" THE LOYAL DUKE OF NEWCASTLE." 3 



converted into charcoal for the use of his ironworks, but the 

 larger number were still standing at the Restoration. Upon the 

 return of the Duke of Newcastle, Mr. Sitwell proposed to pay 

 for the trees he had felled, and to release the rest, upon con- 

 dition that the money paid to Lord Mansfield should be 

 returned to him with interest. The Duke, however, would hear 

 of nothing but the unconditional surrender of the deeds of sale 

 and confirmation. After a long correspondence, a lawsuit, and 

 several stormy interviews (of one of which there is an amusing 

 description), peace was made and the termination of the quarrel 

 was marked by the Duke's acceptance of a present of four 

 pheasants. These birds, rarer then than they are now, were no 

 doubt bagged in Foxton or Eckington woods : into the circum- 

 stances attending their death it would be painful to inquire ; 

 indeed, so barbarous were the customs of that age, that one can 

 only hope that they were running, and not absolutely asleep, 

 when they fell victims to Mr. Sitwell's fowling-piece. 



"for Mr. John Hutton. 

 " Renishawe, Aijg. 4, 1660. 



" Sir, when I waited upon my Lord Marquess of Newcastle I 

 perceaved he was highly offended at me about buying some of 

 his wood, wherein I had the worst happ possibly can be imagined 

 to be soe misunderstood. Whatever my Lord thinks of me, yet 

 I am well known in my country, and I thanke God know mine 

 owne thoughts to be free from buying or desireing any thing of 

 any man's, but what I had (as I verily conceaved) by the consent 

 of the owner, — Nay, and to doe him reall service in it too. He 

 [Mr. Howard, a servant and accomptant to my Lord Mansfield] 

 intreated and persuaded me to buy that I had for my Lord 

 Mansfield's advantage and benefitt, and tould me it was his 

 Lord^P' desire ; otherways I would not have given five shillings 

 for all the wood they had. This wood I bought was formerly 

 sould by the Trustees of the then Commonwealth to several men ; 

 as that in the coppy to one Mr. Newton of Kirkby, and that at 

 Clipstowe to one Mr. Clarke, who was cutting it downe and 



