Register of the Priory of St. Bees (Surtees Society vol CXXVI, 1915) Illustrative Document 73. Undated, but the participants and witnesses suggest the 1260s. Alan's son Richard,at his death in 1298, had lands in Bootle & Seaton (plus other estates in Furness etc.) and it would appear from this agreement that Alan owned all or part of Birkby.

Convenit inter Alanum filium Ricardi de Coupeland, ex una parte, et Thomam filium Ade de Auisthuayte, ex altera, super contencione inter eosdem mota de piscacione in aqua de Duffockiswatir, videlicet, quod idem Thomas concessit et recognovit pro se et heredibus suis totam predictam aquam cum piscacione et omnibus suis pertinenciis esse ius et hereditatem ipsius Alani; et pro hac concessione et recognicione concessit idem Alanus, pro se et heredibus suis, quod ipse Thomas et sui heredes temporibus quatragesime piscare voluerint vel cessare a piscacione, set post quatragesimam nullo tempore licebit eidem Thome et suis heredibus aliquo modo piscare in dicta aqua nisi quando idem Alanus et heredes sui piscare voluerint, et tunc pariter cum eis idem Thomas et heredes sui in dicta aqua licite racionabiliter piscabunt, si voluerint cum dictis quinque retibus sine ulteriori numero, nisi licenciati fuerint per ipsum Alanum et suos heredes. Preterea convenit inter eosdem de vallacione ayguillarum per Lindebecke exeuncium de eadem aqua, que Lindebeck est divisa inter pasturis ipsius Alani de le Frithslake et pasturam ipsius Thome de Auisthwayte, ita, videlicet, quod quedam arca aygullarum construatur et susteneatur ad custum utriusque partis, et piscis equaliter inter partes dividatur. Et si altera pars predictorum de reparacione et custu piscarie dicte vallacionis cessaverit, nichilominus altera pars sustineat custum et habeat comodum quousque ad reparacionem dictam faciendam reddire voluerit. Et ut hec omnia predicta ex utraque parte robur firmitatis optiniant imperpetuum, alter alteris scriptum ad modum cyrografphi confectum sigili sui munimine roboravit. Hiis testibus domino Johanne de Cauncefeld, domino Ricardo de Brochton, Ade de Hoton, Willelmo de Morthing, Johanne de Thuaytis, Johanne Corbet, Johanne filio David, Ricardo de Cornay, Henrico de Bootle, Michaele clerico et multis aliis.

It is agreed between Alan son of Richard of Copeland, on the one part, and Thomas son of Adam of Austhwaite on the other, over the dispute which occurred between them about fishing in the water of Devoke Water, as follows, that the said Thomas concedes and recognises, for himself and his heirs, all the aforesaid water with the fishing and all its appurtenances, to be the right and inheritance of the said Alan; and for this concession and recognition, the said Alan concedes, for himself and his heirs, that the said Thomas and his heirs may choose to fish or not at the time of Quadragesima [the forty days of Lent], but after Quadragesima it shall not, at any time, be permitted for Thomas and his heirs to fish by any method in the said water, except when the said Alan and his heirs wish to fish, and then the said Thomas and his heirs are permitted to fish, within reason, at the same time with them, if they wish, with five nets as specified, not any greater number unless they are permitted by the said Alan and his heirs. In addition, is is agreed between them, regarding the trapping of eels leaving the said water by Linbeck, that Linbeck is the boundary between the pastures of the said Alan at the Frithslake, and the pasture of the said Thomas of Austhwaite, so it follows that some sort of eel ark should be constructed and maintained in the care of both parties, and the fish equally divided between the parties. And if either of the aforesaid parties gives up the repair and care of the said fish traps, nevertheless the other party can continue to care for it and have the benefit until he wishes to cease making the said repairs. And so that all the aforesaid shall be maintained with strength and stamina by both parties in perpetuity, both have affirmed this document with their signatures written in their own handwriting. These witnesses: [as listed]