"King Henry[1] the Ist, in the thirty-fourth year of his reign, erected a bishoprick at Carlisle; and Henry the IIId, in the fifty-fourth year of his reign, granted to God and the church of the blessed Mary at Carlisle, and to Walter then bishop of Carlisle, and his successors, and to the prior and canons of Carlisle in the said church, and their successors, the parsonage of Melbourne, with the lands, rights, and appurtenances. This bishop Walter, or some of his immediate successors, erected a palace here, near to the church, and imparked a part of the adjoining lands; and there they had their residence occasionally for some centuries during the frequent inroads and devastations of the Scots in the neighbourhood of their palace at Carlisle. In later times the bishops have leased this palace and the lands and tythes belonging to the parsonage; and by virtue of an act of parliament of the third year of queen Anne, to confirm an agreement made between Thomas, then bishop of Carlisle, and Thomas Coke, Esq. respecting the said parsonage, the said Thomas Coke being then lessee thereof, the same is now held in fee farm of the said bishoprick by the present lord viscount Melbourne. The park hath been disparked many years; but the house and gardens have been much improved by his lordship's ancestors, and make a pleasant summer residence. The patronage of the vicarage still belongs to the bishoprick of Carlisle. The manor of Melbourne was granted by king Henry the IIId. to Edmund his younger son, created by his father earl of Lancaster; and in the 19 Edw. I. he had grant of Free-warren in his manor of Melbourne from that king his brother; and in 2 Edw. III. Henry earl of Lan-
- ↑ This account of Melbourne has been collected (and transmitted to me, by Edward Dawson, Esq) from the archives at Donington Park, belonging to Francis earl of Moira.
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