Page:History of the Fylde of Lancashire (IA historyoffyldeof00portiala).pdf/85

 of the crown ministers, who foresaw that the necessarily limited distribution of the distinction would give rise to jealousy and animosity amongst those who had been active in the late wars.

In 30 Charles II. a statute was passed entitled "An act for lessening the importation of linen from beyond the seas, and the encouragement of the woollen and paper manufactories of the kingdom"; and by it was provided, under a penalty of £5, half of which was to be distributed to the poor of the parish, that at every interment throughout the country a certificate should be presented to the officiating minister stating that the winding sheet of the deceased person was composed of woollen material and not of linen, as heretofore. The certificate ordered to be used at every burial ran thus:—

"A, of the parish of B, in the county of C, maketh Oath that D, of the parish of B, in the county of C, lately deceased, was not put in, wrapt or wound up or Buried, in any Shirt, Shift, Sheet, or Shroud, made or mingled with Flax, Hemp, Silk, Hair, Gold, or Silver, or other than that which is made of Sheep's Wool only. Nor in any Coffin lined or faced with any cloth, stuff, or anything whatsoever, made or mingled with Flax, Hemp, Silk, Hair, Gold, or Silver, or any other material but Sheep's Wool only.

"Dated the * * day of * * in the xxxth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord, Charles the second, king of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, etc.

"Sealed and Subscribed by us, who were present and witnesses to the Swearing of the above said affidavit

(Signatures of two wttnesses.)

"I, * *, esq., one of the King's Majesties Justices of the Peace for the County above said, do hereby certify that the day and year above said A came before me and made such affidavit as is above specified according to the late Act of Parliament, entitled An Act for burying in Woollen.

(Signature.)"

The foregoing statute was amended two years later, and the modified enactment continued in force for some time, when it was

following is a list of persons in the county of Lancashire who were considered fit and qualified to be made Knights of this Order with the value of their estates:—

Thomas Holt              per annum £1000 Thomas Greenhalgh             "     1000 Colonel Kirkby                 "     1500 Robert Holt                   "     1000 Edmund Asheton                 "     1000 Christopher Banister          "     1000 Francis Anderton               "     1000 Col. James Anderton           "     1500 Robert Nowell                  "     1000 Henry Norris                  "     1200 John Girlington                "     1000 Thomas Preston                "     2000 Thomas Farrington of Worden    "     1000 Thomas Fleetwood of Penwortham "    1000 William Stanley                "     1000 Edward Tyldesley              "     1000 Thomas Stanley                 "     1000 Richard Boteler (Butler)      "     1000 John Ingleton, senior          "     1000 —Walmsley of Dunkenhalgh     "     2000