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Documents found at Kingston House. 
But from some remnants of old law papers rescued, amongst 
others, from the mice of Kingston House, it is clear that part 
at least, and probably the whole, of the Manvers property at 
Bath, had belonged to the Hails of Bradford; and that it passed 
from the Halls to the Dukes of Kingston and thence to Lord 
Manvers, exactly in the same way as Kingston House and the 
other large property at Bradford. 
In the following letter (written somewhat sentimentally for 
a matter of bargain and sale), one Patrick Sanders, M.D., 
applies to John Hall, Esq. of Bradford, for part of the Abbey 
House and Orchard, then in his possession. 
“9, October, 1619. 
‘‘The life of man which wanders through the body of earth until she 
hath finished her peregrinations, doth at last retire to the heart, that 
‘primum vivens” and ‘‘ultimum moriens” (that liveth soonest and dieth 
latest). And so I toward the end of my days do desire to retire toward 
the same place where first I drew my breath. Having heard that some 
things there are in your possession which might happily fit me, I was the 
rather moved as well by reason of the situation as also in regard to that 
worth which I have heard often to be in yourself, from whom I am con- 
fident to receive all worthy and good conditions. Briefly, I have heard 
that the Abbey and the Abbey Orchard is to be sold, and some other things 
near the City in your power to grant. Because of my profession I desire 
to be in the house or part thereof, while Dr. Sherwood lives.” 
To this touching appeal Mr. Hall appears to have consented, 
but in proceeding to gratify the medical gentleman with the 
coveted domicile near Dr. Sherwood, he found himself suddenly 
entangled in the intricacies of the law. For the next fragment 
(dated the following year) reveals a dispute about a certain 
way leading into the Abbey Orchard of St. Peter and St. Paul 
at Bath. The result of the dispute does not appear, and it is 
immaterial: enough remaining to show that Mr. Hall was 
possessor of part of the Abbey property. But as the papers 
contain some notices of the site of the Abbey, which may be 
interesting to those who know Bath, it is worth the while to 
preserve their substance. 
(1620). The dispute in the first instance lay between the Mayor 
and Corporation, Plaintiffs; and John Biggs, Defendant. The 
