G. Plaxton to Francis Foljambe at Aldwark; re circumstances of Sir Thomas Gascoigne...

G. Plaxton to Francis Foljambe at Aldwark; re circumstances of Sir Thomas Gascoigne "he is certainly the most unhappy and unnaccountable man in Europe, his estate will be all pull'd in pieces and no body any better I fear, but the Baylifs and Attorny's. He is willing to do any thing but has no power, he is outlawed at severall sutes, has an exchequer lease upon his estate and so many incumbrances that I admire how he gets bread and clothes? He has an estate in Darbyshire at Hope, which I am told would sell for £1000 or £1100. There are 2 mortgages upon it, one of £350 to Sir G. Roberts, the other of £200 to Mr. Clark, now if good management were up in the sale of that estate, you might come in for your debt and that I think is the only way to releive you. He is only tenant for life at Barnboro, and that is all rack'd and ruin'd and under many heavy incumbrances, nothing will be had here for a long time ..."