HISTORY OF HARTING. 199 



In 1754, Wm. Combleach was still at Lady Holt, 

 and like the rest of the dependants there wanted 

 money. Within a few years of the murder, Lady 

 Holt house became an Aylmer's field, and was razed 

 to the ground. On all sides Caryll was pressed for 

 debt. From the Abbey of Dunkerque his aunt wrote 

 him the following letter, the sting of which must have 

 been severe : 



" Dearest Nephew, 



" The dismal account I've a long time 

 had from all hands of your past conduct and present 

 circumstances, go as you may imagine, too near my 

 heart to enlarge upon it : soe can only add, that I 

 pray for you night and day, and beg in return for 

 my affection and solicitude, that you will no longer 

 differ, but pay y e first moment you are able, y e ten 

 pounds that I borrow'd for you of Mr. Keetin, w ch - he 

 so obligingly then lent (and I so often repeated to 

 you), as no one is secure of a moment of life ; and 

 should All'y- God deprive me of myne before this 

 debt is discharged, I shall dye in Debt and guilt ; and 

 as this is contracted for your sake, shew you have 

 some compassion for me that has ever had soe true 

 a love for you, as to stile myself to my last breath, 

 your most affectionate tho' most afflicted Aunt, 



BEN. (edicta) CARYLL. 



" I told you in some of my letters y e necessity poor 

 Romana (her sister) and myself was in for a little 

 money to supply our necessarys, and finding y e want 

 of tea and snuff prejudiciall to our healths ; but my 

 still greater concern is your long-continued debts to 

 My Lady (Dame Mary ?), it having forced her to con- 

 tract many, depending on your payment. As this 

 house was begun by our name, a hard stroke for me 

 to live to see you help to bring it down ; besides, 

 my dearest nephew, remember that Justice is an ab- 

 solute vertue to salvation." 



