2S8 



Edingdon Monastery. 



And even so We yon right hartelie well to fare. From my howse at Chelseye 

 this xvj tb of Maij 1574 



" Your assured friend 



" Wynchestee " 



Postscript : — 



" The Corny ssion is returnable the last returne of the next terme." 

 " To my loving frind S* John Thyne knight 

 geve theise." 



No. 2. — The same to the same. Requesting friendly interference 

 to prevent law proceedings about a small piece of ground. 



" I hartelie commend me. Where a servant of yours one Parrey hath through 

 information exhibited, made her Maj tie a party against Bromwiche a tenant of 

 rnyne in Edington, surmising me to have intruded upon an acre of ground there, 

 termed Rack acre, & the cause prosecuted unto Trial (at this last assizes to have 

 been had) with more expedition and less indifference then in equitie appertayneths 

 giveth me to think yourself not privie thereof, as from whome I presume to have 

 been furst advertised of the interest pretended, before the same attempted in 

 manner as before [mentioned], especiallie the matter in demaunde being so small, 

 and myself not so well acquainted therewith as driven with great charge to 

 defend the same. And therefore requesting, if the matter (being no greater) 

 may be otherwise determined then by ordinarie proceedings in Law that I may 

 use your frindlie furtherance therein. And so bidd you use you hartelie farewell. 

 Hooke, this xxiiij th of September, 1578. 



" Y r very loving frinde 



" Winchester." 



The lease by the Crown to the Bayntuns, in 1550, was for many 

 years, and had not yet expired. Lady Isabella dying, was succeeded 

 by her step-son, Andrew Bayntun, Esq. (son of the late Sir Edward 

 by his first wife, Elizabeth Sulyard). From the following letter 1 

 (at Longleat) it appears that towards the end of his lease, he had 

 not only committed waste on the premises by well-nigh " plucking 

 down w the Monastery House, but had before his death taken upon 

 him to assign the lease over to his wife. William, third Marquis, 2 

 (grandson of the original grantee) disputed Mr. BayntmVs right to 

 do so, and applied to the Court of Exchequer for a sequestration of 



1 Harl. MS., 286, p. 213. 

 2 This William, third Marquis, was the author of a now scarce book, called 

 " The Lord Marques Idlenes, containing Manifold Matters of acceptable Devise, 

 or, Sage Sentences, Prudent Precepts, Morall examples, &c." Printed by Edmund 

 Bollifant, 1587. 



