Page:History and characteristics of Bishop Auckland.djvu/44

 HISTORY OF BISHOP AUCKXiAKI). 27 perfonnaace as '^ a map of the whole, and as every part stand of to other ; also bj each part writen, how things are in order. K anything be desired to shew the eonvenientest way for bringing the old house into service, which I perceive will be far the easiest done, I shall be very reddie to do it, nott at all seeking myself e in it'' John Longstaffe fulfilled many more contracts besides the above, in the pulling down and repairing of the castle and chapel, and became at last brewer of the Bishop's ale, for which he was paid affcer the rate of three shillings per brewing. We extract the following from the correspondence of the Bishop with his steward, Mr. Stapylton, respecting the building and alterations done at Auckland about this time, and in it mention is made of the names of many other well-known old Auckland families : — 1661-2. Jan. 30. London. " Ask Mr. Bowser what agreement he hath made for the wood roofe of my Chappell at Aukland. I have considered the upper windows there, and I think four may serve, if five cannot be had." — Bishop to Mr. Stapylton his steward. 1661-2. Feb. 13. London. ** Ton and Mr. Bowser doe not agree in the difference of the charge in altering the two roofes at Aukhtnd. Yonr accompt makes it £146, and Mr. Bowser's notes makes it but £100. This does somthing distract my Lord's judgement of it, that it had beene better your reckonings had beene first compared. My Lord excepts against your saying that now the carpenter had finished the Chappell roofe (which he has done nothing to but horded it), he asks 30s. for altering. My Lord thinkes the carpenter very deare, and may be brought to abate of his price; If you see Mr. Bowser againe, pray agree about the true difference of the workmen's demands about this, and if he has not sent my Lord a ooppie of Robert Morle/s List contract, desire him to do it with all speed." — Mr. Arden to Mr. Stapylton. 1663. April 7. — ^Agreement. Richard Herring, carver, to receive for carving 2 great eagles (in wood, for the roof of the middle aisle), at 12s. 6d. per pece, £1 5s. For 2 mitres at the west end of the Chapell, 10s. For 4 cherubina heads, 14s. For 4 garlands, 16s. — £S 5a To have the stu£& sawne redy to hand. Mr. De Eeysor to judge, dec 1663. April 8. Articles for work according to draught and designe. Heniy de Reiser, sculptor, to have £25 to winne the stone, ctffve and set it up. My'Lord to find the crampes and lead the stones, and to give £b more, if he shall judge the worke shall deserve it. Amongst many other interesting matters in connection with the building of the present structure, we find Nicholas Green and William Lamb, of Durham, glaziers, and Matthew Browne and John Arundell, of Bishop Auckland, entering into a contract for the glazing of all the windows of the chapel with blue and white glass, according to the pattern agreed upon. We also find Abram Smith and John Brasse, of Durham, contracting for a great deal of joiner work, including a " skreene, eleven feet high, and of the breadth of the chappelle, according to a moddell or draught" On June 22nd, 1664, we find John Baptist Van ij^sel agreeing "to paint the middle rooffe of the middle ile of the chappelle of Auckland, the beams, pendants, mouldings, brasses, spandrells, &c." We, also, find Mark Todd and James Hulle, joiners, contracting for " six chairs of. wenscote gross worke, for to be placed in the inside of the skreene within Auckland Chappelle, on th6 right and left in the middle ila'" Under the same date there is an agreement with John Longstaffe *^ to build a wall from the end of the chappelle at Auckland Castle, to run eastward eleven yards in length,'' with a full description of the kind of work it was to be, and, also, to make new and firm foundationa 1666. Aug. 11. Paid John Longstaffe in full for the Porter^s Lodge and out cnrrtin wall, now measured and cleered,X14. Makes £179. 1667. May 24. Paving the oat court, 258 yds., at 2^ per y., £2 13s. 9d.— Paid Fathie Conyers for 5 days gathering stones at the river for the pavers, 2s. Id. Jnly, 1667. Paid Edward Elgye for 6 dayes makeing and setting up the finishing to the Porter's Lodge, where the other was blowen downs and broken, 10s. To go any further into the account rolls and correspondence of Bishop Cosin respecting the various buildings and alterations of the old castle, would lead us beyond our purposed space ; but we give a few farther extracts from the accounts of Balph Featherstbnhaugh, who was clerk to Mr. Arden, the house steward, which are illustrative of the domestic economy of the period : — 1666. Sept 3. Paid for match when my Lord went to Spennymocnr, 4d. The trained bands, or militia of the county, at that period assembled at stated times upon Digitized by Google ^