238 Whalton and its Vicinity, by the Rev. J. E. Elliot. 



probably had belonged to some former rector. The rectory 

 itself also had originally constituted a strong well-built pele 

 tower. The ground floor consisted of two vaulted apartmen ts ; 

 from the inner one of these a cork-screw staircase (part of 

 which still remains) had conducted to the roof. After the 

 Reformation, however, and when the Union of the two 

 kingdoms had restored some degree of security, the necessity 

 of such incongruous duties ceased, and left the rectors to the 

 more legitimate business of their profession. The advowson 

 of the living, which had been seized by Henry VIII., was 

 given by his daughter, Queen Elizabeth, to Thomas Bates of 

 Holywell, who seems to have been a stirring and active per- 

 sonage at that time ; having previously received a letter of 

 thanks from Queen Mary* on account of services done upon 

 the Borders during the troubled years of 1556-7, which letter 

 is still preserved at Milbourne Hall, the present seat of the 

 family. He was likewise, in 1584, named along with 

 Charlton of Hesleyside, Swinborne of Capheaton, and other 

 gentlemen as being " able to inform Her Majesty's commis- 

 sioners of the abuses done within the Middle Marches," "yf 

 they are sworne or strayghtly examined. "f He was likewise 

 M.P. for Morpeth, and was appointed by Queen Elizabeth 

 supervisor of all Her Majesty's houses, lordships, manors, lands, 

 and tenements in Northumberland. In Bishop Barnes' book 

 he is styled " Deputed patron by the Queen of the rectory of 

 Whalton." And in August, 1579, with a due regard to the 

 bodily as well as spiritual health of the parish, he presented 

 Robert Bellamye Clerk, doctor of physic. Of his immediate 

 successors nothing noteworthy is preserved, until at the com- 

 mencement of the Commonwealth, John Shaw was presented 

 to the incumbency in 1645. Being a man of strong convic- 

 tions and energetic character, he was unable or unwilling to 

 make his opinions square with those of the ruling powers, 

 who, in consequence, considerately afforded him time to 

 meditate on the differences between them, by shutting him up 

 in prison for four years, and inducting in his room Mr Ralph 

 Wicliffe ; who held the living until the Restoration in 1661, 

 when he, in turn, was ousted, and Mr Shaw restored. Shaw, 

 on again obtaining possession of the living, does not appear 



* The letter may be found in Hodgson's Hist, of Northumberland ; Burke's 

 Commoners, &c. 



t Richardson's Reprints of Rare Tracts, IV., p. 18. 



