LE ITERS FROM HAMON LE STRANGE AND ROBERT MARSHAM. I75 
I. ' 
LETTERS FROM HAMON LE STRANGE 
AND ROBERT MARSHAM, F.R.S., PRESERVED AT 
BLICKLING HALL. 
By Thos. Southwell, V.-P. 
Read 26 th September, 1905. 
The letters from which the following extracts are taken 
are printed in the Report of the Historical Manuscripts 
Commission on the Manuscripts of the Marquess of Lothian, 
preserved at Blickling Hall. These MSS. passed with the 
Blickling estate to the Lothian family through the marriage 
of Lord Ancram (afterwards sixth Marquess) with Henrietta 
Hobart, daughter of John, 2nd Earl of Buckinghamshire. 
The Manor was purchased by Sir Henry Hobart of Sir E. 
Clere, the representative of the Boleyns in the female line, 
for £1100, by Sir Henry Hobart, Knight and Baronet, 
Chief Justice of the Common Pleas (1613 — 1625), he built 
Blickling Hall and died there on 26th December, 1625. 
In addition to the £1100, the sum of £500 was also paid to 
John Smytlie of Antingham, Esq., for the purchase of land 
belonging to him as appears from a receipt preserved in 
the Blickling papers dated December 9th, 1616. 
Hamon le Strange to Sir Henry Hobart requesting 
THE ASSIGNMENT OF A SWAN-MARK, ETC. (Blickling MSS. 
pp. 82-83):— 
1.625. June 28th. “Ho'>l<-\ The distraction of my last 
and short abode att London caused me to forgett a motion 
which I shall now recommend to your Lordship’s acceptance. 
I understand that your Lordship hath the sole royalte from 
the King touching swans and swanneries in Norf., and am 
desirous to have a particular mark for my river and waters 
att Gressenhall. and else where in this countve. There is 
