* The concluding words, “your most affectinat mother, Brilliana Harley,” are alone in the handwriting of the Lady Brilliana.

* The signature alone is in the handwriting of Lady Brilliana.

* This letter is in the handwriting of another, and signed simply with the initials, evidently by herself.

* This letter is in the handwriting of another, and signed simply with the initials, evidently by herself.

* The signature alone is in the handwriting of the Lady Brilliana:—the letter in that of her son Thomas.

* The date and signature of this letter are alone in Lady Brilliana's handwriting

* The date and signature of this letter are alone in Lady Brilliana's handwriting

* The signature of this letter is alone in the handwriting of the Lady Brilliana.

* This letter is much injured by damp.

* This Letter is accompanied by Mr. Walcot's acquittance, endorsed thus in Sir Edward Harley's handwriting:—

Mm. That I heard not of ye 20 Il within specified but of late : and though I was not by cours of law obliged to ye payment, yet, reckoning myself by ye law of conscience (wch is true honor) bound to pay it, if due, I bless ye Lord who hath enabled mee to pay it.

E. H.

Also in Mary Walcot's handwriting, on a separate paper : —

Whereas I am informed that there is some question between the honble Sr Edward Harley and John Walcot Esq. concerning twenty pounds lent by Humphrey Walcot Esq. in the time of the late warres to the Honble the Lady Brilliana Harley, I can testifie that seuerall times since the decease of the said Humphrey, I have heard my mother in law Ann Walcot, his relict, mention the said twenty pounds, as certainly lent and never repaid.

Witness my hand this 31st of Decem. 1667.

MARY WALCOT.

Acq't'ce fro Me Walcot :—

Received this twenty-first day of March 1682 of Sr Edward Harley of Bramton Castle in the county of Hereford kt of the honble order of the Bath by mee John Walcott of Walcott in the county of Salop Esq. the sum of twenty pounds of lawfull English money in full of all moneys debts reckonings and accompts whatsoever due vnto my late ffather Humphrey Walcott, Esq. decd or vnto my late mother Ann Waleott (the relict of the sad Humphrey Waleott) decd or unto mee the said John Walcott from sd Robert Harley late of Bramton Castle aforesaid in the said county of Hereford knt of the Bath decd or from dame Brilliana Harley decd or from the said Sr Edward Harley by bond bill promise agreement or otherwise from the beginning of the world untill the day of the date of these p'sents and the said John Waleott doe for me my heirs executors admors and assigns and every of them acquitt release and for euer discharge the said Sr Edward Harley his heirs extors and admrs and every of them by these p'sents of and from the said sume of twenty pounds and every part and parcell thereof and of and from all bonds bills reckonings and accompts for or touching the said sume of twenty pounds or any part thereof or for or touching any cause matter or thing whatsoever due or payable as aforesaid In witness whereof the said John Walcott haue hereunto put my hand and seale the said twenty-first day of March in the five-and-thirtieth year of the reign of or sovereign Lord King Charles the Second over England &c. aoq’ D'ni 1682.

J. WALCOT. (S).

* The original is written on cloth.

* This Letter is read by a key of cut paper, the openings of which correspond with the words within the brackets.