_Henry VIII. and Sir Thos. Curwen._--The following quaint extract from
Sandford's MS. _History of Cumberland_, now in the library of the Dean and
Chapter of Carlisle, exhibits that "reknowned king," Henry VIII., in so
good-natured a light, that I think, if you can find a corner for it, it may
amuse some of your readers. That the good knight and "excelent archer"
should have been so outwitted by his son-in-law is a matter of some regret
to one of his descendants:--
"Sir Thos. Curwen, Knight, in Henry the Eight's time, an excelent
archer at twelvescore merks; and went up with his men to shoote with
that reknowned King at the dissolution of abbeys: and the King says to
him, Curwen, why doth thee begg none of these Abbeys? I wold gratify
thee some way. Quoth the other, Thank yow, and afterward said he wold
desire of him the Abbie of ffurness (nye unto him) for 20^{ty} one
yeares. Sayes the King: take it for ever: quoth the other, it is long
enough, for youle set them up againe in that time: but they not likely
to be set up againe, this Sir Tho. Curwen sent Mr. Preston, who had
married his daughter, to renew the lease for him; and he even rennewed
in his own name; which when his father-in-law questioned, quoth Mr.
Preston, you shall have it as long as you live; and I think I may as
well have it with your daughter as another."
After some descents, this family of Preston, of the manor of Furness,
terminated in a daughter, who married Sir William Lowther, whose grandson
left his estates in Furness and Cartmell to his cousin, Lord George
Cavendish, through whom they are inherited by the Earl of Burlington. As
Harry the Eighth's good intentions towards Sir Thomas Curwen have been
frustrated, his descendants must console themselves by knowing that the
glorious old ruin of Furness could not be in better hands than his
lordship's.