Andrew Aly my sons, whom I make my executors. James Prynse Witnesses, Henry Tayler, James

and Cristian my wife, overseers.

Prynse and James Fitzwater.

Prob. 26 April, 1543. (19, Spert).

15.

The Will of ARTHURE ALLEN, of Wantedge, gent.-1 August, 1557. To my sister Anne Alleyn and my cousen Richard Alleyn £8, which Sr. Edmonde Peckham, knight, oweth me and also my cattell in Hynton in the custody of Robert Vallaunce and also such sums owing me in the countie of Northampton. To Elizabeth May my servant £10. To Hugh Hide a gowne. William Huton, clerke, parson of Leatcombasset and George Clifford, gent., executors. Joan my wife, Thomas Broke, John Broke, Lucy Broke and Anne Broke my wife's children. To John Shawe a bullock. Mr. William Hide and Mr. Thomas Yate my overseers. To my goostly father Sir John Judde, clerk, xxs.

Witnesses, John Judde, curate of the parish church of Wantedge, John Wellisbourne, John Shaa, John Helliord, Elizabeth Mey, Margery Payte, Margaret Fletcher.

Prob. 20 Feb., 1557, by Johan Broke, stepson of the deceased, George Clifford, gent., one of the executors, having died, and William Wotton, the other executor, having renounced execution. (8, Noodes).

16.

The Will of Katheryn Allen, widow, late wife of Thomas Allen, of Southwark, vintener.--6 June, 1551. To be buried in churchyard of St. John Baptist in New Windesor. To Johane my elder da. my copiehold lands in Bedfordshire. Item I give her over and beside the bequest of her father John Colson my first husband xvjli. xvjs. iiijd. that is the half of xxxiijli. vjs. viijd. which sum my father-in-law John Lyllingston of Mylbroke co. Bedf. received of the King's Matie. for certain lands the which sum remaineth in the hands of the said John Lyllingston for and during the term of my mother his wyff's life. To Hester my younger da. the other moiety of the said sum and my lease which the said John Colston had of the Dean and Chapter of Windesor called the Chapell of St. Maurice, Plymton Erley co. Devon, dated 20 Sept. 2 Edw. VI. [1548] to remain in custody of my executors till she come of age and be married. If the said Johane and Hester die before they come of age and be married then I give to Christian my maid xiijli. vjs. viijd. of the said sum and the rest which is xxli. to the aforesaid John

Hollyngston. My cosyn William Frankelyn of London, goldsmith, the younger and John Hake of the King's College of Windesor, executors. John Whitehorn and Regnold Reding of Windesor, Overseers. Witnesses, James Busbye, curat, Robert Gye, John Whitehorn, Regnold Reding.

Proved 12 April, 1552, by the exors. (11, Powell).

17.

The Will of WILLIAM ALEYN (ALLEN), of Okyngham, gent.-27
Sept., 1499. To be buried in the chancel of Okyngham Church.
Wife Anne, executrix.
Bellyngham my overseer.

Proved 14 Nov. 1503, by the executrix.

18.

(31, Blamyr).

The Will of CHRISTIAN ALLEY, of London, widow.-25 Jan., 1556. To my son John Alley and his children £30. To my da. Prynces children £10. My great gilt goblet which is in my son Androwes keeping unto Mathew Alley his son. To my son Symon Alley that bargain &c. that I have from Renold Redinge of the black Egle in Wynsor. My da. Elizabeth Chowne and her husband Nicholas Chowne. To my son Symon all my household stuff, plate, &c., which he is already possessed of in the town of Wynsor. To my son John his wyfe a ring. To cousyn Annie Gough a frock. To Myllycent my son Symon's wife a frock. To Waterman's wife of Wynsor my cassock. To Johan Toke of Wynsor. To Robert Torke. To the poor of Wyndsor where I late dwellyd. My da. Elizabeth Chowne and son John Alley exors. Witnesses, Nicholas Chowne, Philipp Holde, George Horde, Nicholas Byngeham. Proved 6 May, 1557, by the exors. (12, Wrastley).

Swallowfield and its Owners.

By Lady Russell.

(Continued from page 133.)

1687. In January, 1687, Lord Clarendon, having been Lord Deputy of Ireland for a year, received his recall in the most abrupt manner, and left in February. Lord Tyrconnel succeeded him, James II. being determined to favour the Roman Catholics in every way. The following is Lord Clarendon's letter to the Lord Treasurer on the subject:

"Dublin Castle, Jan. 8th, 1686-7. "To-morrow I shall have been here a year; and therefore I shall begin a new number to my letters.

Though I have not much to say at this time by reason of the season, when all people are at play, yet I must write to you as often as I can, and for want of other matter let me brag how perfect a drudge I have been all this year. There is no office I have not rummaged into, and, I think, can give a good account of. I am sure the revenue never was in so good order, the effect whereof would have appeared by the end of this month. This has been laborious enough; but I thought I could never lay out myself too much to serve the King, and to shew him more than ever he knew yet; and if I were to continue, I might now have had some pleasure; but that I have been never used to, and know not why I should think of it at this time of the day. Indeed I think it is time to leave off the thoughts of having to do with the world. I thank God, without practising the greatest villany, I cannot be charged with any fault in my administration here; which, though it will not preserve me, is a great comfort. I do no more expect to keep the privy seal than I do to have a recompense, whereby to repair my fortune, but shall apply myself to the payment of my debts, which by the blessing of God shall be done, whatever I part with. Since the writing of this

I have received the signification of the King's pleasure from my Lord President; a copy of whose letter and my answer you have here enclosed. I am of opinion his lordship, if he had so thought fit, might have given me longer warning; but it may be it is decreed I am to be worse used than ever any man was before me; but upon my word, this I write or say only to yourself I will take your advice in everything, but as for writing to the Queen I cannot do it yet ; that is, upon so short warning. I would be very glad

of your advice as to my journey, whether I should go publickly, and receive the compliments which will be made me upon the road. I know what my own inclinations are: I purpose to land at Chester, and then to go out of the road to some friend's house; so to shake off some of my loose train, and after a day or two rest to come up quietly to some lodging, which I will appoint to be taken for me for a week. If my Lord Tyrconnel arrives here this month I doubt not but I shall embark the first week of the next."

Lord Tyrconnel's arrival spread dismay throughout the whole English population, and Macaulay says: "Clarendon was accompanied, or speedily followed, across St. George's Channel by a large proportion of the most respectable inhabitants of Dublin, gentlemen, tradesmen, and artificers, and it was said that 1,500 families emigrated in a few days." On Lord Clarendon's return the Privy Seal was taken from him and given to Lord Arundell of Wardour. The previous year his brother, Lord Rochester, had been deprived of his office of Lord Treasurer, and this fall of the two Hydes, brothersin-law of the King, was one of the turning points in public affairs.

1688. In January, 1688, the Queen Dowager, who had just announced her intention of returning to Portugal, commenced a suit against Lord Clarendon for certain monies which she considered him indebted to her. Sir W. Williams, the Solicitor General, appeared for Lord Clarendon; all the rest of the King's Counsel were retained by the Queen Dowager, excepting Holt, who refused the Queen's fee, and promised to advise Lord Clarendon privately. Lord Clarendon solicited the interference of his Royal brother-inlaw, and gives the following account of his conversation with the King "I told his Majesty of my law affairs with the Queen Dowager, and that his Solicitor General was my Counsel, and had even taken several fees of me, but that he was now forbid to appear for me. The King declared 'It was indeed considered wholly contrary to etiquette that any Counsel of his should plead against the

:

Queen Dowager, and that it was impossible for him to seem to disoblige her, but,' continued King James, I wonder extremely that Queen Catharine should sue you for such a kind of debt, which will not be to her honour when opened in a public court. I have told Lord Feversham (Catherine's Chamberlain) my mind on it, and I will, if it comes in my way, speak to the Queen Dowager myself.' On February 8th Lord Clarendon had another with the King on the same subject, when his Majesty said 'it was a matter of law which he understood not, that he could not meddle, and that the Queen Dowager was a hard woman to have to do with.'" On February 14th Lord Clarendon writes: "God knows I am only defending myself all this time, that I may not be forced to refund those just fees and allowances which my predecessors always enjoyed. A good recompense for above three-and-twenty years' faithful service; performed at great expenses, and, without vanity be it spoken, with some considerable hazards. But God's will be done."

The following are extracts from Lord Clarendon's diary of 1688 to 1690, concerning days that he and Lady Clarendon spent at Swallowfield :

"1688. April 17th. Wednesday. My wife and I went to Swallowfield. Mr. Keightley1 went with us. We found my brother,2 Mr. Boyle, and Mr. Gwyn came in just before us.

3

"April 19th. Thursday. Captain Edward St. Lo* dined with us; he came from his quarters at Wokingham. In the afternoon we went to see Mr. Parry, but found him not at home; however, we went in and took a view of his new house.

5

"April 20th. Friday. In the morning my brother and Mr. Boyle I went to London. Mr. Parry dined with me. In the evening I rid out to take the air, and met my son and Mr. Young coming from Sarum.

I.

Thomas Keightley, of Hertingfordbury, Herts, married Frances Hyde, sister of Edward, Lord Clarendon.

3. Hon. Robert Boyle, son of the Earl of Cork, was the celebrated philosopher.

4. Capt. Edward St. Lo, son of Sir John St. Lo, married Alice, daughter of Laurence Hyde. Lord Clarendon had “christened," z.e., stood godfather to his son, Capt. St. Lo's mother-in-law, the widow Chiffinch and Mr. Chiffinch being his " partners."

5. Mr. Parry, envoy to Portugal, tempo. Ch. II., succeeded to Wokefield through his mother, the daughter of Peter Weaver, who had bought it in 1626 from Francis Plowden.