Deere Norton, Could not in my laft give you a perfect account of what paffed betweene mee and Mr. M. because wee were to have a conclufion of our fpeed that morninge after I wrote my letter to you, which wee had, and havinge had a full enterview of one anothers mindes, wee parted with this, that both would confider with our relations, and accordinge to fatisfactions given there, acquaint each other with our mindes. I cannot tell how better to doe itt, to receave or give fatisfaction then by you, whoe (as I remember) in your last, fayd that if thinges did ftick betweene us, you would use your endeavor towards a close. The thinges infifted upon were theife, (as I take itt) Mr. Maier defired 400 p. annum of inheritance lyinge in Cambridge heire, and Norfolke, to bee præfently fettled, and to be for maintenance, wherein I defired to bee advifed by my wife. I offered the land in Hampshire, for prefent maintenance, wch I dare fay with copfes and ordinarie fells will be communibus annis 500 p. annum, befides 50011 fer annum, in tennants handes houldinge but for one life, and about 300 p. ann. fome for two lives, fome for three lives. But as to this if the latter bee not liked off I shall bee willing a farther conference bee had in the first. In point of jouncture I fhall give fatisfaction. And as to the fettlement of landes given mee by the par1n: fatiffaction to be given in like manner, accordinge as wee dif courfed. In what else was demanded of mee I am willing (foe farr as I remember any demand was) to give fatisfaction. Only I havinge becne enformed by Mr. Robinfon that Mr. Maior did upon a former match offer to fettle the mannor wherein hee lived, and to give 2000 in monie, I did infift upon that, and doe defire itt may not bee with difficultye, the monie I fhall ncede for my two little wenches, and therby I fhall free my fonn from beinge charged with them. Mr. Maior parts wth nothing in prafent but that monie, favinge their board, wch I fhoulde not bee unwillinge to give them to enioy the comfort of their focietye, wch itts reafon hee smarte for, if hee will robb mee altogether of them. Truly the land to bee fettled both what the parlat gives mee, and my owne, is very little leffe then 3000 per annum all thinges confidered, if I bee rightly informed. And a lawyer of Lincoln's Inn haveinge fearched all the marques of Worcester's writinges, wch were taken at Ragland and fent for by the parlatt and this gentleman appointed by the committee to search the fayd writinges, affures mee, there is noe fcruple concerninge the title, and itt foe fell out that this gentleman whoe fearched was my owne lawyer, a very godly able man, and my deere friend, wch I reckon noe fmale mercy, hee is alfo poffeft of the writinges for mee. I thought fitt to give you this account, defiringe you to make fuch ufe of itt as God fhall direct you, and I doubt not but you will doe the part of a friend betweene two friendes, I account myfelfe one, and I have heard you fay Mr. Maior was entirely foe to you. What the good pleafure of God is I fhall waite, there is only rest, præfent my service to your lady, to Mr. Maior, et. I reft April the 3d 1648. Your affectionate fervant, O. CROMWELL. I defier you to carrie this business with all privacie, I befeech you to doe foe as you love mee, lett me entreat you not to loofe a day herein, that I may knowe Mr. Maior's minde for I thinke I may be att leizure for a weeke to attende this bufineffe to give and take fatisfac tion, from wch perhaps I may bee thutt up afterwards by imployment. I know thou art an idle fellowe, but prethee neglect mee not now, delay may bee very inconve nient to mee, I much rely upon you. Lett me here from you in two or 3 days. I confeffe the principall confideration as to mee is the abfolute fettlement of the mannor where he lives, wch he would doe but conditionally in cafe he prove to have noe fonn, and but 3c00ll in case he have a fonn. But as to this I hope farther reafon may work him to more. N. B. In a fheet lift of the names of the members yet living of both houfes of parliament forceably fecluded by the army in 1648, &c.' appears Southampton, col. Richard Norton, Efq; Knight, &c. He was chofen Knight Parliamen- of the Shire for Southampton, in the room of Sir Henry tary Hiftory, vol. ix. p. Wallop, Knt. who deceased in 1644, in virtue of writs iffued Oct. 24, and Nov. 10, 1645. 40. In another lift intitled 'A more exact and neceffary catalogue of penfioners in the long parliament than is extant,' appears Richard Norton, colonel, governor of Southampton. And in a third intitled A perfect lift of the lords of the other houfe, and of the knights, citizens and burgeffes, and barons of the Cinque Ports, now affembled in this prefent parliament holden at Westminster, for the ⚫ commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland, Jan. 27, 1658,' appears county of Southampton, Richard Nerton of Southwicke, Efq'. Sir Gregory Norten, one of Charles I. judges, was of Suffex or Kent, and, as I apprehend, of a different family from the colonel. I The following feventeen letters were tranfcribed from the originals which were found at Puley, the feat of the Dunches, in Berkshire *, by the hon. Horace Walpole, Efq; For my very kvinge Friend Mr. Robinson, Preacher at Sr. Thanke you for your kinde letter, as to the businesse you mention I defire to ufe this playenneffe with you. When the laft overture was bet eene mee and Mr. Majar, by the mediation of coll. Nerton, after the meetinge I had with Mr. Major att Farnham, I defired the coll. (findinge as I thought fome fcruples and hesitation in Mr. John Dunch of Pufey, in Berks, fon of Sam. Dunch of North Baddifley in Hampshire, Efq; married Anne, Daughter and coheiress of Richard Major, of Hurley, Efq;-Wood's Fafti, vol. ii. c. 120. Major) Major) to knowe of him whether his minde was free to the thinge or not. Coll. Norton gave me this account, that Mr. Major, by reafon of some matters as they then tood, was not very free thereunto, whereupon I did acquiefce fubmittinge to the providence of God. Upon your revivinge of the bufineffe to mee, & your letter, I thinke fitt to returne you this anfware, & to fay in plainneffe of fpirit to you, That upon your teftimonie of the gentlewoeman's worth & the common report of the pyetye of the familye I fhall be willinge to entertayne the renewinge of the motion upon fuch confiderations as may bee to mutual fatisfaction, only I thinke that a fpeedye refolution will be very convenient to both partes. The Lord direct all to his glory. I defier your prayers therein, and reft Feb. 1st 1648. Your very affectionate friend, O. CROMWELL. I For my very worthye Friend Richard Major, Efq; Theife. Sr. Receaved fome intimations formerly & by the laft returne from Southampton a letter from Mr. Robinson concernynge the reviveinge the last yeare's motion touchinge my fonne & your daughter. Mr. Robinson was alfoe pleafed to fend inclofed in his a letter from you to him, bearing date the 5th of this inftant February, wherin I finde your willingeneffe to entertaine any good meanes for the compleatinge of that bufineffe. From whence I take encoragment to fend my fonn to wayte upon you & by him to let you knowe that my defires are (if providence foe difpofe) very full & free to the thinge, if upon an enterview theire prove alfoe a freedom in the younge perfons thereunto. What liberty you will give heerein I wholly fubmit to you. I thought fitt in my letter to Mr. Robinfon to mention fomewhat of expedition, because indeed I knowe not how foone I may be called into the feild, or other occafions may remove mee from hence, havinge for L14 the 520 the prefent fome liberty of ftay in London. The Lord direct all to his glorye. I reft Feb. 12th 1648. Sr Y' very humble fervant, O. CROMWELL. I For my very worthye Friend Richard Major, Efq; Theife. Sr. Receaved yours by Mr. Stapleton together with an account of the kinde reception & the many civilityes afforded them, efpecilly to my fonn in the libertye given him to waite upon your worthye daughter, the report of whofe vertue and godlyneffe has foe great a place in my hart that I thinke fitt not to neglect any thinge on my part which may conduce to confummate a clofe of the bufineffe, if God please to difpofe the younge ones harts thereunto & other fuiteable orderinge affaires towards mutuall fatisfaction appeare in the difpenfation of providence, for which purpofe and to the end matters may be brought to as neere an iffue as they are capable off (not beinge at libertye by reafon of publicke occafions to waite upon you, nor, as I understand your health permittinge) I thought fitt to fend this gentleman Mr. Stapleton inftructed with my minde to fee how neere wee may come to an understandinge one of another therein, & although I could have wifhed the confideration of thinges had beene betweene us two itt beinge of fo neere concernmente, yet providence for the prefent not allowinge, I defier you to give him credence on my behalfe. S all thinges which yourfelfe & I had in conference att Farnham doe not occurr to my memorie thorough multiplicitye of bufineffe interveninge, I hope I fhall with a very free hart testifie my readynefle to that which may bee expected from mee. I have noe more at prefent but defiringe the Lord to order this affair to his glory & the comfort of his fervants. I reft St Feb. 26, 1648. Your humble fervant O. CROMWELL. (Na |