Mr. George Browne possesses a copy of a document drawn up in 1629, after there had been contention, which gives the order of seating in Troutbeck Chapel. As this has not been printed, it may be briefly summarized here. A plan accompanies the paper. The general order was, for the men to be seated round the chancel, and upon a certain number of the front benches on the north side, which was free. The women were behind the men, five being placed on each form. They paid for their seats, at a diminishing rate from the front, the price starting at 20d.--one-eighth of a mark. The plan gives the place of every townswoman, and it is expressly stated that if there be a young wife in the family as well as an old one, she is to take her place on another form. Some serious alteration in the allotment of seats was probably made in 1676, judging from these entries in the wardens' accounts. li s d Ittem for Laughrig third for lifting seatts upon Church & when ther names was sent in writting 00 2 00 Itt. for grasmyre third for ye like 00 2 00 The Squire of Rydal, as soon as the Restoration permitted it, set to work to furnish that part of the church in which he worshipped suitably to the honour and dignity of his family. The family seats had before his time long stood vacant, even if they had been ever regularly used. His predecessor, John, as an avowed Roman Catholic, had preferred to pay heavy fines rather than obey the law in the matter of attendance at the Communion of the parish church; and there is little doubt that the mass was celebrated in private for him at Rydal Hall. John's mother, Dame Agnes, may have attended during her widowhood; but her husband William, the purchaser of the tithes and patronage, must--always supposing him to be a good Protestant--have attended more frequently at Coniston. But Squire Daniel was a pillar of the church as well as of the State in his neighbourhood, and his accommodation within the building was framed in view of the fact. The following entry occurs in his account book, under July 13th, 1663. The monument referred to is doubtless the brass tablet we now see in the chancel, and it appears to have waited for its fixing for ten years after its purchase in London:-- li s d Spent at Gresmer, when ye wainscott seat, & my father's monum.t were set up 00 00 06 And two days later the bill for the seat was paid. It is not very intelligible, but reads thus:-- Paid unto Christ. Robinson of Kendall (Joyner) li s d for 10 yards and foot 2/1 of double wainscott at 4s P' yard, and yards 4 foot 2/1 of single wainscott at 3s P' yard, for a Board, Ledging & knobs in all (being for ye seats at Gresmere) ye sum of 03 06 06