A HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND 



religion he durst have no conference. A great obstacle to the good 

 success of the ' policies established ' was the perpetual continuance of 

 the sheriffwick of Westmorland, by which means there was always 

 some one in office who by no means favoured ' the true way.' Sus- 

 picious people were allowed to pass through the country unapprehended, 

 and some had ' in the wyld mountaynes preached in chappells.' The 

 Queen's receivers and other officers of the lower sort, not being good in 

 themselves, often discouraged such as dared not displease them. The 

 tenants of noblemen in the two counties were afraid to declare them- 

 selves in favour of ' that way ' for fear they should lose their farms. The 

 justices of assize, though they made ' a good face of relligion in gevinge 

 of the charge,' in all their talks and acts showed themselves not favour- 

 able towards any man or cause of religion, which the people marked 

 and talked much of. The bishop enclosed the names of all the justices 

 of the peace of the two shires within his diocese, with notes of religion, 

 learning and wisdom, both according to his own knowledge, and from 

 what he could learn by conference with trustworthy men ; also the 

 names of such as in religion were sincere and favourable to the settle- 

 ment, ' most fytt men to be appoynted in place of some of the other.' 

 The value of the bishop's opinions on the religious sympathies of the 

 chief laymen of his diocese at this early period of Elizabethan uni- 

 formity cannot be exaggerated in point of interest. Of the justices of 

 the peace already in office he reported as follows : ' My Lord Dacre, 

 butt especially my lady his wyfe, are to be reformed in relligion : Sir 

 Thomas Dacre of Lannercost, knight, Gustos Rotulorum within the countie 

 of Cumberland, to be admoneshed in relligion, and verie unfytt for that 

 office ; Henrye Curwen of Workington, armiger, William Pennington 

 of Muncaster, armiger, John Lampleugh of Lampleugh, armiger, 

 Thomas Myddleton of Skyrwith, armiger, in relligion good and meat to 

 contynue, and the said Myddleton lerned somethinge in the lawes; John 

 Aglionby of Carlill, armiger, Richard Blannerhasset, deade, armiger, not 

 staid in relligion, but to be admoneshedd, and within the lyberties of 

 the Cetie of Carlill none other able but poore men ; Richard Salkeld of 

 Corby or Rosgill, armiger, not good in relligion ; William Myddleton, 

 gentleman, William Pyckringe, gentleman, in relligion evell and not 

 meatt.' The bishop recommended the following to be appointed : 

 ' Henry lord Scroope, lord warden, Mr. George Scroope his brother ; 

 George Lampleughe of Cockermouth, armiger, Henry Towsone of 

 Brydekyrk, armiger, Thomas Layton of Dalemayne, armiger, Mr. 

 Anthony Twhattes of Unerigg, clerk, 1 men of wysedome and good relli- 

 gion, experyent and learned but not in the lawes ; Thomas Carleton of 

 Carleton, gentleman, Andrewe Huddlestone, gentleman, in relligion good 

 and wyttye men.' In the bishop of Chester's return for the parcel of 



1 Anthony Thwaites, S.T.P., was the only clerical justice recommended. He was an early sup- 

 porter of the reforming policy of Bishop Beft, and was present at Rose Castle on 29 September 1561, 

 when that bishop held his first ordination in the diocese. He was appointed to the vicarage of 

 Aspatria in December 1565, a benefice in the bishop's patronage (Carl. Epis. Reg., Best, ff. 3, 20). 



74 



