One piece of fine Tapestry to hang behind my Lady’s bed.
A rich ebony Cabinet with gilded Fixtures &c.
It is but fair to add that though Colonel Bingham carried off this furniture from Corfe Castle to his own private residence, he was by Act of Parliament of 1644 not only ordered to confiscate property, but was threatened with confiscation of his own if he failed or refused to act as sequestrator.
Lady Bankes’ death, as recorded on a monument of white marble at Rislip, took place on April 11th, 1661. So little was her death expected, that her eldest son was married on the morning of the day on which she died.
The following letters, in their quaint spelling, as to the missing furniture from Corfe Castle, are characteristic:
For my noble friend Sir Ralph Bankes at Chettle.
From John Bingham Esqr. Bingham’s Melcombe.
Nobel sir,
My being in phisicke made me not to send an answer to your servant’s letter last Sunday. I beseech you let it plead my excuse.
Sir, I have a large bed, a single velvet red chair and a suite of fine damask; had not the horse plague swept away my horses I would have sent these to you. I beg that you’ll please to command one of your servants to come to Blandford next Friday morning by 10 o’clock there these things shall be ready for him at the Crowne Hotel.
That yet a continual gale of happinefs may ever blow on you here below the stars and that you may yet enjoy heaven hereafter is the real wish of