180 ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS. From one of the " six large paper books," now in my possession, and vvliich formerly belonged to Sir George Shirley, the extracts which follow have been made. The book commences, in conformity with the above- recited regulations, with the will of Mr. Fermor ; then follows a rental of his estates, and then an inventory of his effects, " taken the first of Sep- tember, 1580." The account taken at the audit at Somerton, on the 6th of December, 1580, succeeds, which is followed by a regular annual state- ment of accounts, until the last audit held on the 3rd of December, 1595. The book concludes with certain copies of releases, and other deeds, executed in 1596 and 1597, on the coming of age of Fvichard, son and heir of Thomas Fermor ; by which it appears that Mary, mentioned in her father's will, was the only surviving daughter of Thomas Fermor, and had married [in 1590] Francis Plowden, of Plowden, in the county of Salop, Esq. It would appear also that Richard was about five years old at his father's death in 1580 ; and was until his seventeenth year brought up at home, under a private tutor, who was paid 40s. per annum. In 1592, he was entered of the Inner Temple, and at the same time put upon an allowance of 80/. per annum. ^ The annual value of the estates is estimated at 221/. 9s. Qa. Extracts from the " accoumpts taken at the audit begone at Somerton, in the county of Oxford, the vi day of December, in the xxiij yere of the reigne of o'" Sou'eigne Lady Quene Elizabeth, by George Shirley, esquier, Kicholas Farmer and Benett Wynchcombe, gentlemen, Wyll'm Mercer <fc James Smyth, yeomen, executors of the last will and testament of Thomas Farmor, esquyer, deceased. 1580." Belating to the means taken to obtain the wardship of Richard Fermor, son and heir of Thomas Fermor, Esq. Mr. Shirlei's Accompte. Payments : It. for horsemeate when he went to de.ile w'*" the L. Compton for R. Faimor iiii' viii Mr. Pulton's- Accompte. It. paid to Mr. Pulton for his travell ahout the obtaynynge the wardshipp, drawyng both the offyces and the rates, and sytting uppoii the same offyi/es ............ v" xvi' Mr. Bexett Winchcombe's Accompts. It. geven to S' Christopher Hattous man for wrytinge a I're to my L. Treasurer ........... x' It geven M' Bradshawe, w"^"" first moved my Lady to deale in yt . . x It. p'mysed M' Medlie v, & p"" him iii" ; geven to M Barnard, one of my L. Secretary's iii" ........... vi" It. geven to sped my Ladies chamberlain . ...... iii" It. for wrytinge ii letters to my Lady Bourley . . . . . xii** It. geven to my Lady Bourley for obtayning the wardship . . . ccl" Funeral Expenses. Anno 1580. It. p"" to John Warter & Francis Brampton, for 158 yards & half of blacke cloth, for the buryall of my uncle ....... Ixxxxv viii* x* It. p"* for a moumynge clocke for my self ...... iii"
- Ferdinando Pulton, of Boreton, in the county of Buckingham, one of the most cele-
brated lawyers of the day.
