This stamp belonged to a member of the old family of Topsfield, who owned the estate of Frisingfield, near Harleston in Norfolk, but I have as yet not been able to find out which particular member used it.
TOWNELEY, RICHARD
Arms.—Arg., a fess sa., in chief 3 mullets of the second. Towneley.
Motto.—Tenez le vray.
Date.—1603.
[The Hystory writtone by Thucidides the Athenyan of the warre which was betwene the Peloponesians and the Athenyans. London, 1550.]
The family of Towneley is one of ancient domicile in Lancashire. The member of it to whom the accompanying book-stamp probably belonged was Richard Towneley of Towneley Hall near Burnley, who lived there from about 1580 till about 1640.