# Manx Primary Source Archive — Transcription

**Source image:** `20260219_105519.jpg`  
**Transcribed:** 2026-02-25 20:32  
**Method:** Automated (Claude Batch API — claude-opus-4-6)

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Libr' Cur Cancellar' 1629

At Castle Rushen 4^th of Aug^t 1629

Arthur Figes Steward of Abby Lands under the Right Honble
the Lady Alice Countess Dowager of Derby hath come into the
Chancery Court then and there holden before us and hath moved by way of
Complaint ag^st divers of the Abbey Tennants that they have refused to pay
over unto him their ffines for new Terms of Leases of their grants contrary to
their Covenants & Compositions made with him whereupon the Serjeants
and under Officers sworne for the s^d Steward were called to present accord^g
to form of Law the Disobedience of the s^d Tennants in that behalf that the
same soe appearing all lawfull aide & assistance might be given him
by strength of Soldiers either to distrayne upon every the Goods of such the
disobedient Tennants or to commit their bodyes to prison till they had paid
all but the s^d Serjeants being put to deliver the Truthe upon their oaths
could not prove that any of the said Tennants did covenant or compound
to pay to the s^d Steward such Somes of money as he caused the Serjants
Demand from them & therefore they can give in no effectuall presentment
of Disobedience against them Moreover the s^d Tennants being all of them called
have utterly denyed that they yeilded to any Agreement with the Steward
for ffines more than that they promised always to be ready to pay unto
him at reasonable days of payment Soe much Money for the Fines
of their Tenements as was ever paid by any of their predecessors concern^g
the same Rateable to the Term of the years now to be lett unto them
& this Confession of the Tennants is all the Substance that can be
proved ag^st them Which the Stewards Figes altogether Saith he will
not accept of from them Wherefore the Deemsters with the advice of
the Officers & so many of the 24 as are present in the Court find
noe certain Agreement for payment of the s^d Fines between the
Stewards and the Tennants but these Differences thus to arise amongst
them doe for answer say that they cannot proceed in Judgement to
cause the Tennants to pay what they Steward demandeth of them And
Whereas the s^d Steward by force of Authoritie to him granted from the
s^d Countess as he alledgeth craveth Assistance to enter upon the
Grounds of such the Tennants as deny to pay unto him what Fines

MS 09707/8/2

AP 143-3