A HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND 



The publication of the bull deposing the Queen appears to have 

 made little difference to the progress of conformity in the diocese of 

 Carlisle, except that it was the means of redoubling the vigilance of the 

 local authorities and urging them on to a more stringent application of 

 the existing law. Bishop Barnes, on a closer acquaintance with the 

 people of the two counties, took an optimistic view of the prospects of 

 religion within his charge. Writing to Burghley on 19 October, 1571 

 he thankfully recognized that God had reared up the church of his 

 Christ, and mightily prospered His Gospel and the bishop's simple 

 ministry ' in this angle and utmoste corner amongest these salvage 

 people,' and he doubted not that in a short time his labours would 

 yield great and good fruit to God and the Queen's Majesty. At this 

 juncture the Bishop's opinions on the state of external conformity in his 

 diocese are of considerable interest. He dared boldly to assure Burghley 

 that at that day there was not one known gentleman or other within his 

 little diocese that openly repined against religion, refused to communicate 

 or come to church to hear divine service, or shunned sermons or openly 

 spoke against the established religion or the ministers thereof. There 

 was the insignificant exception of the Lowlands, consisting of the four 

 parishes of Arthuret, Kirklinton, Bewcastle and Stapleton, amongst the 

 people of which there was neither fear, faith, virtue nor knowledge of 

 God, nor regard of any religion at all. Some indeed were not in all 

 things satisfied or reclaimed, but they were in a good way and coming 

 well forward. 1 



hassett, armiger, Maior Carleolensis, vir mitis, justiciae pacisque studens, licet papista. Johannes 

 Eaglionbye, armiger, justiciarius Carleolensis, vanus, blasphemusque papista, nullum Dei habens tim- 

 orem, raptor, pestis, perniciesque reipublicae. Johannes Blanerhassett, armiger, insignis adversarius 

 veritati. Johannes Lamplewghe, armiger, insignis fautor evangelii, veritatis . . . professor pius. 

 Georgius Lamplewghe, armiger, verus Israelita in quo non est fraus. Henricus Towson, generosus, 

 amicus veritatis. Thomas Carleton, generosus, vir timens Deum, evangelic favens. Thomas Laiton, 

 generosus, virpius, zelotes. WestnT : Richardus Lowther, armiger, veritatis adversarius insignis, azilum 

 et propugnator pessimorum quorumcunque. Henricus Crakenthorpe, armiger, Blinkensoppe, armiger, 

 Wyber, armiger, Lancastre, armiger, papists. Richardus Dudley, armiger, alter Jehu. Thomas War- 

 coppe, armiger, aulicae religionis nee inimicus. Clibburne, gtnerosus, spirans minas maliciamque ad- 

 versus veritatem. Humfridus Musgrave, armiger, amicum veritatis palam se profitetur. Lancelotus 

 Pickringe, armiger, evangelic favet. Gilpyn, generosus, ex animo evangelium profitetur. Qui juxta 

 regulam evangelii incedunt, pax super illos et misericordia et super Israelem Dei etc. Hisvero qui con- 

 tentiosi sunt veritatem resistunt, ventura est gravi Dei indignacio etc.' (S.P. Dom. Eliz. Ixxiv. 22, i.) 



1 S.P. Dom. Eliz. Add. xx. 84. The savage state of society and the want of adequate religious 

 instruction on both sides of the Border attracted the attention of the commissioners who met at Carlisle 

 in 1596 to discuss the lamentable effects which the lawless and disobedient disposition of the most part 

 of the inhabitants had wrought between the Marches. The first article agreed upon was ' that the 

 princes be most humbly and earnestly entreated to cause God's ministers of the Word to be planted at 

 every border church, to inform the lawless people of their duty, and to watch over their manners, and 

 that the principal inhabitants of each parish shall put in surety to their prince for due reverence to be 

 used towards their pastors in their offices, and the safety of their persons ; and that to this effect, order 

 may be timely taken for reparation of the decayed churches within the bounds ' (Nicolson, Leges Alar- 

 chiarum, 151). A presentation was made by a jury of Cumberland gentlemen at Carlisle on 30 April, 

 1597, ' that the churche of Bewcastle, the churche of Stapleton, the church of Arthred, being within this 

 Marche, have bene decayed by the space of threscore yeares and more, but we certanely knowe not the 

 patrons of the sayd churches, neyther who ought to buyld the same. And the churche of Lanerdcost 

 ys nowe also in decaye and haith so bene by the space of two or thre yeares last past, but by whome the 

 same ought to be repaired we knowe not. And the churche of Kirklinton is also in decaye, and so haithe 

 contynewed the space of twentie yeare, and that William Musgrave esquier, and Edward Musgrave his 

 sonne, are patrons of the same ' (Border Papers [Scot. Rec. Pub.], ii. 311-2). 



78 



