  which  we  waited  upon 
your  brother  to  Mr  Swarbrick's,  and  drank  your  good  health.  Mr 
Norris,  after  all  his  extraordinary  kindness,  was  pleased  to  give  Mr 
Stythe  six  pounds  for  the  poor.  I  hope  we  shall  not  prove  ungrateful, 
(but  when  opportunity,)  acknowledge  these  favours. 

We  are  now  come  to  the  17th,  and  do  not  find  Mr  Cleaveland  will 


130  THE    NORRIS    PAPERS. 

comply,  but  rather  preparing  to  dispute  it,  of  which  I  think  he'll 
have  no  good ;  some  are  cruelly  vexed  that  we  proceed  thus,  however 
we  shall  not  give  them  such  an  opportunity.  I  shall  not  now  en- 
large, but  next  post  give  you  a  full  account  of  our  proceedings,  and 
shall  be  impatient  to  hear  how  you  approve  of  them. 

[THE  above  extracts  chiefly  relate  to  the  building  of  St.  Peter's  Church. 
Mr.  Stythe  was  the  first  Rector  of  Liverpool.] 


THE    NORRIS    PAPERS.  131 


LXX. 

THE  SAME  TO  THE  SAME,  LIVERPOOL,  OCTOBER  15,  1703.  —  Liverpool, 

affairs. 


Liverpool,  Octr  15th,  1703. 
MR.  RICHARD  NORRIS. 
Sir, 

I  observe  you  approve  of  our  choice  of  Counsel  Men 
which  is  well,  since  which  we  have  gone  further,  and  are  resolved  to 
try  what  we  can  do.  Mr  Earle  refusing  put  me  a  little  upon  the 
thoughts,  so  we  resolved  to  advise  with  Counsel  if  we  could  fine  any 
persons  that  was  Elected  Council  Men  and  refused  to  serve,  or  could 
we  choose  those  Mayor  or  Bailifs,  though  they  were  not  actually 
sworn ;  to  these  we  have  received  a  satisfactory  answer,  that  they 
may  be  indicted  and  after  fined,  or  a  Mandamus  brought  against 
them  to  show  cause ;  upon  this  Mr  Maior  called  a  Council,  and  voted 
Mr  Cleaveland,  Mr  Hurst,  and  Mr  Earle  Council  Men,  and  served 
them  with  the  Election  under  our  Corporation  Seal,  and  this  day  they 
appeared,  but  all  refused  to  be  sworn.  Now  we  do  resolve  to  Elect 
Mr  Cleaveland  Mayor,  Mr  Earl  one  Bailiff,  and  if  they  refuse  us  we 
believe  they  will  have  one  Mandamus  for  all ;  if  we  now  look  back 
we  are  shamed.  I  shall  be  glad  you  approve  of  these  proceedings. 
Mr  Moore  seems  well  pleased ;  as  Mr  Maior  tells  me,  he  loves  Money, 
and  is  afraid  of  that.  If  we  make  a  return  of  this  Election,  Mr 
Maior  must  continue  till  the  matter  is  ended.  We  thought  it  better 
then  to  proceed  by  a  fine  in  our  own  Court,  and  indeed  it  lights  a 
little  unfortunate  Mr  Hurst  is  their  Man  of  the  Jury,  and  the  rest 
made  of  such  as  are  not  usually  of  that  Jury.  Our  Bailiffs  are  too 
good  to  learn,  and  our  Town  Clerk  never  minds  to  inform  them.  I 
think  we  ought  to  exert  our  Power  in  that  case  as  well  as  any. 

I  am,  &c. 

THOS.  JOHNSON. 


132 


THE    NORRIS    PAPERS. 


LXXI. 

JOHN  COCKSHUTT  TO  RICHARD  NORRIS,  OCTOBER  15,  ]  703.  —  Liverpool 

affairs. 


Liverpool,  15  Octor,  1703. 
To  MR.  RICHARD  NORRIS. 

I  notice  yours  relating  to  Mr  Travers'  money,  due  to  him 
from  the  Corporation ;  pray  settle  that  account.  I  have  some  time 
since  your  brother's  draft  on  you  for  ^50,  which  I  designed  to  write 
you  to  apply  to  that  affair.  You  may  remember  the  Corporation  is 
nigh  d£300  in  advance  towards  building  the  new  Church,  so  I  desire 
you1!  perfeckt  the  affair ;  have  paid  of  the  Principal  d£?200,  and  all 
the  Corporation's  arrears  for  Interest,  at  present  can  do  no  more. 
We  resolved  in  full  Council  to  elect  John  Clieveland  Mayor,  which 
he  appears  obstinate,  and  so  are  resolved  to  try  the  validity  of  our 
charter.  Mr  Hurst  and  Earle  are  chosen  Councilmen  —  are  resolved 
to  send  for  mandamusses  for  them.  I  refuse  to  stand  on  Monday  next, 
for  I  fear  shall  be  continued  Mayor,  durante  placito. 

I  earnestly  desire  you  in  behalf  of  Wm  Boals  of  this  Town,  whose 
interest  the  deceased  Sir  Wm  Norris  got  minuted  for  a  Tyde  waiter's 
place  of  this  Town,  both  at  Treasurer's  and  Commissioners'  office, 
for  the  first  vacancy  that  falls ;  having  no  friends  to  pursue  that  order, 
begs  the  favour  of  you  to  use  your  utmost  endeavours  to  obtain  that 
grant,  which  favour  will  ever  oblige,  &c. 

JNO.  COCKSHUTT. 


THE    NORRIS    PAPERS.  133 

LXXII. 

JOHNSON  TO  B.  NORRIS,  OCTOBER  19,  1703.  —  Liverpool  affairs. 


Liverpool,  Octr  ye  19th,  1703. 
Sir, 

I  received  yours  of  the  16th  Curr*,  with  the  Newspaper, 
for  which  I  thank  you.  I  can  now  advise  you  our  friend  Mr  John 
Cleveland  was  sworn  this  day  Mayor.  He  was  carried  off  by  some 
persons  yesterday,  and  would  not  come  in,  but  went  direct  out  of 
Town ;  great  threats  and  endeavours  have  been  used,  but  now  va- 
nished, all  people  generally  well  pleased  to  see  some  people  disap- 
pointed. A  great  Councell  was  held  last  night  at  a  great  new  House 
in  our  Street,  the  result  I  know  not,  but  the  end  you  see.  All  the 
Old  0. [orporation]  was  sent  for;  Mr  Allenson  pretended  some  busi- 
ness and  did  not  go.  Yesterday  morning  Mr  Maior  found  a  disposi- 
tion in  Mr  Cleavland,  and  asked  him  who  he  thought  on  for  Bailiffs; 
he  told  him  Mr  Earle  and  Mr  Dean,  but  in  less  than  an  hour  comes 
Br  M.  very  full,  and  brought  Mr  H.  Parr  for  his  Voucher,  that  Mr 
Clayton  would  serve  them  the  next  year,  but  it  was  hard  to  compel 
any  man,  nay  he  could  not  serve,  for  that  he  had  not  taken  the  Abju- 
ration Oath  at  the  time  appointed,  had  frightened  Mr  Parr  with  the 
penalty  of  5001,  and  thought  he  could  do  so  to  us ;  I  told  him  he  was 
of  another  opinion,  he  knew  very  well  Mr  Cleavland  was  in  office  at 
that  time,  so  was  not  under  any  Penalty.  But  observe  he  was  not 
capable  to  serve,  not  having  taken  such  an  oath  such  a  time  past,  yet 
he  would  serve  the  next  year  and  run  the  Hazard ;  in  short  he  was  suf- 
ficiently laughed  at.  A  great  many  words  we  had,  and  very  hot,  too 
long  to  tell  you,  but  this  passage  we  could  not  omit.  Mr  Maior  find- 
ing Mr  Earle  so  positive  he  would  not  serve,  was  resolved  not  to 
choose  him  Bailiff,  but  chose  Charles  Diggles,  and  Joseph  Eaton  ;  we 


134  THE    NORRIS    PAPERS. 

design  to  proceed  against  Mr  Hurst  and  Earle  on  Friday,  if  they 
come  not  in, —  God  send  them  safe.  I  write  Mr  Cairne  to  insure 
10001  for  me.  Bo  wen,  the  Tide  Surveyor,  is  dead.  Poor  Mr  Ogles 
has  had  fair  promises,  he  desires  you  will  put  Mr  Fazakerley,  the 
Chamberlain,  and  Mr  John  Francis,  in  mind  of  this  vacancy,  or 
that  something  may  be  done  for  him,  he  has  a  numerous  family,  he 
desired  me  that  I  would  write  you. 

I  am,  &c., 
THOS.  JOHNSON. 


THE    NORRIS    PAPERS.  J  35 


LXXIII. 

EXTRACTS  FROM  Two  LETTERS,  OCTOBER  22,  AND  DECEMBER  10, 
1703,   W.  SQUIRE  AND  MRS.  MARKLAND,  RELATING  TO 

ANN  NORRIS'S  MARRIAGE. 


[!N  1686,  Cartwright  mentions  in  his  Diary,  that  —  "The  parishioners  of 
Child  well  brought  me  Mr.  Ambrose  his  resignation,  and  I  promised  to  pre- 
sent a  new  vicar  before  Christmas,  and  wrote  word  to  my  cousin  Peter 
Whalley  that  I  would  give  it  to  my  cousin  Thomas  West."  On  the  18th 
of  February  the  Bishop  writes, — "  I  gave  institution  to  my  Cousin  Thomas 
West  to  the  vicarage  of  Childal,  and  made  him  my  chaplain."  This  Vicar, 
who,  from  his  patron,  may  be  supposed  to  have  been  uncomfortably  placed 
after  the  Revolution,  resigned  in  1690,  and  Ralph  Markland  succeeded  him, 
and  remained  here  until  his  death  in  1721.  He  was  a  person  of  literary 
tastes,  wrote  a  book  on  the  art  of  shooting  flying,  but  is  best  known  as  the 
father  of  the  celebrated  Jeremiah  Markland.  There  were  several  letters  of 
Ralph  Markland's  in  this  collection,  and  especially  about  sending  Jeremiah 
to  Christ's  Hospital,  which  was  accomplished  through  the  interest  of  Mr. 
Norris's  relations,  the  Garways ;  but  these  papers  were  given  by  a  former 
possessor  to  James  Hey  wood  Markland,  Esq.  of  Bath.  The  Marklands  lived 
on  terms  of  perfect  friendship  with  their  parishioners  at  Speke.  The  fol- 
lowing is  part  of  a  letter  from  Mrs.  Markland  to  the  widow  of  Thomas 
Norris,  and  conveys  the  gossip  of  Childwall  to  Aston.  The  letter  was 
written  in  1703,  and  alludes  to  the  recent  marriage  of  Ann  Norris  with  Mr. 
Squire.] 

Liverpool,  22  Octor,  1703. 
MR.  RICHARD  NORRIS. 
Dr  Brother, 

I  presume  Bror  Norris  advised  you  that  I  was  happy ly 
married  last  Tuesday ;  T  do  assure  'tis  no  small  augmentation  of  my 


136 


THE    NORRIS    PAPERS. 


satisfaction  to  be  so  nearly  allied  to  you.  Mr  Mayor,  Mr  Johnson, 
and  Mr  Clayton,  with  several  of  the  Corporation,  dined  yesterday  at 
Speak. 

I  am,  &c. 

WM.  SQUIRE. 


The  Lady  Norris  bought  the  wedding  clothes,  the  old  Lady 
thinks  they  are  too  fine,  the  silk  cost  ten  shillings  a  yard,  it  is  scarlet 
satin  flowered  with  yellow  and  trimmed  very  well  with  silver,  and 
all  tilings  according.  The  Doctor  and  Mr  Alderman  are  well  at  Lon- 
don, they  do  not  expect  them  down  'til  towards  the  spring ;  they 
both  come  together,  as  it  is  thought.  Within  this  while  Mr.  Mark- 
land  will  write  to  you  about  your  money ;  he  hears  of  a  place,  but  is 
not  rightly  satisfied  about  the  security,  yet  he  will  make  farther  in- 
quiry, and  let  you  know.  Our  daughter  Mall  is  at  School,  and  goes 
to  learn  anything  with  her  needle  after  Christmas.  She  is  to  work 
for  herself  anything  that  I  will  set  her  about,  and  my  request  is  to 
you,  or  Madam  Betty,  if  you  have  any  french  paillring  for  embroider- 
ing, or  sprigging,  or  flourishing,  of  muslin,  that  you  will  please  to  let 
her  do  it ;  her  mistress  promised  she  will  take  care  that  she  does  her 
work  as  well  for  me  as  for  herself,  besides,  this  sort  of  thing  is  too 
fine  for  her,  and  too  chargeable  for  her  father's  pocket.  Katy  gives 
her  service  to  you  and  Miss.  One  of  the  biggest  boys  has  been  scalded 
very  ill,  and  a  sad  time  he  has  had.  Pray  my  service  to  Madam 
Betty,  I  wish  her  a  happy  new  year,  &c. 

M.  MARKLAND. 
Decr  10,  [1703.] 

[THE  above  alludes  to  Mr.  Squire's  marriage  with  Mrs.  Ann  Norris.] 


THE    NORRIS    PAPERS.  137 


LXXIV. 

RELATING  TO  THE  TYLDESLEYS  EXTRACTS  FROM  LETTERS  OF  EDWARD 
AND  THOMAS  TYLDESLEY,  AND  CASE,  1704  — 1705. 


[THE  reader  is  here  presented  with  almost  the  last  scene  in  the  fortunes 
of  the  Tyldesleys.  Toms  Tyldesley,  as  he  signs  himself,  was  grandson  of 
that  great  Cavalier  Sir  Thomas  Tyldesley.  It  is  indeed  most  painful  to  con- 
template this  descendant  of  so  famous  a  race,  weighed  down  with  debt, 
and  habits  of  intemperance.  He  says  in  one  of  his  letters  (June  30,  1705) 
"  I  long  to  come  to  Liverpool  to  show  how  far  better  I  am,  for  I  have  left 
off  drinking." 

Tyldesley  had  been  sold,  Holcroft  was  now  about  to  be  exchanged  for  Sir 
William  N  orris's  gold,  and,  peevish  from  age,  misfortune,  and  drunkenness, 
Tyldesley  retired  gloomily  to  Fox  Hall,  situated  on  the  sea  side  at  Black- 
pool, amidst  a  wild  and  sequestered  district.  His  house,  constructed  for  the 
purposes  of  concealment  in  those  days  of  plots,  excited  the  wonder  of  later 
generations;  and  idle  stories  of  its  having  concealed  the  Pretender,  in  1745, 
are  still  current.  In  Cozen's  list,  Edward  Tyldesley  is  set  down  (1715)  as 
having  £720  per  annum.  This  must  have  been  conjectural,  for  at  the  very 
time  that  list  was  making,  Tyldesley  lay  in  great  poverty  awaiting  his  trial. 
He  was  acquitted,  as  appears  in  the  State  trials,  and  his  jury  were  said  to  be 
bribed. 


Feby  3,  1704. 
MR.  NORRIS, 

Merchant. 
Worthy  Sir, 

The  obligations  Ive  alreddy  received  are  soe  great,  that 
if  necessity  did  not  absolutely  force  me  to  beg  a  farther  kindness,  I 
durst  not  have  presumed  it.  Sir,  my  condition  at  this  time  is  so  bad 


138  THE    NOBBIS    PAPEBS. 

that  my  father  is  not  in  a  capacity  to  assist  me,  and  my  creditors  will 
not  have  patience  till  we  can  dispose  of  our  Estate ;  therefore  I  most 
earnestly  request  that  yle  be  pleased  to  make  the  five  pound  you 
honoured  me  with  the  sum  of  twelve,  for  on  Monday  next  I  must 
either  pay  five  and  twenty  pounds,  which  that  will  make  up,  or  come 
both  into  disgrace  and  trouble.  I  would  have  waited  on  you  myself 
but  that  I  am  forced  to  go  to  severall  places,  to  get  in  this  affair ;  if 
you  please,  I  will  send  you  a  bond  by  the  post,  but  I  hope  it  wont 
be  long  before  you  may  repay  yourself.  Since  it  is  my  misfortune  to 
want  moneys,  I  hope  I  sha^nt  want  a  friend  in  you,  which  is  no  small 
satisfaction  to  him  that  will  always  profess  himself 

Yr  very  obliged 

And  faithful  Servant, 

EDWD.  TYLDESLEY. 


Fox  Hall,  Septr  11,  1705. 
THE  HONOURED  RICHARD  NORRIS, 

Merchant. 
Sir, 

I  understand  by  my  son,  that  your  counsel  makes  some 
stop  in  our  business,  and  would  object  that  the  partition  is  not  good, 
though  confirmed  by  fine  and  recovery  from  all  the  parties,  which  was 
at  first  a  surprize  to  me.  Because  if  this  bargain  of  yours  and  mine 
should  go  off,  you  cannot  imagine  the  great  prejudice  it  might  happen 
to  do  us  both  —  too  long  for  this  piece  of  paper  to  insert  —  as  some 
of  our  particler  friends  have  already  tould  me ;  for  had  it  been  but  a 
month's  discourse,  it  might  have  been  no  such  disadvantage  to  either 
of  us,  but  being  confirmed  by  both  of  us  that  the  bargain  was  con- 
cluded, it  will,  I  do  assure  you,  cast  no  small  reflection  on  you,  nor 
be  no  little  blot  on  my  Estate,  which  I  could  much  wish  to  the  con- 
trary ;  and  therefore  be  so  kind  to  yourself  and  me  as  to  let  your 
Counsellor,  Mr  How,  and  mine,  meet  together  to  argue  the  point 
thoroughly,  and  digest  every  bit  of  the  obstacle,  that  all  things  may 


THE    NORRIS    PAPERS.  139 

be  healed.  For  I  have  so  true  a  service  for  you  that  I  would  not  for 
a  brace  of  <^?100,  for  your  partiklar  sake,  this  bargain  should  not 
succeed,  besides  my  own  misfortune,  which  will  be  great.  Therefore 
I  hope  my  son  and  his  friend  will  soon  concert  matters  with  you,  that 
all  will  be  done  according  to  honor,  and  suffice  who  am,  &c. 

TOMS  TYLDESLEY. 


Red  hassells,  22  Decr  1704. 
MR.  RICHD  NORRIS, 
Sir, 

Hearing  that  your  about  the  purchas  of  Holcroft,  from 
Mr  Tildesley,  I  thought  meete  to  lett  you  know  that  there  is  a  mort- 
gage lyes  on  that  estate,  and  others,  of  a  considerable  sum,  which 
Mr  Atherton  of  Atherton  and  his  sisters  clayme  an  interest  in.  The 
Mortgage  deed  lies  in  Mr  Winkleye's  hands,  as  Register  of  the 
Dutchy,  being  lodged  there  by  advice  of  that  Counsel  some  yeares 
since,  and  now  Mr  Atherton's  youngest  sister  is  attained  age  there 
will  be  speedy  course  taken  for  the  recovery  of  that  money.  I  being 
lately  with  Mr  Atherton  he  desired  I  would  give  you  this  account, 
which  I  thought  it  a  neighbourly  duty  to  perform,  in  addition  to 
quieting  the  title,  especially  where  my  worthy  good  friend  Mr  Norres 
is  interested.  This,  with  my  humble  service  at  present, 

Sir, 
Your  obliged  friend  and  servant, 

JONN  CASE.* 

S', 

I  can  give  you  a  full  satisfaction  how  this  matter  stands. 
1  Apparently  an  ill-natured  interference  of  Mr.  Case  in  poor  Tyldesley's  affairs. 


14-0  THE    NORRIS    PAPERS. 

Decr  the  24th. 
ALDERMAN  NORRIS, 
Worthy  Sir, 

Necessity  obliges  me  to  have  recource  to  my  friends,  for 
my  father  being  in  a  passion  at  some  people  of  the  Inn,  went  out  of 
Town  last  night,  after  two  o'clock,  and  has  left  me  bare  of  moneys, 
which  makes  me  humbly  beg  you  will  be  pleased  to  lend  a  couple  of 
guineas,  which  will  be  an  extreme  obligation  to  him  who  will  ever 
show  himself  your  thankful  humble  servant, 

EDWD    TlLDESLEY. 

I  have  sent  my  servant,  and  desire  your  favor  and  secrecy. 


THE    NORBIS    PAPERS.  141 


LXXV. 

ISAAC  GREEN  TO  RICHARD  NORRIS,  PRESCOT.   7  SEPTEMBER,  1705. 
On  HeskeiKs  Mortgage. 


RICHARD  NORRIS,  Eso,R, 
The  Axe, 

Aldermanbury. 
Sir, 

Yesterday  I  saw  and  spoke  to  Mr  Scarisbrick1  of  Scaris- 
brick,  at  the  horse  race  at  Childwall,2  (where  my  Lord  Mollineux  and 
his  son's  horses  ran  against  Mr  Harrington's  and  his  sons,  and  the  two 
later  did  win,)  and  Mr  Scarisbrick  told  me  that  it  was  not  his  fault 
that  the  accounts  were  not  settled,  for  he  had  them  ready,  and  could 
settle  them  in  an  hour's  time  if  Mr  Hesketh  pleased,  wherewith  I 
acquainted  Mr  Hesketh  by  a  letter  by  the  post  last  night,  and  pressed 
him  to  get  them  done.  I  have  also  sent  the  draughts  of  the  assign- 
ments of  the  Judgments  to  Mr  Walmsley  and  Mr  Naylor,  who  am, 
&c. 

ISAAC  GREEN.S 
Prescot,  7  Sepf,  1705. 


1  Scarisbrick  was  a  thrifty  person,  and  had  lent  Hesketh  money.     The  Harring- 
tons were  an  ancient  family  residing  at  Huyton. 

2  The  two  grounds  used  for  races  near  Liverpool  at  this  time  were,  the  one  at 
Childwall,  and  the  other  on  Wallsesia  Lease  we,  and  on  the  latter,  in  1682,  Monmouth 
rode  and  won. 

3  Green  was  twenty-six  years  old  in  1705,  and  seems  then  to  have  been  the  prin- 
cipal attorney  of  the  county. 


142  THE    NORRIS    PAPERS. 


LXXVI. 

EXTRACTS  OF  LETTERS  ON  LIVERPOOL  AFFAIRS,  1704  — 1705. 


[ON  the  27th  February,  1704,  Messrs.  Cairnes,  the  London  correspond- 
ents of  Mr.  Richard  Norris,  write  to  him  :] 

Our  friend  T.  J.  [Johnson]  is  too  easie  and  unwilling  to  displease 
his  present  partner,  and  very  unwilling  to  stand  himself;  why  cannot 
you  fix  on  some  person  to  stand  with  you  that  might  carry  it,  and  so 
lay  the  two  old  ones  aside,  the  one  with  his  will,  the  other  whether 
he  will  or  not.  Pray  think  of  this. 


[ON  the  27th  March,  1705,  Mr.  Samuel  Shepheard  thus  addresses  the 
Alderman  on  the  same  subject :] 

I  cannot  but  wish  you  success  in  anything  you  undertake,  yet  I 
am  heartily  concerned  you  stand  in  opposition  to  Alderman  Clayton, 
who  is  a  very  necessary  man  in  Parliament ;  and  therefore  I  shall 
long  to  hear  some  means  may  be  found  for  you  to  set  your  horses  to- 
gether, and  not  to  oppose  the  one  the  other ;  pray  endeavour  if  it  be 
possible,  for  as  I  said  before,  the  alderman  is  both  useful  and  neces- 
sary in  the  House  of  Commons.  I  wish  myself  with  you,  to  be  an 
Instrument  to  that  purpose. 


[X)N  the  27th  April  Mr.  R.  Norris  writes  to  Mr.  Isaac  Green :] 

There  is  one  William  Rigby,  of  your  Town,  that  was  yesterday 
sworn  free,  who  promised  me  to  vote  right,  but  am  very  much  afraid 


THE    NORRIS    PAPERS. 


he  is  drawn  off;  if  you  can  persuade  him  to  be  for  Mr  Johnson  and 
self  you  will  do  service. 


[THERE  is  another  letter  to  Green,  relating  to  a  second  vote,  which  states 
the  election  to  take  place  in  a  few  days,  (llth  May,  1705,)  and  that  Johnson 
and  Norris  were  candidates.  Clayton  and  Johnson  were  returned,  but  the 
town  did  not  immediately  resume  its  wonted  calm.  Johnson  writes,  Sep- 
tember 7th :] 

I  note  what  you  say  about  a  Mayor ;  I  hear  no  discourse,  it's  kept 
very  private.  I  suppose  Mr  Moorcroft  will  make  interest  this  year, 
that  he  may  run  no  hazard  of  an  election.  Mr  Earle  appeared  in 
council  on  Wednesday.  The  business  of  the  fresh  water  is  put  off 
till  the  next  day.  Mr  Mayor  was  not  willing  to  put  Mr  Seacome  to 
the  vote,  or  I  believe  the  Council  was  inclined  to  grant,  but  am  afraid 
there  will  not  be  a  waiter,  which  is  the  only  argument  against  him. 


[ON  September  11,  1705,  William  Squire  writes:] 

Madam  Scarborough  came  to  me  late  last  night  to  tell  me  she  was 
informed  you  were  struck  out  of  the  Commission  of  Peace,  which  I 
did  not  at  first  believe,  but  enquiring  in  it,  found  it  to  be  true.  One 
may  easily  guess  from  whence  it  came ;  therefore  I  think  it  might  do 
well  to  acquaint  my  Lord  Derby  of  it,  and  if  possible  endeavour  to 
be  restored,  that  our  enemies  may  not  have  the  satisfaction  to  triumph 
at  it,  which  I  am  told  they  do,  therefore  do  not  neglect  it.  Mrs 
Scarborough  has  a  great  mind  to  have  her  son  Gibbons  Mayor  next 
year,  and  desired  me  to  speak  to  Mr  Johnson  for  his  interest,  which 
he  readily  promised.  I  am  told  Mr  Mayor  is  for  putting  up  Mr 
Townshend ;  one  may  readily  guess  the  reason. 


J44  THE    NORRIS    PAPERS. 

[Johnson  writes :] 

Leverpoole,  Sept1'  25,  1705. 

We  are  come  to  no  resolution  about  the  Mayor  as  yet.  Mr 
Mayor  proposed  to  meet  at  the  new  Tavern  on  Monday,  but  he  did 
not ;  he  gave  for  reason  that  he  would  discourse  a  certain  person  be- 
fore he  met  on  that  account ;  and  now  this  was  his  own  doing,  and  yet 
he  put  it  off.  I  shall  make  no  bustle  about  it.  If  my  poor  wife  be 
got  well,  (who  truly  is  but  weak,)  I  shall  be  in  London  some  days 
before  the  sitting  of  the  House.  We  have  had  Mr  Defoe  here  —  I 
did  not  see  him ;  Mr  Done  was  very  busy,  and  invited  him  to  his 
house,  which  in  my  opinion  had  been  better  let  alone. 


[Mr.  Hall  to  Mr.  R.  Norris :] 

Leverpool,  28  Septr,  1705. 

I  doubt  not  but  our  friend  Mr  Squire  hath  given  you  a  full 
account  of  our  friend  J.  Gibbons,  put  up  to  be  Mayor ;  and  on  my 
soul  and  conscience  all  our  interest  hath  been  used  for  son  Gibbons, 
so  that  it  occasioned  a  meeting  last  Wednesday  night  by  Mr  Mayor's 
appointment,  where  Mr  Mayor,  all  the  aldermen  in  Town,  I  mean 
none  but  those  of  the  Council,  except  Mr  Bikesteth,  were  present,  as 
were  Bro:  Barrow  and  myself,  made  up  10  in  number;  and  after  a 
great  many  words  used  of  both  parts,  one  for  Mr  Gibbons,  the  other  for 
Sil:  Moorcroft,  at  last  it  was  put  to  the  vote  how  we  would  be,  and 
carried  it  for  our  son  in  law,  yeas  7,  noes  3,  viz :  Mr  Maudit,  Mr 
Cleveland,  and  Mr  Sharpies.  I  doubt  not  but  this  will  be  all  mis- 
terious.  To  think  Mr  Mayor  was  for  J.  G.  and  after  that  Mr  Jos: 
Pool,  who  old  David  hath  been  labouring  hard  about  to  get  in  to  be 
Bayliff.  Last  night,  Mr  Mayor  being  gone  to  Chester  fair,  there  was 
a  great  meeting  of  Mrs  Clayton,  Tyrer,  Houghton,  Cleveland,  Shar- 
pies, Webster,  Earle,  and  some  others,  and  do  believe  it  was  about  a 
Mayor.  We  are  mostly  pretty  firm,  but  think  if  you  wrote  your 
thoughts  to  M*  Barnett,  would  not  be  amiss,  who  I  fear  is  inclined 


THE    NORRIS    PAPERS.  145 

to  vote  for  Sil.  and  if  we  now  divide,  we  may  call  good  night.  Mr 
Dan1  Defoe  hath  been  some  days  in  town,  which  hath  been  the  great 
subject  talked  of,  and  been  great  matter  of  speculation  to  some  per- 
sons. I  would  heartily  wish  to  have  your  company  before  the  elec- 
tion, and  brother  Johnson  is  too  cool.  Pray  write  your  friends ;  he 
thinks  to  go  up  before  the  election ;  he  may  very  well  set  out  for 
Warrington  the  day  of  election,  after  it  is  over,  and  be  up  in  due 
time,  but  he  says  he'll  go  in  the  Coach. 


[ON  the  2nd  of  October,  1705,  Mrs.  Scarborough  sends  word  to  Kichard 
Norris,  then  in  London ;] 

Here  are  six  persons  put  up  for  Mayor ;  who  is  the  likeliest  to 
carry  it  none  can  yet  tell,  because  those  who  have  the  best  interest  I 
am  afraid  will  not  be  harty. 


[Squires,  on  the  19th  October,  1705,  gives  the  termination  of  the  matter :] 

It's  with  no  small  trouble  I  give  my  dear  Brother  an  account  of 
our  being  foyled  yesterday,  for  Mr  Webster  is  Mayor,  and  Mr 
Earle  and  Fels,  Bailiffs  ;  we  lost  it  very  honorably,  for  they  carried 
it  but  by  26.  Mr  Johnson  never  strived  but  two  nights  before,  and 
we  did  not  poll  by  40  so  many  as  promised ;  but  what  carried  the  day 
was  the  sailors,  for  they  polled  60  more  of  them  than  we,  so  that  they 
have  no  great  reason  to  brag.  But  Aldn  Houghton  pretended  they 
could  have  brought  130  more,  which  I  am  sure  you  will  not  believe 
when  I  tell  you  there  was  upwards  of  500  had  voted.  I'm  confident 
if  you  had  been  here  we  had  carried  it ;  there's  many  of  this  opinion 
besides  me.  We  have  certainly  gained  ground  by  this  election.  Mr 
Johnson  set  out  this  morning;  when  you  see  him  he  will  give  you  a 
full  account. 


THE    NORRIS    PAPERS. 


LXXVII. 

JOHNSON  TO  R.  NORRIS,  FEBRUARY  18,  1705.  —  Contest  for  Rector 
—  Hardness  of  Norms'* s  dealing  —  Desires  to  liberate  a  Pressed 
man,  because  he  has  a  handsome  wife  —  Clayton  only  looks  after 
his  own  servants  —  News  to  be  written  out  and  left  at  Phillips'' s. 


London,  Feb?  ye  18th,  1705. 
MR.  RICHARD  NORRIS. 
Sir, 

I  have  yours  of  the  15th  Cur1  and  note  the  Contest  for 
Rector1  is  now  like  to  be  between  Mr  Richmond  and  Mr  Marsden.  I 
am  for  every  body  pleasing  themselves  in  that  matter ;  you  will  ex- 
cuse me,  I  do  not  design  to  meddle,  it  is  very  uncertain  when  I  shall 
be  at  home. 

I  am  very  glad  the  William's  sugars  prove  fine — you  have  been  too 
hard  for  a  young  beginner;  I  hope  you  will  not  discourage  him  at  first. 
I  have  said  enough  that  I  hope  will  make  him  look  about  him  when 
he  deals  with  two  such  as  Mr  Cleveland  and  you.  I  have  very  often 
observed  it,  and  I  am  sorry  to  say  it  —  and  the  reason  I  cannot 
imagine,  but  it  is  so  —  that  a  great  many  will  sell  cheaper  to  the 
Country  chapman  than  their  own  Townsmen,  though  they  may  have 
better  pay ;  for  my  own  part  I  could  never  buy  any  thing  but  I  found 
it  so.  As  to  the  Spanish  Trade,  you  shall  be  fully  satisfied  about  it. 


1  The  Rev.  William  Atherton  was  dead,  and  the  recently  abandoned  parish  of 
Walton  furnished  Liverpool  with  two  candidates  for  the  Rectorship.  The  Rich- 
monds  had  been  Patrons  or  Rectors  of  Walton,  and  Marsden  was  the  Vicar  of  that 
parish  in  1688,  (as  is  shown  by  a  letter  from  him  in  this  collection,  speaking  of  his 
heavy  parochial  duties,)  although  in  the  printed  list  his  appointment  is  set  down 
1689.  Richmond  was  made  Rector  of  Liverpool  in  May  1706.  His  family  long- 
continued  in  the  town. 


THE    NOBRIS    PAPERS.  147 

Our  Letters  on  Tuesday  I  find  miscarried.  I  have  sent  abstract  of 
the  Committee  bill  to  the  Coffee  House. 

Partridge  is  gone.  I  have  done  all  that  was  possible.  The  Cap- 
tain wrote  the  Board  that  he  had  him  from  such  a  Ship,  and  that  he 
left  as  many  Men  as  was  needful,  and  desired  to  keep  him ;  in  short 
Mr  Clayton  got  his  own  servants  clear,  and  left  this  poor  man.  I  had 
positive  orders  about  him,  but  still  mist,  and  I  was  told  6  weeks  ago 
that  they  were  gone  to  Lisbon.  She  must  be  satisfied ;  pray  see 
what  you  can  do  for  me  ;  she  is  a  very  handsome  woman.  To-day 
the  House  was  upon  the  bill  for  Manning  the  Navy ;  with  much  ado 
they  filled  up  the  blank  for  the  Clause  for  a  Gen1  Eegistry,  and  ad- 
journed. I  hope  we  shall  keep  it  off  this  Sessions.  The  Lords  have 
got  their  end,  relating  to  the  Regency  bill  —  the  Expedient  is  a  jest 
as  near  as  I  can  take  it ;  you  have  it  inclosed ;  if  you  can  write  it 
fairer,  may  leave  it  at  Phillips's.  There  is  a  Committee  sitting,  and 
now  past  10,  and  you  will  excuse  me. 

I  am,  &c. 

THOS.  JOHNSON. 

The  Lords  readily  agreed  to  the 
amendments. 


148  THE    NOBRIS    PAPERS. 


LXXVIII. 

ALEXANDER  HESKETH  TO  RICHARD  NORRIS,  JANUARY  21,   1705—6. 
Urges  sale  of  land  to  be  completed. 


[THE  estate  of  Hesketh  of  Aughton  was  bought  years  afterwards  by 
Plumbe,  a  Liverpool  attorney.] 


MR.  NORRIS, 

at  his  house, 

Water  Street, 

Liverpool. 
Sir, 

I  have  spoken  to  my  friends  to  meet  you  and  your  friends, 
on  Fryday  next ;  unless  you  be  there,  nothing  will  be  perfected ;  those 
catterpillars  loves  to  be  imployed,  I  am  sure  will  prove  a  needless 
charge,  because  all  persons  was  agreed,  and  you  and  Mr  Green  did 
take  possession.  The  Estate  is  yours,  and  none  of  myne,  according 
as  we  referred  ourselves  unto,  and  the  sums  of  money  really  fixed ; 
tho1  writings  was  not  made  out,  words  should  be  made  good  on  both 
parties.  I  hope  you  will  not  fail. 

Yours  to  serve  you, 

ALEXR.  HESKETH. 
Monday  Morning, 
Jan'21,  170i. 


THE    NORBIS    PAPERS.  149 


LXXIX. 

T.  JOHNSON  TO  JR.  NORRIS,  JANUARY  26,  1705.  — Defaulting  Custom 
House  Collectors  —  Bonds  enforced  —  Interest  to  be  remitted  — 
Scarborough^  funeral — Commissioners  open  the  coffin — Clayton's 
officiousness. 


Sir, 

I  have  yours  of  the  22nd  Curr.  and  note  the  severe  pro- 
ceedings against  Mr  Scarborough,  and  God  send  the  Town  well  de- 
livered of  these  troubles.  We  are  doing  all  we  can  about  the  old 
bonds,  and  hope  in  the  end  to  prevail,  that  the  Interest  be  remitted, 
which  I  shall  be  very  glad  to  advise,  and  hope  for  the  future  we  shall 
all  take  more  care.  This  day  we  have  been  at  the  Funeral  of  Mr 
Scarborough.1  I  know  you  will  have  a  great  deal  of  talk  about  it, 
and  therefore  I  will  give  you  exactly  what  past.  As  we  were  in- 
vited, Mr  Clayton  and  I  went,  and  there  we  met  Mr  Morris,  who 
came  with  a  power  from  the  Commrs  of  the  Customs  to  see  the  corpse. 
A  hole  on  the  Top  of  the  Coffin  was  open,  and  truly  at  the  first  sight 
I  was  startled,  and  did  not  know  what  to  think,  and  it  proved  we  all 
three  were  so.  Mr  Morris  desired  to  have  it  opened,  which  was  done, 
and  we  viewed  the  Corpse  again,  and  some  others  that  came  in,  and 
then  every  body  was  satisfied.  I  took  notice  his  left  leg  was  shorter 
than  the  right.  You  will  say,  why  all  this  scruple  ?  The  manner 
of  his  death  caused  it,  for  the  Men  said  on  Monday  night  he  was 
pretty  well,  and  went  from  them  on  Tuesday  morning.  To  hear  the 


1  Scarborough  was  at  the  head  of  the  Liverpool  Customs,  and  defrauded  the  Go- 
vernment, who  doubted  the  story  of  his  death,  and  afterwards  suspected  he  had 
committed  suicide.  On  June  1, 1706,  Sir  Barnaby  Scudamore  set  out  from  London 
to  replace  Scarborough. 


150  THE    NORBIS    PAPERS. 

Aldn  talk  you  would  never  forget,  and  there  is  a  mighty  intimacy  be- 
tween him  and  the  Custom  house  in  the  matter.  Yesterday  morning 
he  would  go,  I  knew,  to  tell  them,  though  the  morning  before,  when 
we  had  business,  he  pretended  that  which  was  not,  so  I  told  him,  "I 
suppose  you  would  acquaint  the  Commrs,  —  you  may  send  a  line  to 
Mr  Savage,"  and  he  did  so.  He  takes  a  wonderful  deal  of  care  of 
John  Hartley,  but  never  mentions  any  body  else  ;  I  reckon  the  place 
of  Collector  will  now  speedily  be  filled  —  whose  lot  will  it  fall  to  I 
I  wish  we  may  have  an  understanding  man. 

I  am,  &c. 
THOS.  JOHNSON. 


THE    NORRIS    PAPERS.  151 

LXXX. 

THE  SAME  TO  THE  SAME,  FEBRUARY  23,  1705.  —  Contest  for  Rector. 


London,  Feby  23rd,  1705. 
MR.  RICHARD  NORRIS. 
Sir, 

I  have  yours  of  the  19th  Curr*,  and  am  glad  the  Clause 
for  remitting  the  Interest  is  pleasing  to  you  and  other  friends.  I  have 
been  fully  informed  about  Mr  Richmond's1  proceedings  after  the  death 
of  Mr  Atherton,  which  are  not  commendable ;  but  I  understand  the 
reason  given  for  it  is,  that  he  was  resolved  to  be  first,  he  had  a  good 
intelligence,  and  waited  for  it  It  is  a  cry,  we  must  always  have  dis- 
putes, and  I  have  not  omitted  to  answer  the  Gen*.  He  says  it  is  only 
Brother  Hall,  and  some  few  others,  that  puts  Mr  Marsden  up ;  and 
truly  I  should  have  thought  that  if  some  you  mention  had  been  in 
earnest,  they  would  have  signed  a  Letter  to  the  Bishop ;  pray  how 
do  you  think  I  could  show  the  Bishop  that  which  you  sent  ?  —  I  ac- 
quainted him  with  the  contents,  and  have  given  Mr  Maudit  his 
Lordship's  answer,  to  which  I  refer  you.  Do  not  depend  upon  it 
coming  before  the  Bishop  unless  you  have  a  Majority,  or  that  Mr 
Stythe  wrote  him.  I  told  him  that  some  wrote  me  it  was  Mr  Stythe's 
desire  to  have  Mr  Marsden  for  his  Brother  Rector.  You  must  excuse 
me  in  this  affair,  I  do  not  design  to  make  any  votes  ;  let  them  have 
what  parson  they  will,  it  is  all  one. 

I  do  not  doubt  what  you  say  as  to  the  several  persons  you  mention 


1  When  the  election  came  on,  Norris  and  his  friends  made  a  desperate  and  unavail- 
ing effort  for  Marsden.  Squire  writes,  14th  May,  1706,  to  Richard  Norris,  —  "As 
to  what  you  and  Mr.  Hall  did  in  the  choice  of  a  Rector,  was  bravely  done.  I'm  not 
in  the  least  surprized  at  the  carriage  of  Mr.  Johnson  in  that  affair." 


152  THE    NORRIS    PAPERS. 

to  befriend  Mr  Marsden,  but  till  I  see  it  under  their  hands  you  will 
pardon  me  if  I  have  no  faith.  The  steps  you  have  made  —  I  do  not 
say  you,  but  others  who  undertook  this  —  look  like  some  former  pro- 
ceedings, only  talk.  I  used  to  find  it  an  endless  work  to  get  persons 
together  to  sign  letters  or  Petitions ;  there  is  nothing  like  a  willing 
mind  —  you  can  never  expect  much  service  from  pressed  men. 

I  am,  &c., 
THOS.  JOHNSON. 


THE    NORRIS    PAPERS.  153 


LXXXI. 

THE  SAME  TO  THE  SAME,  FEBRUARY  1,  1706. — The  Corporation  and 

Sir  Cleave  More. 


London,  Feb?  ye  1st,  1706. 
Sir, 

I  have  none  of  yours  since  my  last ;  have  now  to  advise 
Sir  Cleave  Moore  came  this  day,  and  shewed  us  a  Petition  to  be  pre- 
sented to  the  House  for  a  bill  to  make  void  the  lease  granted  Berry 
and  others,  which  we  have  this  post  inclosed  in  a  joint  letter  to  Mr 
Maior.  Now  my  thoughts  of  this  matter  is,  before  this  Act  go  for- 
ward I  think  the  Lease  should  be  perfected,  and  care  taken  to  oblige 
them  to  begin,  and  proceed  to  finish  the  work  in  such  a  time,  and  if 
there  be  no  beginning,  or  possibility  to  finish  the  work  in  such  a  time, 
the  lease  to  be  void.  I  mean  something  to  this  purpose.  You  are 
sensible  of  the  defect  of  the  other ;  now  you  will  consider  if  this  is 
not  best  to  be  done  before  we  move  for  the  Act  —  and  on  Instruction 
drawn  to  oblige  Sr  Cleave  to  pay  the  charge  of  procuring  the  Act,  as 
by  contract  he  is  obliged.  You  will  be  censured  now,  if  this  Petition 
be  not  immediately  signed  ;  but  I  would  advise  with  Mr  Blundell1 
what  you  had  best  do,  for  if  you  observe  the  close  of  the  Petition,  it 
is  intended  in  the  Bill  to  give  some  power  or  Privilege  to  him.  Still 
this  must  have  a  reference  to  the  Contractor's  lease,  it  will  be  said ; 
but  how  can  it  refer  to  it  when  there  is  none  on  the  other  hand  ?  — 
Can  you  grant  a  second  lease  whilst  the  other  is  in  being  ?  Sr  Cleave 
is  here,  and  I  just  stept  to  write  two  lines ;  excuse  this  scrawl. 

Yours  &c., 

THOS.  JOHNSON. 

1  The  family  of  Blundell  was  at  this  time  of  consideration  in  Liverpool ;  but  this 
Mr.  Blundell  was  probably  Green's  clerk. 


154  THE    NORBIS    PAPERS. 


LXXXII. 

HENRY  WATTS  TO  B.  NORRIS,  14  SEPTEMBER,   1706.  —  Norris  has 
won  by  Turin  being  taken  —  Foster  Cunliffe  —  Proposes  new  bets. 


[THE  following  letters  will  show  the  terms  on  which  an  Innkeeper  a 
century  and  a  half  ago  stood  with  his  most  honoured  guests.  Henry  Watts, 
of  the  Axe,  Aldermanhury,  was  the  host,  a  friend  of  many  Liverpool  mer- 
chants, and  none  more  than  Alderman  Richard  Norris.  Watts  was  a  lively, 
"handy,"  fellow,  gossip,  banker,  and  stock  jobber,  to  his  country  customers; 
and  if  we  are  not  mistaken  in  the  correspondence,  and  similar  letters  to 
these  here  selected  occur,  he  occasionally  found  means  to  divert  the  money 
arising  from  the  bills  deposited  with  him  from  returning  to  Liverpool.  We 
have  here  an  early  mention  of  Foster  Cunliffe,  long  an  eminent  merchant  in 
Liverpool,  and  whose  family,  for  nearly  seventy  years,  acted  a  large  part  in 
the  history  of  the  town.  In  1703  Foster  Cunliffe  speaks  of  "  his  master" 
as  though  in  his  apprenticeship,  and  in  1705  Cunliffe  was  twenty-one  years 
old.] 


London,  14  Sepf,  1706. 
Honod  Sir, 

This  comes  to  wish  you  joy,  and  my  good  friend  Mr 
Squire,  of  the  good  news  of  raising  the  siege  of  Turin  by  Prince 
Eugene,  of  which  there  is  an  express  to  the  Government,  said  to 
come  from  my  Lord  Duke  of  Marlborough ;  and  likewise  of  the 
surrender  of  Dendermood,  the  5th  ins*  new  style,  and  sundry  other 
particulars,  which  I  hope  to  send  you  inclos'd  in  Jones's  paper,  which 
we  expect,  if  it  come  out  in  time.  However,  would  not  omit  giving 
you  this  hint,  to  satisfy  you  that  you  have  won  your  premium  on 
Turin.  I  thank  you  for  your  kind  remembrance  in  recommending 
Mr  Cunliffe  to  my  house,  and  him  for  his  good  company,  to  whom 


THE    NORRIS    PAPERS.  155 

please  to  give  my  service,  and  am  sorry  did  not  see  him  at  his  going 
away  to  have  taken  my  leave  of  him,  which  with  my  most  humble 
service  to  your  good  self  and  all  friends,  conclude  in  haste. 

I  am,  &c., 

HEN.  WATTS. 

Just  going  to  the  Goose  with  Mr  Caill*  to  drink  my  Lord  Marlh, 
the  Duke  of  Savoy,  and  Prince  Eugene's  health,  where  shall  not 
forget  your  own. 


Whether  you  like  any  of  Mr  Caillonet's  proposals  to 
lessen  your  deht  on  Namur  and  Eoses,  of  the  first  of  which,  (being 
now  due,)  there's  no  abatement,  so  would  have  paid  him,  and  only 
wanted  an  answer  to  know  which  way  I  should  do  it,  viz  :  —  whether 
out  of  the  ^197  and  what  is  more  due  from  Mr  Caill*,  or  whether 
you  will  take  any  more  premiums.  So  please  give  me  your  order 
per  next,  and  shall  be  duly  executed.  I  have  not  more  but  that  by 
the  post  the  action  in  Poland  is  still  more  considerable  for  the  ad- 
vantage of  King  Augustus.  With  my  humble  service,  &c., 

HEN.  WATTS. 


156  THE    NORRIS    PAPERS. 


LXXXIII. 

HENRY  WATTS  TO  R.  NORRIS,  DECEMBER  14,  1706.  —  Norris  has  i 
and  explanations  are  offered — List  of  bets  offered  by  Caillonet. 


London,  14  Dec*  1706. 
MR.  RICHARD  NORRIS. 
Honod  Sir, 

I  have  your's  of  the  1 0th  ins*,  and  am  sorry  you  put  so 
ill  a  construction  on  my  endeavours,  because  not  like  to  succeed.  If 
I  had  stayed  for  a  post  before  I  had  taken  the  money,  and  that 
should  a  brought  news  of  the  Places  being  taken,  I  might  conse- 
quently have  been  blamed  on  that  side  ;  however,  as  the  matter  now 
stands,  it  looks  like  a  loss,  which  I  am  heartily  sorry  for,  but  must 
say  it  for  myself,  that  as  I  have  wrote  on  sundry  things  for  myself, 
which  you  may  depend  ont  have  not  always  proved  good,  so  when  a 
loss  has  happened  I  never  yet  reflected  on  my  own  management 
when  I  went  on  the  best  reason  and  judgment  I  was  capable  of,  and 
I  do  assure  you  the  day  I  wrote  the  c^lOO  for  you,  I  followed  very 
good  men,  and  those  pretty  much  concerned  in  those  affairs.  I 
would  rather  sacrifice  so  much  money  as  the  loss  is  like  to  be  than 
incur  your  displeasure,  but  must  tell  you  that  it  has  given  me  more 
uneasiness  than  anything  has  happened  to  me  these  seven  years. 
My  own  losses  and  misfortunes  I  have,  hitherto,  (I  thank  God)  borne 
with  all  the  quiet  such  things  were  capable  of,  but  when  other 
Gentlemen  are  concerned,  its  beyond  my  reach ;  only  this  I  can  say 
for  myself,  that  I  never  got  a  farthing  directly  or  indirectly,  in  these 
transactions,  or  anything  relating  thereto,  but  will  at  the  same  time 
promise  myself  never  to  write  sixpence  for  any  one  but  myself  as  long 
as  I  live. 

Sir,  —  Please  give  me  your  order  how  to  dispose  of  your  money 


THE    NORBIS    PAPERS.  ]57 

that  I  already  have  and  am  to  receive.  With  my  most  humble 
duty  and  service  to  yourself,  and  due  respects  to  Mr  Squire,  Hall, 
&c.,  I  remaine  &c., 

HEN.  WATTS. 


Give  30  G.  to  receive  £100  if  Cadiz  be  not  in  our  possession  by 
31st  October,  1707. 

Give  30  G.  to  receive  ^100  if  Badajos  be  not  in  our  possession  by 
31st  October,  1707. 

Give  30  G.  to  receive  ^100  if  Roses  be  not  in  our  possession  by 
31st  October,  1707. 

Give  40  G.  to  receive  ,£100  if  Madrid  be  not  in  our  possession  by 
31st  October,  1707. 

Give  35  G.  to  receive  ^lOO  if  Cremona  be  not  in  our  possession 
by  31st  December,  1706. 

Give  30  G.  to  receive  £100  if  Mantua  be  not  in  our  possession 
by  30th  June,  1707. 

Give  30  G.  to  receive  =£100  if  Newport  be  not  in  our  possession 
by  the  31st  August,  1707. 

Give  35  G.  to  receive  £100  if  Ipres  be  not  in  our  possession  by 
31st  August,  1707. 

Give  35  G.  to  receive  £100  if  Lisle  be  not  in  our  possession  by 
31st  August,  1707. 

Give  35  G.  to  receive  £100  if  Tournay  be  not  in  our  possession 
by  31st  August,  1707. 

Give  35  G.  to  receive  ^100  if  Mons  be  not  in  our  possession  by 
31st  August,  1 707. 

Give  35  G.  to  receive  .£100  if  Charleroi  be  not  in  our  possession 
by  31st  August,  1707. 

Give  35  G.  to  receive  £100  if  Namur  be  not  in  our  possession  by 
31st  August,  1707. 

Give  30  G.  to  receive  ^100  if  a  peace  between  England  and 
France  be  not  proclaimed  by  the  7th  June,  1708. 


158  THE    NORRIS    PAPERS. 

Give  16  G.  to  receive  ^100  if  Valentia  be  taken  from  us  by  31st 
December,  1706. 

Give  14  G.  to  receive  d^lOO  if  Girona  be  taken  from  us  by  31st 
December,  1706. 

Give  20  G.  to  receive  ^100  if  either  Saragossa  or  Valentia  be 
taken  from  us  by  31st  December,  1706. 

Give  20  G.  to  receive  £]  00  if  Milan  be  not  in  our  possession  on 
31st  December,  1706. 

Give  ]  0  G.  to  receive  £]  00  if  the  French  king  dies  in  one  year. 


MR.  RICHARD  NORRIS. 
Sir, 

I  make  bold  once  more  to  trouble  you  with  the  copy  of 
my  book,  to  inform  you  of  the  currency  of  things,  that  if  you  approve 
of  anything,  may  help  to  pay  what  is  lost ;  you  have  mist  several 
good  premiums  for  want  of  courage.  All  what  I  send  you  above 
mentioned  is  currently  signed  at  5  guineas  lower  than  I  have  fixed 
them  above,  and  chiefly  Madrid,  which  I  do  here  in  Town  at  35 
guineas,  Lisle  at  30  guineas,  and  peace  of  England  and  F.  at  25 
guineas,  for  which  severally  I  offer  you  5  guineas  more  each.  I 
hope  this  will  find  you  in  good  health  and  good  humor,  so  remain,  &c. 

J.  CAILLONET. 


THE    NORRIS    PAPERS.  ]  59 


LXXXIV. 

T. 


\  JOHNSON  TO  R.  NORRIS,  APRIL  5,  1707.—  Cause  against  Lord 
Molymux  gained —  Town's  improvements  —  Scotch  affairs. 


London,  April  ye  5th,  1707. 
MR.  RICHARD  NORRIS. 
Sir, 

I  have  yours  of  the  7th  Curr.  from  Preston,  and  am  very 
glad  you  got  the  Cause  against  the  Lord  Mullineux,  no  doubt  it  is  a 
great  Mortification  ;  now  the  subject  of  the  discourse  will  be  how  to 
improve  this  ground,  and  that  in  my  poor  opinion  will  require  some 
consideration,  and  is  not  to  be  determined  hastily.  I  think  a  hand- 
some square  might  be  made  very  well,  but  then  you  should  let  it  to 
people  that  would  build  good  houses,  and  make  them  uniform  ;  and 
as  the  custom  is  here  not  to  let  to  any  that  opens  Shop,  I  do  hope  it 
may  be  built  by  Merchts,  or  such  private  families ;  this  would  be  a 
mighty  ornament  to  the  Town.  So  much  for  the  Castle  —  now  a 
word  upon  the  Scotch  affair.  The  bill  was  reported  to-day,  and  pur- 
suant to  the  Instruction  you  find  in  the  Votes,  Mr  Harley  brought  in 
the  clause,  a  copy  of  which  I  send  Mr  Maior,  by  which  you  will  find 
that  all  goods  imported  into  Scotland  before  the  1st  Feb?  may  be 
brought  in  England,  and  all  goods  imported  from  and  before  the  7th 
May,  if  brought  from  some  Foreign  part  for  Acco11  and  risk  of  a  Na- 
tural born  subject  of  Scotland,  may  be  brought  into  England  ;  but  if 
not  so  imported,  and  brought  into  England,  shall  be  liable  to  pay, 
with  the  duty  it  paid  in  Scotland,  the  like  Duty  as  paid  for  such 
goods  at  importation  in  England,  by  which  here  is  a  great  advantage 
given  to  Scotland. 

I  am,  &c. 
THOS.  JOHNSON. 


160  THE    NORRIS    PAPERS. 


LXXXV. 

THE  SAME  TO  THE  SAME,  APRIL  8,  1707.  —  Lord  Molyneux 

Town. 


London,  April  ye  8th,  1707. 
MB.  RICHARD  NORRIS. 
Sir, 

I  have  yours  of  the  4th  Curr.  and  note  its  contents ;  no 
doubt  the  Ld  Mullineux  will  be  in  fear  that  some  may  take  an  advan- 
tage of  the  Verdict  against  him.  I  do  not  know  why  the  Corporation 
should  not  make  interest  for  the  Lord  Street,  which  field  did  certainly 
belong  to  the  Castle,  and  I  believe  he  has  no  better  title  for  Croxteth. 
As  you  observe,  he  was  certainly  ill  advised. 

I  am,  &c. 
THOS.  JOHNSON. 


THE    NORRIS    PAPERS.  161 


LXXXVI. 

THE  SAME  TO  THE  SAME,  JANUARY  17,  1707.  —  Harley  proposes  to 
Clayton  to  buy  off  the  present  Collector  at  Liverpool,  and  leave  him 
to  put  one  in  —  Johnson's  surprise  —  Regrets  Lord  Derby  does 
not  interfere  —  Present  Collector  an  enemy  —  Invites  a  letter. 


London,  Jany  ye  17,  1707. 
Sir, 

I  have  neither  time  or  paper  to  write  you  as  I  ought, 
but  was  not  willing  to  omit  this  opportunity.  To-day  Mr  Harley, 
sitting  near  us,  told  Mr  Clayton  he  must  speak  with  him  some  of 
these  days,  so  he  going  at  back  of  the  Chair  with  Mr  Clayton,  I  ad- 
vised to  follow  him  to  know  what  it  was  ;  when  he  returned,  he  told 
me  it  was  about  the  Collector,  who  he  professed  should  go  out  —  the 
Government  to  give  him  a  sum  of  money ;  and  as  we  went  from  the 
House  he  said,  "  that  young  fellow  is  too  young."  God,  I  do  not 
know  what  to  do.1  it  is  a  hard  task  upon  me ;  I  asked  what  it  was 
that  he  said,  to  name  a  Collector  ?  I  took  little  notice  of  it. 

You  see  how  our  H.  Ld  minds,  or  my  two  friends  —  every  body 
sits  quiet  at  home ;  this  is  an  opportunity  that  my  Lord  has  to  put 


1  It  was  indeed  a  high  bidding  for  parliamentary  support  on  the  part  of  Harley, 
to  offer  to  bribe  the  existing  and  unpopular  Collector  of  Customs  to  vacate  his  office ; 
and  Harley  goes  a  step  farther  in  the  next  letter,  for  he  actually  proposes  one  of  the 
Liverpool  merchants  shall  take  the  place.  Johnson's  surprise,  and  the  expression 
of  the  belief  that  Lord  Derby  might  put  in  the  Collector,  (which,  as  Harley  had 
made  the  vacancy,  was  evidently  not  intended,)  shows  more  simplicity  than  was 
common  in  that  astute  person. 


162  THE    NORRIS    PAPERS. 

in  a  friend,   you  are  sensible  Mr  D ly  is  none,  let  him  pretend 

what  he  pleases. 

If  you  can  join  in  a  letter,  I  will  deliver  it,  and  second  it.  It  is 
near  12,  and  this  all  the  paper  I  have  left ;  commit  it  to  the  flames, 
and  make  what  use  you  think  needful. 

I  am,  &c. 

THOS.  JOHNSON. 


THE    NORRIS    PAPERS.  163 


LXXXVII. 

THE  SAME  TO  THE  SAME,  JANUARY  24,  1707.  —  Collector's  place  — 

Harley^s  offer  repeated — Johnson's  surprise —  Complains 

of  Clayton. 


London,  Jany  ye  24th,  1707. 
Sir, 

I  have  yours  of  the  20th  Curr.1  with  the  inclosed  to  the 
Lord  Derby,  who  is  not  yet  come  to  town.  I  note  your  opinion  as 
to  a  New  Collector;  I  think  you  are  mightily  mistaken  in  Mr 

D ly,  he  has  no  good  nature  or  temper  in  him.      I  do  not  speak 

upon  what  happened  to  myself  at  that  time,  but  several  others  —  do 
not  depend  upon  him  for  any  friendship.  I  saw  that  at  Xinas  neither 
he  nor  the  other  came  to  your  house,  and  yet  they  both  went  to  W. 
Clayton.  The  Lord  Derby  is  not  active  —  it  is  not  only  a  benefit  to 
the  Corporation,  but  to  the  Country,  to  have  the  Collector  his  friend;2 
I  told  Sr  Alexander  Rigby  so  last  year,  and  he  was  sensible  of  it. 
I  could  not  to-day  speak  with  Mr  Stanley,  but  intend  on  Monday. 
W.  C.  says  Mr  Harley  would  have  one  of  us  to  take  it ;  Gr —  how 
can  that  be  ?  —  we  are  merchants.  He  tells  him  now  he  has  found 
out  a  way  to  make  us  easy.  The  young  man  I  mention  is  one  Har- 
ley, come  from  the  Isle  of  Man.  Sir,  I  am  satisfied  they  look  upon 
all  that  were  friends  of  Mr  Scarborough  to  be  Rogues,  and  it  really 
makes  me  unwilling  to  speak  and  appear  in  any  thing,  and  we  are  so 


1  We  may  here  gather  the  time  it  then  took  to  communicate  between  Liverpool 
and  London.    Johnson  wrote  on  the  17th  January  for  an  answer,  which  was  written 
at  Liverpool  on  the  20th,  and  replied  to  on  the  24th. 

2  As  Lord  Derby  was  identified  with  the  Corporation,  the  necessity  for  having  the 
Collector  his  friend  is  very  apparent. 


164  THE    NORRIS    PAPERS. 

represented  by  this  Man  and  others  about  the  Scotch  affair,  and  that 
as  I  mentioned  before,  that  if  I  should  ask  the  fairest  thing  in  the 
world  it  would  not  be  granted.  Fie  never  trouble  myself.  God 
willing,  I'le  come  home  and  not  trouble  myself  with  any  Public  busi- 
ness whatsomever.  I  believe  W.  C.  is  for  Mr  D ly,  though  he 

keeps  it  to  himself. 

As  to  Mr  Bretargh,  do  what  you  will ;   I  do  not  desire  he  should 

g°- 

I  am,  &c. 

THOS.  JOHNSON. 


THE    NORRIS    PAPERS.  165 

LXXXVIII. 

THE  SAME  TO  THE  SAME,  JAN.  27,  1707.  —  Liverpool  affairs. 


London,  Jany  ye  27th,  1707. 
MR.  RICHARD  NORRIS. 
Hond  Sir, 

I  am  glad  you  got  those  concerned  to  confirm  the  Ley 
for  the  Church.  On  Sunday  night,  in  good  time,  I  saw  Mr.  Serowld  ; 
he  would  gladly  save  us  about  the  Docks ;  he  is  a  very  ingenious  man ; 
he  is  of  opinion  it  may  be  very  well  done,  and  the  stones  in  the  Castle 
will  save  a  great  deal  of  money.  He  will  tell  you  the  charge  within 
three  or  four  hundred,  which  is  as  near  as  can  be  computed. 

Here  is  a  bill  come  down  from  the  Lords  to  repeal  the  Coal  Act, 
but  hopes  it  will  not  pass  the  House  of  Commons. 

I  am,  &c. 

THOS.  JOHNSON. 


166  THE    NORRIS    PAPERS. 


LXXXIX. 

THE  SAME  TO  THE  SAME,  JAN.  31,  1707.  —  Collector's  place  — 
Clayton's  conduct  —  Lord  Derby  takes  no  pains. 


London,  Jany  ye  31st,  1707. 
MR.  RICHARD  NORRIS. 
Sir, 

I  have  yours  of  the  27  Curr*  for  answer.  The  Lord 
Derby  is  not  yet  come  to  town,  which  falls  out  very  ill.  As  to  Mr 
Digby,  no  doubt  his  Interest  must  stand  fairest  with  the  Commrs,  being 
in  their  Service ;  but  I  know  so  much  of  that  Gentn  that  he  would 
be  more  arbitrary  than  the  old  K.  I  note  what  you  say  as  to  Mr 
Moorcroft ;  I  should  be  very  glad  that  such  a  thing  could  be  done, 
but  I  am  afraid  it  will  be  an  objection  against  him,  yet  he  never  has 
been  employed  in  the  Customs,  and  to  step  at  once  to  a  Collector's 
place,  I  fear  is  not  usual.  I  intend  to  see  if  I  can  meet  Mr  Hutch- 
inson,  and  discourse  him.  I  have  already  spoken  to  Mr  Stanley, 
who  makes  the  same  objection  I  do ;  he  will  write  the  Lord  Derby 
about  it.  I  do  not  find  that  Mr.  Stanley  had  any  letter  from  Aldm 
Moorcroft.  W.  0.  I  observed  to  day  when  I  was  talking  with  Mr 
Stanley ;  he  was  reading  a  paper,  and  smiled ;  I  am  sure  there  was 
nothing  in  the  paper  that  occasioned  it.  I  fancy  something  of  the 
Collector;  no  doubt  he  has  consulted  his  friend  R.  H.  [Houghton], 
and  if  any  alteration  is,  he  will  promote  some  that  may  befriend.  It 
were  no  difficult  move  for  the  Ld  Derby  to  get  his  friend  in,  if  his 
Lordship  pleases ;  but  alas  !  he  is  not  active  as  some  men  are. 

I  am,  &c. 

THOS.  JOHNSON. 


THE    NORRIS    PAPERS.  167 


xc. 

THE  SAME  TO  THE  SAME,  12  FEBRUARY,  1707.  —  Tories  going  out 
and  Whigs  taking  Office. 


London,  Feby  ye  12th,  1707. 
Sir, 

I  have  yours  of  the  18th  Curr*,  and  hope  you  have  been 
abroad.     T  am  glad  you  are  well  returned. 

The  bill  for  appointing  Cruisers  is  ordered  to  be  Ingrossed ;  I  wish 
it  may  pass  the  Lds,  it  is  a  very  good  bill  and  I  hope  will  do  service. 
Mr  Clayton  will  write  you  and  friends,  in  answer  to  your  letter  rela- 
ting to  Cruisers  and  Convoys,  to  which  refer  you ;  we  lodge  some 
distance  from  one  another  that  I  do  not  know  if  I  shall  write  just 
yet. 

We  have  great  alterations  made  and  expected  to  be  made.  The 
Secretary,  Harley,  is  out,  and  Mr  Boyle  in ;  the  Attorney  Gen1  out, 
and  the  Solicitor  said  to  be  [Attorney  General] ;  Mr  Robert  Eyres 
made  Solicitor ;  in  short  all  the  whole  Gang  goes  out,  and  the  staunch 
Whigs  come  in,  for  you  know  these  were  often  against  the  Court  in 
K.  Wm's  time.  The  grand  fault  is  that  they  did  not  prevent  the 
House  of  Commons  coming  to  the  resolution  they  did  relating  to 
Spain.  Various  are  the  reports,  but  it  is  true  the  great  Men  insisted 
upon  Mr  Harly's  being  turned  out,  and,  as  I  am  told,  would  not 
come  to  Court  till  it  was  done.  The  Annuities  past  the  Lords  to-day. 

I  am,  &c., 

THOS.  JOHNSON. 


168  THE    NOBRIS    PAPERS. 


XCI. 

THE  SAME  TO  THE  SAME,   FEBRUARY  1 8,  1 707.  —  Clayton  receives 
favours  from  the  Whigs. 


London,  Feby  ye  18**,  1707. 
Sir, 

Pray  how  go  you  on  with  the  Elizth  and  Laurell  ?  The 
Ellen  was  taken  the  6th  January  off  Torbay,  and  carried  to  Malo,  in 
which  I  have  a  very  great  loss  —  I  am  not  able  to  make  you  sensible 
of  it. 

I  shall  be  many  ways  disappointed  in  my  business  by  this  unhappy 
accident.  I  hope  you  will  let  the  Mercy  go,  and  she  will  not  take  i 
of  the  provisions  I  have. 

I  am,  &c. 
THOS.  JOHNSON. 

Smith  is  made  Tide  Waiter.  There  was  one  Key  put  in,  who  was 
recommended  by  the  Ld  Warrington ;  but  Mr  C.  ^plyed  the  matter  so, 

and  obliged  Mr  Lowndes  so  yesterday  with  being  for  the  an ties, 

that  the  Ld  Treasurer  sent  for  him,  and  told  him  it  being  the  first 
favour  he  asked,  he  granted  it.  You  see  what  those  will  take  pains 
can  do.  I  have  not  been  wanting  to  put  in  writing  to  the  Ld  D.  what 
might  be  done,  and  showed  him  several  opportunities,  but  to  no  pur- 
pose. Pray  burn  this.1 

1  This  postcript  exhibits  Clayton,  the  very  moment  his  old  friends  are  turned  out, 
selling  himself  to  their  adversaries  ;  and  Johnson  and  the  Whigs  lose  the  appoint- 
ment because  Lord  Derby  will  not  interfere. 


THE    NORRIS    PAPERS.  169 


XCII. 

THE  SAME  TO  THE  SAME,  FEBRUARY  19,  1707.  —  Public  Affairs  — 
Treating  in  Liverpool. 


London,  Feby  ye  19th,  1707. 
MR.  RICHARD  NORRIS. 
Sir, 

Inclosed  are  the  Votes,  in  which  is  the  answer  the  Queen 
has  ordered  to  be  laid  before  the  House  relating  to  Spain,  the  same 
having  not  been  under  the  consideration  of  the  house.  I  shall  not 
pretend  to  give  my  thoughts  of  it.  The  Lds  are  very  brisk  upon  the 
Admiralty,  and  have  addressed  the  Queen  (but  it  is  not  out  to-day) 
upon  it  again,  the  Queen  present ;  the  Lord  Wharton  said  he  knew 
so  much  of  that  matter  he  was  ashamed  to  speak  it.  The  Ld  Trea- 
surer made  answer,  the  Noble  Lord  had  said  so  much  he  might  be 
ashamed  of  it  in  the  business  of  Ker.  There  was  15  North  British 
Lords  and  15  South  divided  for  him. 

I  hear  you  give  free  drink  at  Liverpool ;  pray  whose  so  free  ?  I 
cannot  learn  that  yet  —  I  fancy  there  is  some  has  a  mind  to  be  doing, 
and  gives  out  these  things.  I  believe  trade  is  dull,  and  no  doubt  we 
have  a  great  many  would  be  glad  to  promote  Trade.  Surely  the  half 
Crown  I  desired  Aldn  Cockshut  to  drink  at  Widow  Parks1  is  not 
reckoned  in  —  it  is  well  if  that  was  not  the  thing.  Did  the  parson 
pay  nothing  ?  I  heard  he  was  there.  It  is  pretty  well  known  what 
I  intended  it  for  —  the  advantage  of  the  poor  woman.  People  are 
sad  jealous  in  these  days ;  it  is  strange  we  are  neither  well  full  nor 
fasting. 

I  am,  &c. 
THOS.  JOHNSON. 


170  THE    NORRIS    PAPERS. 

xcm. 

THE  SAME  TO  THE  SAME,  MARCH  10,  1707. —  Johnson  knighted. 


London,  March  the  10th,  1707. 
MR.  RICHARD  NORRIS. 
Sir, 

This  day  about  half  an  hour  past  12  or  near  1,  I  went  to 
the  House  of  Lords  to  know  when  the  Ld  Derby  would  please  to  pre- 
sent the  Corporation  address,  upon  which  my  Lord  told  me  when  the 
Queen  came  to  the  house,  in  the  Princess  Chamber,  and  desired  I 
would  stay,  upon  which,  Mr  Poole  with  me,  I  did  stay  the  Queen's 
coming,  and  after  the  Queen  returned  from  the  House,  the  Ld  Derby 
carrying  the  sword,  he  presented  the  address ;  and  I  being  there,  the 
Lord  Derby  against  my  knowledge  spoke  to  the  Queen  to  confer  the 
Honor  of  Knighthood.  God  knows  I  kneeled  to  kiss  the  Queen's 
hand,  and  to  my  great  surprize  the  other  followed.  I  am  under  great 
concern  about  it,  knowing  I  no  way  desired  that  I  had,  and  must 
undergo  a  great  many  censures ;  but  the  Lord  forgive  them  as  I  do. 
I  had  not  mentioned  this  thing,  but  I  knew  it  will  be  said  this  ad- 
dress was  presented  without  giving  notice  to  Mr  Clayton ;  he  was 
this  morning  at  my  lodging,  and  said  he  was  going  to  Wapping  —  I 
told  him  I  was  to  go  to  the  Custom  House,  after  to  the  House,  and 
intended  to  wait  on  the  Lord  Derby  to  know  when  his  Lordship 
would  present  the  address,  and  promised  to  give  him  notice,  not 
thinking  but  there  would  be  time  to  do  so.;  but  I  leave  you  to  judge 
if  it  was  possible  in  less  than  an  hour  I  could  do  this.  I  went 
with  him  to  the  Lord  Derby's  to  signe  it,  and  the  Lord  Derby  did 
promise  to  let  us  know,  but  if  I  had  not  called,  I  had  no  more  notice 
than  he.  This  would  have  been  the  last  thing  I  should  have  thought 
on,  but  I  know  you'll  have  it  by  others,  tho'  of  no  information  of 


THE    NORBIS    PAPERS. 

myne,  and  I  am  sure  the  surprize  has  put  me  more  out  of  order  than 
I  have  been  since  I  came  to  London.  This,  I  am  satisfied,  was  an 
effect  of  my  Lord's  kindness,  but  I  could  not  forbear  telling  my  Lord 
I  could  not  thank  him,  I  cannot  trouble  you  with  more  at  present. 

I  am,  &c. 
THOS.  JOHNSON. 


172  THE    NORRIS    PAPERS. 


XCIV. 

J.  GTREEN  TO  E.  NORRIS,  JULY  15,  1707.  —  Cause  between  Lord 
A  nglesea  and  Lord  Derby. 


[THE  following  letter  relates  to  the  disputes  between  the  eldest  daughter 
of  the  ninth  Earl  of  Derby,  who  in  1706  had  married  the  Earl  of  Anglesea, 
and  her  uncle,  the  tenth  Earl.  Lathoni  House  was  probably  one  of  the  sub- 
jects of  difference,  for  the  second  husband  of  this  lady,  Lord  Ashburnham, 
alienated  that  ancient  residence  of  his  wife's  ancestors.] 


ALDERMAN  NORRIS. 
Sir, 

Yours  of  the  11  ins*  I  have,  and  am  glad  you  are  got  safe 
home.  I  am  just  now  come  back  from  Windsor,  where  the  matter 
between  my  Lord  Anglesey  and  my  Lord  Derby  was  yesterday  heard, 
and  after  the  matter  was  debated  in  Counsel!,  (the  Queen  present,) 
between  three  and  four  hours,  and  we  were  all  withdrawn,  the  Coun- 
cil resolved  that  my  Lord  Anglesey  had  not  made  out  the  allegations 
of  his  petition.  My  Lord  Derby  made  a  full  defence  by  the  help  of 
several  affidavits,  which  were  allowed  to  be  read,  and  I  was  told  had  a 
considerable  majority  of  the  Councill  on  his  side,  whereof  my  Lord 
Chancellor  was  one ;  and  that  my  Lord  Chief  Justice  Holt  and  Mr. 
Attorney  Generall  were  of  opinion  that  his  allegations  were  proved ; 
and  that  my  Lord  Chief  Justice  Trevor  did  not  deliver  his  opinion. 
My  Lord  Anglesea  said  not  much  in  the  cause,  but  only  at  the  latter 
end  he  complained  of  the  hardship  he  was  likely  to  sustain  by  having 
a  Jury  struck  in  the  usual  way,  and  moved  that  it  might  be  referred  to 
some  indifferent  person  not  of  the  County.  My  Lord  Derby  answered 
that  the  Prothonotary  had  no  dependance  on  him,  and  was  afraid  of 


THE    NORRIS    PAPERS.  173 

the  privileges  and  custom  of  the  County  Palatine,  in  having  that  mat- 
ter done  in  an  unusual  way,  to  which  it  was  answered,  consent  could 
not  injure  a  custom.  It  was  industriously  and  fully  represented  what 
great  power  the  Queen  has  given  my  Lord  Derby,  and  how  many 
persons  have  some  dependance  on  him,  either  in  civil  or  Millitary 
affairs ;  the  rest  were  mostly  arguments  in  Law,  (by  Counsell,  and 
what  effect  they  may  have  I  know  not,)  as  to  a  provision  in  time  to 
come  for  my  Lord  Anglesey's  Security  of  having  a  fair  trial.  The 
above  is  what  I  shall  not  write  to  any  one  else,  and  only  write  it  to 
you  for  your  private  satisfaction,  for  perhaps  some  things  should  not 
be  said,  and  in  anything  I  would  not  have  my  name  heard  in  this 
matter.  I  have  got  four  pounds  from  Mr  Watts,  for  which  I  am 
accountable  to  you.  I  thank  you  for  your  intelligence  about  Mr  S. 
I  have  written  to  my  Mother  to  call  upon  you,  and  if  you  think 
good  of  it,  to  speak  to  Captain  Clayton  or  any  other  of  her  acquaint- 
ances as  from  herself.  Tho1  I  design  to  begin  my  journey  in  2  or  3 
days,  but  must  first  attend  a  matter  which  I  hope  will  be  over  to- 
morrow morning. 

I  am,  &c. 

ISAAC  GREEN. 
Black  Swan  Inn,  15  July,  1707. 


174 


THE    NORR1S    PAPERS. 


xcv. 

ORDER  OF  SESSIONS  FOR  REPAIR  OF  ROADS  IN  THE  HUNDRED  OF  WEST 

DERBY,  1688. 


[THE  roads  in  Lancashire  must,  after  being  subjected  to  the  processes  here 
recommended,  have  been  of  extreme  badness.  The  levelling  and  repairing 
a  road  with  the  scourings  of  ditches  is  almost  incredible.  Then  the  sacri- 
fice of  all  classes  to  the  horseman  and  pack  horse  carrier  is  apparent.  Where 
there  was  a  nagged  trottoir,  it  was  to  be  taken  up  and  changed  for  a  paved 
one.  Pack  horses  continued  almost  the  sole  means  of  conveyance  to  a  late 
period ;  and  the  son  of  one  of  the  principal  merchants  in  Liverpool,  about 
1765,  made  his  journeys  to  and  from  Philip  Holland's  celebrated  school  at 
Bolton,  in  the  care  of  a  carrier  and  on  a  pack  horse. 

We  gather  from  these  letters  that  in  wet  weather  those  who  travelled  by 
coach  were  absolutely  prevented  going  a  journey.  There  is  also  another 
peculiarity  in  the  travelling  of  that  day,  of  which  we  have  confirmatory  evi- 
dence from  other  districts.  The  heavy  and  well  laden  coach  was  passed 
along  the  farm  and  occupation  roads  to  its  destination,  and  there  is  a  letter 
from  Mrs.  Norris  complaining  of  a  small  payment  which  a  neighbour  de- 
manded from  her  for  allowing  her  carriage  to  pass  through  his  grounds.] 


At  a  General  Quarter  Sessions  tent:  per  adjorn.  apud  OrmsJcirke  in 
the  P.  Com:  Lane:  decimo  sexto  die  Julii,  et  majestatis  Domini 
Jacobi  secdi  Angli  fyc.  quarto. 

This  Court  upon  consideracon  of  the  great  decay  of  the  King's  high 
wayes,  and  the  long  neglects  of  the  sufficient  repaires  thereof  in  this 
County,  resolvinge  to  make  a  thorowe  reformacon  thereof  in  each 
Towne  and  Vill,  Doth  hereby  order  that  all  and  every  the  King's 
Highwayes  in  each  parish,  Towne,  and  place,  within  the  hundred  of 


THE    NORRIS    PAPERS.  175 

Darby,  shall  forthwith  be  put  in  perfect  and  good  repaire,  that  they 
may  be  made  soe  wide,  soe  smoothed  from  little  Rocks,  little  hills, 
hollows,  and  sloods,  and  all  unevenesse,  free  from  all  boggie,  sinking, 
soft,  deep,  and  founderouse  places,  ridd  of  all  sorts  of  Rubbish,  and 
so  sufficiently  passable  throughout,  that  all  Coaches,  Carts,  and  Car- 
riages may  safely  in  all  places,  going  by  the  calsey,  meet  and  passe 
each  other,  that  all  ditches  which  convey  the  water  crosse  the  high- 
way be  soughed  with  wall  stone,  and  well  covered  throughout,  from 
one  side  of  the  lane  to  the  other,  that  the  ditches  running  on  each 
side  of  the  lane  be  well  secured,  and  the  earth  or  sand  cast  thereout 
not  left  in  heaps,  but  either  spread  to  levell  the  way  in  lowe  places  or 
removed  out  of  the  way.  That  hedges  on  each  side  of  lanes  be 
cutt,  and  the  trees  lopped  that  in  anywise  annoy  the  highway,  and 
the  loppings  removed  out  of  the  lanes.  That  all  Trees,  underwoods, 
groves,  bushes,  brooms,  brambles,  gorses,  and  the  like,  be  well  ridd 
up,  and  totally  removed  out  of  the  said  Lanes.  And  that  all  the 
holes  occasioned  by  ridding  the  same,  as  also  all  pitts,  slacks,  and 
hollowes,  little  hills,  and  heaps  of  earth  and  rubbish,  bee  levelled 
and  made  even,  and  where  the  said  wayes  are  cumbred  with  loose 
stones  or  orther  rubbish,  or  knotty  uneven  calseys,  that  such  calsey 
be  pulled  up,  and  new  paved,  and  the  unnecessary  stones  and  rub- 
bish removed,  and  that  all  calseys  be  made  of  the  full  breadth  of 
one  yard  and  a  quarter,  of  round  stones,  and  not  of  flaggs,  and  that 
all  places  where  calseys  are  of  flaggs,  that  if  Round  stones  may  be 
had  with  a  reasonable  charge,  that  the  flagged  calseys  be  pulFd  up, 
and  new  calseys  with  Round  stones  made  in  the  place,  or  such  other 
place  of  the  lane  as  may  be  more  convenient,  of  the  full  breadth 
aforesaid,  or  a  well  gravelFd  way  in  lieu  thereof,  and  that  there 
be  noe  channell  paved  for  the  water  to  be  drained  crossed  the 
calsey,  except  such  draines  be  well  soughed,  covered,  and  paved  over, 
and  that  it  be  so  covered  the  full  breadth  of  the  calsey  as  may  make 
it  safe  by  day  and  night  for  horsemen  to  ride  over.  And  all  and  every 
the  overseers  of  the  highways  within  the  said  hundred  are  hereby  re- 
quired to  see  this  order  duly  and  fully  executed.  And  this  Court 
being  of  opinion  that  no  Gentleman  will  take  it  amisse  to  be  intreated 


176  THE    NORBIS    PAPERS. 

to  promote  and  give  his  help  to  soe  publique  and  soe  good  a  worke, 
hath  thought  fit  to  noiate  for  each  pish  wthin  this  Hundred  of  Darby 
severall  Gentlemen,  and  so  desire  them  or  any  two  or  more  of  them  to 
call  before  them  the  respective  overseers  of  the  Highways  within  each 
township  within  the  said  pishes,  and  with  them  to  inspect  the  severall 
Highways,  and  upon  their  view  to  direct  each  overseer  within  his 
particular  precinct  what  reformacon,  according  to  the  Courtis  direction 
before  herein  specified,  is  to  be  had  in  all  points,  and  how  and  in  what 
manner  the  said  overseer,  with  the  aid  of  the  instructions,  shall  pro- 
ceed. And  that  the  said  Gent8  or  some  of  them  will  please  to  have 
sometimes  an  eye  to  the  said  workes  whilst  they  are  in  doinge,  and 
will  at  the  next  sessions  after  Michaelmas  next  certifie  this  Court 
how  this  worke  is  in  all  or  in  part  performed,  and  which  of  the  said 
overseers  or  Inhabitants  have  been  remisse  or  faultie,  and  howe  or 
what  part  of  the  wayes  or  worke  is  neglected  or  omitted,  and  why  ? 
that  the  Court  may  at  the  said  next  sessions  take  such  course  there- 
upon as  the  case  shall  require,  and  to  these  ends  the  Court  hath  thought 
fit  to  noiate  for  the  severall  pshes  the  persons  following,  viz.  for  the 
parish  of 

Wigan.  —  Tho  :  Gerard,  Esqr,  Wm  Standish,  Esqr,  Phillip  Lang- 
ton,  Esqr,  Wm  Bankes,  Esqr,  Thos  Ashton,  Esqr,  Bertie  Entwisle, 
Esqr,  Peter  Adlington,  Esqr,  Mr  Tho:  Ince,  Mr  Peter  Worthing- 
ton,  Mr  Robert  Markland,  Mr  Peter  Catterall,  Mr  Wm  Blayborne, 
Mr  Lawrence  Anderton. 

WinwicJc.  —  Peter  Legh,  Esqr,  John  Rigley,  Esqr,  John  Byrom, 
Esqr,  Tho  :  Bretherton,  Esqr,  Mr  John  Lauder,  Mr  John  Blayn- 
borne,  Mr  John  Widdowes,  Mr  George  Sorrocold,  Mr  Hamlet 
Woods,  Mr  Legh  Bowden. 

Prescott.  —  Peter  Poole,  Esqr,  Jonn  Byrom,  Esqr,  Edw:  Ogle 
Esqr,  Step :  Alcocke,  Esqr,  and  John  Wright,  Mr  Peter  Marsh,  Mr 
Edmund  Taylor,  Mr  Jon  Case. 

Walton.  —  The  Honble  W.  Mullineux,  Edw:  Ogle,  Esqr,  Oliver 
Lane,  Esqr,  Silv:  Richmond,  Esqr,  Mr  Robert  Breers,  Mr  Tho: 
Fletcher. 

OrmsMrk—S\Y  Tho:  Stanley,  Bart.,    Jno:  Entwisle,  Esqr,  Tho: 


THE    NORRIS    PAPERS.  177 

Dod,  Esqr,    Stepn  Alcock,  Esqr,    Jn°  Ashton,  Esqr,    Mr  Sam1  An- 
drews,  Mr  John  Shaw,   Mr  James  Holland. 

Warrington.  —  Peter  Bold,  Esqr,  John  Ashton,  Esqr,  Eobert 
Lord  Burleigh,  Mr  Eichd  Haworth,  Mr  John  Chadwicke. 

Legh.  —  Wm  Hilton,  Esqr,  John  Eisley,  Esqr,  Eich:  Stanley, 
Esqr,  Tho:  Mort,  Esqr,  Eoger  Kenyon,  Esqr,  Mr  Alexr  Eatcliffe, 
Mr  Eizley  Brown,  Mr  John  Sorrocold. 

Childwall.  —  Thomas  Norres,  Esqr,  John  Harrington,  Esqr,  Mr 
Tho :  Cooke,  Mr  Wm  Waynwright. 

Huyton.  —  John  Harrington,  Esqr,  Mr  Eobert  Eoper,  Mr  Martin 
Willis,  Mr  Henry  Lathome,  Mr  John  Wright. 

Halsall.  —  Mr  Charles  Anderton,  Eobert  Mollineux,  Esqr,  Mr 
Tho:  Boothe,  Mr  John  Tatlowe,  Mr  Wm  Male,  Mr  Peter  Marsh, 
Mr  Eobert  Cooke,  Mr  Tho:  Lidiate. 

Sephton.  —  The  Honble  Wm  Mollineux,  Hen:  Blundell,  Esqr,  Wm 
Blundell  the  younger,  Esqr,  Mr  Wm  Byrom,  Mr  Tho:  Bootle,  Mr 
Eobert  Breers,  Mr  John  Johnson. 

Aughton.  —  Edward  Stanley,  Esqr,  Mr  Alexr  Hesketh,  Mr.  Eoger 
Bostocke,  Mr  Wm  Jameson,  Mr  Tho :  Lidiate,  Mr.  John  Bamber, 
Mr.  Eoger  Pye. 

North  Meols.  —  Barnaby  Hesketh,  Esqr,  James  Gorsuch,  Esqr, 
Mr  Eich:  Formby,  Mr  Nich.  Fazakerly. 

AltJcer  (Altcar).  —  Mr  Nich:  Fazakerley,  Mr  Tho:  Tickle,  Mr 
Tho:  Boothe,  Mr  Wm  Byton. 

And  lastly,  it  is  ordered,  that  the  High  Constables  of  the  Hun- 
dred of  Darby  shall  forthwith  send  copies  of  this  order  at  large  to  be 
sent  to  some  of  the  Gentlemen  herein  named  of  each  pish  within 
the  said  Hundred,  to  be  communicated  to  the  rest  within  his  pish 
respectively. 

KENYON. 


A  A 


178 


THE    NORRIS    PAPERS. 


XCVI. 

WILLIAM  SACHEVERELL  TO  RICHARD  NORRIS,  JULY  4,  1692. — Affairs 
of  the  Isle  of  Man. 


[William  Sacheverell  printed  a  little  book  about  the  Isle  of  Man  in  1702 
which  is  still  valued.  By  the  second  of  these  letters  his  connexion  with  the 
Island  seems  to  have  terminated  in  1694.  There  are  many  subsequent  let- 
ters from  him,  but  none  worthy  of  publication.  David  Poole,  in  whose  office 
Eichard  Norris  was  now  learning  to  be  a  merchant,  was  long  a  principal  in- 
habitant of  the  town,  and  is  stated  in  Scarborough's  list  of  his  securities  to 
have  been  worth  £400  per  annum.] 


MR.  RICHARD  NORRYS, 

At  Mr  Poolers,  Liverpool. 

I  think  myself  extremely  obliged  to  you  for  your  kind 
letter,  and  especially  that  you  are  not  forgetfull  of  me  in  my  absence, 
and  assure  you  could  I  thinke  myself  any  way  servicable  to  you  in 
this  place,  I  should  gladly  receve  the  least  of  your  commands.  As  to 
your  question,  what  success  I  have  had  \  I  can  at  present  answer,  very 
little ;  the  necessary  business  of  keeping  Courts,  and  acquainting  my- 
self with  the  nature  of  the  Government,  has  hitherto  so  imployed  my 
time,  I  have  scarce  had  leisure  to  think  of  any  improvement.  On 
Midsummer-day  I  held  the  Tynwald  Court,  which  is  our  Parlia- 
ment, where  I  passed  two  acts,  one  for  setting  up  a  linen  manufacture, 
another  for  regulating  moneys ;  which  last  will  be  thus  far  advanta- 
geous to  Straingers,  that  it  will  be  worth  six  per  cent,  to  any  man 
who  buys  the  commodities  of  the  Country  to  pay  for  them  in  new 
money.  I  would  now  begin  some  proposals  for  foreign  trade,  but 
was  first  in  hopes  to  have  received  Mr.  Pooled  thoughts  upon  it,  of 


THE    NOBRIS    PAPERS.  179 

which  I  desire  you  to  put  him  in  mind.  I  please  myself  in  your  pro- 
mise of  seeing  you  heare,  and  in  the  mean  time  assure  you,  according 
to  the  best  of  my  capacity,  that  you  shall  always  find  me,  &c. 

WILL.  SACHEVERELL. 
Castle  Rushen, 
Julii4,  1692. 

I  have  ordered  Billy  to  bring  you  some  Lobsters,  and  a  dozen 
bottles  of  Manks  ale.  My  service  to  all  my  acquaintance,  especially 
Jos:  Wilkins. 


180  THE    NORRIS    PAPERS. 


XCVII. 

WILLIAM  SACHEVERELL  TO  RICHARD  NORRIS,  AUGUST  15,  1694. — 
Is  dismissed  from  Governorship  of  the  Isle  of  Man. 


MR.  RICHARD  NORRYS, 

Liverpool. 

Dear  Mr  Norrys, 

I  am  extremely  obliged  to  you  for  your  great  care  and 
trouble  in  assisting  my  wife  in  her  passage  hither,  which,  as  it  was  a 
great  comfort  to  me,  so  I  doubt  will  be  very  short,  for  I  hear  I  am 
out  of  my  imployment  after  all  my  care  and  diligence.  All  I  can  say 
is,  I  have  served  an  unthankfull  man,  and  I  doubt  it  will  turn  very 
much  to  my  prejudis ;  but  God's  will  be  done.  I  cannot  yet  leave 
the  Island  myself,  but  would  have  her  goe  for  England,  but  she  re- 
solves to  stay  a  winter  with  me.  I  desire  my  service  to  your  brother 
when  you  see  him.  Pray  remember  me  to  Mr  Cooke  and  Mr  Holt, 
and  believe  me,  &c. 

WM.  SACHEVERELL. 
Castle  Eushen, 

15  Aug*,  1694. 


INDEX. 


Accres,  Thomas,  2. 
Accres,  Mrs.  Richard,  2. 
Acton,  viii. 
Adlington,  Peter,  176. 
Admiralty,  The,  169. 
Africa,  45. 
Aghton,  1. 
Aghton,  Huan,  3. 
Aikin's  Manchester,  29. 
Alcock,  Stephen,  177. 
Alcocke,  Stephen,  176. 
Allenson,  Mr.,  133. 
Allerton,  co.  Lancaster,  17,  29. 
Almond,  Elizabeth,  17. 
Almond,  James,  17. 
Altcar,  parish  of,  177. 
Ambrose,  Peter,  14,  15. 
Ambrose,  Mr.,  135. 
Amery,  Mr.,  97. 
Anderton,  Charles,  177. 
Anderton,  Jo.,  22. 
Anderton,  Lawrence,  176. 
Andrews,  Samuel,  177. 
Anglesea,  Lord,  172. 
Anjou,  Duke  of,  48,  49. 
Anne,  Queen,  78,  79,  98, 102, 106, 123, 
169, 172. 

proclaimed  at  Edinburgh,  83. 

confers  knighthood  upon  Johnson,  170. 
Annuities  Bill,  167. 
Antigua,  98. 

Archceologica  Scotica,  7. 
Arundel,  co.  Sussex,  x.  88. 
Ashburnham,  Lord,  172. 
Ashton,  John,  177. 
Ashton,  Thomas,  176 
Ashurst,  Mr.,  36. 
Aston,  xv.,  135 
Aston,  Robert,  98. 
Aston,  Sir  Willoughby,  xi.,  98. 
Atherton,  family,  73. 
Atherton,  Peter,  22,  23,  27. 
Atherton,  Sir  Richard,  73. 
Atherton,  Rev.  William,  146,  151. 
Atherton,  Mr.,  of  Atherton,  139. 
Atherton,  Mr.,  of  Beausie,  73. 
Aughton,  parish  of,  177. 
Aurengzebe,  xvii. 


Badajos,  157. 

Baines's  Lancashire,  7. 

Bamber,  John,  177. 

Bankes,  William,  176. 

Banks's  Extinct  Baronage,  32,  69. 

Barkstead ,  9. 

Barnett,  Mr.,  144. 

Barrow,  R.,  96, 144. 

Beatson,  47. 

Beauclerc,  Lord  Sidney,  xv. 

Beauclerc,  Topham,  xvi. 

Beaumarais,  19. 

Bedwin,  xvi. 

Belfast,  100. 

Bell,  widow,  22. 

Bellusbe,  Harry,  5. 

Benn,  James,  21. 

Benn,  Mr.,  95. 

Bently,  96. 

Berkshire,  Garway's  property  in,  vi.,  ix. 

Bernier's  Account  of  the  court  of  Aur- 
engzebe, xvii. 

Berry ,  153. 

Bets,  list  of,  157. 

Bexwyc,  Richard,  3. 

Bickersteth,  or  Bicksteth,  Thomas,  79, 
83,  98, 144. 

Birch,  Colonel  John,  19. 

Birch,  Colonel  Thomas,  19,  20,  60. 

Birkenhead,  97. 

Bishop's  Castle,  19. 

Blackmore,  Alderman,  20. 

Blayborne,  William,  176. 

Blaynborne,  John,  176. 

Blundell,  Henry,  177. 

Blundell,  William,  the  younger,  177. 

Blundell,  Mr.,  58,  64. 

Blundell,  clerk  to  Greene,  153. 

Bold ,73,124. 

Bold,  Peter,  177. 

Bolingbroke,  51. 

Bolton,  co.  Lancaster,  38, 60. 

Bolton,  Philip  Holland's  school  at,  174. 

Bolton,  James,  of  Speke,  17. 

Boothe,  Thomas,  177. 

Bootle,  Thomas,  177. 

Bostocke,  Roger,  177. 

Botyll,  co.  Lancaster,  2. 


182 


INDEX. 


Boules,  Sir  John,  55. 
Bouls,  William,  132. 
Bowden,  Legh,  176. 

Bo  wen ,  134. 

Bowling  Green,  Liverpool,  128. 
Boyle,  Mr.,  123, 167. 
Braddon,  Mr.,  27,  30. 

Bradshaw ,  14. 

Bramber,  51. 

Braynes's  expedition  to  Jamaica,  19. 

Brazennose  College,  Oxford,  xviii. 

Breers,  Robert,  176,  177. 

Brentford,  battle  of,  ix. 

Brerewood,  Francis,  treasurer  of  Christ's 

Hospital,  London,  88. 
Bretherton,  Thomas,  176. 
Brettargh,  Mr.,  of  Aigburth,  111,  164. 
Bridgman,  Mr.,  60. 
Briggs,  Joseph,  95,  96,  97,  99. 
Bristol,  38. 
Brixtar,  Mr.,  59. 
Bromley,  Mr.,  120. 
Brookes,  John,  17. 
Brotherton,  Mr.,  39,  47,  73. 
Broughton,  co.  Lancaster,  xiv. 
Broughton,  John,  14. 

Brown ,  9. 

Brown,  Rizley,  177. 
Bruce's  Annals,  xvii.,  xix. 
Brussels,  12. 
Brydges,  Sir  John,  vi. 
Buckingham,  xi. 
Buckingham,  Mr.,  71,  72. 

Bunbury ,  75. 

Burke,  68. 

Burleigh,  Robert,  Lord,  177. 
Burnet,  Bishop,  xi.,  101. 
Burnet's  History,  x.,  xi. 
Burnett,  Ralph,  10. 
Burton,  co.  Lancaster,  xiii. 
Burton's  Diary,  20. 
Bury,  co.  Lancaster,  38. 
Bury,  Thomas,  5. 
Byrom,  John,  176. 
Bvrom,  Jonathan,  176. 
Byrom,  William,  177. 
Byton,  William,  177. 

Cadiz,  157. 

Caillonet,  Mr.,  155. 

Cairne,  Messrs.,  London,  134, 142. 

Calseys,  directions  for  making,  175. 

Cape  de  Verd  Islands,  45. 

Capel,  Lord,  32. 

Carrickfergus,  19. 

Cartwright's  Diary  >  20, 128, 135. 


Caryl,  Viscount  Molyneux,  20,  61,   v. 

Molyneux,  Lord. 
Case,  Jonathan,  139, 176. 
Case,  Mr.,  of  Red  Hazle,  78,  111. 
Castle-street,  Liverpool,  80. 
Catterall,  Peter,  176. 
Cecill,  Mr.,  53. 
Chadwicke,  John,  177. 
Charleroi,  157. 

Charles  I.,  viii.,  9, 13, 19,  20, 25. 
Charles  II.,  25. 
Charnok,  William,  4. 
Cheesemongers  of  London,  30,  46,  50. 
Chelsea,  34. 
Cheshire,  Mr.,  58. 
Chester,  xviii.,  19,38. 
Chester  Election,  75. 
Chester  Fair,  128, 144. 
Chester,  Bishop  of,  60. 
Chetham  Society,  iii.,  19. 
Chichester,  x.,  85. 

Childwall,  v.,  xv.,  xxi.,  1, 3, 4, 8, 135, 177. 
Childwall  Church,  28. 
Childwall,  parishioners  of,  135. 
Childwall,  horse  race  at,  141. 
Christ's  Hospital,  London,  xviii.,  46, 85, 

88, 135. 

Civil  Wars,  13,  18, 19,  29. 
Clarendon,  ix.,  xi. 
Clayton,  William,  M.P.  for  Liverpool, 

iv.,  48,  49, 51, 55, 78, 79, 83, 102, 104, 

110, 112, 116, 119, 121, 123, 126, 136, 

142, 147, 149, 161,163,166,167, 168, 

170. 

change  in  his  opinions,  73. 
opposes  Johnson,  respecting  tobacco 

trade,  81,  89,  92. 
Clayton,  Mrs.,  his  wife,  57,  93. 
Clayton,  Captain,  173. 
Clayton,  Dr.,  51. 
Clayton,  Mr.,  100, 114,  133,  144. 
Cleiveland,  William,  xx. 
Cleveland,  John,  48,  77,  90,  95,  97,  100. 

112, 129, 131, 132, 133, 144, 146. 
Climping,  co.  Sussex,  x.,  88. 
Clitherow,  Margaret,  vii. 
Cockshutt,  Jo.,  96,  97,  99,  100,   132, 

169. 

Coke,  viii.,  ix. 
Colchester,  Richard,  Lord,  18,21,23,  28, 

69,  71. 

Colchester,  Thomas,  Lord,  21. 
Colchester,  Lady  Charlotte,  his  wife,  21. 
Collector  of  Customs,  intrigue  respecting 

office  of,  161, 163, 166. 
Collins,  24. 


INDEX. 


183 


Colquitt,  Mr.,  102. 

Conder ,59. 

Congleton,  38. 

Cooke,  Sir  T.  P.,  27. 

Cooke,  Robert,  177. 

Cooke,  Thomas,  28,  29, 177. 

Cooke,  Mr.,  180. 

Corbet,  Thomas,  3. 

Corn  Market,  Liverpool,  79,  80. 

Corporation  of  Liverpool,  iii.,  20,  25,  30, 
49,  69,  77,  89,  92,  94,  104,  109, 110, 
112, 116, 119, 121, 123, 129, 132, 133, 
143, 170. 
Election  of,  131. 

Cowkett,  widow,  22. 

Coxe,  101. 

Cozen's  List,  137. 

Cranburn,  31,  73. 

Cranfield,  Lord,  18. 

Cremona,  157. 

Cromwell,  Oliver,  9,  19. 

Cromwell,  Richard,  20. 

Cross,  1. 

Cross,  Mr.,  58. 

Crosse,  Richard,  3. 

Croston,  Alix.,  22. 

Croxteth,  20,  25, 160. 

Cruisers,  bill  for  appointing,  167- 

Culiford,  105. 

Cunliffe,  Foster,  iv.,  154. 

Custom  House,  Liverpool,  99, 128. 

Custom  House,  London,  170. 

Dallaway's  Sussex,  vi.,  85. 
Danvers,  Mr.,  116. 
Dean,  Thomas,  96, 133. 
Deans,  Sir  William,  114. 
De  Foe,  Daniel,  iii.,  144, 145. 
Dendermood,  surrender  of,  154. 
Denton,  William,  36. 
Derby  cum  Thyngwall,  2. 
Derby,  Earls  of,  1,  18, 20,  60,  67. 
Derby,  Thomas,  2nd  Earl  of,  2,  3,  4,  5. 
Derby,  Charles,  8th  Earl  of,  21. 
Derby,  William,  9th  Earl  of,  24,  58,  60, 

Derby,' James,  10th  Earl  of,  104,  108, 
111,  112, 116, 119, 121, 123, 126, 143, 
161, 163, 166, 168, 170, 172. 

Derbyshire,  38. 

Dermot,  59. 

Diconson,  William,  17. 

Digby,  Mr.,  166. 

Diggles,  Charles,  133. 

Dod,  Thomas,  177. 

Dodgson,  Fran  :  22. 


Doncaster,  37. 

Done,  Mr.,  26,  32,  98, 144. 

Dorset,  Duke  of,  xvi. 

Dover,  Lord,  xv. 

Drury,  Mr.,  11. 

Dublin,  51. 

Dubois,  John,  20. 

Dunken,  Sir  Francis,  Knight,  10. 

Dunkirk,  54. 

Earle,  Mr.,  131, 132, 133, 134, 143,  144, 

145. 

East  India  Company,  xvi.,  xvii.,  27. 
East  Retford  Election,  82. 
Eaton,  Jo.,  96, 133. 
Edge  Hill,  battle  of,  ix. 
Edinburgh,  7,  83. 
Egerton  Papers,  vi. 
Election  Papers,  29. 
Elizabeth,  Queen,  9. 
Entwisle,  Bertie,  176. 
Entwisle,  John,  176. 
Entwisle,  Mr.,  57. 
Esthed,  John,  4. 
Eugene,  Prince,  154. 
Exeter,  24. 
Eyes,  Anne,  17. 
Eyres,  Robert,  167. 
Eyves,  Thomas,  2. 

Fazakerly,  Nicholas,  2. 
Fazakerley,  Nicholas,  177. 
Fazakerley,  Mr.,  134. 
Fells,  Jo.,  96,  145. 
Fenwick,  xii.,  32. 
Fenwick,  family,  21. 
Finch,  101,  106. 
Fish  Wears  in  Mersey,  37—39. 
Flanders,  10,  28,  30,  32. 
Fleetwood,  Mr.,  96. 
Fletcher,  John,  2. 
Fletcher,  Thomas,  176. 
Flodden,  battle  of,  7. 
Floyd,  Mr.,  36. 
Ford,  co.  Sussex,  x.,  86,  88. 
Formby,  Richard,  177. 
Formeby,  co.  Lancaster,  2. 
Formeby,  William,  3. 

Fowke ,  9. 

Fox  Hall,  account  of,  137. 
France,  33,  157. 
Francis,  John,  134. 

Galway,  Viscount,  32. 

Gardiner,  viii. 

Garroway,  v.  Garway,  family. 


184 


INDEX. 


Garston,  co.  Lancaster,  xv.,  xx.,  3, 16. 

Garston  Leet  Jury,  16. 

Garway,  family,  vi. — xi.,  135. 

Garway,  Sir  Henry,  v.,  ix. 

Garway,  Margaret,  his  wife,  vii.,  x.,  88. 

Garway,  Margaret,  his  daughter,  vii. 

Garway,  John,  vi. 

Garway,  John,  vii.,  xviii. 

Garway,  Katherine,  v. 

Garway,  Thomas,  vii.,  xi.,  xviii. 

Garway,  Watkin,  vi. 

Garway,  Agnes,  his  wife,  vi. 

Garway,  William,  vi. 

Garway,  William,  vii.,  xi.,  xviii. 

Gascoyne,  Bamber,  29. 

Geneva,  vii. 

Geoffreys,  Robert,  10, 11. 

Gerard,  Charles,  Lord,  of  Brandon,  24. 

Gerard,  Thomas,  176. 

Germaine,  Lady  Betty,  xvi. 

Gibbons,  J.,  143,  144. 

Gibraltar,  Straits  of,  124. 

Gibs,  Rebecca,  10. 

Gill,  William,  of  Speke,  17. 

Girona,  158. 

Glyd,  Jeffrey,  x. 

Goddericke,  Sir  Henry,  80. 

Golden,  Lawrence,  17. 

Goodall,  John,  17. 

Goodman,  32. 

Gorsuch,  James,  177. 

Gower,  Sir  John  Leveson,  51, 73, 78, 104, 

111,  112, 116,  119,  121, 126. 
Gray's  Inn,  London,  12. 
Greene,  Isaac,  29,  50,  142, 148. 
Gregson,  29,  51,  97. 
Greves,  Thomas,  2. 
Groole,  Burgomasters  of,  12. 
Grosvenor,  Sir  Thomas,  128. 
Gruffyth,  David,  4. 
Gurney,  viii. 

Haddon,  P.,  60. 

Hale,  co.  Lancaster,  17,  28. 

Hale,  of  King's  Walden,  vii. 

Halewood-cum-Halebouke,  4. 

Hall,  John,  of  Stockport,  37. 

Hall,  Peter,  99,  151. 

Hallam's  Constitutional  History, xiii.,9. 

Halsall,  parish  of,  177. 

Halsall,  widow,  22. 

Hamilton,  Duke,  83, 104. 

Hamilton's  New  Account,  xvii. 

Hanover,  69. 

Hardman,  family,  29. 

Hardman ,  M.P.,  97. 


Hardwick  Papers,  viii. 
Harebroune,  Thomas,  2,  3,  4. 
Harebroune,  William,  3. 
Harley,  Edward,  M.P.,  91, 159, 161, 163. 
Harley,  Robert,  Speaker  of  the  House  of 

Commons,  21,  51,  55,  73,  76,  91,  97. 

101,  106,  167. 
Harrington,  John,  177. 
Harrington,  Mr.,  64,  65, 141. 
Harris,  Captain,  96, 126. 
Harrogate,  xiv. 
Hartley,  John,  150. 
Haryngton,  Hamo,  5. 
Haslam,  widow,  22. 
Hatton  Garden,  34. 
Haworth,  Richard,  177. 
Haydok,  John,  3. 
Hedges,  Sir  C.,  Secretary  of  State,  62, 

64,65,80. 
Herefordshire,  20. 
Hertfordshire,  vi. 
Hesketh,  Barnaby,  177. 
Hesketh,  Alexander,  of  Aughton,  141, 

Hewston,  Mr,  89,  90. 

He/sham ,  73. 

Heywood's  Four  Apprentices,  9. 

High  Cross,  Liverpool,  79. 

Highways,  Overseers  of,  176. 

Hilton,  William,  177. 

Hodgson,  James,  21. 

Holcroft,  sale  of,  137, 139. 

Holcroft,  Mr.,  60. 

Holford,  George,  2. 

Holland,  32,  41,  68,  69. 

Holland,  James,  177. 

Holland,  Philip,  174. 

Holt,  Lord  Chief  Jus'tice,  172. 

Holt,  Mr.,  180. 

Hooke,  101. 

Hopwood,  co.  Lancaster,  xv.,  xviii.,  xxi. 

Hopwood,  John,  xxi. 

Hopwood,  Elizabeth,  his  wife,  xv.,  xix., 

xxi. 

Hornby,  Edward,  22. 
Horton,  Joshua,  63. 

Houghton,  Mr.,  78,  79,  81,  89,  92, 100, 
110,  111,  113,  114,  119,  144,  145, 
166. 

House  of  Commons,  Venetian  Ambassa- 
dor's visit  to,  31. 

election  of  Speaker,  55,  76. 

debate  on  message,  101 — 107. 

committees  of,  124. 
House  of  Lords,  76. 

conference  with  Commons,  108. 


INDEX. 


185 


Howe,  73, 107,  117,  123,  138. 

Hull,  37,  68. 

Hulton,  family,  v. 

Hulton,  Adam,  v. 

Hurst,  William,  xiv.,  99,  131, 132,  134. 

Hunts,  Colonel,  19. 

Hutchinson,  Mr.,  166. 

Huyton,  co.  Lancaster,  1,  141,  177. 

Hyton,  co.  Lancaster,  4,  5. 

Ince,  Thomas,  176. 

Ipres,  157. 

Ireland,  13,  19,  32,  68,  80. 

Ireland,  Sir  Gilbert,  20. 

Irland,  John,  of  Lydeat,  3,  4. 

Irwell,  river,  37,  47. 

Jacobites,  The,  51,  73. 

Jamaica,  19,  24. 

James  I.,  vi.,  6,  9. 

James  II.,  20,  24,  25,  35,  73. 

James  IV.,  of  Scotland,  7. 

Jameson,  William,  177. 

Jermyn,  Henry,  18. 

Jesuits,  The,  43. 

Joanes,  Mr.,  36. 

Johnson's  Lives  of  the  Poets,  21. 

Johnson,  John,  177. 

Johnson,  Sir  Thomas,  iv.,  19,  46,  50,  57, 
60,  64,  71,  73,  74,  75,  78,  79,  91,  97, 
99, 100, 101, 118,  125,  136, 142,  143, 
145,  151,  161, 168. 
knighted  by  the  Queen,  169. 

Johnson,  William,  48. 

Jones,  96. 

Kaye's  Guide  Book  of  Liverpool,  25. 

Kenyon,  Lord,  177. 

Kenyon,  Roger,  177. 

Ker,  169. 

Key,  168. 

Key ke wye,  John,  2. 

Kidd,  68. 

Kidd,  Captain,  the  pirate,  41 . 

King's  Walden,  vii. 

Kirby,  Roger,  of  Kirby,  117. 

Kirby,  execution  of,  117,  122. 

Kirkdale,  2. 

Knaresborough,  125. 

Knolle,  Thomas,  4. 

Knowles,  William,  22. 

Knowseley,  5. 

Labourne,  20. 
Lady,  Jo.,  97. 
Lambeth,  viii. 


Lancashire,  v.,  29,  47,  53,  61, 62, 73, 174. 
Land  Bank,  failure  of,  35. 
Lane,  Oliver,  176. 
Langton,  Phillip,  176. 
Lathom  House,  172. 


Lathom  Spa,  125. 
Lathom,  John,  14, 15. 


Lathome,  Henry,  177. 

Lathome,  Thomas,  5. 

Lathum,  Robert,  of  Allerton,  4. 

Lathum,  William,  4. 

Lauder,  John,  176. 

Lawson,  Jo.,  22. 

Lawton,  Daniel,  46,  50,  58. 

Leadbetter,  Henry,  21. 

Lee,  Henry,  5. 

Leeds,  xiv. 

Legay,  Samuel,  28,  29. 

Legh,  parish  of,  177. 

Legh,  Peter,  176. 

Leigh,  Thomas,  47,  73. 

Leigh,  Mr.,  117. 

Leominster,  91. 

Levant  Company,  vii. 

Lewes,  12. 

Leys,  The,  vi. 

Lidiate,  Thomas,  177. 

Lindley,  William,  17. 

Lingard's  History  of  England,  xi. 

Lisbon,  147. 

Lisle,  157, 158. 

Littleton,  co.  Middlesex,  34,  35. 

Littleton,  Sir  Thomas,  76. 

Liturgy,  English,  vii. 

Liverpool,  iii.,  iv.,  1,  3,  6,  30,  38,  48,  49, 

50,  51,  61,  95,  99,  159,  169. 
Liverpool  Athenaeum,  7. 
Liverpool  Castle,  24,  61,  69,  71,  78,  93, 

104,  108,  110,112,116,118,119,121, 

123,  124, 126",  159. 
Liverpool  Charters,  xiii.,  6,  18,  25,  26, 

27,  28, 30. 

Liverpool  Elections,  18-23,51-57,59,73. 
Lloyd's  Memoirs,  viii.,  ix. 
London,  vi.,  viii.,  38. 
London  Apprentices,  9. 
London  Common  Council,  9. 
London  Exchange,  11. 
London  Sheriffs,  20. 
Long  Parliament,  19. 
Louis  XIV.,  49. 
Lowick,  31. 
Lowndes,  Mr.,  168. 
Lownes,  Mr.,  124. 
Lunte,  Richard,  3. 
Lynton,  William,  17. 

BB 


186 


INDEX. 


Lyon,  Ellen,  22. 
Lyon,  Mr.,  57. 

Macclesfield,  38. 

Macclesfield,  Earl  of,  24.  28,  32,  6!),  70, 

71,  72. 

Mackintosh,  xiii. 
Mackay,  83. 

Madeira,  description  of,  43-45. 
Madrid,  157,  158. 
Mainwaring,  1. 
Male,  William,  177. 
Malt  Act,  123. 

Man,  Isle  of,  129, 163, 178, 180. 
Manchester,  xiv.,  37,  38,  62. 
Manchester,  Lord,  80. 
Manly,  Mr.,  99,  100,  102,  105, 110,  114, 

Mantua,  157. 

Manx  Ale,  179. 

Markets  in  Liverpool,  80,  81. 

Markland,  Jeremiah,  135. 

Markland,  J.  H.,  of  Bath,  135. 

Markland,  Ralph,  Vicar  of  Childwall, 

135,  136. 

Markland,  Robert,  176. 
Markland,  Mrs.,  135. 
Marlborough,  Duke  of,  21, 101, 102, 106, 

121,  154. 

Marlborough,  Duchess  of,  98,  101. 
Marsden,  Mr.,  146,  151. 
Marsh,  Peter,  176, 177. 
Martindale,  Adam,  13. 
Mary,  Queen,  wife  of  William  III.,  24. 
Masey,  Mary,  46. 
Mason,  Peter,  21. 
Massey,  9. 
Massey,  Mr.,  128. 
Massinger,  11. 
Masulipatam,  xvii. 
Maudesley,  128. 
Maudit,  Jasper,  30,  36,  46,  47,49, 50, 69, 

70,  97,  99,  121,  126,  144,  151. 
Mauritius,  xviii.,  xix. 
May,  Thomas,  18. 
Mayne,  Jasper,  viii. 
Maynwareng,  Charles,  3. 
Mediterranean,  The,  117. 
Merevale,  Abbas  de,  2. 
Mersey,  river,  19,  30, 37. 
Methley,  vii. 

Methuen,  Lord  Chancellor,  32. 
Middlesex,  vi.,  34. 
Milan,  158. 
Mill's  India ,  xvii. 


Mohun,  Lord,  72. 

Molineux,  John,  22. 

Mollenexe,  widow,  22. 

Mollineux,  Honourable  William,  177. 

Mollineux,  Robert,  177. 

Molyneux,  family,  1,  18,  20,  21,  25,  48, 

118. 
Molyneux,  Lord,  24,  58,  69,  73,  78,  112, 

121,  126,  128,  141,  159,  160. 
Molyneux,  Sir  William,  of  Sefton,  10. 
Molyneux,  William,  2. 
Molyneux,  Mr.,  26,  27. 
Monmouth,  Lord,  20,  141. 
Mons,  157. 
Montagu,  Lord,  47. 

Moorcroft,  Sylvester,  xiv.,  143, 144,  166. 
Moore,  Sir  John,  46,  50. 
Moore,  Mr.,  131. 

More,  family,  1,  6,  18,  19,  21,  48,  51. 
More,  Sir  Cleave,  xvi.,  50,  51,  54,  55,  56, 

57,  59,  65,  68,  73,  74,  92, 153. 
More,  Colonel  John,  13,  14,  19,  20,  21. 
More,  Colonel  Richard,  19. 
More,  Edward,  6. 
More,  William,  2,  3. 
Morris,  John,  69,  71,  149. 
Mort,  Thomas,  177. 
Mosok,  Henry,  3,  5. 
Moss,  Mr,  117,  123. 
Mostyn,  19. 

Mount  Pleasant,  Liverpool,  128. 
Much  Woolton,  14,  17. 
Mullineux,  Honourable  W.,  176. 
Murray,  Jonathan,  75. 
Musgrave,  Sir  Ch.,  80,  101,  103. 
Musselburgh,  v. 
Myels,  John,  3. 

Namur,  155,  157. 

Nash,  105,  113, 126. 

Navy  Bill,  147. 

Naylor,  Mr.,  141. 

Newport,  54,  157. 

Newton,  co.  Lancaster,  47. 

Nicholls,  98. 

Nicholl's  James  I.,  vi. 

Norres,  Sir  William,  Knight,  3,  4. 

Norres,  Edward,  6,  7,  8. 

Norres,  Thomas,  177. 

Norres,  William,  2. 

Norris,  family,  of  Speke,  iii.,  xxi.,  7,  13, 

51,  67. 

Norris,  Sir  William,  v.,  7. 
Norris,  Sir  William,  K.B.,  v.  10. 
Norris,  Eleanor,  his  wife,  10. 


INDEX. 


187 


Norris,  Sir  William,  Bart.,  xv.,  xvi.-xviii., 

xix.,  27,  51, 52,  53, 56,  68, 73,  74, 75, 

85,  87,  88,  90,  92,  94,  95,  111,  132. 
made  a  Baronet,  40. 
visits  Madeira,  43. 
petitioned  against,  56,  57,  59,  65,  68. 
Norris,  Lady,  his  wife,  xvi.,  42,  51,  53, 

55,65,68,73,111,  136. 
Norris,  Ann,  xxi.,  135. 
Norris,  Edward,  v.,  13. 
Norris,  Edward,  M.D.,  xv.,  xviii.-xx., 

44,48,97,129,136. 
Norris,  Elizabeth,  xxi. 
Norris,  Captain  Henry,  9,  10. 
Norris,  Rev.  Henry,  xv.,  xviii.,  73,  74, 

85,  86. 

Norris,  John,  xiv,,  xviii. 
Norris,  Jonathan,  xx. 
Norris,  Katherine,  xxi. 
Norris,  Margaret,  xxi. 
Norris,  Mary,  xv. 
Norris,  Richard,  xv.,  xx.,  22,  23,  28,  30, 

51,  53,  61,  91,  151,  154, 178. 
Norris,  Thomas,  v.,  13,  14. 
Norris,  Katherine,  his  wife,  vii.,  xi.,  34, 

61,  85, 96, 136,  174. 

Norris,  Thomas,  xi.-xv.,  18, 21, 22, 23,25. 
Norris,  Magdalen,  his  wife,  xi .,  x v.,98,1 35 . 
Norris,  William,  v.,  13, 14,  20. 
Norris,  Mr.,  of  Manchester,  iii. 
Norris,  Mrs.,  xx. 
Norris  Papers,  v.,  7. 
North,  20. 
North's  Examen,  46. 
North  Meols,  parish  of,  177. 
Nottingham,  Lord,  80. 
Nouvelles  Ordinaires  de  Londres,  19. 

Ogle,  Edward,  176. 
Ogle,  Roger,  2,  5. 
Ogles,  Mr.,  134. 
Oldham,  63. 

Onslow,  Sir  Richard,  x.,  55. 
Orme,  William,  5. 
Ormerod,  Dr.,  19. 
Ormond,  Duke  of,  80. 
Ormskirk,  24,  174. 
Ormskirk,  parish  of,  176. 
Ostend,  54. 

Pack  Horses,  conveyance  by,  o7, 174. 
Papillon,  20. 
Papists,  61,  63,  68. 

proclamation  against,  59. 
Par,  Mr.,  117. 
Parks,  widow,  169. 


Parliamentary  History,  x.,  101,  120. 

Parnella,  xix. 

Parr,  H.,  133. 

Partridge,  147. 

Pasmythe,  John,  2. 

Patten,  Thomas,  37. 

Patten,  Mr.,  of  Bank,  37,  47. 

Peele,  Elizabeth,  22. 

Pelham,  Sir  Nicholas,  x. 

Pemberton,  Mr.,  48,  75,  82, 117. 

Pennington,  Isaac,  9. 

Percival,  Richard,  xxi. 

Percival,  Katherine,  his  wife,  xxi. 

Percivall,  Alderman,  29. 

Perfect  Dinrnall,  The,  19. 

Perfect  Occurrences,  19. 

Peterborough,  Lord,  124. 

Peters,  Ralph,  49. 

Pilkington,  James,  17. 

Pinkey,  7. 

Plombe,  William,  14. 

Plompton,  Robert,  17. 

Plumbe,  148. 

Plymouth,  117. 

Poland,  155. 

Pollexfen,  Nicholas,  M.P.,  xvi.,  53,  55. 

Poole,  Joseph,  144. 

Poole  Lane,  Liverpool,  116. 

Poole,  David,  178. 

Poole,  Peter,  176. 

Poole,  Mr.,  170. 

Porter,  32. 

Porter,  Sir  C.,  32. 

Portugal,  124. 

Preison,  Mr.,  59. 

Preket,  Robert,  3. 

Preket,  William,  3. 

Prescot,  67,  98. 

Prescot,  parish  of,  176. 

Preston,  co.  Lancaster,  xiii.,  67,  159. 

Preston,  Henry,  3,  100. 

Prior,  Joseph,  95. 

Proby,  Alderman,  11. 

Pye,  Roger,  177. 

Pym,  ix. 

Quicke,  Robert,  11. 

Radcliffe,  Dr.,  125. 

Radcliffe,  widow,  21. 

Ralph's  Other  Side  the  Question,  101. 

Ramillies,  21. 

Ranelagh,  Lord,  xvi.,  73, 107. 

Raphabannock,  river,  Virginia,  48. 

Ratcliffe,  Alexander,  177. 

Rawlins,  Mr.,  59. 


188 


INDEX. 


Rayneford,  1. 

Raynford,  George,  3. 

Rectorship  of  Liverpool,  contest  for,  146, 

151. 

Reeve,  Sir  Thomas,  xvi. 
Regency  Bill,  147. 
Reynolds,  Colonel,  19. 
Rich,  20. 

Richmond,  Silv.,  176. 
Richmond,  Mr.,  78,  124,  146,  151. 
Rideng,  Peter,  2. 
Rigby,  Sir  Alexander,  163. 
Rigby,  Edmund,  21. 
Rigby,  William,  142. 
Rigley,  John,  176. 
Risley,  John,  177. 
Rivers,  Earl,    v.    Colchester,  Richard 

Lord. 

Roads  in  Lancashire,  description  of,  174. 
Roads,  order  for  repair  of,  174. 
Roberts,  Lewis,  vii. 
Rochdale,  xiv.,  38. 
Rochester,  Lord,  80. 
Rollins,  William,  22,  23. 
Rollins,  Mr.,  92. 
Rolls,  The,  25,  26. 
Romney,  Lord,  80. 
Rooke,  Admiral,  31. 
Rookwood,  31. 
Roper,  Robert,  177. 
Roscoe,  128. 
Roses,  155, 157. 
Row,  Thomas,  21. 
Roy  ton,  xviii.,  xxi. 
Rush  worth,  6,  19,  20. 
Russell,  xi.,  20. 
Rydeng,  John,  2. 

Sacheverell,  x. 

Sacheverell,  William,  178. 

St.  Albaiis,  Duke  of,  xv. 

St.  George's  Church,  Liverpool,  118. 

St.  Helena,  xviii. 

St.  Malo,  168. 

St.  Peter's  Church,  Liverpool,  iv.,  76, 

118, 128, 129, 132,  165. 
Salmon  Fishing  in  the  Mersey,  37-39. 
Sandiford,  John,  49,  50,  59. 
Sandiford,  Ralph,  49. 
Saragossa,  158. 

Savage,  Richard,  the  poet,  21,  24. 
Savage,  Mr.,  150. 
Saville,  vii. 
Scarborough,  Mr.,  178. 

funeral  of,  149. 
Scarborough,  Mrs.,  143. 


Scarisbrick,  Robert,  of  Scarisbrick,  66, 
105,  141. 

Scotland,  83. 

trade  regulations  for,  159. 

Scott,  Sir  W.,  9. 

Scott's  Fortunes  of  Nigel,  11. 

Scottish  Antiquaries,  Society  of,  7. 

Scowles,  John,  17. 

Scudamore,  Sir  Barnaby,  149. 

Seacom,  Ro.,  96. 

Seacome,  1,  14. 

Seacome,  Mr.,  143. 
|    Sefton,  10. 

Sephton,  parish  of,  177. 
j    Serocold,  Mr.,  165. 
j    Seycom,  Thomas,  3. 

Seymour,  Sir  Edward,  101, 107,  123. 
|    Shackerley,  75. 
i    Shaftesbury,  xi.,  20. 
|    Sharpies,  Thomas,  21. 

Sharpies,  Mr.,  57,  99,  144. 

Shaw,  John,  177. 

Sheerness,  28. 

Shepheard,  Samuel,  142. 

Shuttleworth,  xix.,  62. 

Singleton,  Mr.,  14. 

Smallplace,  widow,  81. 

Smith,  168. 

Smith,  Thomas,  17. 

Smollett's  History  of  England,  117. 

Somers,  74. 

Somers  Tracts,  74. 

Sorrocold,  George,  176. 

Sorrocold,  John,  177. 

Spain,  21,  48,  167, 169. 
death  of  King  of,  49. 

Speke,  co.  Lancaster,  iii.,  v.,  xii.,  xiii., 
xiv.,  xv.,  4,  13, 16,  38,  52,  56,  85, 96, 
135. 

Speke  Hall,  7. 

Speke  Leet  Jury,  17. 

Squire,  William,  xxi.,  129,  135, 143, 144, 
151, 154. 

Squire,  Ann,  his  wife,  xxi. 

Staffordshire,  38. 

Stamford,  Lord,  71. 

Standish,  William,  176. 

Standisshe,  Richard,  2. 

Stanley,  family,  v.  Derby,  Earls  of. 

Stanley,  Sir  Thomas,  Bart.,  176. 

Stanley,  Sir  Thomas,  of  Cross  Hall,  67. 

Stanley,  Honourable  Charles  Z.,  67. 

Stanley,  Honourable  Colonel  James,  83. 

Stanley,  Edward,  177. 

Stanley,  Richard,  177. 

Stanley,  Mr.,  163,  166. 


Starky,  Kichard,  3. 

States  General  of  Holland,  106. 

Staunton  Harold,  Leicestershire,  98. 

Stockport,  37,  38. 

Stockley,  Nicholas,  5. 

Story,  Jo.,  22. 

Stowe,  11. 

Strafford,  viii.,  xiii. 

Straingeways,  Mr.,  96'. 

Strange,  Lord,  18,  25. 

Strickland,  Sir  William,  101,  107. 

Stroud,  Lady,  34. 

Stuart,  family,  61. 

Stythe,  Mr.,  129,  151. 

Subsidy  Bill,  123. 

Sugar  House,  Liverpool,  116. 

Surat,  xvii.,  53. 

Sussex,  vi. 

Swarbrick,  Mr.,  129. 

Sweeting,  Mr.,  95. 

Swift,  Dean,  21,  83. 

Swinnerton,  vi. 

Swyndeley,  Hugo,  3. 

Taffe,  Mr.,  62. 

Tarleton,  Dr.,  xx. 

Tarleton,  Thomas,  4. 

Tatlock,  William,  17. 

Tatlok,  William,  3. 

Tatlowe,  John,  177. 

Taylor,  Edmund,  176. 

Thomasson,  John,  2. 

Thurlow,  ix. 

Tickle,  Thomas,  177. 

Tobacco  Trade,    79,  81,  89,  93,  99,  100, 

110, 112,  114,  119. 
Topham,  Mr.,  xvi. 
Torbay,  168. 
Torbok,  (Hyton,)  4. 
Torbok,  William,  4. 
Tories,  The,  51,  73,  99,  101. 

vacate  office,  167. 
Tournay,  157. 
Townley,  62. 
Townshend,  Mr.,  143. 
Toxstath,  Jacob,  4. 
Toxteth,  Jacob,  14. 
Transport  Debt,  The,  26. 
Travers,  John,  50,  54,  94. 
Travers,  William,  21. 
Treby,  Chief  Justice,  26. 
Trevor,  Chief  Justice,  172. 
Trumbull,  William,  12. 
Tucker,  J,,  61,  62,  64. 
Turin,  siege  of,  154. 


Turkey,  vii. 
Turner,  Law.,  21. 
Turner,  Mr.,  96. 
Turton,  Judge,  xiv. 
Tyldesley,  137. 
Tyldesley,  family,  62,  137. 
Tyldesley,  bir  Thomas,  137. 
Tyldesley,  Edward,  137,  140. 
Tyldesley,  Richard,  5. 
Tyldesley,  Thomas,  137,  138. 
Tynwald  Court,  Isle  of  Man,  178. 
Tyrer,  Mr.,  72,  78,  96,  97,  99,  111,  144. 

Ushant,  31. 

Utkington,  near  Chester,  xx. 

Valentia,  158. 

Venables,  Colonel,  19. 

Venetian  Ambassador,  31. 

Venn,  9. 

Vernon,  Secretary,  80. 

Villers,  33. 

Virginia,  iv. 

Wages,  letters  respecting,  154-158. 

Wales,  36. 

Walker,  Mr.,  99,  100, 102,  105,  110. 

Wallasey  Leasowe,  141. 

Wallis,  John,  59. 

Walmsley,  Mr..  141. 

Walpole,  36. 

Walpole's  Letters  to  Mann,  xvi. 

Walton,  parish  of,  iv.,  1,  2,  3,  146,  176. 

Wapping,  170. 

Ward,  Chief  Baron,  xiv. 

Waretre,  4. 

Warrant,  Sir  John,  Knight,  3. 

Warrington,  xiv.,  37, 145. 

Warrington,  parish  of,  177. 

Warrington,  Lord,  168. 

Waterford,  98. 

Watt,  Mr.,  iii. 

Watts,  Henry,  154, 173. 

Wayn wright,  William,  177. 

Webster,  William,  96, 144, 145. 

Wentworth,  20. 

Weobley,  vi. 

West  Derby,  17,  174. 

West  Indies,  117, 122. 

Westminster,  35,  55. 

West,  Thomas,  made  Vicar  of  Child  wall, 

135. 

Whalley,  Peter,  135. 
Whalley,  Mr.,  19, 
Wharton,  Lord,  32, 169. 


190 


INDEX. 


Whatton,  Mr.,  7. 
Whigs,  The,  51,  168. 

take  office,  167. 
Whiston,  co.  Lancaster,  14. 
White  Cross,  Liverpool,  79. 
Whitehaven,  96. 
Whithead,  Jane,  22. 
Widdowes,  John,  176. 
Wigan,  co.  Lancaster,  xiv.,  60. 
Wigan,  parish  of,  176. 
Wigan  Election,  60. 
Willis,  Martin,  177. 
Wllkes,  34. 
Wilkins,  Jos.,  179. 
William  III.,  20,  24,  28,  32,  34,  35,  41, 

51,  57,  61,  73,  76. 
Williams,  Sir  C.  H.,  xv. 
Williams,  Mr.,  75. 
Windle,  Alderman,  99. 


Windsor,  172. 
Wingate,  Mr.,  xix. 
Winkleye,  Mr.,  139. 
Winn,  Sir  Rowland,  55. 
Win  wick,  parish  of,  176. 
Wofall,  Thomas,  5. 
Wolfall,  Nicholas,  2. 
Wolfenbuttle,  Duke  of,  80. 
Woods,  Hamlet,  176. 
Woods,  Mr.,  of  Littleton,  34. 
Woolton,  Little,  14. 
Woolton,  Much,  14,  17. 
Worthington,  Peter,  176. 
Wright,  John,  176, 177. 
Wyllme,  John,  3. 
Wynn,  60. 

York,  viii. 
Yorkshire,  38. 


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