That the Northern Counties which abound in Antiquities ●nd Ancient Gentry, may no longer be buried in Silence  
Information is desired concerning the following Queries as they lie in order, viz. either.  
By 

1. Report and Tradition.  
2. Evidence or Record.  
3. Experience or Knowledge of the present Age.   noting them with 

1. T.  
2. R.  
3. E.   before the Answer.  
ANd it being designed for the Honor of your Parish among others, your outmost Endeavours are desired in order to a true Information. Which may easily be procured by calling some of your Ancient men( who have gon Procession or know the Boundaries of your Parish,) And the Lord or Balive, with some of the tenants( of good Repute, Knowledge and Honesty) in particular Lordships: from whose mouths you may please to writ your Answer on a sheet of paper, folded( as this) with margins on both sides. And to give the more Authority to the work, the Names of those from whom you received your informations may be return'd at the Conclusion of the Accounts of their Respective Parishes, Lordships, Villages &c. And it is to be wished that the Minister, and Church-wardens or some of the Parish would subscribe their names to the General Account of the Parish: And the Lord( or his Balive, Steward &c.) with some of the tenants the Accounts, concerning their Respective worships.  

Chap. 1. Queries concerning the Parish in General.  
1. The name of the Parish,& why so called? how written in ancient Records? In what Diocese, Barony, Hundred or Ward it is said to lie? How is it bounded& divided from other Parishes on the E. W. N.& South& c? by what Rivers, Hedges, Walls, Cause-ways, or common and well known landmarks, Meets and Boundaries &c. or are they( or any of them) Litigious or doubtful?  
2. What form and figure does it most resemble. as Square, Oblong, Oval, Triangular, &c. with the Length and Breadth in the largest parts of it, naming the places where you begin and end your computation, as also where they lie, E. W. N. or South, and the circumference( by moderate Computation) if you can guess at it;  
3. What the Quality of the soil in general●; as day, mould, sand, gravel? and of what sort. read, yellow, blew, black, white, &c. And if it be stony, of what kind, as Lime-stone, &c. Also whether is it for the most part Arable pasture, meadow or wood-land? is it very fertile, barren or indifferent? Also what sort of mines, quarries. fuel. &c. doth your parish afford? At what distance do you fetch your fircing? what plenty of it? what general Customs, as Rush-bearing, Hollyes, Bonfires& c? what games, sports &c. and when celebrated?  
4. The name of the Church. Why so called, to what Saint dedicated? near what Saints day do you keep your Feast or Wake? what manner of building is it, great or small; Elegant or mean? how many Rows of Pillars? hath it a Spire, Square-steeple, or neither? how many Bells? when and by whom founded, endowd, rebuilt, or extraordinarily repaired? what chantries or Oratories in it, with their Foundation, Dedication, Endowment and Dissolution? Item, what monuments& monumental Inscriptions with coats of Arms &c. of Nobility and Gentry? what witty strange and uncouth Epitaphs either in the Church( 1. Body. 2. chancel) or without it, whether on the walls, or in the Church-yard? Be pleased to draw them out or describe them according to their Figure& colours, as well as you can. What number and names of chapels belonging to the Church or Parish?  
5. Whether your Parish be a vicarage, Parsonage, or both? An Impropriation, or not? if it be, who is Impropriator? and what Allowance to the Vicar or Curate? whether hath it tithes in kind or not? what value is it of by common Estimation? what succession of Patronage? and how transferred from one family to another? with the name and Habitation of the present Patron.  
6. The Parsonage, or Vicaridge-house in or near to what Town or Village? at what end or side of the same E. W. N. or South? or how far distant otherwise from it? by what name& whence so called? how writ in ancient Records? of what sort the building fair, mean or indifferent; wood, day, brick or ston? slated or not? and in what repair? how situated? High or Low; on the top, side, or at the bottom of an hill? By what Springs, or pounds, Rivers,( Navigab●e, or otherwise) with what Commodities as mills, fish, fowl, and the sorts they afford? also near or upon what great Road?& how far distant from any of them, E. W.N or South? how far from the nearest chapel, Church, Parish-church, Market●? what Gardens, Orchards, Dove-coats, Warrens, Parks, Forests, Woods,( Standing or lately cut down) with other perquisites belonging unto it or are there any such near at hand( tho belonging unto others) which render the place more Commodious or pleasant? what kind, and plenty of fuel? and from whence brought? Item when and by whom was it built, mended, rebuilt, or extraordinarily repaired and upon what occasions?( And if it be a Mannor House? what Rent doth it pay, and what Courts are there kept?)  
Wat Remarkabl● about it either within or without?  
* Within, as ●●cient In captions, Coats of arms in Glass, Wood or ston.  
* Without, as Fortifications, Bulwarks and Trenches round or square; places where battles have been fought, or, other Accidents have happened, Heaps of ston or Earth trenched, about in manner of a Ring or otherwise; Mounts of War, ancient ruins; Beacons; coins digged up; with other Rarities of what kind soever; as springs could, hot, Medicinal, Bituminous, Petrifying &c.  
7. How much Glebe belonging unto it; with the Quantity of an Acre by the account of your Parish? the Quality of the soil, viz. of what sort for the most part, Arable, &c. asking and answering the same Questions as in Query the 3d. What Woods, Forrests& c? asking and answering the same Questions as in Qu: 4th of the 3d. chapped.  
And what privilege extraordinary your Ministers hath? What notab●e remark of Antiquity upon the Glebe, as Fortifications, &c. see above in Query 6th at the word without, and be pleased to answer those Questions. &c.  
8. How many Lordships or manors in the Parish which you are desired onely to enumerate and writ down their Names; always observing to put the first where the Parish-Church stands, if it happen to be one.  
9. Informers Names; and their Information confirmed by the Subscription of the Minister and Church-Wardens, if it may be had.   

Chap. II Concerning every particular Lordship inquire of the Lord, Steward, Balive, or experienced tenants  
1. The name of the Mannor or Lordship; how written in ancient Records? how at present? and whence derived? In what Barony, Ward, or Hundred? How bounded with other Lordships?  
2. What Form and Figure &c. asking and answering the same Questions as above Query 2d.  
3. What the Quality of the soil &c. asking and answering as above in Queries 3d. to which add the measure of an Acre with the yearly value of the best, thirst, and middle sort of 

Arable.  
Pasture.  
Meadow.   excluding the Commons, Moors and Fells.  
4. What general and Remarkable customs of the Lordships? and how many free-holds?  
5. How, and of whom doth the Lord hold the Mannor? and by what service of the King in Capite, or some Castle or Barony? And if so, of what Castle, or Barony? by Escuage, Knights-Service, or Cornage? and what Rents or Acknowledgments doth he pay? when, and to whom?  
7. What privileges hath he, as waifes strays, boons, &c. and what sort of Finable Rents, fines certain or uncertain? Green-hew, &c( or are they bought off or belonging to others) what Courts doth or may he keep? as Boron, Leet, &c. and where?  
Concerning the Lords privileges when you have got his Information, be pleased to inquire also of some of the tenants for Confirmation, lest he pretend to more than is his right.  
6. The mannor house, what Rent pays it, and what Court may be holden at it? In or near to what foreshown or village is it and so on, asking the same Questions which occur in Qu. 6th. Concerning Parsonage or Vicaridge-houses In cap. 1. vide.  
7. How many domains belong to it with the Quality of the Land &c. Answering the Questions in Query the 3d of cap. 1. Its peculiar privileges; and what is remarkable therein; as Fortifications? &c. answering the sam● Questions as in Query 6th Chap. 1. at the word without.  
8. Who the ancient, modern, and present Proprietors, and when and how they came unto it? And for the present Proprietors especially.) What coats of Arms do they bear? What number of Evidences have they belonging to the family? with the date of the ancientest. What Quality are they of; as Earls, Lords, Knights, Esquires, Gentlemen? And when the first of any of Those were known in their Family? What matches out of it( either by sons or daughters) into other families, with the time when, and place where they lived? Item, what Pedigree do they show, with a Copy of it; at least an account of the first and last Generation in it, according to Date; or where it may be seen? and if they have none, an account may suffice for three or four Generations( down to themselves, their Wives and Children;) of their Marches and Issue, with the Age, birth and burial of every one of them, as near as may be. N. but if they have entered their Pedigrees in Mr Dugdales Visitation 1664. ( which Book I can have the use of at any time) they need not give any further account concerning their families than what hath been since.  
9. How many Towns, Villages, Constable-wicks, Hamlets, &c. are contained in the Lordship? ( which onely enumerate, putting that first where the Mannor house stands. And then in particular   

Chap. 3. Concerning Every City, Town, Village, Hamlet, &c.  
1. The name of the Place, modern, and ancient out of Records; also whence derived? the distance from the nearest chapel, Church, Parish-Church, Market? how situate for traffic? how for pleasure? viz. high 〈◇〉 low, &c. answering the same Questions, as in Query 6th. of Chap. 1.  
2. When and by whom built, and repaired? with the notable accidents and Calamities which have happened thereto by fire, water, sword, famine, Pestilence?& when? And if It be a City; or Market Town; what streets have been formerly, or are now in it? with their names and Etymolog●es, as much as may be. Whether a Borough, Corporation, or neither? When the first Charter granted? with an Extract of what great privileges it formerly hath, or at present does enjoy; as waifes, strays, felons goods, Markets, fairs? How many Burgesses they sand to Parliament?( their names in succession if it may be had; or at least the Names of the present Burgesses) how is it governed, as by Mayor, Balives, &c. and what other officers and Attendants, with the Ensign of magistracy carried before Him? What is the Town-Seal, and Arms? with the succession of your Mayors and Bailives, as far as Record and Knowledge can supply.  
But whether soever it be, viz. Market Town or Village &c. you are desired further to inquire as followeth; &c.  
2. What places remarkable in or about it, as Churches, chapels, Monasteries, Hospitals, colleges, schools, Mout-hals, Correction-Houses, Prisons, Crosses, Bridges,( whether standing or demolished) with the places or streets wh re? of Every of which in particular and according to order, Foundation, Dedication, Endowment, Dissolution; with arms &c. asking and answering the s●me Questions, as Concerning Churches Ch. 1. Qu: 4. Of every particular Church, chapel &c. And remember to annex the stipend or Allowance to Chaplains or Readers from the Parish &c. as also the names and succession of such,( so far as is possible) as have been M●sters and Governors of any of the other places which are of Note, and require Government— Item what Castles, Towres, Halls, and o●her houses of Gen●lemen of Quality? Whether standing or Ruinous? of whch in particular asking &c. The same Questions, as in Query 6th of Ch. 1. concerning the Parsonage-house scil. What its name &c. But if the Manor or Parsonage-house chance to be one of those houses of Note, it may suffice only to Name it, as having spoken of it more at large in its proper place. It. what men of great Eminence for Arts, Arms, o● blood? a● Doctors, Bishops, Authors of Books, famous Lawyers, Judges, Serjeants at Law, Noble Warriors, Generals; &c. Kings, earls, Princes, Lords, &c. Have any such been born, bread or butted in your foreshown? with the place where It. What famous Acts done by Archers? what by nymphs, Spirits and Conjurers, which are own'd to be true, and are very remarkable? otherwise none of them.— It. what Fortifications, &c. Answering the same Questions, as in Qu: 6. Ch: 1. of the word Without, or as in the next following Query at the place marked Thus*  
4. What Fells, Moors, and Commons( with stint, or without) belonging to the Village or foreshown &c, and how far distant? What profits and Commodities( beside pasture) do they afford? as Fern or Brackens, heath or Ling, furs or whins, turf or pet?* What Woods, Forrests, chases, parks, Warrens, Groves, now in being or lately destroyed? But if any be spoken of with the mannor house, only mention them here.— It. what Springs could, or hot, Medicinal, Petrifying, or Bituminous? What pounds, Tarns, Lakes, Rivers? with the sorts of Fish and Fowl they afford. And who reaps the benefit?— It. What Quarries, Mines, pits. &c. of Marble, Black, white, or Gray? jet, Precious ston; Limestone, hewing-stone; millstone; state,( white read, or blew;) Coal Gravel; led; Tin; Iron, brass, Copper, Silver, Gold, &c.— It. What Fair thereupon? when kept? Who has the profits?— It. What Horse-Races? where? for what prise? by whom first appointed, and how long ago? It. What memorable places where Battles have been fought? Round heaps of ston, or Earth cast up in Hills, trenched round about, or otherwise? What Fortifications, Camps? &c. Answering the same Questions, as in Chap. 1 Qu: 6. at the word Without— It. What accidents and strange Occurrences have happened thereabout? With other Notable Remarks of what kind soever. And what you can say of any of them by your own knowledge, Report, or otherwise. Referring each thing to its proper head as near as you can.  
5. How many Freeholders belonging to it, ( or if a Borough, how many burghers, or what fee-farm Rent doth it pay, and to whom?) What other sorts of Tenants in it? at whose Courts do they svit and service? By what tenor do they hold? as soccage, Border-service, &c. or how? in what manner are they admitted unto their Estates? and how do they pass or Convey them away? as by surrender and admittance in Court, Copy of Court-Roll, will, or dead? What Rents do they pay to the Lord of the mannor, or unto others? And what sort of Fines( Certain or uncertain) with other sort of Duties; as Oxgeld, green-hew, Reliefs, Heriots,& c? What services do they, not mentioned before amongst the Lordships privileges Chap. 2d. Qu: 5th.  
— Do they pay any things to any other Lord than the Lord of the mannor? or have any of them purchased their Fines and Services? if so, when, and of whom? and what their tenor is now called?  
— Have they any extraordinary privilege or Custom in the place,( not mentioned before amongst those of the mannor in general) whereby any benefit doth accrue to themselves, their Widdows or Children?  
When You have got the Information of Tenants concerning privileges: be pleased to inquire of the Lord, or his Steward for Confirmation, lest they pretend to what is not their right.  
6. Informers Names. 7th. Confirmation of Lord and tenants by Subscription. 8th. What Notable Proverbs, or peculiar expressions are used in the Parish, Lordship or Village? 9th. The Names and Course of Every River or Beck in the Parish, with all its heads whence it springs? What way it runs E. W. North. or South? and the Parishes or Lordships it runs by or through? also the Towns, Halls, or Gentlemens Houses it visits by the Way, and how far it leaves them( or any of them) on the E. W. N. or South? The number of Mills and Bridges upon it? The sorts of Fish in it? Lastly where it takes the Sea, or loses itself in some other River or Lake? 11. The high or great-Roads which go through your Parish; Whence they come? To what place they go, and where they end? With the Parishes, Lordships &c. they pass by or through? Also Gentlemens houses or Notable Antiquities which occur in, or near unto them. Of all these( or as many as you ●●n) Information is desired. And you may please to return your Answer, together with the Paper of Queries, as soon as possibly you can to  
Thomas Machell of Cracanthorpe in Westm●land. A.M. and Fellow of Queens Coll. in Oxon. 1. Jan. 1676-7.