36 THE TREASURER’S HOUSE, YORK. 
shut the gates of the Treasurer’s House upon Miss Mallory 
(daughter of Sir John Mallory of Studley, and sister to his 
second wife). The incident was brought about in the following 
manner : 
Miss Mallory had been to a ball given by the Duke of 
Buckingham in in his Mansion on Bishophill, and Mr. Ayslaby 
had sent his carriage to fetch her, but the coachman missed 
her, and Sir Jonathan Jennings brought her to the Treasurer’s 
H ouse in his carriage, to find the gates locked. Failing to 
procure admission for her he took her, to the house of a 
relative in the Minster Yard close by, where she stayed the 
night. Next morning Sir Jonathan Jennings called upon Mr. 
Ayslaby and upbraided him for his conduct, whereupon Mr. 
Ayslaby challenged him to a duel, which was fought in a field 
at the back of Lord Mayor’s Walk, and called Paynsley’s Croft 
(now corrupted into Penley’s Grove). The combatants crossed 
rapiers, and the first stroke of the Minster Prayer Bell (it 
was fought on Sunday, January 10th, 1674-5), w 7 as the signal 
to commence; the result has been already recorded. Sir 
Jonathan Jennings was arrested and charged with murder, but 
being released on bail, he hastened to London, and obtained 
the pardon of King Charles the II. 
Mr. Ayslaby and his wife are buried in the Minster Choir. 
The Treasurer’s House now passed to his son, John Ayslaby, 
who entertained there James, Duke of York, and the Duchess 
of York. In connection with this visit the Lord Mayor and 
Corporation were deemed by the King not to have shown 
sufficient respect to their Royal Highnesses, in only waiting 
upon them in the Presence Chamber of Treasurer’s House, 
and he showed his displeasure by taking away many of the 
ancient privileges and charters of the City, w 7 hich were not 
restored until many years afterwards. 
After 1698 the house passed to Mr. Squire, w r ho re-decorated 
much of it in the Queen Anne style. He is buried in the 
Belfry Church, where his very elaborate tomb may be seen. 
The house was often divided, and passed through many 
hands. Viscountess Preston (whose ancestors lived at 
Nunnington Hall, and whose family is now represented by 
Sir Richard Graham, of Netherby) a daughter of Lord 
