6« 



removed to Mardale ; thus, probably, obtaining possession of his 

 land before any Norman feudal lord had ever established a claim 

 upon it. Mr. Hugh P. Holme, who died last spring, after but a 

 short illness, at the old family residence, Chapel Howe, Mardale, 

 was the last male representative of this remarkable family. He 

 was a good specimen of a Westmorland "statesman," being a fine 

 looking young fellow, with a splendid physique, and moreover 

 possessed of superior business talent and a kindly disposition, he 

 became very popular. He was unmarried, and his premature death 

 when just attaining the prime of life, caused the deepest regret 

 among a large circle of friends. 



3rd, Another, though but a negative proof, that the origin of 

 our "statesmen" is independent of, and anterior to, the Norman 

 conquest, is, that Cumberland and Westmorland are not mentioned 

 in Domesday Book. 



4th, This opinion derives much support from the fact that when 

 James I. came to the throne of England, he set up a claim to all 

 the small estates in Cumberland and Westmorland, on the plea 

 that the possessors — the "statesmen" in fact — were merely tenants 

 of the crown. This is strong evidence that they were not the 

 vassals or tenants of any other feudal lord. But the manner in 

 which the "statesmen" replied to the king's demand seems to be 

 conclusive. They met, to the number of 2,000, between Kendal 

 and Staveley, at a place called Ratten Heath, convened by one 

 Brunskill, and adopted the resolution that "they had won their 

 lands by the sword, and felt themselves able to defend them by 

 the same means." On these and other grounds, it seems probable 

 that the "statesmen" of Cumberland and Westmorland entered on 

 their lands in very remote times, either as conquerors or squatters; 

 and that the feudal system introduced by the Norman conqueror 

 was but an episode in their existence. During the days of its 

 power they were compelled, in order to obtain the protection 

 of the feudal lords, to submit to their yoke, though more in 

 form than in substance ; but they existed before its rise, and they 

 have survived its fall. 



Any one acquainted with the fell dales must have observed that 



