108 
THE COUNCIL OF STAVELEY. 
As the barons of old had to stand up for their rights, so had 
the tenants occasionally. We find that in the reign of James L., 
one of his schemes for raising money was that of taking all the 
Crown lands of Cumberland and Westmorland into his own hands, 
on the plea “that as Border service had then ceased by the union 
of the two kingdoms in his own royal person, the estates were 
determined likewise which the tenants held by that service.” And 
a long struggle ensued between lords and tenants, the latter 
declaring to defend each other, “ even by force, if no other course 
should be effectual,” in accordance with articles which they had 
sworn to at their meeting held at Staveley, under colour of viewing 
a bridge. For this and other unlawful assemblies, some of the 
leaders were arraigned before the Star Chamber, but acquitted, 
and had their estates confirmed to them, as being held, not by 
Border service alone, but by the general military tenure by which 
all other tenants zz capile were obliged. Soon afterwards many of 
the tenants made compositions with their lords for reducing this 
to a fine certain, and others purchased them in freehold. With 
regard to 
THE CUSTOMARY TENANTS OF HAWKSHEAD, 
they, on the dissolution of the Monastery, do not appear to have 
had a very good time of it until the reign of Elizabeth, for, though 
several commissions had been issued immediately after the sup- 
pression of the Monastery to settle the affairs of Furness, and in 
particular with the customary tenants, yet the rights, privileges, 
and customs were not ascertained before the time of Elizabeth, in 
the twenty-seventh year of whose reign a code of customs and 
bye-laws was drawn up by a special jury of tenants, and approved 
by the Queen. 
THE DECAY OF THE FEUDAL SYSTEM. 
When the feudal baron first raised his standard, he lived 
amongst his vassals: he was their patron, and defended them; 
but at length, by the various changes of property, and the central- 
