the county of Westmorland, ætat. suæ 74, by Mr. Clarke; John Parker, Esq. the only son of Edward Parker, who died ætat. suæ 42, 1794, by Romney; Anthony Yeates, Esq. of Kendal, by Mr. Lonsdale. In the window are many fine specimens of ancient stained glass, particularly one piece, with the arms of Henry the Seventh, and the figures of the Morris-dancers round it. On the sideboard are some very curious old cups, in silver and in wood, particularly a peg tankard, presented by Thos. Parker, of Alkencoats, Esq. in whose family it had been for many years. A drinking-cup, called " Moll Thomson ;" and a large assortment of old plate. In the staircase is some fine old tapestry, in which are the portraits of Henry the Sixth and his Queen-the window contains many coats of arms belonging to the neighbouring families, which were brought from Whalley Abbey.-In the old oak drawingroom are two fine drawings of Ruins at Rome, by Keiserman; two Portraits, by Holbein; two Heads in Kennal coal-the window contains the arms of different families connected with the Parkers.-In the other apartments there are many pictures, and a curious collection of china, marbles, and costumes, from abroad. At the east end is Mr. Parker's study; in this is a picture of the house as it was in 1750.

In the year 1806, the lodge was begun and finished; the arch came from Ingleton Hall, in the county of York, and the font; the arms over the door, from Waddington Hall; the image of a Saint, from Whalley Abbey. The approach was then made from Bashall Moor, on the east side of the house, and a new approach from the west by the garden. The old terrace walk and steps are still kept up. The pool of water was begun in 1805, and finished in 1807; four acres of Bashall Moor, adjoining the water, were this year planted, and thirty acres in addition in 1813. In 1796 a large plantation was made in the Crow Wood, and round the Seatfield, so that all

the young wood now seen has been planted by Mr. T. L. Parker, from the year 1796 to 1810. Mr. Parker has a large collection of drawings and prints, bought during his tour on the Continent in 1800 and 1801, from Moscow, Venice, and Paris; and also many fine specimens of the English artists; likewise a large collection of our ancient castles and manor-houses, forming a series to illustrate the style of each different reign, by Mr. Buckler, who has so well executed the drawings in this work, and whose other productions do credit and honour to the British school.

In the hall is the lock to the hall-door of Rydall, sent there by Anne Countess of Pembroke; the letters A. P. are cut upon the lock-this she sent to every hall or manor-house that was friendly to her, keeping the master-key herself. She also sent her portrait, which is now at Rydall.

The learned and very highly respected author of the Antiquities of Whalley Abbey thus describes Browsholme and its environs, Anno Dom. 1806 :—

"On an elevated situation in the Forest of Bowland, is the ancient house of Browsholme, for more than three centuries the residence of a family, who probably derive both their name and arms from the office of park-keeper or parker.

"Browsholme is a large house of red stone, with a centre, two wings, and a small façade in front, of that species which was peculiar to the time of Elizabeth and James I. Here is a good old library, a large miscellaneous collection of ancient coins, and a valuable assemblage of MSS, relating principally to the antiquities of the neigh

hourhood, and to which this History is much indebted. These are monuments of the intelligence and curiosity of the family.

"Another relic, preserved with religious reverence, attests their devotion; it is a skull, said to have been employed by a former owner, in the private exercises of religion, as a monitor of death, and it is polished by frequent attrition to a surface resembling coarse ivory. But the most valuable relic preserved at Browsholme is the original seal of the Commonwealth for the approbation of Ministers; it is of very massy silver, and is incribed, the Seal for approbation of Mi'nisters'—in the centre are two branches of palm, and within them an open book with these words, the Word of God.' 'the Word of God.' On a piece of needle-work in the house, but copied probably from an original board, are the following lines:

I pray God blesse the life

Of master Edmund Parker, and his wife,
And all the children that with him wonnes,
Five daughters and seven sonnes,

"With respect to Bowland, one circumstance only, but a very melancholy one, remains to be told; viz. that in the year 1805 a fine herd of wild deer, the last vestige of feudal superiority in the domains of the Lacies, were destroyed, &c. &c. The loss, however, of these ancient ornaments of the forest has been in some degree compensated by the late improvements of the house and grounds at Browsholme by the taste of the present owner. Of these improvements it is no small praise, in this age of innovation and experiment, to say, that while they have produced some splendid modern apartments, the shell of a venerable mansion has been left entire. The dining-room is adorned with some of the best paintings of Northcote, The house also contains

many paintings by the best Flemish masters. The hall, 46 feet long, is furnished with many antiquities, such as the Ribchester Inscription of the 20th Legion, celts, fibulæ, different pieces of armour, and particularly a small spur, found in the apartment called King Henry the Sixth, at Waddington Hall. Among the rest is a complete suit of buffleather, worn by the head of the family, a sufferer for his loyalty, in the great rebellion. The papers of the family contain many curious and original documents of those times. The staircase window is rich in painted glass from Whalley Abbey, &c. Among the portraits is one of a Parker, in the reign of Charles II. with the insignia of Bowbearer of Bowland; viz. a staff tipped with a buck's head in his hand, and a bugle-horn at his girdle. From the survey of the Forest of Bowland, taken in 1696, the names of the officers serving in the forest for that year, are, Edward Parker, Esq. and T. Lister, Esq. Bowbearers.

"The only vestige of the forest laws yet preserved here (and that too now become useless), is the stirrup, through which every dog, excepting those belonging to the Lords, must be able to pass. The office of Bowbearer was held by one of the family in 1591, as appears from a warrant now at Browsholme. After my hearty commendations,

' these shall be to will and require you to deliver, or cause to be de'liver'd, to my very good Lord Wm. Bishop of Chester *, or to the 'bearer hereof in his name, my fee stagge of this season, to be had within her Majesty's Forest of Bowland, and this my letter shall be your sufficient warrant and discharge. Great Bartholomews, this 24th ' of June, 1591. To the master of her Majesty's game within the • Forest of Bowland, and to his deputy or deputies there.' The fee

*CHADDERTON.

stag seems to have been due to Sir A. Mildmay, as Chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster. And again, in Charles the First's time, the following was addressed to Mr. T. Parker.

'BY THE KINGE.

'Trusty and welbeloved wee grete yo" well: willinge and comaund'inge yow that ye imediately vpon the seight hereof doe deliur or cause ' to be deliu'ed vnto ye bearer hereof one fatt bucke of this season to'wards the better furnishinge of our dyet for our President and Coun'cell in the North: And this shalbe yo' sufficient warrant in that behalf. Given vnder our Signet at our Citty of York the eight day of Julie, the ninth yeare of our reigne.

'And by his Councell.

To the Maister of our Game, Bowbearer, Keeper, and to all other officers, and their deputie or deputies within ye 'fforrest of Bolland, and to eu'ry of ' them.'

'FR. BOYNTON. 'CH. HALES. W. ELLIS. 'W. GEE.'

"To show the state of this country during the civil wars, I select two letters of protection, one from a notorious sequestrator, the other from a gallant royalist.

For the Cols and Lieu. Cols within Craven, these.

'Noble Gentlemen. I could desire to move you in the behalfe of 'Mr. Edward Parker, of Broosome, that you would be pleased to take ' notice of his house, and give order to the officers and souldiers of your regiments, that they plunder not, nor violently take away, any