Letter – Hugh Boag to Peter Cockburn – 3 Jun 1737

To Doctor Cockburne

                                                                                  Ravensworth Castle  June 3rd 1737

Sir 

      Since your kind favour of the 27th Ulte for which I give you a thousand thanks.

	As to the Expence that attends the Courtkeeping in treating Severall Freeholders etc Mr Walton & I desire no unreasonable thing of the board, & it is  a distinct Charge from the Courtkeepers Sallarys but if the board should think it our due to pay we Submitt, but as you observe it’s what is bore by all Lords of Manors in England.

	We are not a little Surprized at Mr Maules Ill natured observations upon us & his attacking our Integrity so all which we hope we have Sr Cleared up to the Satisfaction of the Board, and doe assure you that we desire to be no longer Concerned then we act with Justice & the Utmost Integrity for the good of the Hospitall, and we humbly hope the honble Board have not Conceived an Ill opinion of us.

	That of Mr Maules putting the board upon Corresponding with the Moor Master about the Lead Mines we think doing us wrong as it will tend to Lessen our Character here in the Country & the Hospitall not gett one farthing by it, and we think our Selves as Capable as that branch as any of the other, Mr Maule takes notice of the late Recers Selling the Lead Oare Dues for 2 years at 43s & 43/6d & Sayes that Mr Watson made no distinction between Bouse & Cutting Oare as we doe, but does not take notice of the same Recers Selling the Lead Oare the year before we were Concerned for 32/6d & 37/6d per bing which is agood deal less than what we sold them for & there they make 5s per bing difference between Bouse & Cutting Oare, & I doe assure you the Moor Master declaires there always Was 5s per bing difference between the bouse & Cutting Oare ever since he was Concerned in the Derwentwaters familys time, as for the 2 first years when the Dues were sold for 43s & 43/6d there was no Cutting Oare raised besides it’s not possible to Sell always a Comodity for one & the same price we Sold the Dues for the year 1735 & 1736 Vizt Bouse Oare at 42/6d & a Guinea over & the Cutting Oare at 37/6d per bing,  I hope Mr Watsons Management in all the parts of the Estate shall be no precedent to us tho’he seems to Quote him.  I am sorry Mr Maule has so mean opinion of us, I Suspect he has had some Ill Impressions made to him of us from Mr Willock for some reasons not prudent to mention.

	As Mr Maule is an honest good natured Man I hope we shall have no Misunderstanding, & I begg we may not, but he has been rather too hard upon us

	I Shall make your Compliments to the Collenel who is not yett gott home, he having Stay’d on the road to Drink some Waters	I am  Sr Yours etc

      Hugh Boag

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