button to main menu  Clarke's Survey of the Lakes, 1787

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Page 122:-
loving subjects, we do, by these presents, wish and expect, from all our loving subjects in those parts, that they shall follow and conform themselves to the same example for leasing such lands in manner aforesaid. But herewithall, we do strictly command, that no entry in any court-roll hereafter, either of our own honours or manors, or of the Prince's, or any of our subjects, do mention any estate termed of tenant-right or customary estate pretended of border-service. On the other side, our express pleasure is, that good and dutiful tenants, who shall willingly submit themselves to such estates, be used with all favour and moderation, as we doubt not but the landlord will do: Yet if any shall be found to do the contrary, our courts of enquity shall ever be open and ready to overrule such landlords: As, on the other side, both our courts of law and equity shall be, to bridle and eject all such unreasonable tenants as shall withstand it.
Given at our Court at Charlton, the 28th day of July, in the eighteenth year of our reign of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, 1620.

GOD SAVE THE KING.

The Lords who had estates in the north readily coincided: upon which the tenants drew up a remonstrance, of which they made several copies, and a subscription and purse for the defence of their ancient customs, against the King, Prince, and Lords.
Their border service they had quitted, but not their border spirit of liberty, and said "If the devil was lord, they would be tenants." The Prince of Wales began first, and exhibited a bill in chancery, complaining that the tenants claimed an estate on inheritance, &c. Whereupon the tenants met and subscribed the following articles, which, to shew our northern spirit, I shall put down.
"We, and every of us whose names are hereunto subscribed, having taken into consideration the danger of the times, do therefore, for ourselves, our heirs, executors, and administrators, severally agree, covenant, assume and promise unto and with each other, to observe and perform in every respect, part, and behalf, all and every article, clause, matter, and thing hereafter expressed, according to the true meaning of the same, viz.
"First, That we and every one of us, as in conscience we are bound, will stand to the general protestation by us taken, to the utmost of our and every of our abilities in every point.
Second, Also, that to the utmost of our power, we and every of us, at all times hereafter, will defend our own persons, families, and estates; and the persons, families, and estates of one another, as far as lawfully may be.
"Third, Also, if any person or persons shall plunder, or go about in violent manner, without due course of law, to take away the persons, families, or goods of any of us, it shall be reputed as done to us all; and that upon notice given thereof to us, and every or any of us, every man having notice and able to do service, shall and will, with all speed and expedition, repair to the persons or places so plundered, pillaged, or restrained of their liberty, and shall to our utmost power rescue such persons and goods.
"Fourth, Also, that if any of our goods or estates, real or personal, shall happen to be violently taken away, contrary to law as aforesaid, if satisfaction cannot be gotten out of them who took them, the loss thereof shall be equally born, and restored to them so plundered, by us all who have hereunto subscribed; who shall be equally rated ac-
cording
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