Page:History and characteristics of Bishop Auckland.djvu/45

 38 HISTORY OF BISHOP AUCKLAND. '* Spenny Moor" for the purpose of being trained They were axmed with guns fitted with matchlocks, and hence the above charge. " Spenny Moor," and also the adjoining moor of Byers Green, were at that time (as before stated) open commons, and covered with heather. Sept. 15. Paid Mr. Forster, organist, for 16 services he prickt for Awddand Chapel, 16s. Sept. 6. To the poore at Awckland a weekes allowance, 158. Oct. 17. Paid two cesses to the constable in Awckland— one for reed coates, the other for infected people, £1 lOs. Od. Oct. 27. To Pegg to pay widow Spenceley for ale for my Lord's possets, Is. 2d. Dec. 19. Given to tlie Waits, 5s. Dec. 20. For a tar barrell for the bonefire, 5th November, 28. Feb. 11. Qiven to a poor man in the church that had a paper in hia hand, by my Lord's order, 28. Feb. 26. Delivered to Sir James Clavering £2, to Baron Hilton £2, to Mr. Lambton £3 10s. for pressing seamen for his Majesties service, at Sunderland, Gateshead, and South Sheals. Feb. 20. Lent Mr. Wrenn upon accountt of his owne and hia Sister^s New Teares Gift, the last new yeares tide, £1. May 22. Given Mr. Cozman, of Baby, that brought a present of rabbets and sparragrasse, 2s. 6d. Given to the two Judges their fee at the assizes, £20. To the musicke at this assize, £1. Given to the 5 drummers at the assizes, 5s. For tarbarrells at the bonefire, 4s. 8d. Aug. 23. To Darlington foot post, that brought letters about the Quakers, 2s. 1665-6. Jan. 1. To the Drummers for beating at the Castle, 5s. Jan. 10. To Mrs. Gerrard to give Sjrmon Armestrong, a poore old man in Darlington, by my Lord's order, £1. Jan. 28. Paid Mr. Blackiston, he gave to poore folke at my Lady BeUasis doore when my Lord was there, 6d. Feb. 19. For three months' allowance to Chapman's innocent and Gill's child, the one at 2d. per weeke, the other at 4d., 68. June 29. Paid Mr. Stapylton for newes bookes and gazettes from August to December last, 17s. 4d. July 27. Given to Mr. Cozman, keeper of Raby Parke, that brought a side of vemson, 5s. Aug. 5. To Mrs. Gerrard, upon Mr. Davyson's child's christniug day, by my Lord's order, which she gave for my Lordship, £3. 1667. April 9. To Mons^ to buy a lb. of tobacco for my Lord, 4s. ; more for a grosse of pipes, 38. May 31. Beceived of Mr. Lancelot Hilton as a deodand for a gelding that kiL'd a boy called Henry Theobalds, belonged to Jo. Allan, of Eggscliffe, vallued by the jury at £2 13s. 4d., and received by my Lord's order, by Mr. Stapylton. In further illustration of the statistics of the period, we give a few particulars of a more general, but not less interesting nature, from the same book : — Wages per Annum. — Mr. Neile, the house steward, £20 ; Mons. LaviUe (the valet), £10 ; Mrs. Wren, the house- keeper, £8 ; Mr. John Wren, £8 ; Coachman, £7 ; Mr. Featherstonhaugh (the accountant), £6 ; Postillion, £5 ; Coachman's Helper, £4 ; Groom's Helper, £3 ; Keeper of Park Walls, £2 ; Kitchen Boy, £3, his lodgings per week, 4d. ; Usher of the Hall, 23. 6d. per week ; Scullery-keeper, 2d. per day ; Porter, £7 per annum ; Porter at Durham, £5 ; Weeding in the Garden, 5d. per day. 1662. Auckland, March 3. This day wee have horse races heare on Hunwicke Moore. Mr. Davison has a Httle nagg runs with the like of Captaine Darcy's. Mr. Bricknell rides Mr. Davison's nagg. There will be much company there. Our Lady's goe in my Lord's coache from hence. — Mr, Arden to Mr, Stapylton. It will be seen by the above extracts that mention is made of many names still familiar to the inhabitants of Bishop Auckland and neighbourhood, whose ancestors these people were. Their pedigrees can be traced in the old parish registers of St Andrew's Auckland, from which copious extracts will be given when treating of that structure. A great deal of the work accomplished by them, and more especially in the interior of the chapel, have either been destroyed or removed, though much of the mason work done by John Longstaffe still remains. The exterior of the chapel is pretty much the same at the present day as it was left in Cosin's time, though the old castle has undergone many alterations and additions since then. These alterations will be briefly noticed hereafter, being too lengthy to enter into in detail, and barely of sufficient interest to secure the attention of the general reader, though to the antiquarian and architect it would, doubtless, prove an entertaining subject. The old castle, as it now stands, more resembles some magnificent foreign abbey than a castellated place for defence like Raby or BrancepetL The resemblance is considerably enhanced by the appearance of the chapel, the architecture of which is richer than Digitized by Google