Page:The History of the Church & Manor of Wigan part 1.djvu/135

 redde silke & ij of grene silke Itm at Holland Chapel ij belles a chalice & j olde vestement Itm at Pillynge Chapel j littil belle;—belongynge to the said churche & chapels — saulfely to be kept to thuse of our Sou'aigne lord the Kyng. The said churche wardons as well as the said Sir Rauf for theym & their executors do covennte by these presents to and with the said commission's that the p'misses or anie parte therof shall not at eny tyme hereaft' be alienated Imbecellid or otherwise put away from our said sou'aigne lord but shal be aunswarable & furth cumyng to thuse of his highnes at suche tyme & tymes as his Matie or his honorable counsaill shall demaunde the same. In wytnes wherof the parties afforesaid to these p'sents enterchaungeablie have put their seales the day and yere above said. Incrm.' Mem. That ther is encresse of twoo bells one chalice & one olde vestemet at Holland chapell never put in any inventorie heretofoare."

It may here be stated that in the account of John Birde, bishop of Chester, giving the result of the enquiry made into the misappropriation of church ornaments, plate, bells &c., in his diocese, 12th January, 1548, it is said of Wigan that James Anderton and Robert Chaloner, the churchwardens, "had sold iijtie chales for viijli xviijs ixd" which, they said, "was bestowed towarde the payment off or bellis bought off the Kyng."

In 7 Edw. VI., 1553, Richard Smyth, clerk, parson of the church of Wigan, complains that William Gerrard, of Asheton, Esq., and John Winstanley of Blackehurst, gent, with divers other riotous persons, did seize and take some of the tithe corn and grain which the complainant's servants had loaded ready to be taken away, the said persons being armed with "bowes, pytche forkes, and longe staves." He (Richard Smyth) desires that a privy seal may be directed to William Gerrard, John Winstanley, John Marsh, Homeffray Colley, Rauf Harrison, and Thomas Knowle, commanding them to answer the said charge. In