and Register of the Court of Chancery; and others After his death, 1703, it was printed privately at Edinburgh, under the title of "An Enquiry into the antient and present State of the County-Palatine of Durham; wherein are shewn the Oppressions which attend the Subjects of this County by the Mal-administration of the present Ministers and Officers of the said County-Palatine; with some Reasons, humbly offered to the Freeholders, Leaseholders, and Copyholders of the said County, to consider of the Ways and Means to remedy the said Abuses, or entirely to take away the said County-Palatine, and the Bishop's Temporal Power and Jurisdiction therein, whereby their Fortunes and Tenures may be rendered more easy and secure. 1729." 4to. The second and third parts were compiled in haste; the Collector designing to publish a larger and more correct account of the said County Palatine and its Antiquities in due time; and some of his MSS. were supposed to be in the hands of Captain Wasey, who married his great grand daughter.-In a Letter to Mr. Gough, Dec. 5, 1775, Mr. Allan says, "Spearman's book is very scarce, hardly to be met with. There were above 200 copies remaining in the hands of George Spearman, his grandson, which were sold with his whole Library to Osborne, the bookseller, in Gray's Inn; to whom I applied on my first going to London, in 1759, to purchase a dozen copies; when he informed me, that he looked upon them as waste paper, and had sold them to tallow-chandlers and pastrycooks-the common fate of all our labours! Since this, I have picked up at sales about 6 copies, and given them amongst my friends." Bp. Egerton having mentioned that Bp. Yorke wished much for a copy of Spearman's book, Mr. Allan kindly sent one, as appears by the following acknowledgment: SIR, Ely house, Nov. 21, 1785. "I have received very safe the History, &c. of the See of Durham you have been so good as to spare me a copy of. The rarity of it inakes your civility more valuable; and proportionably demands my best thanks. The greatest part of it is, I find, a complaint against such Franchises; and the then Incumbent of that dignity. I am a stranger to the particulars urged against the Prelate; and, as interested in favour of such Franchise, I must not presume to touch on either topick. I may, however, venture to say I should have valued the work higher if there had been more history, and less controversy. I am going to Ely in a day or two, and shall not return 'till after Christmas; when I shall be ready to execute the deeds, which have been long depending. I am your humble servant, JAMES ELY." On an altar-tomb of blue marble, in Durham Cathedral Yard, under a coat armorial, is the following inscription: "M. S. JOANNIS SPEARMAN Generosi, Viri legibus Patriæ suæ non mediocriter imbuti; qui, postquam Curiæ Cancell. Dunelm. Registrarii per XL annos, et by the Rev. Thomas Randall*, Master of the Freeschool at Durham. et Sub-vice-comitis XXVIII, munera præstitisset, obiit Sept, xxI A. D. MDCCIII, ætatis suæ LVIIII. monumentum hoc charissimo conjugi morens posuit." # * In the Chapter's library," says Mr. Allan in 1775, “are several volumes of Registers; but now access is denied, though I have many of them, through the bounty of my friend Mr. Randall. He and Hunter were fellow-labourers in the same vineyard." "Mr. Thomas Randall was born and educated at Eton, sent to Oxford, but what College I know know not; admitted B. A.; recommended as Usher to the Free-school at Durham, under Mr. Dongworth; entered into orders; after Dongworth's death, became master of the School, and in 1760 had the vicarage of Whitworth, co. Durham, given him. Being a great martyr to the gout, he became incapable of attending the school, which in 1768he agreed to resign, with Whitworth, for the vicarage of Ellingham in Northumberland, (all in the Chapter's and Dean's gift), to which he was presented in 1768. From his first coming to Durham he had the greatest propensity to Antiquities, and was indulged with free access to all the Libraries and Public Offices there; so that he made this County the sole object of his enquiries, and copied almost every record they have literatim. Dr. Hunter greatly assisted him, and gave him a number of his papers. This pleasure he pursued to the day of his death. A great intimacy has subsisted between him and me for these 15 years; and, secing our pursuits congenial, he always promised me his MSS. in case of death, which, by will, dated 1774, he bequeathed to me He died at Ellingham, 25 October 1775, since which his MSS. have been delivered to me, consisting of about 20 volumes in quarto, closely written. G. ALLAN, 1779." I shall add one short Letter to Mr. Allan, written by this venerable Divine a very short time before his death. "DEAR SIR, Durham, Oct. 22, 1774. "Being afraid of my old companion the gout, and the days being now short, I put off my journey to London. It is impossible to ascertain the time of the Charters you mention exactly. I believe Bernard's Charter was given about 1160. Hugh's about 1218. John's about 1250, and Alexander's about 1270. He died 1278. I am tolerably well at present, and divert myself with my books. When I can spare any books, you and your Father are welcome to them; but, as they are the only amusement I have, you keep them too long. I will send any information I can afford you: but don't desire it so quick as by the return of the post, considering my infirmities. Mr. Tunstall was with me this morning, I informed him I had a Letter from you, and delivered him a verbal message in the style of this letter. I dare say you would be Dr. William Smith, who prepared the magnificent edition of Bede, completed and published by his eldest son, had made some considerable progress in writing the Antiquities of Durham*. Large Collections for the County were also made by Tho. Gyllt, Esq. Solicitor General to Bp. Trevor. be pleased with Mr. Grose's company. The Lawyer sent me two or three numbers of Mr Grose's Antiquities, wherein are views of Holy-Island, &c. THO RANDALL." * In one of his letters to Wanley, dated Durham, June 6, 1702, he says, "they have fair Registers from the foundation of the present Church by Bp. William, under the Conqueror, 1093, and the originals of most charters that are in them, but no Saxon wills or instruments, except that which he sent to Dr. Hickes." Dr. Smith's copy of the "Britannia," with additions, was in the hands of John Williams, esq. of Killingworth, Northumberland, who carried it with him to the East Indies, where he lost his life about 1777. + This gentleman, who had been resident at Durham as Counsel for thirty years, executed the several trusts reposed in him with distinguished integrity. He was an able Counsellor, though not eminent as an Orator: his strict adherence to justice would not suffer him to yield to those embellishments of the Bar which exceed the bounds of truth; so that he was less esteemed as an advocate than as a private adviser. He had a good taste in the Fine Arts; and in his more youthful days paid much attentionto the study of Antiquities, holding a literary correspondence with some of the first geniuses of the age. His person was tall, erect, and graceful; his features regular and handsome; and a pleasantry and affability sat on his countenance, which spoke the benevolence of his heart. He died a batchelor, the 12th of March, 1780, æt. 80; and was buried at Barton, in the North Riding of the County of York, with the following epitaph : "Near this Wall is interred Thomas Gyll, Esq. equally esteemed for his knowledge of the Common and Canon Law, and for his At the Bar an Advocate in the former, on the Bench a Judge in the latter. Nor was he less distinguished for his accuracy in the History and Antiquities of his Country. By a steady discharge of the duties of his station both in public and private life, and by a constant and devout attendance of the public worship, he was an example worthy of imitation. He died in his 80th year, MDCCLXXX. To the memory of his truly valuable character Leonard Hartley, his nephew and heir, placed this tablet." LETTERS of the Rev. JOHN JONES* to the "REV. SIR, Rev. DR. ZACHARY GREY. Cambridge, Aug. 23, 1735. "I was in hopes, on my coming hither, to have found some answer left by you, in reference to a letter I lately sent you: but, finding none, and fearing you have not received that letter, I make bold here to address to you the principal request; viz. that, if you can conveniently, you would send by some opportunity to Cambridge, or bring with you when you come, the Letters of the Martyrs, together with Sir John Harrington's Supplement to Godwin, Ben. Bennet's Memorials, Claude's Sermon on Queen Mary's Death. If your man returns before you do, you will probably think of this request; and I shall be here soon again, to know if any thing is sent. Mr. Peck, whom I saw last week, desires his service to you. I brought your Catalogue with me, and shall take care of it. Mr. Baker is well. J. JONES." "REV. SIR, Ripton Abbotts, Sept. 25, 1735. "I have great obligations to you for all civilities; one of the last of which kind was a letter I had the pleasure of receiving from you a few days ago. It is great satisfaction to me to hear you intend to furnish me with the Letters of the Martyrs, and Sir John Harrington; and it would be a greater still, if you can, with any conveniency, spare Bennet's Memorials withal, which I also wrote for, but you had probably forgot when you wrote yours. What I chiefly have occasion for at present out of Winwood's Memorials are, such accounts as occur therein relating to Prince Henry, son to King James I. But I cannot have the assurance to ask for any extracts of such passages, nor yet can I suppose it will be proper to convey such large volumes so great a way: in this, as well as in other matters, I must refer myself to your goodness †. "Please to observe, that, whatever abstracts I make, I quote the volume and page. I will shew you something at your return. "If you have any thing curious, and in my way, relating to Archbishop Cranmer, that hath not been taken notice of by Strype, Burnet, or the Histories of England, I know I need not desire you to communicate. I have almost finished that Prelate's Life. "I suppose that those Treatises relating to King James the First's Reign, (viz. the first 14 years, the Aulicus Coquinariæ, Weldon, and Grevil,) which you kindly marked down in my Ca * These Letters illustrate the early History of Mr. Jones; of whom see vol. I. p. 687. + By this and some of the subsequent passages, it should seem that Mr. Jones was a principal assistant to Mr. Wilford the Bookseller, in his publication of "Memorials of Eminent Persons," which originally appeared in Monthly Numbers. talogue, talogue, are at Cambridge: if at Houghton, I wish you will please to look into them, and remark what eulogies are given in each concerning Prince Henry, for I intend to collect what I can about him pretty soon. Forgive me so much trouble. "I waited last week upon the Master of St. John's, who inquired after you. He was not very well. I am glad to hear you intend to be at Cambridge next month: you will then, or soon after, probably, be interrupted in your better employs by, kind and worthy Sir, your obliged and very obedient servant, J. JONES." "P. S. After the above writing I find, to my joy, by perusing your MS Catalogue, that you have, in your 95th volume 4to, A true picture and relation of Prince Henry, his noble and vertuous disposition, &c.' sans date. I make no doubt but you will oblige me with the sight of it. I am now to ask another forgiveness." "REV. WORTHY SIR, A. R. Dec. 8, 1737. "I take this opportunity to thank you for your kind letter, with a repetition of my thanks for all other favours, which I hope I shall always bear a just sense of upon my mind. "I am also to thank you in particular for your kind intentions of obliging me with the Essay on the Duke of Gloucester. But as it is, you say, at Houghton Conquest, I would not give you the trouble of sending for it; but chuse to have the pleasure of receiving it from your own hands, when I make you a visit there. " "What I am principally concerned for at present is, to collect what accounts I can of the two noble persons I mentioned, Lord Harrington and Lord Scudamore, wherein if you can be assisting to me, I know I may depend upon your remembrance and generosity; and the sooner I am gratified, the greater will be the obligation. If you want your Index to Mr. Strype's Memorials, and the Collection of Occasional Sermons, &c. pray let me know, and I shall take care to send them with all convenient speed. My best respects attend good Mr. Baker, with which I desire the inclosed may be delivered to him from, Rev. Sir, your very respectful humble servant, J. JONES." "REV. WORTHY SIR, Ripton Abbots, Oct. 6, 1740. "If you have sat in judgment upon me, I must needs have been cast; for who can forbear condemning a person of ingratitude, that hath so long deferred writing to so good a Friend? Your civility at Houghton, I own with shame, deserved more speedy acknowledgement. But, my comfort is, you are still your self, the same good-natured gentleman, kind, and ready to forgive. "The truth is, I have been all the while (or for the greater part of the interval) taken up about the concern of my little book. What think you, good Sir? Will you not be surprized, if I tell you I have (but upon good advice) ventured to make additions, and those not a few, nor small? And will you forgive me, when I assure you that I have done so? I persuade myself you will. I can expect no other from Dr. Grey, whom I never knew to be offended; though I doubt I have given him cause more than |