his memory, in the time of Lucas, the historian of Warton, was "yet precious in this parish.'

After the Restoration of Charles II, Sir Robert Bindloss was engaged in the prosecution of Roman Catholic priests in Lancashire. The following is an abstract of a letter written by Sir Robert to the Earl of Derby, dated at Borwick on the 8th of December, 1662 :—

"Sent a letter addressed to John Seddon, now prisoner in Lancaster. At first he disavowed any knowledge of the writer. He is in prison for refusing the oaths of allegiance and supremacy. Is a member of a church of 900 still meeting at Bishopsgate, is a dangerous fanatic, one of many sent from London to stir up a second Rebellion.

"Encloses examination of John Seddon. Lived in London nine years. Came to Warrington on his marriage a year ago. Wrote to the congregation in Duke's Place, London, to know whether he might join that in Warrington, of which Wm. Booth, now prisoner in Lancaster Castle, is preacher, there having been some defection amongst them. Knows the signatures of Nat. Strange, John Ward, and S. Evans. To the letter he received a reply, but to none of the others. Thinks it was partly written by Hen. Preston a Schoolmaster."

On the 24th October, 1672, Sir Robert signed the declaration that there lay upon him "no "obligation from the oath commonly called the "Solemn League and Covenant, and that the "same was in itselfe an unlawful oath and imposed upon the subjects of this Realme against the "knowne Laws and Liberties of the Kingdome." On the same day Sir Robert was elected mayor of the borough of Lancaster; but, owing to ill-health, retired from the office in the following April. A copy of the letter announcing his resignation is preserved amongst the records of the Corporation. of Lancaster:

"To the Aldermen and Councell of this Burrow Towne of Lancr "These

"Gentlemen

"I give you thanks for your respecte unto mee but as my condition is at present I am not able to serve you and the

rest of your towne as I could heartily wish, (the extremity of my distemper remaining still upon mee.) Out of my true affeccons therefore to you I wish and advise that for the more speedy carrying on of your Townes affaires you wold please soe farr as your Constitucons of your Towne will enable you to electe a new Maior in my stead. And in soe doing I shall willingly acquiesce. And when God Almighty shall please to give me strength and ability I shall be ready and willing to doe you any friendly office as formerly. I wish you good successe in all your proceedings. And shall ever remaine,

"Gent"

"Yor assert friend to serve you
"ROBT BINdlos.

The

"April ye 6, '73." Sir Robert died in 1688, and was buried in Warton Church. By his wife Rebecca, daughter of Sir Hugh Perry, he left one daughter, Cecilia, who married William Standish, of Standish. The settlement on this marriage, dated the 16th of August, 1697, includes the manor of Langtree, lands in Coppull, Duxbury, Woolston, Martin's Croft, Woolston Moss, "and all cannal mines or "coal pits" in the township of Shevington, the Rectory of Garstang, and Borwick Hall. Borwick estate is described as "all that ye Mannor "or Lordshipp or reputed Mannor or Lordshipp of "Borwick with the appurtenances in the said "County of Lancaster and the Capitall message "called Borwick Hall with the Demesne lands, "Water-corne Mill and Appurtenances thereunto "belonging scituate lying and being in the parish "and precincts of Borwick, Warton and Hutton "in the said county of Lancaster." The lands were settled upon Cecilia Bindloss during her life, with remainders over.

The issue of this marriage was three sonsRalph, Edward, and William—and several daughters. The eldest son, Ralph, was "out in the "Fifteen." The Stuart force had advanced to Preston, its last halting place, where, on the 10th

4 An old tenant on the Borwick estate used to say that he remembered an aged woman declare that she saw the Scotch army drawn up not far from

of November, Ralph Standish joined its ranks. Three days later Preston surrendered, and Ralph Standish was one of the unfortunate troop of gentlemen who, under the charge of a cavalry escort, and enduring all the hardships of winter, travelled wearily to London, to be tried for loyalty to the Stuart line. For six months the owner of Borwick Hall lingered within the walls of Newgate; and, on the 16th of June, 1716, he was brought up to answer a charge of high treason, and convicted. The sentence, however, was never carried out, and after another year's imprisonment he was released. His mother, Cecilia, the daughter of the last Sir Robert Bindloss, of Borwick, was still living. She therefore presented a petition "to "the Hon'ble Comissioners appointed by Act of "Parliament made in the first year of his Majesties

Reign entitled An Act for appointing Comis"sioners to enquire of the estates of certain traitors "and of Popish Recusants and of estates given to "superstitiouse uses in order to raise money out of "them sev'ally for the use of the Publick."

The petition was entitled "The Claime of "Cecilia Standish of Borwick in the County of "Lancaster widow to and out of sev'all mannours messuages Lands tenemts and Hereditaments of Ralph Standish late of Standish Hall in the said "County of Lancaster Esq. being a p'son attainted "of High Treason."

The petition recites a settlement dated the 16th day of August, 1697, and made between William Standish (then since deceased) and the claimant, his then wife, Dame Rebecca Bindloss of Borwick

the hall, and that when they perceived some people advancing over the rising ground between that spot and Lancaster, they placed themselves in battle array. The war cry of the Highlanders was Claymore," and it is not improbable that the field may derive its name-"Clamara"-from this circumstance."

5 Ralph Standish was found guilty of high treason at Westminster; since removed into the custody of a messenger, in order for a pardon. (Patten's History, second edition, p. 147.)

Hall, widow, the mother of the claimant, Ralph Standish and Mary Standish, children of William Standish, and Thomas Wilson of Wrightington, of the first part; the Right Hon. Lord George Howard and Lady Philippa Howard, his sister, children of the Most Noble Henry late Duke of Norfolk, deceased, of the second part; William Lord Fitzwilliam, Baron of Lyford in the Kingdom of Ireland, Sir Henry St. George, Knight, Clarencieux King-at-Arms, Charles Townley of Townley, Edward Warren of Duckley, William Dickonson of Wrightington, Esquires, and Charles Mawson of the parish of St. Clement Danes in the county of Middlesex, gentleman, of the third part; Reginald Brittand, Serjeant-at-Law, and William Hoghton of Park Hall, of the fourth part; and Thomas Hey of the parish of St. Dunstan's in the West, London, gentleman, and Thomas Mawson of the parish of St. Clement Danes aforesaid, of the fifth part.

Under this settlement the manor of Langtree, Langtree Hall, the Holt in Coppull, lands in Duxbury, the manors of Woolston, Hernhead, and Martinscroft, and Woolston Hall, with other property in those townships, "Cannal Mines or "Cannal Pits" in Shevington, "and also all that "the Mannor or Lordshipp or reputed Mannor or "Lordshipp of Borwick with the appurtenances in "the said County of Lancaster and the Capitall Messuage called Borwick Hall with the Demesne "Lands Water-corne Mill and appurtenances "thereto belonging scituate lying and being in the parish and p'cincts of Borwick, Warton, and "Hutton in the said County of Lancaster," together with the Rectory of Garstang, were settled upon the claimant during her life, as her jointure.

66

The petition concludes-" Your claimant prays "that such an entry may be made by the said "Comissioners of this her claim unto and out of

D

"the estate of the s'd Ralph Standish her son "who now stands attainted of High Treason in "such manner and form as by the aforesaid Act is "in that behalfe directed appointed and required."

The petition, signed "Cis. Standish," apparently had the desired effect, as the claimant remained in possession of Borwick Hall until her death, on the 19th of January, 1729-30.

Ralph Standish, her son, married Lady Philippa Howard, daughter of Henry, sixth Duke of Norfolk. The eldest son by this marriage died in the lifetime of his father, leaving two children, who died in infancy. All the other children of Ralph and Philippa Standish died unmarried, except a daughter, Cecilia, who married William Towneley of Towneley. The issue by this marriage was three sons-Charles, Ralph, and Edward—and a daughter, Cecilia. Charles, the well-known antiquary, died unmarried in 1805; Ralph, who inherited Borwick on the death of his father and mother, died without issue; and Edward, the youngest, died in 1807. Cecilia Towneley married Charles Strickland of Sizergh; and their son, Thomas Strickland, inherited the Borwick estates. Thomas Strickland married Anastasia, eldest daughter and co-heiress of Sir John Lawson of Brough Hall. The Borwick estates became the property of Thomas Strickland, the younger son by this marriage. This Thomas Strickland left issue, Walter Charles Strickland and Henry Charles Strickland, by the elder of whom Borwick Hall was sold, in 1854, to George Marton of Capernwray Hall, whose son, George Blucher Heneage Marton, is the present owner.

Borwick Hall stands on rising ground, overlooking the valley of the Keer. To the west is the bold outline of Warton Crag; to the east are the hills dividing the Keer valley from that of the Lune; and to the south-west lie the waters of