65 



The Henry de Percy de Battersby has never been cleared 

 up yet. Graves' statement that he belonged to the Kildale 

 Percy family is, no doubt, right.* .... The study of 

 the relative areas accounted for as cultivable in the Domesday 

 returns, and its comparison with the inferential or ascertainable 

 condition, agriculturally, in the case of our various manors, 

 townships, etc., is a matter of most difficult investigation, but it 

 is at least of equal interest and value. But very few think of it. 

 Some of my conclusions, so far as I have gone, are rather start- 

 ling. To the said investigation I am adding the results of an 

 agricultural acquaintance with the nature of the soil, etc., in 

 almost every field in my parish. Have you any idea, or made 

 any calculations, as to what was — or what was not — cultivable 

 or cultivated at the Domesday date, and of the reasons why in 

 either case ? It is a curious, but instructive, enquiry." 



Under date of April 20th, 1891, he writes "The 'Manor' 

 question, as it aflfects and is affected by the History of Whorlton 

 and its barons (and mediately therefore Greenhow), is one of na 

 ordinary difficulty, perplexity, and obscurity. 1 know a certain 

 amount, and I infer a certain amount, and as I am singularly 

 fortunate as regards the somewhat analogous case of Danby, by 

 reason of certain absolute ' landmarks ' to act as guides, my 

 inferences may perhaps some day (if I am spared) be verified — 

 if not they will be corrected. I refer of course to the ancient 

 ' manor.' So called ' manors ' of comparatively recent creation are 

 another matter. A nd then the fact that there was a Seneschal 

 at Whorlton is one that needs more attention than it has yet 

 met with," 



On January 8rd, 1890, he wrote, "There is more matter 

 for curious and cautious speculation and research in the early 

 or pre-mediseval history of your parish than in the case of 

 nine out of ten, perhaps nineteen out of twenty, of the parishes 

 in Cleveland. I can see the way, possibly, up to a certain 

 point ; but what is wanted is such a mass of statistics as would 

 be given by either leases or conveyances of three centuries old. 

 Earlier still Inquisitiones post mortem, and of both Meinills and 

 Balliols, and the Eures as well, would quite certainly give up 

 interesting details." 



On an earlier page I have quoted a letter from Mrs. J. R. 

 Green in which she expresses her extreme interest in what 



* The Eildale Percys held lands in Battersby long after this — until 1501 

 at least. 



