"To the sixth article, there is growing within the precinct of the said park certain underwoods, thorn, maples, hazles, allers, and other brushment, but what acres the same be or what age the same be of, we know not, but we say that they are worth to be sold at sixty pounds."

"To the seventh article, there was in the park in anno primo of the Queens Majesty's reign three hundred deer, and at this present five hundred fourscore and fifteen viewed by William Mallet, John Tindal and Robert Hippon, keepers and others."

1

"To the eighth article, we say that George Lord Talbot hath the said park by indenture, under the seal of the Dutchy of Lancaster, paying therefore by year four pounds three shillings and fourpence. And further saith, that the town and inhabitants of Pontefract and Tanshelf have by custom common in the park, with their horses and kine yearly time out of man's mind, from the feast of St. Ellen, called the invention of the cross, unto the feast of St. Michael, and so hath this present, paying therefore yearly unto the herbage or farmer of the said park for every cow one shilling, and for every horse or mare two shillings for the whole jist, and for a cow if she lies in the park nightly one shilling and fourpence. For a circle for brackens twopence, for a swine in pannage time fourpence. And further saith the King and Queen's Majesty's tenants, or copyholders of Carleton, Hardwick and Tanshelf, have common in a close called Carleton close in the said park, with their draughts, oxen or cattle yearly from the said feast of St. Ellen unto the said feast of St.

Michael, paying therefore yearly for every beast fourpence, for which custom and common the said tenants are bound by the tenure of their lands to carry the queen's timber and others to their highness's castle or mills, having therefore for every carriage according to the custom paid by the receiver there, which said close has been so used and occupied until four years last past, and since then the pales there taken by the keepers and the ground laid into the new close adjoining to the same, whereby the same tenants are not able to serve the Queen's Majesty as they have done in times past. And further saith, that the farmer of the said manor of of Hardwick hath had time out of man's mind common in the park yearly, as well in winter as in summer, for sixty beasts and ten horses or mares. Also in pannage time swine without number. for which custom the late priory of St. Oswald, before the dissolution of the house, hath paid to the keepers of the said park six quarters of wheat and to the palace four quarters, and since the dissolution thereof, the receiver here has paid yearly in respect to the said wheat three pounds six shillings and eightpence until now of late. And also says that the farmer of the capital messuage of Houghton, called Houghton Hall, have had time out of man's mind, and also since thence the first year of her Majesty's reign in the said park common for sixteen beasts and four horses from the feast of St. Ellen until Michaelmas yearly, and also hath had one key of custom delivered unto him by the keeper of the said park at the said feast of St. Ellen until Michaelmas, of one

gate, called Houghton Carr Gate, for the driving out of their cattle, paying yearly unto the said keeper at the delivering of the said key fourpence, and in pannage time swine without number. And further says that the queen's Majesty is charged with certain fees payable forth out of the said park, that is to say, to the keeper for his fee one pound six and eightpence for carriage of pale and rail, and making pales thirteen shillings and fourpence."

"To the ninth article, there is built in the said park three lodges or houses, whereof two of them are in good reparation and the third partly in decay, but who is charged with the reparation thereof we know not. Also there is a barn built in the said park to lye hay in that is gotten for the deer, the reparation whereof is at the queen's charge."

"To the tenth article we cannot depose."

"To the eleventh article, there is in the said park one close called the New Close, another called Vicar's Close, the most part thereof of the pales are in good reparation and also of the said park. Also there is another close in the said park called the Carr, granted by indenture to William Mallet, Esq. forth out of the exchequer and before belonging to the late dissolved monastery of St. John, in Pontefract. And further saith that there are fifteen acres of meadow in Allerton Ings belonging to the said park for the deer, gotten yearly at the Queen's charge. Every acre worth by year three shillings and fourpence."

"To the twelfth article we can say nothing." "To the thirteenth article, the same is a princely park and meet before any other to be preserved."

It does not appear, notwithstanding the recommendation of the commissioners, that much attention was paid to the park after this period. When the wood was cut down and the deer sold, the author has not been able to ascertain, It is however most probable, that this was done during the civil war. For after this time, as the castle was destroyed, the park was in a great measure neglected, and a considerable part left to the operations of nature, unaided by the hand of man.

In the park, there were three houses erected and occupied by the keeper and his servants. One was called the Upper Park-House, now inhabited by Mr. Jones; the other the Lower Park-House, now that which M. D. Denison occupies; and the third was the lodge, where the keeper resided, and in which Mr. Mumforth now dwells. It is probable it was at the Upper Park-House a scene of cruelty and plunder was exhibited, not often equalled in the annals of Newgate. The Reverend Leonard Scurr, who had been ejected by the Act of Uniformity from Beeston Church, where he had assisted the Rev. Mr. Cudworth, lived in the above-mentioned house, with his mother and a maidservant. He enjoyed a considerable estate in the neighbourhood, and it is probable, that the respectability of the family ded his neighbours to permit him to reside there, though contrary to the five-mile act. Whether he became the object of resentment on account of his nonconformity, or whether he fell a victim to a lawless banditti, who merely wished to secure his property, it is impossible to determine. Whatever might be the

motives of the actors in this tragedy, they entered the house, in the night of the 22nd of January, 1680, murdered Mr. Scurr, his mother, and the maidservant, then plundered the house, and on departing set it on fire *.

The Upper Park-House being so near to the town of Pontefract, this horrid transaction could not be long unknown. An active search was made after the murderers; and circumstances occuring which led to suspect a party at Holbeck, near Leeds, they fled to Ireland. They were however pursued, and two of them taken; and being tried at the next assizes, were found guilty. One was executed and hung in chains on Holbeck-Greent; the other was reprieved, in hope that he would make a further discovery,

*See PALMER'S Non. Mem. Vol. 3. page 424.

The editor

† A narrative of this tragedy was printed. regrets that he has not been able to meet with it, as it might have thrown some light on the transaction. On repeatedly perusing Palmer, the editor doubts whether this transaction took place in Pontefract Park, or in some place called the park, near Beeston. The following is the account Palmer gives.

"Mr. Scurt, Of Sidney Col. Camb. Born in Pontefract. He had a good estate in this neighbourhood. Some time after being silenced here (where he assisted Mr. Cudworth) he and his mother, with a maidservant, lived retired at a house in the park, where thieves broke in, robbed and murdered them, set the house on fire. Jan. 22, 1680, and then fled into Ireland, whither they were pursued. Two of them were taken and condemned; one was hanged in chains, on Holbeck Green; the other was reprieved, in hopes of a further discovery, which he could never be brought to make. A narrrative of this tragedy was printed. It was said that Mr. Scurr, thought a good preacher, was a man of a bad character, and a scandal: to his profession."